[WIP] Nissan Xterra

[VKTechnic]

Live Update! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Tried doing a live update on my Facebook page, go check it out and let me know what you think!

[VKTechnic]

Doesn't look like a lot, but I livestreamed on my Facebook page today and made some good progress.

Progress! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

In 5 hours or so, I rebuilt the front end a few times to get the winch installed and working, reinforced the transfer case, and got the majority of the bumper assembled. Going to be livestreaming again tomorrow, goal for tomorrow is to finish the front bumper, rough in the rear tire carrier, and start work on the roll cage that the rest of the body will attach to (the bodywork will be removable, so the structure holding the bodywork together will resemble a roll cage).

Figured I should also mention that there's a looming deadline for this project. I'm planning on attending Bricks By The Bay (August 4-6), so this model needs to be done by the end of the month. A lot of work ahead!

[TechnicRCRacer]

1 hour ago, VKTechnic said:

I'm planning on attending Bricks By The Bay (August 4-6), so this model needs to be done by the end of the month. A lot of work ahead!

Me too! Which section will your models be in? Hope to see you there!

[Aventador2004]

30 minutes ago, TechnicRCRacer said:

Me too! Which section will your models be in? Hope to see you there!

I wish I could go to a event like that (I live on opposite side of the U.S. Than you most likely) . I attended a show and tell session with one of my best supercars once.

Edited July 13, 2017 by Aventador2004

[VKTechnic]

3 hours ago, TechnicRCRacer said:

Me too! Which section will your models be in? Hope to see you there!

Probably in the Scale Models section, since there isn't a Technic section.

[VKTechnic]

Today's livestream showed some serious progress!

Livestream 2 Progress! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Started off today by reinforcing the front end and building a skidplate. After building the axles in blue, looks like I'm out of 9L liftarms in that color, so time to order some more!  Once the front end was done, I made a jig for the rollcage, which needed to be 22 studs wide on the bottom, and 15 on the top. A bit of fiddling later, and the rollcage took shape:

Livestream 2 Progress! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

With the rollcage done, I moved to the rear of the car. Chassis got some much needed reinforcement before the tire carrier could be attached, and I relocated the receivers in the process.

Livestream 2 Progress! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Ended the livestream with a rattled brain. Since the chassis is an odd width and the rollcage is an even width (with doors on the outside of it), I need to figure out a good way to mate the two together. In the meantime, the only two attachment points are in the rear, behind the tire carrier and (nonexistent) trunk.

Livestream 2 Progress! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

I'll need to sleep on the rollcage mounting problem, and I'll hopefully have an answer by the start of tomorrow's livestream. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the progress so far!

[offroadcreations]

Looking good so far! It's very cool. But why are you using blue axles, instead of something more discreet, even if the whole model is blue? Or will you change it later?
For the even/odd situation, a piece I find useful (other than offset connectors, such as this) is https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=2853. Picture:

I'm looking forward to the final product, it should be awesome, and BIG.

[VKTechnic]

Just now, Offroadcreat1ons said:

Looking good so far! It's very cool. But why are you using blue axles, instead of something more discreet, even if the whole model is blue? Or will you change it later?
For the even/odd situation, a piece I find useful (other than offset connectors, such as this) is https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=2853. Picture:

I'm looking forward to the final product, it should be awesome, and BIG.

I've used a couple of those pieces already, as well as these: 

As for why the axles are blue, here's a picture of the XTerra I'm modeling:

[Aventador2004]

Just now, VKTechnic said:

As for why the axles are blue, here's a picture of the XTerra I'm modeling:

Is that yours?  it would be nice to own the car you are modeling....

[VKTechnic]

Just now, Aventador2004 said:

Is that yours?  it would be nice to own the car you are modeling....

Nope, a friend's  

[Aventador2004]

Just now, VKTechnic said:

Nope, a friend's  

It would be nice though...

[offroadcreations]

33 minutes ago, VKTechnic said:

here's a picture of the XTerra I'm modeling:

Well now I'm even more excited.

34 minutes ago, VKTechnic said:

I've used a couple of those pieces already, as well as these: 

Those are useful, too.

[VKTechnic]

Another day of progress, albeit a little slower today.

Slow day by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Started today's livestream with cable management, and finally got all the cables in order with the addition of a manual light switch. Then came the rough bodywork, and I finished the day with a rough hood, dashboard, and trunk:

Slow day by VKTechnic, on Flickr

The rear is missing two of these (in a fairly obvious spot), but that won't be for long.

Slow day by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Won't be making much more progress this weekend, but next week the livestreams will continue!

 

[VKTechnic]

Bricks By The Bay is right around the corner, and boy am I not ready at all

Almost there! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

By not ready at all, I mean that my model is 99% done, weighs enough to overload my kitchen scale, and I still need to make a spec sheet and pack. Other than that, this week has shown a lot of progress on the bodywork, only a few tweaks left to go (looking at you, red skid plate beams):

Almost there! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Doors and hood open (trunk and spare tire carrier still work too ), and the interior is simple, but it does the job.

Almost there! by VKTechnic, on Flickr

I'm pretty worn out from building, but if anyone's interested, I'll be doing the final tweaks live on my Facebook page this Sunday at 6PM PDT. I'm in the final stretch!

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Wow, that is looking great!  If all you need to do is change the beams on the skidplate, I think you are doing fine!

[Aventador2004]

Great! I like stacked beams, and this perfectly makes use of them.

[Rudivdk]

Wow, that is one mean (and BIG) truck! Looking very good in DBG with the blue accents. Not the easiest color to build in with the lack of available panels, but you pulled it off

[move5]

I love your design

[TechnicRCRacer]

14 hours ago, VKTechnic said:

Bricks By The Bay is right around the corner, and boy am I not ready at all

I thought I had too much

This is excellent! I like the side doors and the spare tire holder! Can't wait to see this in person!

[Jeroen Ottens]

Very nice
I must admit that halfway the build I was not sure where this heading to, but now that everything is in the right colours it really is pulled together beautiful. I love that dark bluish gray and blue colourscheme. very original. I assume those red wedge plates above the headlights will become dark bluish gray as well?

I probably have missed it, but is the lighting all done with PF leds? Or did you use some third party parts?

[VKTechnic]

It's been slow in my workshop, but I'm still alive.

Still Alive by VKTechnic, on Flickr

Work's been keeping me busy, and I had a couple non-Lego projects come up. XTerra progress was slow, but I rebuilt almost the entire chassis to replace the transfer case. Small details here and there are slowly being added, and I'll probably consider this model done after I show it at BrickCon. Speaking of, I've got something special in the works for BrickCon, expect a teaser soon...

Edited September 14, 2017 by VKTechnic

[Aventador2004]

2 minutes ago, VKTechnic said:

 

Wow! Super impressive! I hate having to rebuild everything for one piece.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Aventador2004
Autocorrect!

[VKTechnic]

On 7/29/2017 at 10:49 PM, Jeroen Ottens said:

I probably have missed it, but is the lighting all done with PF leds? Or did you use some third party parts?

All LEGO, 12 pairs of PF LEDs for the whole model.

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Looks even better now.  Is the performance better?

I will be visiting BrickCon, but not showing anything. Cannot wait to see this in person!

[Aleh]

Wow! Interesting to look for this WIP of this jeep...