This is my second kit after being in active for many years...


It's a 1988 kit:


It is a very simple kit, with no great details and very simple instructions.



I have already bid a donor kit from Ebay and some detail parts in order to make this Samurai more interesting!

A very first moch up (it doesnt look that interesting...does it?):



My plans are to make something like these:

These are the detail sets that i have used:


After a lot of measuring i finaly made the snorkel. it looks like this...




Then i start modifiy the dash. I made holes in the air intakes for the wiring of the gauges, and i've also made a hole in the place of the car lighter for the wiring of the GPS. Additionaly, i cut out the codriver handle cause i didn't like it at all and will either make a new one from wire or i wont put anything...

These are the donor kits that i have used:


Here you can see the main parts that the will be modified a lot...the two chassis, with mix & match techniques, i will try to come up with a new scratch one...hopefully


Just a view to compare sizes of the original kit and i have in mind...

I've modified the dash with pe materials like big rpm gauge, engine check gauges and i used a pe nokia phone for GPS...its a prefit so no decals or wires...





Then i made moch ups with both chassis in order to see where to chopp them and mix-match them!

Front Bumper cut off:



Suspension:

I took the LSD system from a donor kit and after cutting & sanding a made it to this. I left only the basis for the the custom suspension system that im gonna build. Here is in the first stage of putting.





Interior:

i made the transmission system with the center diff from parts of two donor kits and the actual one...


The suspension system. Needs some more work to be done.





Then i closed the hole of the oil catridge.


I;ve detailed up the disc brakes, by making little holes for the wiring:

I used a mix from 2 kits in order to finish the diff system.




And some general views of the diff system:




Then i've decided to open the drivers door, in order to help me for the scenery of the followig dio.




Then i made the racing fuel tank, that i've detached from the main kit, used a lilttle weight from a lighter and a pe set:

The side panels of the interior were awfull so i made new ones:









A general view from both panels:

Chassis:
Almost done with the basic parts and need to do some weathering and finish the exhaust system.






Dash:
Need some wiring and weathering! The telemetry system is modified from a part, from a 1/72 old Hellcat!

Dash:
Additional wiring and i think its ready...






Chassis:
Added the brake lines and the steering dumper...

The WWII Luftwaffe Tropical Camo is on:





Interior:









And some lights progress:

And the end!



Thank you for your time! Hope you like it!

That was worth waiting for the image load. Very cool modifications.

I like this project. Please describe the LED light and wiring and power supply. This is something I want to learn more about for my future builds.

I like it. Nice mods, good in-progress pics. I like the headlights. I did that on my Land Rover re-build. Nice work, all around.

Cuhail