Scale Model Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle Build

[Polarfire]

I'm not sure how many folks here are into building scale models but I figured this would be a good thread to post up any Jeep builds you might have done or are working on. Or maybe you work on them with your kids like my dad used to do with me. Either way, post them up!

Let's keep this to CJ-8.com member builds only. Thanks!

 

[Polarfire]

Back when I was growing up I was heavily into building models, mostly muscle cars and hot rods and trucks but I did the occasional plane or ship too. Once I hit high school other things began to grab my attention and all my model stuff got packed into boxes and went into storage. Fast forward 20+ years and I found myself going through those boxes while retrieving Christmas decorations out of storage this last December. Of all the kits I had packed away low-and-behold I found this old Monogram Jeep CJ-7 Off-Road kit. The box was open as well as all the parts bags but only a few engine parts had been glued together. So I decided to build this mini-Jeep over the winter. At least I will feel like I'm making good progress on at least one Jeep project! I will be building this kit to look as close to a factory original 1978 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle as possible with a few Jeep SE items as well.

This is some of the progress I've made so far:

Some Jeep SE parts. Not done with all the detail on them yet, the extinguisher will get a little more paint detail and the winch needs touched up a bit more.

 

[Polarfire]

So I wanted to start this thread because I like to see others projects but also because (like any Jeep project) I need parts! As I started to build this kit I realize I am missing a few small parts I need. Also, this kit didn't come with a few items I want that later releases of this kit DID come with. If anyone has a 1/24 scale Jeep CJ kit that is either willing to sell parts out of or sell the entire kit please let me know. Thanks!

PS. I'd rather not tear open a complete kit just for a few parts if I don't have to.

 

[jeepdreamer]

PF... let me start with my own history.
I started building scale models when I was about 9. It started with planes, some cars, then mostly military armor. I built a lot... like seriously, a massive pile! I had planes hanging all over my room, tanks and trucks on every windowsill. Even dioramas here and there. The military stuff became the dominant target as my passion for history began to take hold. In my freshman year in HS I screwed up some vertebrae in my neck playing football. Models became my addiction as I was limited at what I could do for most of that year.
About the end of high school I had enlisted in the Army (as a tanker of course!) and all those childhood things got packed away.
Around 2000, I was deployed to Bosnia in support of SFOR operations. It was a deployment with some long downtime between missions and I had just "discovered" on line shopping. Somehow scale models became lodged in my brain as a good time killer and I ordered a bunch of stuff. I made marginal progress at first ( sure was rusty) but just as I started getting back in the swing of things we got tapped for some longer missions. During one of those, 9/11 happened. We were radio black so we didn't find anything out until we returned to base a couple days later. Needless to say Everything changed at that point. I packed everything up and got back to work. When we deployed back home I was kinda disgusted and took a 6 year break in service.
In 08 I returned to active duty. Everything I owned was packed up and put in storage, including all my model stuff I still kept.
Anyhoo... now that my life story is over (haha), I'm basically a civilian with a bad back and limited mobility. Hopefully that will change but I have, once again, been pondering maybe making a model or two.
If I can get to storage and weasel my way to the back of the container I should be able to find my stuff. I'm pretty sure there are a Jeep (CJ) model or two in there. Let me know what parts you need and I'll see if I can scrounge up what you need.

 

[jeepdreamer]

And that reminds me... wasn't there a guy on here with some crazy-mad model skills building/making a Scrambler kit??? I'll go through my history and see if the thread is still around. [emoji41]

 

[jeepdreamer]

There was! Had to go to the mother site (stupid Tapatalk is useless) and do some wandering around.
Jeff396 built a resin "kit" Scrambler. He seems to have disappeared in 2014ish? ☹️

 

[don87401]

With good computer skills and a modern day 3D printer you can "print" model Jeep.

 

[Polarfire]

With good computer skills and a modern day 3D printer you can "print" model Jeep.

I'm not quite there with my model skills yet but in this new day and age it sure has made doing some custom work easier! I will be making some custom decals for this one since it only comes with the Eagle and no lettering. Back in the day before we had Internet, making custom decals was much more difficult and something beyond my skill level.

 

[craveman85]

Not really model building but I like to restore the old Tonka j series pickup trucks. I'm also currently researching drivetrain options to make one into a scale rc crawler. When I do my next one I'll post pics I usually do 2 a year for my nephews.

 

[Polarfire]

Jeep Dreamer, thanks for the offer! The biggest thing I need at the moment is the fan belt/pulley assembly for the motor. Secondly is the air cleaner. The kit I have has an air cleaner but later versions of the kit have a more accurate OEM air cleaner which is what I want. Other items that came in later kits are OEM style roll bar, hard top and doors, OEM style tail lights, and better decals for the dash and AMC/Jeep license plates. Not all of these came in every version of this kit so it really depends on what version you have as to what parts I need. Let me know if you find them and are willing to sell parts or whole kit. Thanks!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G850A

 

[Polarfire]

Not really model building but I like to restore the old Tonka j series pickup trucks. I'm also currently researching drivetrain options to make one into a scale rc crawler. When I do my next one I'll post pics I usually do 2 a year for my nephews.

That is cool! I'd like to see a kind of "step by step" when you do one as I have some old ones I'd like to restore too!

 

[spankrjs]

My other big hobby, besides the 1:1 Jeeps, are old 1/10 scale Tamiya RC vehicles. So, I do own a Jeep YJ Wrangler, only in 1/10 scale

This is an original released kit from back in the 90's. They re-released the kit recently, but it is currently discontinued. Anyway, you can find them on eBay, prices vary wildly. I picked up this new built, never ran model for less then $200.

The previous owner did a great job painting it. I usually always strip off previous paint jobs and paint them myself, but he did a great job on it:

I disassembled the chassis, replaced all the bushings with ball bearings, added an electronic speed control, replaced one broken front steering knuckle, and it was good to go:

A few outdoor shots. At certain angles it looks pretty realistic:

You can easily remove the protruding front bumper for a more realistic look. My biggest issue with this model, and Tamiya makes some of the most accurate scale models - Its a Jeep Wrangler with IFS

The body is hard plastic, so easy to cut up and modify. IIRC, an overseas company makes a CJ conversion kit for this YJ body (front fenders, grill, hood, tailgate, etc). So, you could easily convert one of these into a scale CJ-7 or Scrambler with a bit of fabrication Put it on a ladder frame with straight axles front and back and you could have a nice scale rig

 

[Polarfire]

My other big hobby, besides the 1:1 Jeeps, are old 1/10 scale Tamiya RC vehicles.

I've always loved the vintage Tamiya R/C kits but back in the day (when they were just new, not vintage) I couldn't afford them. Now, they sell for even more! I always liked the Hilux kit. Super detailed and very realistic kits. That is why I loved looking at them. They were so much better then the R/C cars from Nikko and Radio Shack that I had. Although I beat those things pretty bad and they kept on going!

 

[spankrjs]

I've always loved the vintage Tamiya R/C kits but back in the day (when they were just new, not vintage) I couldn't afford them. Now, they sell for even more! I always liked the Hilux kit. Super detailed and very realistic kits. That is why I loved looking at them. They were so much better then the R/C cars from Nikko and Radio Shack that I had. Although I beat those things pretty bad and they kept on going!

Yes, they can be expensive, BUT just like Jeep CJ's/parts, patience pays off, you can still find deals every once in awhile

Here is a link to my TamiyaClub showroom, this should show most of my old RC models

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom.asp?id=42728


Beware, just like Jeeps, they can be addictive

 

[Polarfire]

Yes, they can be expensive, BUT just like Jeep CJ's/parts, patience pays off, you can still find deals every once in awhile

Here is a link to my TamiyaClub showroom, this should show most of my old RC models

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom.asp?id=42728


Beware, just like Jeeps, they can be addictive

Very cool builds! Love the Monster Beetle too!

 

[Randyzzz]

I was lucky enough to get one of Jeff's prototype Scrambler kits. I purchased a couple of CJ kits to make it complete. I held off on building it because I was intimidated by trying to copy my Copper Scrambler. But, I'm glad I didn't try because I should be able to make a pretty accurate copy of Red once she's done.

I built models like crazy when I was a kid, Mostly cars and military vehicles, I even got into painting military miniatures. At one point when I was about 10, I actually won the local 7-11 model building contest. I built a kit-bashed dragster with a rear engine- at that time dragsters had their engines up front. A couple of years later real dragsters came out with rear engines. This was in Orange County CA, I like to think a local racer saw my build and it got him thinking...

I'm currently looking for a J-Truck model. Found a few on EBay but apparently they are gold plated...


Polarfire- I may have some of the parts you need. I'm going to use my 7 kits to complete the Scrambler, and I'll be installing a LS engine among other non stock things. I'll check today.

 

[Polarfire]

Polarfire- I may have some of the parts you need. I'm going to use my 7 kits to complete the Scrambler, and I'll be installing a LS engine among other non stock things. I'll check today.

Thanks Randy! Here are pics of the engine parts and decals I'm looking for. The other parts I need are pretty self-explanatory.

The dash overlay/gauge decal and Jeep decals for the side of the tub, tailgate, dash pad, and rear tub emblems that are hard to see in the pic (decal #15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20):





I found these parts on Ebay but the seller is asking as much for these two items as a whole kit!

 

[Randyzzz]

I'll go dig out the box now.

 

[craveman85]

My other big hobby, besides the 1:1 Jeeps, are old 1/10 scale Tamiya RC vehicles. So, I do own a Jeep YJ Wrangler, only in 1/10 scale

This is an original released kit from back in the 90's. They re-released the kit recently, but it is currently discontinued. Anyway, you can find them on eBay, prices vary wildly. I picked up this new built, never ran model for less then $200.

The previous owner did a great job painting it. I usually always strip off previous paint jobs and paint them myself, but he did a great job on it:

I disassembled the chassis, replaced all the bushings with ball bearings, added an electronic speed control, replaced one broken front steering knuckle, and it was good to go:

A few outdoor shots. At certain angles it looks pretty realistic:

You can easily remove the protruding front bumper for a more realistic look. My biggest issue with this model, and Tamiya makes some of the most accurate scale models - Its a Jeep Wrangler with IFS

The body is hard plastic, so easy to cut up and modify. IIRC, an overseas company makes a CJ conversion kit for this YJ body (front fenders, grill, hood, tailgate, etc). So, you could easily convert one of these into a scale CJ-7 or Scrambler with a bit of fabrication Put it on a ladder frame with straight axles front and back and you could have a nice scale rig

You should look into one of the 1/10 rock crawlers. They come with solid axles and are built pretty well. I used to have a honcho model body I built a frame and leaf springs for. I might have used 1/18 scale stuff. Used to be really big into scale rc until I sold all my stuff to buy my scrambler.

 

[Randyzzz]

No joy on the parts, Polarfire. I have the blue Monogram kit which has the exact same pulleys and air cleaner that you already have, and the decal sheet is very minimal- no dash decals at all. The other kit is a snap together which was already assembled.

Here's some pics of the kits, plus some Scrambler Prototype pics.







Scrambler tub and frame-



Flare set for Scrambler-