Element RC Gatekeeper

[sandkil]

Here's a differtent kind of build in regards to what I usally do.
Still miles to go on this, but wanted to get the colors on just for pep. getting down to the "scale" details to try replicate Bailey Coles #13 Ultra4.
We will have to see if he is racing his Trent Fab at KOH in Johnson Valley in Feb 2022 as it's for sale.

[XLR8]

Looks awesome Sandkil.

Love the photo comparisons to the 1:1.

[sandkil]

Looks awesome Sandkil.

Love the photo comparisons to the 1:1.

Thanks Doug!

Not much happening during the holiday seasons, but got some small things done.
Fire extinguishers mounted, testfitting the radiator mesh (lexan and brass mesh) and working on window nets. I'm using mosquito net and styrene strips.
All to be painted later along with the fuel tank, radiator and rear LED bar. Which is next in line to be fabricated.

[sandkil]

LED bar done! Don't know if it will hold the test of time, but looks good. Light bucketas are whats left of a Axial RR10 LED bar the rest is made out of styrene sheets and profiles. Needs paint along with the window nets, interior, radiator and fuel tank.

[sandkil]

Interior almost done. Working on the helmets

[sandkil]

Brazed a set of rear view mirror frames.
Brass tube has ID of 5 mm and the cage on the Gatekeeper is 6 mm so good clamping.
Blackened with Birchwood Casey Brass Black.

[sandkil]

A bit of Kydex in the dremel and the mirror support was done.
Aluminum tape for mirror.

[sandkil]

Interior done and looking at making new shock towers front and rear

[sandkil]

Was fortunate to get my hands on some really fine triple bypass shocks.
These are way more scale than the Gatekeeper kit, but just had to install them together with the Pro-Line Pro-Spec scaler shocks.

[XLR8]

What the... Holy cow!!!
Where on earth did you find those shocks? They're incredible!!

[sandkil]

What the... Holy cow!!!
Where on earth did you find those shocks? They're incredible!!

It's a guy I helped on Instagram. His name is Long Xue and the shocks are all metal and oil damped. The piston is a rubber membrane, but I use them dry so I can focus on the coilovers for performance. I could oil fill them if needed. For rebound and so on.
I can DM you the contact info.

[sandkil]

Here’s the latest update/idea for the rear end.
Using existing hardware from the kit. Drill a hole and tap with a M3 tap, at the red arrow to fix the trailing arm front mount.
Using longer upper links (Enduro 96mm) and mount them at existing hole at blue arrow.
With this setup the wheelbase is 10mm shorter and fixes an issue with the suspension. The gatekeeper wants to buck when moving at speed.
Trailing arms are FTX Outlaw #8323

[sandkil]

Fabricated the rear shock towers with supports

[sandkil]

Elecronics in. Its a tight squeeze on a Gatekeeper.
Modified the crap out of the GRC dummy engine to hide the ESC along with the steering servo.
Hobbywing Xerun Axe540L R2 2800KV.

[sandkil]

Winch and LEDs installed
Made a new bracket for the winch out of blck GRP and shock spacers
Used the Axial Racing 2457 light kit and swapped out the white LEDs for orange/amber ones