Well, I've been plugging away at my Chariot as a sideline to my PL Jupiter 2 build. A few trials and tribulations have plagued it (ie: the tire meld issue which hopefully I bypassed, and I killed the glass canopy with leaking tape!) have marred the project, but it's all coming along nicely now. I have to say, I have referenced Lou's build so many times it's pitiful, but it's just such an excellent build, it's a great resource! Thanks Lou! A big thank you to Moebius as well, for replacing my damaged parts asap, and then gracefully selling me a replacement canopy! Onward!

I'm not going to bore you with buildup details from the beginning, but rather pick up where I am at this point and show you how it's coming!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/001.jpg
Obviously, these builds aren't going to vary too much from each other, but I've made a few subtle changes along the way. I made a nice black felt rug to keep all the terestrial dust from flying!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/003.jpg
I also made my seats swivel using the simple aluminum tubing trick....
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/002.jpg
My on/off switch is located a little further back under the body and is very small. It is underneath the Robot pedestal, which will conceal the wiring for the switch itself, as well for the blinking LED panel I put inside the Robot. A single hole at the front of the base drops the wiring straight into the lower chassis area where the battery is located. Flat wiring cable will make it all fit nicely.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/006.jpg
I loved the simple add-ons Lou did to the scanner to correct it a bit, so I did the same. Added handles of brass rod and a new lens of brass tubing. I took it a step further by drillingout the lights. I boxed the interior out, and added a blue LED to light it up. I also backed the holes with mylar and filled them with crystal clear cement to make lenses. I colored a few of them on the inside to give some variation. I will also be making a rear viewing screen from plastruct.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/005.jpg
I used the same photoetch kit and headlight kit, which is just awesome and so easy to work with. It all fits beautifully.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/019-1.jpg
As it comes together, it's really clean looking. I'll continue with another post so I can add more pictures.....You can see here I made some nice floor mats to match the rear rug. I also added a bit of half-round trim along the sides of the scanner base.

OK, so once it's all painted, it really starts to come to life. It's even cooler all lit up! I've used a bit of artistic license by using various shades of silver metalics. Being an artist, I just can't use a single color on everything! It becomes so bland and lifeless it's pathetic! I know it's not "pure" to the show, but that's just me....
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/018-1.jpg
I actually removed all of my wiring harness when I decided to use the ribbon wiring, so I can't show you it lit yet! I had originally had a bundle of round wires, but there are some clearance problems with the battery, so I removed it and made it better!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/007.jpg
Here's the little blinking LED I have for the Robot. I've had this for many years, it came off a store display used to attract attention! Yes, I am an admitted packrat! I rounded the edges off, and it fits just perfect up inside of him!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/017-1.jpg
The robot is a great little kit in itself! Last night I pretty much finished assembly and now I'm doing all of the detail painting. He is completely wired and ready to be fit inside!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/016-1.jpg
The mesh flooring from the photoetch kit is killer. I'm nibbling away at it a bit for a better fit, but it looks really nice! I got a note from Drew, I've got a figure set coming now just in time! I'm totally stoked, because I think the figures make the whole build! I'm NOT the best figure painter in the world, but I'll be using a combination of airbrush/handbrush on them and we'll see how it goes inthe coming weeks! Wish me luck!

Oh, and my Daughter got me a display box for this for Fathers Day from Michaels. It's the football display box with the black frame, so it should look great inside! I'm going to try and find a picture of the rock background from the desert scenes and print it to put behind it!

Tim,
That looks FANTASTIC!

I LOVE the rug and floor mats!

One tiny note. The figure set from Drew (which is just the bees knees, BTW)
also includes a new gear box thingy for the two driving sticks. you will want to remove the stock parts for that area cuz the new bit is designed to fit between Don's feet. and you may find that you need to raise the two chairs that judy and maureen sit in just a tiny bit to allow for their long legs.

that is all.

again, heaps of kudos, Sir!

Man ,thats looking GREAT!

Looks marvelous, Tim! Don't worry about taking artistic license; the different interpretations of an object is what makes this hobby so interesting.

Sean

Tim,

Looks AWESOME! Between you and Lou...I am getting some great ideas for mine! I ordered the Photo-Etch from Gil as I think that is a must to have for this kit. I have the figures from Drew...now I need to get some lighting....Gil is sold out on his...must find another source or figure out how to do some myself!

Your buid as well as Lou's are very inspiringl! Love how you handled the melting rims...went and bought some brass tube for mine as well.
I will be installing a diamond plate floor in mine...found some at the right scale.

I haven't started mine yet...alot of stuff in the hopper "so to speak"!

MMM

Tim,

Looks AWESOME! Between you and Lou...I am getting some great ideas for mine! I ordered the Photo-Etch from Gil as I think that is a must to have for this kit. I have the figures from Drew...now I need to get some lighting....Gil is sold out on his...must find another source or figure out how to do some myself!

Your buid as well as Lou's are very inspiringl! Love how you handled the melting rims...went and bought some brass tube for mine as well.
I will be installing a diamond plate floor in mine...found some at the right scale.

I haven't started mine yet...alot of stuff in the hopper "so to speak"!

MMM
Just to let you know I do have headlights on stock and I am also chiming in because Tim That's a great idea on how you did your lens on the panels :thumbsup:

Gil

Very nice chariot, The details you put in it look OUTSTANDING.
Bert
Model Maker

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy001.jpg
I managed to finish the wiring harness last night, and get everything all buttoned up! Viola! Let there be light!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy002.jpg
My blinking LED setup has stopped blinking on the B-9, and I suspect it may be a power issue due to alll the other lights, so I have to fiddle with it.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy003.jpg
This scanner light is blinding....
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy004.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy005.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy006.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Chariot%20from%20LIS/charioy008.jpg
It literally lights up the whole room it's so bright!

Just to let you know I do have headlights on stock and I am also chiming in because Tim That's a great idea on how you did your lens on the panels :thumbsup:

Gil

Thanks Gil! I just ordered a headlight set from you....

Tim, can you tell me how you added the LED for the scanner? Did you tie it in by adding LED and a resistor of some sort? And also the LED for the robot...how cool is that!!!

PM me with the details of how you did this...just need to know what the wiring diragram would look like..resistor value and LED size...I have some electronic skills...just don't use them too often!

MMM

That black carpet adds a nice touch.

What lighting kit did you use? JAI or Vodoo?
Looks fantastic by the way, excellent job!

I used the JAI set for the headlights, added on everything else myself.

very nice!