Land Rover Defender with WPL upgrade

thingiverse

A couple years back, I designed [Land Rover Defender by Spone](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2395001). It featured a 3D printed transmission that was unfortunately quite weak. Since then, cheap Chinese models like WPL, MN90, and their parts have flooded the market. However, this project required more customization than these affordable options could provide, so I made some modifications and created custom 3D models for the WPL parts. To get started, you'll need to gather the following components: * [WPL Metal Gear Bridge Axle Set](https://www.banggood.com/WPL-B-1-Driving-Box-Motor-116-Military-Truck-RC-Crawler-Car-Parts-p-1227741.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) * [WPL B-1 Driving Box Motor](https://www.banggood.com/WPL-B-1-Driving-Box-Motor-116-Military-Truck-RC-Crawler-Car-Parts-p-1227741.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) * [WLtoys 1/18 A949 RC Rally Car Right Wheel 2 PCS ](https://www.banggood.com/WLtoys-1-or-18-A949-RC-Rally-Car-Right-Wheel-2-PCS-A949-02-p-927717.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) * [Wltoys A949 Rc Car 1/18 2.4Gh 4WD Rally Car Left Wheel 2Pcs](https://www.banggood.com/Wltoys-A949-Rc-Car-118-24Gh-4WD-Rally-Car-Left-Wheel-2Pcs-p-932445.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) * [10pcs 623ZZ 3x10x4mm Ball Bearings Shielded Radial Ball Bearing](https://www.banggood.com/10pcs-623ZZ-3x10x4mm-Ball-Bearings-Shielded-Radial-Bearings-p-1049663.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) * 3 mm steel rod * M2, M3 screws, nuts Initially, I used plastic driveshafts, but they proved to be weak and not reliable. I highly recommend replacing them with the following: * [3PCS Metal Universial Drive Shaft ](https://www.banggood.com/3PCS-Metal-Universial-Drive-Shaft-for-WPL-B16-B36-116-6WD-Rc-Car-Parts-p-1418199.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN&p=J7171269288462016106&custlinkid=616409) To assemble the axles, you'll need to print and attach the following parts: * Axle hubs * Axle shafts You can then insert the axle shafts into the hubs and secure them with screws. Make sure to leave enough slack for proper movement. Next, you'll need to attach the WPL gearbox to the chassis using hot glue. Be careful not to obstruct any of the moving parts. To create the leaf springs, cut a piece of stainless steel into a curved shape using a Dremel tool. Repeat this process until you have four identical pieces. The WLtoys wheel has a larger hex mount than the standard WPL wheel, so I created a custom hex adapter to make them compatible. Here's a video showcasing my building process: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MIAtj1pY-Gs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> And here's a test run of the completed model: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JCqoxLDxK-o" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>