I'll try to catch up on answering questions. I'm actually writing out a datasheet as I go, just as a little thought experiment.
The blue boxes making up the habitat/living space are as JCF noted, gang boxes picked up at Lowe's for less than $3 each. The nails may or may not stay in place as the build progresses.
It will be 8 wheel drive, 8 wheel steering with the wheel hubs containing the electric drive motors. Power can be shared between wheels of a drive unit, or between drive units as needed.
I actually bolted the two gang boxes together with a pair of 1/4" bolts I had laying around. The plastic seems to take Testors liquid cement ok. I do need to get some CA, just in case...
A majority of the parts, including the wheels, to be used on this project are sourced from a pair of 1/25 AMT Monster Truck kits I had picked up a long time ago.