Progress: Stomp stomp stomp! Hilux liftup.

[willimo]

This first post will catch ya'll up on about two months of slow, off and on work on this project. Nothing too complicated. Just a shortcab lifted Hilux (new Aoshima kit). If I were to own a truck, this'd be it.

First, I had to make a solid front axle. Independant suspension doesn't have near enough travel for real off road capability. I took suspension and axle parts from another Hilux kit. I had to chop a rear axle and re order the parts in order to get the differential off to the side like the real thing.





Here's the bottom. No driveshafts yet. I show this because I am kinda proud of my S2000/aluminum tube muffler. Looks much better and is much more prototypical than the Aoshima parts.



Here it is with the cab on. The paint is Duplicolor Nighthawk Black Pearl (a Honda color on a Toyota?! That makes what, two Honda parts on this thing? What do you expect, honestly?) airbrushed on and Duplicolor clear bombed over it. Fast drying, hard paints, that I like. I also made a little bikini babe to wash it in a mini-diorama when it's done.





This will be done by the new year, I promise. Foodback welcome.

[Jay!]

It looks like Marty's truck from Back to the Future!

[SpoonMan Dos]

Originally Posted by willimo

Foodback welcome.

You ain't getting any food here buddy!
I think this will be a very good project when completed, but I suggest you weather the parts of the truck not being washed. You know, a little mud, swirl marks from washing etc. You did say this was going to be part of a diorama.

[stisnan]

Cool!

Originally Posted by willimo

Foodback welcome.

[CamaroSSBoy346]

very cool. Where did you buy this at? I'm compiling my christmas model list, and this one will def. be on it. I especially like it as a regular cab (i think the crew cabs are ugly imo)

btw a blackwash on the wheels might look better.

[ToyTundra]

I'm digging the u bolts on the front-nice touch, but the pumkin seems too centered unless it's a weird angle.

[hondaaccordboy21]

Great job. The bottom looks very clean. good brush work.

[VTEC-DA9]

wow that was fast, I was waiting for someone to jump onto one of these...keeping my eyes on this one! keep up the good work. I proabaly won't start my own until next year...then my lifted 4Runner, Double Cab, and Single Cab will be done together!

[blubaja]

Hey,

GO hilux!!!! This looks like its gonna come out great! Keep up the awsome work.

Frank X.

[slk320]

Looks fantastic! I love the lifted truck. BTW - The exhaust is spectacular, excellent use of parts bin.

[cwmax]

That looks nice. I need to get one of these for sure

I see one thing though .... are the torsion <(spelling help?) rods are still on the chassis? No need for them with the new front axle and leaf springs.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by cwmax

That looks nice. I need to get one of these for sure

I see one thing though .... are the torsion <(spelling help?) rods are still on the chassis? No need for them with the new front axle and leaf springs.

Ah-ha! That's what those are. I've been wondering. I have to admit that I'm fairly ignorant of these things. I've had to do a lot of learning as I go, taking a crash course in stomping so there's a lot I don't know yet. Those will most certainly get cut off. Thanks for the tip, cwmax.

The bottom is all spray painted different colors and assembled. There is a lot to do yet, the oil pan needs some paint and everything needs touch up.

The front diff is off to the right, as it should be, it just looks odd in that photo. Scope the first two shots of me adjusting the position.

SpoonMan Dos - I thought about weathering it, I love the way a mudder looks when it comes home. But at the same time, there's something about a clean truck that's apealling too, and I think I'm going that route. It's such a simple build, I am going to make a point of trying to make it the cleanest build I can in paint and assembly. That means leaving the mud off. Perhaps I'll put a chamois in her hand, so it'll be excusably clean.

[SupaMan89T]

OOOOOOOOOOOOo Willimo great color i painted my rx-7 that color its awsome huh! I want this kit so bad i can taste it! *mmm plastic* Awsome job man!

[mike@af]

Very cool Willimo. I think it should run over your poseur car, with some damage on it.

Just an FYI Will, those plans you have written on your notepad; Well, NNL was a few weeks ago.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Just an FYI Will, those plans you have written on your notepad; Well, NNL was a few weeks ago.

Really?!

Actually, that just gives you an idea of how long this thing has been in the works.