Toyota Hilux

Chassis with the drive train added. Initial painting started. 

Lots of details to be painted, as well as the chassis itself. The steering linkage needs to be added, but the moulded hooked ends are too loose, so it just drops off. I need to figure out a neat solution. 

Leaf springs need painting too.  

Next stage of painting, and some dry brushed silver. 

Sun-faded inspiration. 

Trying to build up some highlights and shadows.  

I'll see how these look when dry, then think about adding some wear to the seats. 

Wondering if I need to make up seat belts - the next steps are going to be challenging for sure... 

Parts for the interior coming together. 

Decal for the instrument panel applied, after the dashboard fully dried. 

Dry fit only at the moment. Thinking about making floor mats to cover those holes... 

Dash and console installed, but extra holes in the floor could be covered by mats. Going to try mesh glued to foil, and painted to look like rubber, if I can.  

Trompe l'oiel painting to the gear change gaiters, to try to make flat plastic look like pleated leather.  

Ready for next steps... I have to work out best way to paint and install the window glazing, so need to paint the externals before installing anything further. Colours? Let's see..... 

Not sure I'd buy a used car from him.... 

Latest progress...... 

Dirty foot mats, and a couple of spare PE parts to add details. Being red, they catch the eye. 

Sides added, after touch ups. 

Silver overall, then a black wash. 

Bodywork painted, and slatted deck painted to try to make the slats wooden. 

It's getting there.  

The next steps are to paint the trims around the windows, and bump strips on the doors. I'm going to have to be very careful to keep it neat. 

Masking for the first half of the black details. 

Here we go.... 

Ok so far 🙂 

Now for the rubber around the windows. A few curves to work the narrow tape around. Fingers crossed... 

Quite happy so far, with only some tidying up to do later. 

Rear window rubber done, but there is another narrow feature just below. Is this black too? Hmm... 

Progress on the bodywork, and next pieces being prepared. Yes, that is a broken piece, on the clear sprue 🙁 

Front bumpers ready for clear parts. 

Tailgate installed, and handle painted. I wasn't happy with the cargo deck ribs, so a grey wash has been applied. I'll decide how to develop it once it has dried, and I can see how I feel about it. Neat and tidy, or well-used and scruffy? I can see that I'll need to emphasise the thin blue panel, below the rear windows. Free-hand or masked? We'll see 🙂 

Silver added to the door handles, looking very 'sharp', so I'm glad I did that. I need to tidy up the top edges of the blue, tight below the window rubbers. 

Something new for me, paint on clear parts, and I need to mix an acceptable orange.  

How it looks from the front. 

Awkward masking... 

Not so neat results. Hmm... 

Disaster of the day: I had masked and painted the panel of rear windows, but the piece cracked in two halves whilst I was removing the masking tape! I may need to fake a half open, sliding window 😉 

A little progress... but still not solved the riddle of keeping the steering linkage bar in place. Hmm... Definitely coming together, with the windows installed, body and cargo deck added to the chassis. 

Lights installed and bumpers added. Front wheels just loose fitted for the moment. 

Upholstery still visible, so I'm glad I made an effort with the shading. 

Stays for the tail gate still to be added. Gate is hinged, so can be posed. 

Loose fitted roll bars.  

Rear light clusters installed and looking fine.  

So, now to the weaponry.... 

Choice of barrel types.  

I solved the problem of the steering linkage. Home made PE pieces used to stop it un-hooking, but still allow the steering to move. Front mud guards and wheels can now be installed. 

Mirrors and wipers added. 

The machine gun tripod base will fill the cargo deck. It'll be easier to see when the black plastic has been painted. 

Not yet complete, but this gives an idea of how the heavy machine gun occupies the cargo deck. 

Seat and foot rests still to be added. 

PE for the sights also to be added. Easier to see the details, now painted. 

Final PE and small items added. 

Now to work on the base.... 

A light brown and then dark earth colour added to the primed base. 

Dead vegetation and autumn tussocks added, then courser grit in patches, then fine sand over everything. A few tyre tracks rolled in, for good measure. Now just got to see how it looks when dry. 

And there we are, finished, and posed in a small patch of rough ground.