TOPIC:

Found and bought a lot of Hilux parts together with a complete runner some time ago. The runner was not at all bad, but i could not resist starting a build with as many as possible of the NOS-parts in the lot. Opening the blister packs is scary....

The cars as they were advertised. You can't really see it, but the white body had been in a chrash of some kind, with broken (but present) A pillar, and broken (and missing) B-pillar on the left hand. Otherwise, the body was really good. Never painted and scratch free.

Started by tearing down the runner, because the previous owner, had changed the new frame onto the runner, for some reason. I wanted to build on that frame, so the teardown was necessary.

I decided to use the mehanism box alredy attached to the chassis, but replaced the crossmembers, simply because of the quality.

everything for the car was not NOS, though, so i still have some parts I need to source. Should try to find a good front crossmember, as the one on it now is slightly rusted.Could also need a good lid with tabs/mounts for the front cab. Overall, not too much missing, so it's mainly rebuilding it.



Blister packs before opening...

Nervous....






Here you can see the damage to the front cab. Although it has been started a repair, I still will go for the other cab that was in pieces, just because everything was there. Will sell off the rest of the parts as a project, so this broken cab will go there.







I will go for this cab instead, as it has all parts, and glued back together fairly easy.

Great project and some lovely new parts.

You're a braver man than I, opening those blisters... Think if it'd have been me, I would have stuck them on Ebay & bought myself a second hand Rolls (Or another hilux) with the funds! I often wonder what exactly I would do if I found myself owning an unbuilt boxed one - that's a dilemma I don't really want to even think about!

I totally see the dilemma. I once bought 6 NIB kits.(Grasshopper, Wild One,Lancia Rally, Super Sonic, Brat and Frog) I sold or traded all for resto projects. That is what's fun for me. Building new isn't really that fun. Only one I regret selling off is the Grasshopper, actually, because that was the first one I bought as a child. Pure nostalgia. The Hilux on the other hand, was not NIB, but had some blisterpacks. All screws were already taken out of the bags, so I didn't think it was that much of a chrime. Had it been a NIB, I would never have dared touch it... But I think it will make a good shelf queen, in the end.

Tasty, far tidier than mine!

Inspired by Johnny Retro, I have started some fiddling with broken parts. First off was the body (the black one that was broken in three pieces). Simply paintstripped and glued back together. Quite easy fix- Feels strong, although I might reinforce with some milliput.








After repairing the cab, I focused on the front, as this was also broken.

Before repair:





After using some fiddling with glue, making of fitting plastic sheets, it was reinforced with milliput, and is ready for some sanding. I like to do my sanding outside, in nice weather, so I think it will have to wait a while... Right now, we have a harsh period with -20 degrees centigrades and below, so there is not much happening outside...

Wow that is one awesome project and car!!! I always wanted one of those but still i can't get my hands on a nice one to rebuild....

Note to myself; GET A HILUX!!!!