Mattzilla Gen 3 Hilux

[sgtbham]

I looked around and I didnt see an example of this BUT I only looked here so if I am stepping on anyone`s toes here I am sorry (but hasnt everything been done already anyway?). Anyhow, I love these trucks and I need something to keep me busy while Mattzilla works on this one for me

My Matzilla Montero


y6 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

My abilities pale in comparison to a LOT of the builders on here so I hope nobody is expecting perfection but I am confident that I will get close enough to make my self happy! So I ordered some hilux body parts and got busy -

First thing I did was hack off the fender flares and the hood

IMG_9139 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

I then started cutting out some of details that are different

IMG_5880 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

The reason for cutting out the hood is I need to add a little material to it to undo the slight pinch they have stock

IMG_2393 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

After it cured I sanded it down to where it needed to be, overall this made the front just over a 1/4" wider

IMG_4980 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

Which seems just about right

IMG_5724 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

I decided to focus on building the hood up (there will be a lot of this) before I start building out the sides so I started with the lowest parts first

IMG_3954 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

IMG_2729 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

I still have a lot to do on the hood, I think the front of this truck will be a brick of styrene filed into shape but I am ok with that lol - so I tossed my grille in a bag of brake fluid while I though about how much work this is gonna be...

IMG_0255 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

Anyhow, like I said there are a lot of folks that completely smoke me in the bodywork department BUT I think this will be a challenge and I will be happy with the end result. After I see how wide it ends up being I will make my desicions on what chassis/axles to run. Thanks for looking!

[fr8cture]

I think you are selling yourself short. You do a great job and are improving every time I see you build something new.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by fr8cture

I think you are selling yourself short. You do a great job and are improving every time I see you build something new.

Haha well thanks but I guess time will tell!

[boosted4lyf]

Listen man, I am really worried about you getting overwhelmed by building both the yota and montero.
I think we both know what's best to do in this situation, so I am willing to send my shipping address to lue for the montero, in fact he only lives a couple hrs away, and it's been a while since I've been to his shop.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by boosted4lyf

Listen man, I am really worried about you getting overwhelmed by building both the yota and montero.
I think we both know what's best to do in this situation, so I am willing to send my shipping address to lue for the montero, in fact he only lives a couple hrs away, and it's been a while since I've been to his shop.

Haha, Im glad you are soo worried about me but I think Im fine because Lue was going to just sell the body for $20 last I heard...LOL! Thanks for the kind words buddy!

[sgtbham]

Slooooow going but I am trying to use as little filler as possible so thats the price I pay, anyhow I think I am starting to get the slope of the hood right for a gen3!


IMG_8689 by sgtbforza, on Flickr


IMG_7151 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

[Androtaz]

Looking good. keep it coming. I need to get some scratch building skills.

[Perkolator]

looks like a great project! it's actually the next rig i was planning to make since i own a 93 pickup - btw, where did you get that grille? it looks pretty close to the right grille, so what's it off of?

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by Androtaz

Looking good. keep it coming. I need to get some scratch building skills.

Thanks man but I am far from a scratch builder, scratch builders do amazing things - I just mutate existing bodies lol, I appreciate the kind words!

@Perkolator - its just the grill from the RC4WD Trunner body, they sell a chrome version seperate for $24 - saves you from buying the whole body!

[fr8cture]

Looking good so far. Just noticed you made on Team LockedUp. Congrats you deserve it.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by fr8cture

Looking good so far. Just noticed you made on Team LockedUp. Congrats you deserve it.

Thanks man its a huge honor, it hasnt really sank in yet I think!

[Perkolator]

Originally Posted by sgtbham

@Perkolator - its just the grill from the RC4WD Trunner body, they sell a chrome version seperate for $24 - saves you from buying the whole body!

Good to know! For some reason I was thinking the t-runner was all lexan with the grille formed into it.

[Hoosierdady]

Looking good Don. It won't be long now and it'll really start coming together.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by Hoosierdady

Looking good Don. It won't be long now and it'll really start coming together.

I hope so man! Even if its not....I got all kinds of time lol

[sgtbham]

The main thing that will make this an 89 is getting the fender bulges right but the sides on an old hilux body are very different too and I have to get them right before I can start building out the fenders - here is an example of what I am talking about.


y5 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

So I sanded down half of the ridge on the sides that hilux bodies have and started laying strips down

IMG_5135 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

The reason for using strips was to make sure each piece got down in the "dip" then I sanded them flat
(unsanded)

IMG_9788 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

I got it to my liking and skinned it with a piece of .040 and started sanding it into shape

IMG_9366 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

IMG_9792 by sgtbforza, on Flickr

Thats most of the shaping anyway, I will start on the light finish sanding tonight - then I will start building out the fender bulges.

[Calderwood]

Do want!

[Yotapane]

Can't wait to see this one finished, here's My old dd

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by Yotapane

Can't wait to see this one finished, here's My old dd

I dont know if it was intentional or not but that is a very helpful picture man! Thank you!! I bet that truck was fun!

[Perkolator]

looking good! interesting way of building up the sides to change the profile but looks like it'll work just fine. if you need any more pics of 3rd gen pickups let me know, i've got a 93 xcab i can take pics of.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by Perkolator

looking good! interesting way of building up the sides to change the profile but looks like it'll work just fine. if you need any more pics of 3rd gen pickups let me know, i've got a 93 xcab i can take pics of.

Yeah...Im kinda questioning now if using a Hilux was the right call, Im certain it would look better if it were scratch built but I just dont have the ability. Oh well I am armed with a healthy amount of stubborness and a fresh Hilux cab haha - it will get done one way or the other. The next update will take a while, after filling in some rough spots on the hood with baking soda and superglue and putting my raw pieces on the sides I think im looking at a good three days of sanding.


IMG_3469 by sgtbforza, on Flickr