51WillysJeep
RCC Addict
Hey Guys, as some of you know, I've always loved old Toyota Pickups and 4Runners. ( so much so in fact I currently own 3 -1:1 Toyota pickups, and a 1:1 84' 4runner..!!) Over the years I've also seen some sick built up projects that just leave a lasting impression in your mind thats hard to get rid of. I ran across a magazine article way back in 2005 that featured Steve Sasaki's "Powertank" 1985 4runner. ( Steve is the president and owner of the real "Powertank" portable air tank company). Ever since reading that mag I've been in love with that truck, there were SO many cool things done to it and to me it just looked perfect. Heres a few pics of the 1:1
There are also SO many talented styrene and tubework guru's on here, that over the past few years theres almost nothing that hasn't been created yet..! I'm still blown away at how this scale "hobby" has taken off into what it has become today. I've become friends with a fellow member on here "Pardonmyn00b" who is one such master talent. He's built me a few project vehicles in the past and his work is absolutely second to none. I had originally asked Rich to build me a scale 4runner a while back and this is what showed up in the mail.
As beautiful a rig as this was, I never really got around to doing anything with it. It just sat in my glass display case begging to be built.
Then in the spring of this past year I got lucky and was able to buy "Pardonmyn00b's" original grey 4runner, and then thought to myself, theres no need to have 2 identical trucks.. Thats when this crazy idea of building a scale "Powertank" 4runner was born.....
I contacted Rich and told him about my ideas of what I wanted and asked if he was onboard. He gladly accepted the challenge and off the truck went back to him for its second transformation.
As much of a sin as it is, he chopped off the 84-88 front fenders he originally made in favor of some replica "All-Pro" Offroad fiberglass fenders. ( same style fenders that are also on "Clampy" ) You can also see he's added the hole for the sunroof.
Next up was the painstaking task of making the upper bed mounted "rock rails" like on the 1:1. I had drawn Rich a pic of exactly what I wanted and he knocked out a homerun..! ( also notice the TINY little hardware used to bolt up the sliders..! )
The real truck has an awesome "Canback" soft top thats also got a custom made roof rack mounted to it. Rich and I talked about a few ideas and concepts and he finally came up with something that would work perfectly and he went to town with it.
Heres the new "Fiberglass" front fenders. Notice how the flare is mounted much higher and wider than a stock Hilux.
More to come shortly..... "thumbsup"
There are also SO many talented styrene and tubework guru's on here, that over the past few years theres almost nothing that hasn't been created yet..! I'm still blown away at how this scale "hobby" has taken off into what it has become today. I've become friends with a fellow member on here "Pardonmyn00b" who is one such master talent. He's built me a few project vehicles in the past and his work is absolutely second to none. I had originally asked Rich to build me a scale 4runner a while back and this is what showed up in the mail.
As beautiful a rig as this was, I never really got around to doing anything with it. It just sat in my glass display case begging to be built.
Then in the spring of this past year I got lucky and was able to buy "Pardonmyn00b's" original grey 4runner, and then thought to myself, theres no need to have 2 identical trucks.. Thats when this crazy idea of building a scale "Powertank" 4runner was born.....
I contacted Rich and told him about my ideas of what I wanted and asked if he was onboard. He gladly accepted the challenge and off the truck went back to him for its second transformation.
As much of a sin as it is, he chopped off the 84-88 front fenders he originally made in favor of some replica "All-Pro" Offroad fiberglass fenders. ( same style fenders that are also on "Clampy" ) You can also see he's added the hole for the sunroof.
Next up was the painstaking task of making the upper bed mounted "rock rails" like on the 1:1. I had drawn Rich a pic of exactly what I wanted and he knocked out a homerun..! ( also notice the TINY little hardware used to bolt up the sliders..! )
The real truck has an awesome "Canback" soft top thats also got a custom made roof rack mounted to it. Rich and I talked about a few ideas and concepts and he finally came up with something that would work perfectly and he went to town with it.
Heres the new "Fiberglass" front fenders. Notice how the flare is mounted much higher and wider than a stock Hilux.
More to come shortly..... "thumbsup"
