TaMater - build details (part 2 of 2)

January 2015: Part 2/2 - body details, and Larry the driver.

Although this ended up being very much a scale build, at the same time, in keeping with the original inspiration, I wanted to put a suitable comic twist on it - and decided that rather than try and sculpt an obvious face onto the front of the vehicle, I would create a custom Willy head for the driver that had an open face helmet, revealing an over-sized buck-toothed grin instead!

Christened Larry Willy (after Larry the Cable Guy - the voice of Mater in the movie), his torso is the Sand Scorcher driver part, that has been modified by replacing the scale hands with Wild Willy oversize gloves - while holding the Scorcher steering wheel.

The Scorcher driver fits really nicely inside the Midnight Pumpkin cab area (gluing the mounting tab directly to the inside of the door (see photo 8 below), and if you retained the original head or smiliar 1/10th scale alternative, I am confident would fit in without having to remove the rear window.

pic. 1: Larry at the wheel, and sign-written door (using white Letraset).

pic.2: Fuel filler recess added to otherwise flat panel - in the same position as movie Mater.

pic.3: Winch for the crane is a modified Wild Willy 2 part - cable is formed from lock-wire. The chain and hooks that support the boom (together with R-clips for the boom pivot) allow the assembly to be removed if desired.

pic.4: Rear cross-member detail - chevrons masked and painted, scale shackles from Yeah Racing, and the original rear bumper mounting recesses were modified to create rear lights - using round Axial lenses, while the existing 3mm screw hole is the perfect location for a small LED in each side.

pic.5: Wound-down window adds more scale detail - I prefer to have it partially open to add realism. Door handles are covered with aluminium tape, and sanded with very fine (1200 grit) wet&dry paper to dull the shine.

pic.6: Larry's toothy grin! The original helmet chin piece was removed, and the lower part of his face is sculpted from Isopon P38 body filler.

pic.7: Scorcher driver body and Wild Willy gloves fit perfectly in the cab.

pic.8: Underneath, you can see the fuel filler part, plus the R clips for securing the crane boom. The cable from the Amber beacon on the roll-bar connects to the receiver and flashes. I will also be adding an LED control unit for the front and rear lights.

pic.9: Willy's helmet is just a little too large to fit in the cab without removing the rear window.

pic.10: Bonnet weathering scorched and rusted - suggests this truck has been out in the desert a LONG time!

So that is pretty much the project completed. I will ultimately be fitting a series of LED lamps - one for the headlight, and one in the rear work-lamp, plus a pair of red tail lights in the rear crossmember... I am also considering converting the rear axle to dual wheels using the 1:14th scale Tamiya truck wheels - however, not only are they a touch pricey, but I imagine I will also have to extend the rear wheel arches to cover them satisfactorily... these things never end do they?!

Toot toot!

Jenny xx