Wild Max? Aero Willy?...
Status: Runner
Date: 18-May-2021
Comments: 13
...Comical Max Willy?!
What do you call an odd mix of Ford Aeromax, Wild Willy, GF01 and Comical Buggy parts? I've got no idea, but that doesn't matter.
More important things first. Longer-term members will know that this build is very much inspired by Jennymo's wonderful 'Stumpkamper' - https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=125928&id=25648
Jenny built it in 2015. At the time, an ebay seller was selling the Aeromax body sets with a considerable discount so I grabbed one. It arrived, I was pleased, and then I... did nothing!
And so this has been an on-and-off project over the intervening years. Lots of ideas, actually did a fair bit of work on it, but couldn't really decide on theme or colour scheme or what I wanted it to be. Until about six months ago, when I took it out of its box and narrowed down some options. Some of you will probably think it's a bit boring, but I really like the military/desert scheme, I've used it on a couple of other models and it just works for me.
Chassis first - it's a GF-01 chassis from a Toyota FJ40 kit. The suspension arms, driveshafts etc have been swapped for the slightly wider versions from a WR02CB (comical) kit. Rear wheels from a Wild Willy 2 are used all round. Steel pinion gear, ballraces and CVA shocks are all used, along with the Tamiya aluminium steering arm and gearbox brace. The aluminium servo plate is home-made and the wheelie bar has been modded to fit two wheels.
The body has also had its fair share of mods and add-ons. I added an internal bulkhead/cockpit rear wall, possibly to add some strength but mainly so that other things could be stuck to it. Scratch built interior with cut-down original dashboard. A little extra bodywork at the rear so the rear lights could be fitted. Various hatches and handles/rails were added too. Fuel can, spare wheel and winch from a Wild Willy 2, side windows cut away. Roof light bar and basic light kit, and a SRB antenna to finish off.
No-one will be surprised to see Wild Willy driving :-)
But the Aeromax comes with a bonus - a nice big hole in the roof! Just the right size for an 'observer' to pop his head through and have a look around. And if his head is connected to a mini-servo which is then connected to the steering channel, he can look around even more!
So here it is. It's not 6 years worth of work, but still quite a lot of time and effort. I hope you think it was worth it!
cheers,
Rob
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
3
1
1
If you liked those pictures, you should see these...
City collection
Comments
Dirt-540
Very fun and very cool!
mtbkym01
Another brilliant creation Rob, top work as always
pininy
Awesome work!
IBIFTKH
Thanks guys, as always your kindness and support is very much appreciated.
0rwin
the windscreen dust is a really nice touch, how did you do that?
IBIFTKH
The windscreen - just masked off the wiper arcs and lightly sprayed from several feet away. Simple but quite effective, I think (hope!).
Phillenios
That is so good, it should have a Tamiya model number….
Very cool convoy - the thing I love about this is that it looks like a tamiya kit that was actually produced! It's really hard to capture that and you did an amazing job! I really like the desert camo scheme - works for me too!
DesPrinzla
Rob, beautifully, i love your work
koenc
Now where is that übercool class here? Straight into that class. Amazing idea build in perfection.
MAD-BEE
Rob what can be said?? Another classic creation! Love these thing's you put together but one thing' that dude at the back could do with a machine gun or something sticking out the back of the vehicle to look like a gun so willy's hands look like they are on the controls of a machine gun! Maybe an idea? But love it mate great details again!! Nice one buddy.
IBIFTKH
Thank you all for all the awesome comments, you're very kind. I've got to admit I'm really pleased with this one so it's great to know you all like it too.
@Mad-Bee, James, I thought about fitting a machine gun or something similar but in the end decided not to. Three reasons -
I haven't got one!
It would be something else to break if (when!) I crash it
And probably over-thinking things, but it's a wheelie truck, a bit of fun, so putting a gun on it doesn't quite feel right. None of my Wild Willys have guns either, same reason. As I said, over-thinking, but my poor little brain cell ties itself in knots over this sort of thing.
MAD-BEE
I get it Rob' Willy is a lover not a fighter! Haha!!
Want to leave a comment?