High-Lift Hilux project
Status: Runner
Date: 20-Dec-2007
Comments: 66
Everyone seems to have strong opinions on this kit so heres mine. I wanted to research these a bit before building mine so I drove around looking for them and studying the wheel sizes in particular, I know everybody seems to not like the 1.9 sized wheels but really they are too big for a real truck in terms of scale. Real truck wheels are much smaller than you would think. The lifted Toyotas I looked at retained their factory wheels but had bigger tires in most cases so thats what I did. 2.2 sized wheels have strange aspect ratios and are too wide for my liking. These trucks are only a canvas for personalization anyway. I am not into the whole chrome surfer and tribal sticker thing so all that had to go in favor of a faded orange and stock steel wheel theme. I used to Have a Toyota and it had a 4cyl engine so the dual exhaust seems weird on a truck with only one exhaust manifold so again I copied my real truck with a single rusty tailpipe sticking out in front of rear bumper. The wheels are my favorite Hummer ones with the outer lug nuts shaved of to imply a steel wheel. I see rc4wd is now selling steel wheels so I might change to them as money allows. The tires are Rock stompers with 4.25 inch diameter so they are much larger than the high-lift tires but retain the realistic tire profile I like. I wanted a bit of extra stance so I used TG-10 wheel axles on the longer hexes to gain a bit of stability. I have a lot left too work on and a lot of weathering to. The color I used is bright orange, weathered with pastels and tamiya weathering kits and then coated in Testors Lusterless flat clearcoat. I have the extra KC decals on order. Thanks to Moondoggie for taking these pictures with his Sony steady shot camera. I hope they entertain and give some ideas.
1
I wanted a lifted scale truck
Needs Wyo Lic plates and more aging
Different angle
Need to fill those Bruiser body holes
Might rust her a bit like real ones
Tail shot
2
Needs an interior kit
Top shot
Tail pipe and RC4wd scale shocks
Slightly worn show bars
If you liked those pictures, you should see these...
Further Hilux mods
Comments
L-U-K-E
I like it, that colour really suits it well
EZ_78
Again a great car. Looks almost real.... Your choice in wheels and tire combo indeed make it look more realistic. Great Job. And I must admit that the Toyota body look much better than the Ford body. I almost regret buying my highlift.
Igottamiya
Very nice.
Old Skool
Well Seth you did it again real nice look. I like to plain not all dolled up look myself. It's got that real world look.
Moondoggie
I can't wait to get one for myself!
bangstick
Sometimes you just look at a model and decide you want one there and then due to the effort put in and the look achieved. This for me is one of those occasions. Nice work
mobias
That is superb. The best looking one yet by far. I know what you mean by the surfing/tribal thing, personally I think all that is really naff. Your's is so much nicer.
mr_pushrod
Best Hi-Lux I've seen by a country mile! Thought the 2.2' Cen wheels with Swamp Dawgs that I had from a TLT I bought were the best choice but I was very wrong. Where did you get those tyres from? They look perfect for the truck!
Monty
oooo you have truly made this look one awesome truck dude!!!
your beautiful scale touches and those wheels/tyres completely transform it into such a lifelike model
Wyoming
Wow Thanks guys, RC4wd.com sells these tires and some newer rock crushers which look even more scale. Be sure to use the longer axles though or these might rub.
monster_beetle
Well, euhm that's what I call just great
OCD
Absolutely perfect imperfections! (Fantastic weathering
) Tamiya really should have released this with the TG axles as standard - the stance is very scale in appearance with them.
_miga_
extraclass hilux, with TOP wheatering - those tires fits hime really excellent - i just got those rockstompers, too
- mine will be built in christmas time 
scollins
Great work Seth............still have not finished my F350 Hi-Lift from last year....Now I wish I could get one of these Hi-Luxes, but that probably wouldnt get done either,lol. Yours looks absolutely tough and honest, not a blinged out MTV-surfer dude wanna-be...
Hi Wyoming top job ,just returned from Japan and got myself a F350 ,looked at the toyota and will get one as i have a mountaneer but it just doesn't look right on the box art,you fixed that 10/10 best hilux yet as it looks real,tamiya should send you a free one as you just sold them a few more by your good work.Merry christmas. cheers Slaven.
Mud-Plugger
Oooh, could this be the start of seeing some rusty old Toyotas on TC?
Wyoming
gee whiz, thanks guys, it is a great kit because you can do so much to personalize it without spending much extra money
Corpse Thrower
This looks sensational!!
hairyguy4
very very nice yota, love this truck, you seen their new tyres?, its a 4''er [Click here]
Wyoming
No I hadn't seen those, yet another to buy for my rubber collection
Cinnamon
As always : EXCELLENT build !! Stunning !! Guess I have to apologize for my Bling-Tribal-Surfer Hi-Lux
(I kind a like it though )
You are spot-on on the wheel issue !1 The 1,9 'look' to small but the 2,2 are way to wide / big. I mounted a widening kit the other day but it didn´t do that much.Saw the higher profile tires at RC4WD and will buy them ASAP.
Again Seth the truck look awesome,cant wait til you finish the weathering. Some stuff on the rear bed too ??? Olle
SaxoChris
Very Very Stunning Hilux! Wyoming you've out done yourself again!!!
technical.burP
This car looks great. Very nice weathering effects. Any chance to lower it a bit more?
Volksrod
Looks ace! VERY realistic. would it look better without the nudge bar?
Keyser Soze
All your cars are simply amazing, and this is no exception! Tires are perfect! Great job as usual!!!
mymonsterbeetleisbroken
I think you've just made me buy a hilux highlift!!! amazing work mate, straight into my favourites!
archway66
an inspiration,one very cool truck!!
Tobbe70
That is beautiful. I really like that colour!
trismagic
sweet says it all !!!!!!!!!!!!!
MvT
Nice work! Seeing it with this size of rimms the height looks not so terrible anymore! What the right scale already can do! You should come once to Europe
Almost all 4 cylinder cars have 2 exhausts these days if you have a modern car 
even 3 cylinder cars. Good choice on the color!
Wyoming
Thanks guys, Yeah it has room to be lowered. I'm looking into building a scale ARB winch bumper instead, so many ideas, I'm really looking forward to seeing more of them before I start to mod mine much more
The Hobbymaster
Hi There Wyoming, Just a quick comment to say...Nice work Buddy! You know just how to get the best out of your projects.
keep it up!!!!! Have a great xmas and a greater new year. best wishes
Ian
TamOR
You should be sponsored by Tamiya...and Toyota! Great work, man! And touching sceneries as well - such stuff never will satisfy the hunger...if you know what I mean. Thanks!
Wyoming
Wow thanks for the all the comments guys, I was taken off guard as this truck has a long way to go yet
I seem to spend alot of time promoting Tamiya products but I'm not on the payroll...yet lol!
Mosshobby
Love those weels
backtomyroots.
Stunning work
. Worthy of a magazine cover. Now added to my favourites.
mcovalsk
Very well done! looks less agressive but more real. I like the 1.9 tires, the problem, in my thinking, is that the chassis is very high concerning the wheels, because that the 2.2 look better. I'm building other one which will have a more real high.
Danbox
Even though I usually like the big tire look best, this truck's realism is great!
SMOKE-DOG
Wow, that is nice. Your typical work. Love the weathered look. The rusty rollbar is a nice touch, very realistic.
BeetleLover
you read my mind, been researching these online lately before I get stuck into mine... used to be a great New Zealand Commercial mid 80's of a country bloke scaring the pants off a city guy by thrashing his hilux through the bush...
Wyoming
Thank you guys, I feel a little guilty because I really haven't put in much work on it, just two evenings from start to finish. I feel I need to do more for it to deserve so many nice comments.
the green beetle
You went again for the Wyoming look!!
i like it just as your other cars !!!
Chain Driven
Actually Seth was preparing this car for MY Christmas, weren't you ???? Shipping address is.....
Faantastic work Mate! Jerome.
TA-Mark
Scale model R/C at it's best. Nicely Done.
tuff bug
The wheels and paint suit it I think Toyota used the color in the early 80s it looks ready for the rough
Jedi Master
Scale modelling at its best!! I love your reasoning and approach to this truck. The results are great, I love it!!! Well Done!!!!
Soonsie
Very very nice looking Hilux!! These tires are definately the best choice for the Hilux, only shame there's no space for a proper interior...
chef_bikes
Looks superb Seth. The wheel/tyre combo works really well and looks nicely in proportion with the body. Nice job!
Toykid
The wheels look perfect, sets this off a treat. Great work and thanks for sharing.
MoParmonster
totally awesome, I love it!!!
D-Man
Holy $h*T, thats alot of comments..! very nice tho..
Wyoming
Thanks, I'm in shock myself, more than anything I've ever posted, on TC.
Bluefoot
Now that's a fine looking truck. I like where you're going with this one....
bunny555
Hi Wyoming, Great Truck!!! Thos wider diameter tyres really make a difference. My son will be building his soon and he will be looking at yours for some ideas. Excellent stuff as usual.
GreenMan
That´s a really awesome Hilux, Seth!! Fantasic scale looking colour, wheels and 'style', like it very much!!!
Have a great xmas and a fantastic year 2008!!!
amigamad
You have created a very real looking scale truck If only tamiya put a bit more effort into the wheel and tires choice .I hope to get one sometime in 2008.
Wyoming
I totally agree, but fortunately its easy to change to suit personal tastes, I really think they should have included 2.2 sized wheels so it would look like a re-re mountaineer, I would have changed them of course but it would help sales.
mikef350
after looking at your pics and comments all i can say is WOW and SUPERB.
Love your truck. Its quite amazing that you have even mad that pig-ugly front bumper look OK. I have one on order and will definately paint the front bumper black. Well done
Wyoming
Thanks, I have changed it quite a bit since these pics, lowered it more, added a Boyer Baja guard, now has an R2 single speed tranny for better trail driving and ground clearence, more weathering etc. one of my favorite trucks because there is always something left to do to it
VectraV6
My new roller look's just like this! I love the truck already, just need to get it running....
tamiyaonebay
Alright, you take the award for best photos! You may also take the award for best built kit! Very nice, I love this one.
Wyoming
Thank you kindly, This truck has undergone some serious changes since these pics but it feels much the same.
freyahel
nice truck...
wouldn't you be the 'customer from wyoming' on RC4WD ?
I knew I had seen this before...
Wyoming
Yes its the same truck as on the RC4wd.com homepage, wow I hadn't looked at these pics for awhile it really has changed a lot in the last few years
Old_School_Sang
I have the same truck. Mine is painted glossy red from a local automotive body shop. I would have never thought that matt orange would look great! I really like what you did to the truck and the pictures are so well taken and had to look twice to realized that it is a 1:10 scale truck.
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