Gunze Sangyo Toyota Hiace

[Spottedlaurel]

I've had this one for a good 10 years now, wanting to do something a little different this time I thought I'd give it a go.

It's fairly simplistic, with a generic chassis that's shared with another van in range.

Funky accessories including a couple of skateboards, surfboard and R/C helicopter! The other van I have includes scuba diving gear.

I don't plan to build it with the decals. I'm going for a more standard look, either in this beige or perhaps a pale yellow which I recall they did offer on this generation.

 

Quick mock-up on the Fujimi Aoshima accessory wheel set. I don't have too many 5-stud alloys to choose from, but these should suit it well. The Hiace shares the same 5x114.3mm/4.5" stud pattern as the larger Toyota and Nissan cars, and also Mopar/Jeep?, so they can be seen with all sorts of wheels.

I found this old press photo, which convinced me the front spoiler had to go. I also opened-up the vent below the bumper. Overall it looks like a reasonably faithful recreation.

The sliding side door and top-hinged tailgate fit nicely.

My plan for its look is a plain and simple exterior with a day van interior, lowered and sitting on the period alloys. Maybe the owner got hold of a really clean minibus from a church or community group, and has fitted some of the interior from a rotten camper? I can recall seeing photos of similar things at Japanese shows, sometimes with a selection of old car parts, brochures, magazines etc for sale on the ground outside. I'd happily have such a thing at 1:1 and do the same myself!

Just about to get some primer on it and will trial some colours today.

Edited May 17, 2021 by Spottedlaurel

[iamsuperdan]

That's pretty neat. I like the oddball stuff!

 

[cobraman]

I like it too. I don't believe I have ever seen that one before.

[Spottedlaurel]

3 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

That's pretty neat. I like the oddball stuff!

Thanks Dan, me too!

2 hours ago, cobraman said:

I like it too. I don't believe I have ever seen that one before.

I don't recall seeing many others for sale here. Seems like this was one was sold at a UK shop when new, it has a price tag for £7.99 from Park Toys who were up north - that price is about right for a kit sold in the '80s.

Edited May 17, 2021 by Spottedlaurel

[Spottedlaurel]

Didn't realise it was over two years ago since I last did anything on this one!

Not sure that I've actually done a lot more now, but I've been spurred onto making some progress with it.

The paint went on in 2021, from memory Sandalwood Beige (Halfords automotive paint intended for a 1980s Austin-Rover). Now got to summon up courage to paint the trims along the bodywork and around all those windows.

Sliding door seems to fit OK-ish. Ride height is about as low as it will go without surgery - I think it'll suit it OK as above, some lower profile tyres would help.

Big thing now is the interior, and maybe some accessories - it might end up with the inflatable boat from the AMT Hilux kit as well as what came with it.

[dino246gt]

I love these oddball kits, looks good so far, can't wait to see what you do with it............ model on!

[dust collectors]

Love the odd ones!

[Spottedlaurel]

I didn't end up doing much more this one back in the summer, but with a bit of holiday over the last week I've managed to make some progress.

Most of the interior has been painted, just needs tidying/detailing and I used some leftover woodgrain side panel decals from a Revell Chevelle Wagon kit to do the table top.

Rear axle and suspension sorted and I've made a start on the tedious job of painting window trims. There's a quite a bit of detailing required on the bodywork, but doing a reasonable job on that will elevate it from something quite toylike into a presentable model.

Handily I saw a really nice 1:1 Hiace in France when on holiday this summer:

 

 

This one was for sale. Would love to have been in a position to have bought it, but I'll have to make do with my kit for now.

[Spottedlaurel]

Made good progress on this one today, keen to get it finished so I can start another new build (or two, or more....).

Partway through detailing the wheels. They're Hoshine Impul D-01, although the box calls them Silhouette which is an updated version with extra bolts around the rim. I've since done them all and tidied them up a bit.

I'm now at the point where most parts are off the sprues, painted and ready to fit, or at least in progress. Suspension is fairly basic due to it being a kit that could motorized, but it's fine for a curbside.

At this point I had to see if everything fitted together - I was nervous about the sliding door and that tall bulkhead.

 

A little bit of final detailing and tidying required, but it went together OK and it certainly looks like a Hiace.

I opted to apply BMF to the lower body trim, as it matches the chrome bumpers and I couldn't face more 'black' painting (actually Revell Anthracite #9).

[hct728(Bob)]

Nice job so far! I really like that kit, so glad you decided to build and show it off!

[Spottedlaurel]

4 minutes ago, hct728(Bob) said:

Nice job so far! I really like that kit, so glad you decided to build and show it off!

Thanks Bob. Just doing a quick search, seen a few different boxed versions with alternative graphics but so far I can only find one other built example!

[tooltime-fan]

Great Inspiration build so far.

Fanny side note: I just bought the same kit off ebay After long search for one of the though I rather would have put my hands on a vanette from that series

[Spottedlaurel]

On 1/21/2024 at 8:43 AM, tooltime-fan said:

Great Inspiration build so far.

Fanny side note: I just bought the same kit off ebay After long search for one of the though I rather would have put my hands on a vanette from that series

Thanks, and good to know someone else has one! I have the Urvan/Caravan E20 too, but I'd love to get the Vanette as well - there was one on eBay here, but it was something like £150....

Final shots before I plan to get it finished at the weekend:

 

 

Rear door isn't properly fitted yet. Dots in the glass are from where it should have a chrome porthole surround.

I added the accessories that came with it and added some deckchairs, cushions and drink cans from a Fujimi parts pack plus the dinghy from an AMT Hilux.

Edited January 24, 2024 by Spottedlaurel