MPC 1/20 Highjacker 4x4 van

[Mike C.]

Thanks Jim. I was waiting for some other paint and stuff to get here. But I decided to press forward. Made a nice spread for the bed using a fleece scarf I found at the dollar store. Glued it on waiting for the Elmer's to dry now.

[Mike C.]

Doh! I forgot to flock the headliner. Now I remember why I was waiting for that paint. ?

[Mike C.]

This thing is finally coming all together.  Now all the flocking is done. And I still.need to do the detail work on the body. I wound up using an old broken guitar string for the CB chord and it also worked for the whip antenna. Need to paint detail the CB and got the drink holder finished up.

 

[Tabbysdaddy]

I've been watching, pretty cool. But I keep wondering why someone from Pennsylvania is building a Florida Gators van.

[Mike C.]

I'm calling it the Urge Overkill van. (A band from Chicago they recorded 2 of their best albums in Philly). ?

They stole their logo from the blue and orange Union76 ball

Edited January 22, 2022 by Mike C.

[Mike C.]

Fitting the interior pieces together, I noticed that the drink holder was totally covering the radio. I had an assortment of radio decals on a gofer racing sheet so I relocated it to the overhead console. To the left is a switch panel for the vast array of lights on this rig.

[Mike C.]

This project has been sitting dormant for some time now. After I came to the decision that the blue interior sounded better on paper than it came out, I decided to begin changing it to the original brown that I had planned. Still got a ways to go on that but here's a mock up of what I'm getting towards.  I completely forgot about these tires that I had in the parts bins and they fit Casey's five slot mags perfectly. 

[Mike C.]

I gave it some tube bumpers using some 6mm styrene tubing. I painted the shocks to look like Rancho units the carpet I'm using this time is fabric rather than that flocking from last time. Still got a little detailing to do on the body. 

[Mike C.]

Okay, I got all my interior panels done with the brown carpet. While the Elmer's glue is drying I can put the final touches on the undercarriage.  Starting to get closer to getting this project under glass.

[Mike C.]

I got these chepo plastic clothespins from the dollar store (now it's the dollar 50 store). They work great for modeling work. 

[Mike C.]

This project is coming along at a snails pace. It's been fighting me every step of the way. I'm finally done with the interior.  Dig the groovy brown shag.

Now all I have left is thr exterior detailing and the off road lights. Coming down the home stretch! 

 

[Mike C.]

Starting to take shape. Didn't glue the frame onto the body yet. Just had to make sure there were no fitment issues with the grill and the lights. Still waiting for that drivers side light to dry before I attempt to glue on the other. Now comes the paint detail and the rest of the glass. Soon will be in the under glass section . Oh boy!

 

[FLHCAHZ]

Looking good!  The brown definately looks better

[Mike C.]

Thank you, Chaz. The blue sounded good on paper but after I got it on there, I regretted the decision. After spending a small fortune on the special flocking and corresponding blue cement, I wound up going back to the fabric that I bought by the yard at HL. Still got a little fine tuning but it's coming down the home stretch. Also, gotta get that ugly glue smudge off of the inside of the windshield. This glue is supposed to be specifically for clear parts. Coud have fooled me. Should I try thinner? Or would that make it worse? Anybody?

[Mike C.]

Now that all the heavy lifting is finished, I'm concentrating on the little details. I made this gun rack out of some styrene straps with spots for the bow and fishing rod. With any luck this will hang on the interior wall.

[Mike C.]

Not under glass just yet. I couldn't get that 4 teir rack to fit right so I had to cut it down to 2 and put the rifle and shotgun up and the bow and fishing rod will just sit on the bed for now. I had to raise the bed a bit for storage underneath for the spare tire and toolbox. 

[Mike C.]

Still working on the final details. These tiny door handles were a lot more difficult to Glue into place than I thought they would be. The fact that I didn't lose any of them was a small miracle.  Finally got that winch into place. I don't know why, but I always seem to paint the hooks red.

[Mike C.]

I tried to buff out that Glue smudge inside the windshield using a Q-tip wit that plastic polishing polish on it with minimal results.  I guess I'll have to just live with it.

[Mike C.]

Still working on the final touches. Some of these parts require some interesting techniques to get to the finished product. This is just one of many had to make up during this (and other) builds. 

That glue works well but there is no way any human can sit there and hold it steady for as long as it would take for it to dry.

 

 

[Mike C.]

After a way too long ang challenging build with way too many setbacks,  this model is finally finished. I might even Mud it up a little. I'm moving it to the under glass section.  Fi more expensive pictures,  go there.

 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Mike C.