Faust Posted March 8, 2013 Posted March 8, 2013 Okay, so some things are just too bizarre for words. This is one of them, the Minicraft 1/20 Toyota Sports Van! This thing is crazy; it's smaller in 1/20 than most 1/24 vans, but it's got everything you need packed right in there! It's like a weird ricer/vanner love-child! Check it out, and tell me you don't want one.
Faust Posted March 8, 2013 Author Posted March 8, 2013 (edited) You can lie to me, but you can't lie to yourself. Â Just because it's awkward, ugly and garish, that's no reason not to want one. Â Maybe you didn't notice that the TV was red. That must be it... Â Edited May 7, 2016 by Faust
crazyjim Posted March 8, 2013 Posted March 8, 2013 I just replied with what you said to do, Adam. Gotta go now. It's Friday and that means pizza, popcorn, and WWE Friday Night Smackdown.
Faust Posted March 8, 2013 Author Posted March 8, 2013 Oh, so you did! Pizza and wrestling! Go Friday Nights!!
Faust Posted March 9, 2013 Author Posted March 9, 2013 Yeah, I hear you. At least I have the Today and this guy. They just look so weird to North American eyes!
Faust Posted March 9, 2013 Author Posted March 9, 2013 Awesome! Of course, there's that Nissan Vannette on the side of the Toyota's box, too. The Kei cars make a very interesting comparison to what we here in North America consider a "compact" or "sporty" or "downsized" car. I mean, look at the Honda Today, compared to a Trans Am (see picture lower in the review), which is supposed to be a sporty car, and is very cramped and small-feeling (I know, I've driven a few!)
gray07 Posted March 10, 2013 Posted March 10, 2013 I have the orange one on the side of the box, unbuilt, i posted a write up about it in this section.
Faust Posted March 21, 2014 Author Posted March 21, 2014 Are there any more than these two in this weird Japanese Street Van series? I know there's nothing else on the box, but I can't help but wonder what else is out there! What ever happened to 1/20 as a scale? That seems to have just faded out of popularity...
Erik Smith Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 I don't know about that 1/20 scale series, but Gunze Sangyo has Toyota and Nissan vans similar in 1/24. There are four versions I know of, probably more.
Faust Posted March 22, 2014 Author Posted March 22, 2014 Are you kidding me? Those are absolutely over the top! "Sports for Health"?? What the... "Hiace Invader"?? What's with the chopper on the roof?? This is totally the Vannin' phenomenon through the lens of cultural distortion. I sooooo wish I had those top two. Thanks for showing me these; now I have something to look for!
DrGlueblob Posted March 26, 2014 Posted March 26, 2014 I found the Gunze Hiace UFO van at the back of a hobby shop in Houston in 2002.. It's pretty neat!
Daddyfink Posted March 26, 2014 Posted March 26, 2014 I had the two Mini Craft kits when I was a kid. Bought them at a discount type shop for only $1.50 each! Wish I still had them! I am a total sucker for vans and weird kits!
Faust Posted March 26, 2014 Author Posted March 26, 2014 Darn it, Chip! You're a lucky man! What's the deal with the helicopter? Is it a separate piece, or moulded onto the roof rack? Wow, a whole $3.00 for the pair?? That's awesome! I still hope one day I can find either the orange Nissan or the pair of awesome silver vans. I'll keep my nose to the floor a-looking, that's for sure! I'm also certain their hard to miss...
Erik Smith Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 Adam - couple sprue shots... Helicopter is separate.
Faust Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 = WANT!!! That thing is amazing! I love the curtain in the "bulkhead" and the chopper just makes it. The decals look perfect, too. Such an awesome thing to build. Free, it, man! Free the UFO! I agree with Greg: Vans are totally rad, and all other hip and cool adjectives that are equivalent. Sick? I dunno, I'm too old for this stuff. Thanks for the sprue shots! Made my day!
Casey Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Is the helicopter supposed to be a scale R/C helicopter or...? I guess with this kit anything is possible, and probable.
gray07 Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 i would love too find that blue one, i used to drive a 87 toyota van, as my daily driver
blubaja Posted April 16, 2014 Posted April 16, 2014 I NEED THESE VANS!!!!!! They pop up on ebay now and then, but I give up after $40s:/
Edsel-Dan Posted April 17, 2014 Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) With a Surfboard, and what look like 2 Skate boards, I would Bet that Yes it is an RC Helo. And, Yes, I too would Love to find some of these!!!! Edited April 17, 2014 by Edsel-Dan
Faust Posted December 27, 2014 Author Posted December 27, 2014 What's with the surf boards? I don't normally associate surfer culture with Vanner culture, but it sure seems that the Japanese do? The Lite-Ace custom I posted at the start of the thread comes with a matching surfboard, too! I think it's great they way they try and put "Americanism" into these street vans, but it just doesn't work. You know, like a single side pipe, mags, etc. So bizarre!
chunkypeanutbutter Posted December 27, 2014 Posted December 27, 2014 It seems they also associate vans with health, so their ideas of vanning seem skewed And I saw two nice builtups of a Tamiya Eunos roadster and the Honda Today on eBay about a month ago for ten bucks... I wish I had jumped on those.
Erik Smith Posted December 27, 2014 Posted December 27, 2014 Here's another one in recently picked up Has some type of CB radio and lamp on a desk in the back.
chunkypeanutbutter Posted December 27, 2014 Posted December 27, 2014 I would buy that one just for the radio gear!
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