Toyota FJ 45 ute

Here is my next big build, another build that won't interest everyone. It's the old classic FJ series I plan on building a few of the versions. So as I'm going I am making Templates of the front half as from the cab forward does not change except for the grill area. The build so far it is made out of 1.5mm plastic card, the floor has been built in at this stage to help keep the cab in shape but will cut it out once I have the roof on. in the first two pictures are just roughed in picture 3 and 4 still a bit fine tuning to do but the bulk of it has been done, I think that the raised section in the door is a bit thick will do the other side a bit thinner and adjust the one that looks wrong. The back of the cab still has to be modified as it has a very slight taper but I will get to that soon.
P.S I have a old esci BJ 44 in my horde that I don't have the heart to cut up. But donations are always welcome

Hope you enjoy it so far

Cool, looking good so far Kynan.

Cool build Kynan. I have very fond memories of these old buses. The old shorties could go anywhere in the bush. Every man and his dog had one when I was a kid going deer hunting with my old man.

I look forward to following along.

Kynan, you are a machine..........................













..........that is AWSOME
Can't wait to see the end result.

Cheers.....................Dave

Nice work so far...

Thanks Guys will start on the Right side and the Chassis to night Brice I know what you mean can remember going camping and hunting with my dad in our old one was I was a kid I think that is one of the reason's that I have wanted and planed to do the FJ series and the 88" series 3 land rover. I have owned 3 FJ series over years and enjoyed almost every minute, Maybe not at the time. Keep watching still more to come

I have got the chassis mostly done starting on the springs as you can see they are made out of brass sheet I think that they give it a more realistic look and are stronger than when made out of plastic sheet and because I make them the same way as the real one's are done they also work. If I find that the model does not sit quite at the right hight I use a model plane trick and add some small shot in to the motor till it sits right. I am still deciding if I should under sling the axles or keep them standard and over sling the so I have to make up my mind about tire size soon.

All the bits for one spring


Under slung set up compressed


Over slung set up


In the Toyota at ride weight the spring hanger sits at just vertical

will put up a how to on the springs latter tonight. How you enjoyed this update

Sweet work on those springs, can't wait to read how you did it.

Very cool....

excellent! great leafys! maybe a tutorial?

You want to be carefull Kynan. You might end up in the rubber room next to Stumps...

Zenrat I think I might be just about there now or would the working wheel studs and wheel nut's put me into that category if I decide to drill my brake drums and rotors and the rims as it would not be hard to do.
but I better do an update before you come to put me in that rubber room.
The springs are done but I have not made the spring hangers yet as it will be disassembled to be painted. The Toyota/Land Rover style diff is a Dana 60 the king pins and ball joint are working and made out of those cheap 6mm craft beads from the Dollar shop easy to make and look a lot better that the one in kits. The front Disc/Hub and rear Drum/ full floating Axel set up are some of my resin bits so are the the 38" Super Swamper TSL Boggers,Rim Adaptors and the rims are Toyota HJ Stealies. Most people drop Chevy V8 in to Toyota but being a ford bloke its getting the 390 FE big block and C6 out of the AMT 1967 Mercury Comet the Transfer case will be one of mine not shore on the type yet. The bonnet is almost done, while looking on the net I found that they made the FJ 45 in a short wheel base which has a different Ute tray to what is on the LWB that we get here I liked the look off and prefer a SWB so it's now a short wheel base. I change the trays rear to a military style as the spare wheel will sit in that area once the cage is done. Still heaps more to be done!
Hope you like the pictures Enjoy

Hope your going to be casting that sucker up, that's bloody awesome dude. put me down for one if you do cast em.

Awesome! "another build that won't interest everyone...." As if!
Much respect to you crazy scratchbuilders, I'm waaaay too lazy for those shenanigans. Keep it up!

Looking good man

Lookin good mate! Cant wait for the next update

Coming along well Kynan Looks the part mate!

Chris wrote:Awesome! "another build that won't interest everyone...." As if!

That is sweet

this is what I have managed to get done in the last few days the roof is roughed in, worked out that rear of the cab was an 1mm to long ( should check my references more often ) so shortened the cab, Tapered the rear of the cab 3mm, put in the rear windows, started to rough in the rear roll cage as well as mounted the Rockwell transfer case to the C6 gearbox and put in a scale 2' lift kit
hope you all enjoy the pictures

That looks awesome - terrific scratch building!

Kynan wrote:this is what I have managed to get done in the last few days the roof is roughed in, worked out that rear of the cab was an 1mm to long ( should check my references more often ) so shortened the cab, Tapered the rear of the cab 3mm, put in the rear windows, started to rough in the rear roll cage as well as mounted the Rockwell transfer case to the C6 gearbox and put in a scale 2' lift kit
hope you all enjoy the pictures

Is it just me or is the front of the auto not perpendicular to the back of the motor. Not meaning to be to picky. awesome bloody job though.
I had one of these short wheel base cruiser with a 454 and power glide with a 4 inch body life an 3 inch chassis lift. I wish i still had it.

Words simply cannot describe what you have built so far........

thanks for the comments and feed back. Thanks TuffXR I had mist that when gluing it together but the big words had me scratching my head for a while the gearbox is on the motor right now am so glad that it was pointed out at a stage that it's an easy fix than a detailed motor

Very Nice Kynan, Love the detail in those wheels and like the body

Very good.
I'm constantly gobsmacked by the skill levels exhibited here on this forum. Sometimes by people NOT from Rockhampton...