1:32 Toyota HI-LUX Monster Racer Jr. (Mini 4WD)

1:32 Toyota HI-LUX Monster Racer Jr., Tamiya Wild Mini 4WD

A motorized plastic kit in 1:32 scale from Tamiya of Japan, part number 17009, from the Wild Mini 4WD series as number 9. The manufacturer describes it as a racing pickup that fits in the palm of your hand: drive to all four wheels, the motor in the middle of the chassis and a sidewinder-type gear train to both axles. The tires are 52 mm in diameter and 31 mm wide, the body has flared fenders, and stickers complete the racing finish. The manufacturer gives the dimensions as 142 mm long, 125 mm wide and 90 mm high.

The real subject

The Toyota Hilux is a Japanese pickup that from the end of the 1960s became a worldwide symbol of the indestructible utility vehicle, and in off-road form it appears in long-distance rallies as well. Tamiya turned it into a monster truck for radio-controlled models, and this scaled-down powered version derives from that treatment. It is not a radio-controlled model — once switched on the little vehicle sets off by itself and runs on a track or on a smooth floor. The large wheels and short wheelbase allow it to ride on its rear wheels.

Building tips

The parts are molded in color and you need neither glue nor paints for the build; side cutters and a knife to clean up the sprue attachments will do. Assemble the gearbox according to the instructions and grease the gears lightly. Apply the stickers to a degreased surface and press them down from the center toward the edge so that no bubbles are left underneath. Anyone who wants to paint the model has to apply a primer coat.

Who it is for

• beginners and children building under adult supervision
• those interested in powered vehicles for a track
• admirers of the Toyota Hilux pickup
• modelers looking for a build for one evening

The kit is assembled without glue, and the motor and the stickers are part of the package. Two AA alkaline batteries are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.