The Steps to Build a HotWheel Gaslands War Rig Mod

 Here's how it started:

2018 International WorkStar Tanker Truck

Here's a few Post Pics:

Photoshopped the smoke and created the Terminator logo to add.  

Now for some context:

It took me about three months to create the War Rig, my biggest and most ambitious mod to date.  I had modified six cars before this one, but they were the typical individual Hotwheel variety. The work and time on the War Rig, my seventh mod, easily exceeded the first six car mods combined. 

CONSTRUCTION:

BASE:  The original truck was a 2018 International WorkStar Tanker Truck that I ordered from 3000toys.com for around $15.  The first thing I did was remove the undercarriage and wheels.  This left the truck in two separate sections: the tank and cab.  I found two Jada Just Truck Hummers that I wanted to use the wheels.  Upon removing the wheels on the Jada Hummers I discovered the undercarriage they were attached to would serve well for the undercarriage of the war rig.  Using PVC sheets I cut out the base that would eventually connect the wheel undercarriages underneath to the tank and cab on top.

CAB:  Using a coping saw I cut a hole in the hood to mount a big engine.  I also had to cut some metal off the wheel wells to make room for the bigger tires.  I added a sun/bullet guard to go on top of the cab to extend over the windshield. The big mufflers are made from a plastic straw, cut and painted silver on the outside, black on the inside.

FRONT BUMPER:  Initially I was going to build a big cattle guard to cover the front but once I had it built it was too small.  Cutting, bending, and gluing PVC to flare out takes work.  So as mods go, you either scrap it, mod it, or roll with it. I kept it and added two bladed menacing-looking guards to go on either side of the cattle guard. Now the dilemma was how to connect it to the front of the cab.*  For that I used "Treat Sticks" from Wal-Mart found in the party section.  They are 4 inches long, 10.1 cm round, made of semi-pliable plastic and perfect for bumpers, roll bars and about anything else.  They come in a pack of 50 for around $3. 

TANKER TOP:  I cut a truck Hotwheel in half and glued the front half frame at the front of the tank and the back half at the back of the tank.  Next I created four I-beams from PVC sheets to attach the "corrugated" metal sheets. The metal sheets are cut from an aluminum can and corrugated by running them through a Toothpaste Squeezer. 

CAR TURRET:  The car turret is my most rewarding achievement on this mod.  It rotates 360 degrees and moves up and down at two pivot points.  For the arm I used a pre-made resin backhoe arm with a shovel.  It was a freebee thrown into an online order of various gaslands accessories.  Initially, I had planned to attach it to the back of the rig but it just didn't look like it belonged.  But then I had the idea of gluing a car on top of the shovel and making it movable.  

Here is a picture of the turret and arm mechanism:

Removable and adjustable car turret.

I modified a Hotwheel car and glued it to the shovel. I reinforced the two pivot points with heavy PVC and pins made from a finishing nail. To make it rotate I glued a treat stick on the bottom. Then I drilled a hole through the tank and to the bottom.  Now I could drop the turret in the hole and it is anchored at the top and bottom for stability.  It is also removable.   

BACK BUMPER:  

I added a gun and a flame thrower that is sitting just inside the back.  I used another "Treat Stick" for the back bumper and hung a chain.

SIDES: I covered the sides with armor plates and lined up six three-toed side "deterrents" (not sure what they are called) on either side of the back 3-wheel set on the extended wheel well ledge.  For the front two tires, I created square wheel protectors with spikes on top.  For all eight tires I added a four point wheel spike. The wheel wells were deep so again I cut "Treat Sticks" down to size to mount them.

ICING: This is what I like to call the little extras that go a long way.  On top of the cattle guard I stacked nine skulls.  And added three more on the car on top.  Since there is a lot of weight on the front bumper system I added chains that reinforce and hold up the weight.  I also added a chain on the back bumper.  I added two oil barrels sitting on top of the tank.

PAINT: For the metal parts I used Vallejo Natural Steel and Oily Steel. The car turret was painted in Game Color Goblin Green.  For guns I used Vallejo Gunmetal Grey. For the rust effects I used a combination of Vallejo Light Rust Wash FX and Tamiya weathering master C Orange Rust and /Silver for highlighting.  For the weathered look I layered a lot of Citadel Colour Shade Nuln Oil (great for metal) and Shade Agrax Earthshade for the dirty/muddy look.  You need Nuln Oil and Agrax, it makes everything more realistic and turns newbies into competent painters.  For the engine and oil barrels, I used Vallejo Mecha weathering Fuel Stains (glossy).  The glossy leaves a wet look.  

HONORABLE MENTION:

I used Treat Sticks so much on this mod that it's worth its own picture so you know what to get.  I found it at Wal-Mart in the party section for around $3. Here's a 200 pack for $7 at Amazon. 

I will make another post describing the work and process I used to photograph the War Rig and create composite murals. 

*Modifying diecast cars (Hotwheels) is an exercise in constantly solving problems.  Not only does it help nurture creativity but it stretches problem-solving thinking skills.  It also pushes patience to the limits.  There must have been a half dozen times I wanted to quit, or was not happy with my work, but I have learned to stop, step away, take a break, and come back when my want-to had returned.            

Added smoke and an intimidating skull.