THE FUNBRINGER – Building A Toyota FJ45 6×6 USTE Show Ready Rig

At this year’s Ultimate Scale Truck Expo (USTE), we ran into some incredible builds – which actually wasn’t surprising. Every consecutive USTE event brings out rigs that are even more customized than the ones that were brought out at the previous event. It is always a pleasure to see all the wonderful trucks that are displayed at the scale off road extravaganza.

We’re happy to share one of the awesome builds that caught our eye at the latest USTE. Built by noted custom RC builder and customizer, Jeremy Kilburn of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Kilburn’s latest rig is based on a Traxxas TRX6 with the help of a number of RC4WD bodies, a mountain of other parts and an ocean of skill and creativity. Let’s hear about this special project directly from the man himself. Follow along to find out how Kilburn got this Toyota FJ45 6×6 build and ready to show at USTE.

USTE

Each year prior to the Ultimate Scale Truck Expo, I set out to build a special rig. After last year’s event and winning the Best Metal Work trophy, I started looking for inspiration and found a photo of a FJ45 that had been converted to 6×6 in Australia. I took inventory of my collection and had the major components, two RC4WD Cruiser bodies and a Traxxas TRX6 that I acquired from a dear friend at Sea Squirrel 3D.
I planned and conceptually built the rig in my head over six months while collecting parts from various manufacturers. I always wanted to incorporate an RC4WD V8 and scale transmission into a build and geek out on details so I dug one out of my bins and made up some custom mounts for the TRX6 chassis.

To integrate the various components, I ordered a BowHouse RC TRX4/6 skid plate and modified it to fit the transfer case and a driver side drop for the front driveshaft.

To power things up in the most scale driving capable way, I went with a Castle Creations Mamba X and 1900KV Slate motor combo. This combination required minor modifications to fit the scale engine but it wasn’t much more than modifying the intake manifold for the wiring. USTE is all about driving scale, slow and smooth and plenty of drag brake for the trails. This combo is a proven performer there.

To get the ride height in check and proportions correct, I decided to eliminate the portals on the stock axles. I went to SSD and ordered the kits. It was a very easy conversion and got the stance perfect for tucking in 4.35-inch high PitBull RC Braven Bezerker tires up into the wheel wells without interference.

For wheels, Treal Hobby has recently released a set of vintage beadlock wheels and they were the perfect classic look I had in my mind. I made a small change or two to them, a simple spray of Tamiya Flat clear to tone down the shine and a bunch of LockedUp RC scale lug nuts had the look perfect. To cap the wheels off perfectly with scale hubs, I went to Sea Squirrel for a set of his 3D printed slip on wheel nut covers. They are super easy to use and look perfect on any standard wheel nut.

In October of 2021, I made my first cut to the bodies. I cut the hood so it would function, sliced the cab to make it an extended cab truck to keep the proportions in check and the bed length reasonable. Modifications to the interior were required for the new cab and for fitting around the driveline. A simple bit of styrene did the job and it completed my firewall in the process.

For the bed cover, I used some scrap wood to make the bedside rails. Joining them all together I used toothpicks as pins and glued them in place. Once they were trimmed and sanded, I stained the wood to show the detail. Adding the scale boxes from 307 Scoots Hobbies gave the rig its name, “The FunBringer.” The ultimate in delivering the products we all love.

Well, 89 build days and 190 plus hours later, I had my dreams and visions a reality, just in time for USTE! Some of the details I included that most will never notice are valve steams on each of the 7 wheels, the functional dip sticks and tubes for oil and transmission fluids, a fluid filled master cylinder from Exclusive RC, wiper motor cover made from styrene, antenna made from K&S aluminum telescopic tubing, fuel lines, radiator covering the servo, hoses and wires made from old wires, a faux bed top cover that doubles as an electronics and battery compartment and down to the scale mamba x box on the dash completes the look I was after.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I enjoy the details and the experience of building custom rigs like this. The lessons learned over the years just make the next build even better. I’ve always challenged myself to try something new each time and this build was no different. This is my first full engine bay build and it was a joy to accomplish and show off at USTE. The rig did get selected as a finalist for best of show and I was honored with that. Next year it will be back with even more detail as I chase the trophy in that class.
Thank you to Scale Builders Guild for the mentorship, especially on cutting the cab down to an extended cab as it was not easy.

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Text by Jeremy Kilburn and RCCA Staff
Images by Jeremy Kilburn