This scale rock crawler was created by Bob Briere as a replica of Proffits Cruisers FJ40 Big Tex.
I have documented the build process using Bob's words and pictures, with his permission.

The following is an overview of this amazing scale crawler:

This is a completely hand built custom fabricated Toyota Landcruiser scaled after the well know Big Tex by Proffitts Cruisers. The frame is entirely brazed together using 3/16 brake line tubing, Silver braze and hand bent. The frame is not powder coated, it was chemically washed sand blasted. It was then sprayed first with self etch primer, a flat black primer then final with some Gloss Enamel Black and baked to set.

The axles are Tamiya TLT's with locked diffs. They are not JB welded lock, it was a simple trick with the spiders that locks them  so they can be unlocked later if chosen so. The front has MIP CVDs with wideners. The rear uses RCP lockouts with wideners added as well. Driveshafts are used from the Axial kits.

The tires are brand new RC4WD Rock Stompers mounted on some Junfac beadlocks.  There is 3oz of weight in each rear with 6oz in each front with Imex G-Hawg tires glued to them.

Transmission is a RC4WD R2 with dig unit attached. The dig was never used in this truck so a servo provision was never accounted for but can be adapted with a little fabrication by owner. The class this truck is in does not allow for a 3rd channel. The dig is still attached to the transmission with a 5mm spacer used to lock the dig for 4wd. A hand wound 35T motor with a 8T pinion is included and runs very well.

The Radio is a simple AM HPI 2 channel pistol radio, included. The receiver is housed inside the styrene made rear fuel cell. The ESC is a small Moped F/R that gets tucked in under the passenger seat. It is wrapped tight in a plastic bag for water protection. The truck was run through very shallow water, roughly 2 inches at the deepest. The ESC is only rated up to 7.4V and was run using a 2S lipo pack that gets slid in under the driver side seat. There are black styrene pieces that attach with the body to help hide the battery and esc when running. The steering servo is 188oz servo and have been used with great luck on many other builds, it is hidden up under the styrene radiator in the engine compartment.

The head lights, tail lights and dash lights are all operational. They are powered by a small BEC unit set at 6V hidden between the firewall and the engine compartment. They are wired in with the battery plug.

Rear shocks are 90mm RC4WD shocks with a small amount of 3000 silicone fluid in them to help slow down dampening. The front shocks are 90mm Yeah Racing shocks filled with 20wt oil. They use Associated Silver and Green buggy springs for a dual rate effect on them. All Lower links are 1/4'' aluminum rod drilled and tapped with 4mm threads on Traxxas Revo rod ends and triangulated to match the original vehicle. The rear also uses leaf springs flipped to scale the 1/4 elliptical ones like the original truck. This gives the rear incredible articulation while controlling ride.  Tamiya Bruiser leafs with a main leaf added to give it 4 total. He added two 3mm screws with nuts on them when building to help with adjusting frame rake. He found this to be great for off camber courses and helping with break overs, simply turn the screws up and down to help 'tweak' the rig for different courses.

The seats are Recaro cell phone seats with the backs cut and styrened to smoothen them out and get rid of the factory attachment spots they use to have, The seats are absolutely removable by simply sliding them forward on custom made seat mounts. They remain firmly in place while running but can be easily removed for any maintenance.

All hardware is standard 3mm button head screws. All panels and detailing work is entirely hand made from styrene and painted with enamel paints.

This comes with a 3Racing working winch mounted up front. He never did hook it up due to the rules in the class he was in and the radio only being 2 channels. The controller IS INCLUDED but Is Not mounted in the vehicle.

The Engine is from a 1/8 scale plastic model. It has been highly detailed with spark plug wires, engine belt, oil cooler lines, headers, oil filter, custom made oil pan and open element air filter. It is secured in place using the can from a 540 motor mounted to a brazed in firewall, it simply slips inside the engine. Engine mounts were fabricated from styrene and attach to the frame rails with 2 small screws. It can be removed from the frame but does require a bit of care when doing so.

Also added for appearance is the custom made Optima battery on tray and brake booster.

The body was originally a Protoform Landcruiser, the grill was hand made from .040 styrene with 3/4'' LED light buckets added