BIG BOYZ TOYZ
First things first though…
Select your base vehicle and what you want
to convert it into. As I said, the majority
of Technicals start life as pick-up trucks or
transit-sized flat-beds – but perhaps you
fancy something completely oddball? There
is so much choice out there.
Set yourself a budget including cost of
vehicle, tax, insurance and materials needed
to carry out the modifications. Don’t forget
any labour costs involved if necessary. Any
adaptions or modifications must comply
with current UK legislation and your vehicle
must still be roadworthy and road legal.
Mind you, I can hear the call to Aviva now:
“What vehicle do I want to insure? A 1996
Toyota Hi-Lux… Mounted with twin .50
cal machine guns, a rocket pod and four
grenade launchers. Hello… Hello?”
Due to where most Technicals have been
used and are in use, the most popular
brands are of Japanese origin. This is
handy really, as generally they are the
most reliable too. ‘Tatty’ is the look that
you want to achieve, so scratches and
the odd dent here and there will help.
Paintwork is entirely down to you. Most
are left in their original factory colours
with just the addition of painted call signs,
names and flags. However, if you fancy
it, give it an odd camo paint job – ‘battlefield modification’ is the key phrase here.
Something simple that can be done quickly
can help give it that authentic look. Nudge
bars and extra lights, for example, are not
necessary but will add to the overall look.
Inside, an extra comms system will
give it that modified feel. Anything from
a CB radio up to a military comms set up
will do the job. The advantage of a more
professional comms setup is that your
team can buy compatible kit and allow you
to communicate during the heat of battle.
It is the rear bed though, if you have a
pick-up or similar, that your imagination and
budget can run wild!
Most start with some steel sheeting
t X