Model of a post-apocalyptic tow truck with a machine gun, front blade, and crane; battle scene "Isn't my tutorial any good ?"

A montage of three shots of the rusty, life-size post-apocalyptic tow truck

After a first truck based on the film's production designs, here's a new tutorial on the tow truck used in the movie itself...

Here, there are no store-bought models—everything comes from the surplus box...

Model tow truck chassis with engine, axles, and cab under construction on a cutting mat We'll start with the chassis, for which we need to determine the correct length based on the size of the tow truck...

Part of the cockpit has been cut out, the floor has been redone, and a dashboard has been built from scratch (using plastic card)...

Blue model tow truck cab with a detailed interior, mounted on a cutting mat A side view of the cockpit, a large portion of which has been cut out. The doors have been removed, along with the back, the roof, part of the engine cowling, and the fenders have been adjusted...

Blue model tow truck cab with a detailed interior, visible steering wheel, and seats Another view. You can see the new dashboard. The windshield has been redesigned. The seats have also been redesigned...

Two metal side panels with cutouts for the tow truck, placed on a cutting mat The armored side panels that protect the doors are made of lead sheet...

Progress. Right-side view: construction of the bumper using Evergreen rod, as well as the "remnants" from the top of the hood. A plate is glued in place where the headlights would be on the front of the fenders. The air filters are made the same way as for the other truck. Fine grilles have been added. On the fenders, we’re building the machine gun mounts...

Blue-and-white tow truck model being assembled on a cutting mat View from the left: The engine hood is further reinforced on this side with metal plates. A rearview mirror and its mount have been added. The mounts and mirrors are stamped...

Cardboard side panel template with a wheel positioned on a pencil outline, annotation: side panels The rear section: scaled cross-sectional view...

Two cut-out pieces of plastic card with wheel wells on a green cutting mat The side panels are cut from plastic card...

Model of a tow truck under construction, with a white flatbed and blue cab on a cutting mat We're building the floor, the side panels, and the bumper...

Model part under construction using putty and a wooden rod on a green cutting mat We go back to the front to build the bulldozer blade. Lead sheet, plastic card, and balsa wood...

Blue tow truck model with front plow, front view on a green cutting mat The part is in place. Meanwhile, I'm making the steps out of plastic strips and photo-etched mesh...

The fuel tanks—just like on the other truck—were cut down and glued under the assembly...

Model of a tow truck with a blue cab under construction on a cutting mat, with preparatory sketches We go back to the rear section to install the hoist bracket and the mast...

Model of a tow truck with a blue cab and white flatbed under construction on a cutting mat Installing the base. The side weapon compartment is installed, along with the taillights...

Scratch-built tow truck winch and arm under construction, based on preliminary sketches Details of the block and mast...

Scratch-built crane arm and winch for the Terminator Renaissance tow truck, currently being assembled The entire piece is in place...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, with a blue cab and white flatbed and the crane extended, rear view Protective bars round out the package...

Blue and white "Terminator Renaissance" tow truck model with a crane and flashing light on a cutting mat Another view...

Blue and gray tow truck model with a crane and red flashing lights on a cutting mat The lower part of the exhaust pipes has been modified...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, rear view, with a white flatbed, raised crane, and orange barrel View of the bumper with the mud flaps. Roof rack bar for the lights and machine gun mount...

Unpainted resin machine gun model kit with spare parts on a cutting mat Creation of a 30mm-scale model...

Scratch-built miniature machine guns currently under construction, with a preliminary pencil sketch for the tow truck Another view...

Detailed parts of a tow truck model laid out on a plan: fuel cans, red lights, and metal accessories Miscellaneous accessories...

Model of a blue tow truck with a crane, front plow, and red flashing lights, three-quarter front view The assembly is complete...

Blue "Terminator Renaissance" tow truck model with snowplow blade, crane, and red flashing lights Another view...

Painting

Model of a tow truck with a crane, surrounded by accessories, crates, and weapons, currently being assembled Essential: the primer coat, which prepares the surface for painting—any color applied to a white surface stands out more—and helps reveal any imperfections. Certain areas are protected...

Rusty tow truck model, viewed from the side, with a crane and a silver cab Base coat: Gunze acrylic - red-brown 47 - light gray on the wings, part of the hood, and lower body...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, viewed in profile, featuring a crane, rusted bodywork, and weathering effects Then, using hairspray, I applied a shade of red 33 and some white. The roof gets a washed-out green...

Model of a rusty tow truck with a lifting crane and a green cab, side view Marking the yellow side lines...

Rusty Terminator Renaissance tow truck model, side view, with crane and green cab You can clearly see the result after brushing off the paint applied with hairspray. Application of very diluted pigments—black, umber, sienna...

Small painted model accessories: weapons, jerry cans, a barrel, and crates for the tow truck

Model of a post-apocalyptic tow truck, viewed from the side, featuring a crane, a machine gun, and a rusty, "Terminator"-style finish Adding accessories...

Top view of a post-apocalyptic tow truck model with a crane, machine gun, and rusty fuel cans Finishing with various pastel powders...

The Setting

Wooden diorama with two model airplanes attached to the vertical panel A 75x43 cm MDF panel. The ground is made of extruded polystyrene. Since the scene features a forced perspective, various smaller accessories have been added, including two A10s (the planes from the movie) at a scale of 1/144, attached to the background panel...

Scale model of an armored tow truck on a diorama with two fighter jets in the background Test fitting. The second post is made smaller to match the depth of the scale model. A 1/32-scale vehicle will complete the scene...

Sandblasted diorama base with wooden stakes and a model vehicle in the background Creating the floor using patching compound and various deposits of dust and pebbles of different sizes...

A sandy diorama base with scrubby vegetation currently being assembled and metal stakes Bushes are added. Everything is glued to a base using wood glue. The ground will then be painted with acrylic paint...

A desert scene painted with an explosion, flying debris, wrecked cars, and a tow truck under a blue sky Acrylic painting of the background set on an MDF panel coated with gesso—70x33 cm—using a brush and airbrush—based on various photos from the film...

Model of a dilapidated 7-Eleven store facade featuring corrugated metal and a sign Construction of the facade of a side hangar on the right side of the diorama, still using forced perspective...