This is Peter Gray's dream 1:1 SEMA build, realized in 1/10 scale.
About this build
To complete the build, Peter created a custom battery box mounted behind the cab. Sitting on top are four fuel cans, a nod to long point-to-point journeys the full-size vehicle would be built to conquer.
At the rear, a large keg adds character and fun, ready to hold your favourite tipple or Peter’s own moonshine creation, Boom Water.
Five-spoke Probuild wheels in gun metal anchor the stance, while metallic gun metal paint gives the body a modern edge. The rig is intentionally left unweathered, allowing the distinctive ZIL shape and its 1950s-inspired lines to shine, as if it were a fully restored custom show truck.
This is not a mud-loving scale adventure rig. It is a custom-built ZIL with an urban attitude, designed to turn heads yet still capable of trail running and light rock crawling.
The Pull of SEMA
The SEMA Show is something I’ve followed closely ever since the internet made it accessible. Long before social media feeds and instant reels, I was hunting down photos, build threads, and coverage from the show. To me, SEMA represents the pinnacle of automotive creativity.
It’s more than just a trade show. SEMA is the premier global automotive industry event, bringing together thousands of manufacturers, builders, and industry buyers under one roof. It’s where cutting-edge technology, innovative products, and emerging trends in customization are unveiled. More importantly, it’s where builders get to make a statement, to show not only what they’ve built, but why they build.
What SEMA Means to Builders
For car builders, SEMA offers exposure on a scale that’s hard to match anywhere else. Events like the SEMA Battle of the Builders celebrate imagination, creativity, and craftsmanship at the highest level. These aren’t quick builds but the result of months of dedication, late nights, early mornings, and relentless problem-solving.
SEMA is a platform where passion meets opportunity. It’s where builders connect with manufacturers, sponsors, and media. For many, it’s a career-defining moment. For others, it’s simply validation that their vision matters.
Off-Road, Overland, and Beyond
In recent years, SEMA has placed a strong emphasis on the rapidly growing off-road, truck, powersports, and overlanding markets. From advanced suspension systems to performance upgrades and purpose-built accessories, the innovation on display is staggering. This side of SEMA speaks directly to me, where vehicles not only look good, but are able to survive harsh terrain and real-world use.
That blend of function and form is something I try to capture in my own builds, even at 1/10 scale.
From Full Scale to 1/10
SEMA and events like King of the Hammers sit firmly on my personal bucket list. They’re places I fully intend to experience firsthand very soon. Until then, I let my imagination run free.
Building RC vehicles allows me to translate everything I love about full-scale automotive culture into something tangible. A BRX build isn’t just an RC project; rather, it is a 1/10 scale interpretation of a dream SEMA truck. Every detail, every choice, is influenced by decades of inspiration, from Birmingham show halls to American highways.
And who knows? Maybe one day that 1/10th dream becomes a 1:1 reality.
This truck has never been run outdoors and was used exclusively for a professional photoshoot.
Build specs:
Built in the United Kingdom by Peter Gray
Leaf-sprung AWB Builder's Kit with ZIL cab
Custom rear battery cover
Metallic gunmetal paint
Probuild 1.55" Spin Force 5-spoke wheels in gun metal (BRPB155020GMGM)
1.55" MAXGRAPPLER™ tyres in super soft BLACK Gekko compound
HR-locked transmission
Driver figure included
Faux chrome V8 engine with pan air filter under the hood
Hobbywing Fusion SE 1800KV 2-in-1 motor and ESC
Brand new Spektrum DSM2 3-channel receiver
Savox SW2290 30kg digital coreless steering servo
Zil tubular aluminum front & rear bumpers
Read more about Peter Gray in his Builder of the Month article:
This is Peter Gray's dream 1:1 SEMA build, realized in 1/10 scale.
About this build
To complete the build, Peter created a custom battery box mounted behind the cab. Sitting on top are four fuel cans, a nod to long point-to-point journeys the full-size vehicle would be built to conquer.
At the rear, a large keg adds character and fun, ready to hold your favourite tipple or Peter’s own moonshine creation, Boom Water.
Five-spoke Probuild wheels in gun metal anchor the stance, while metallic gun metal paint gives the body a modern edge. The rig is intentionally left unweathered, allowing the distinctive ZIL shape and its 1950s-inspired lines to shine, as if it were a fully restored custom show truck.
This is not a mud-loving scale adventure rig. It is a custom-built ZIL with an urban attitude, designed to turn heads yet still capable of trail running and light rock crawling.
The Pull of SEMA
The SEMA Show is something I’ve followed closely ever since the internet made it accessible. Long before social media feeds and instant reels, I was hunting down photos, build threads, and coverage from the show. To me, SEMA represents the pinnacle of automotive creativity.
It’s more than just a trade show. SEMA is the premier global automotive industry event, bringing together thousands of manufacturers, builders, and industry buyers under one roof. It’s where cutting-edge technology, innovative products, and emerging trends in customization are unveiled. More importantly, it’s where builders get to make a statement, to show not only what they’ve built, but why they build.
What SEMA Means to Builders
For car builders, SEMA offers exposure on a scale that’s hard to match anywhere else. Events like the SEMA Battle of the Builders celebrate imagination, creativity, and craftsmanship at the highest level. These aren’t quick builds but the result of months of dedication, late nights, early mornings, and relentless problem-solving.
SEMA is a platform where passion meets opportunity. It’s where builders connect with manufacturers, sponsors, and media. For many, it’s a career-defining moment. For others, it’s simply validation that their vision matters.
Off-Road, Overland, and Beyond
In recent years, SEMA has placed a strong emphasis on the rapidly growing off-road, truck, powersports, and overlanding markets. From advanced suspension systems to performance upgrades and purpose-built accessories, the innovation on display is staggering. This side of SEMA speaks directly to me, where vehicles not only look good, but are able to survive harsh terrain and real-world use.
That blend of function and form is something I try to capture in my own builds, even at 1/10 scale.
From Full Scale to 1/10
SEMA and events like King of the Hammers sit firmly on my personal bucket list. They’re places I fully intend to experience firsthand very soon. Until then, I let my imagination run free.
Building RC vehicles allows me to translate everything I love about full-scale automotive culture into something tangible. A BRX build isn’t just an RC project; rather, it is a 1/10 scale interpretation of a dream SEMA truck. Every detail, every choice, is influenced by decades of inspiration, from Birmingham show halls to American highways.
And who knows? Maybe one day that 1/10th dream becomes a 1:1 reality.
This truck has never been run outdoors and was used exclusively for a professional photoshoot.
Build specs:
Built in the United Kingdom by Peter Gray
Leaf-sprung AWB Builder's Kit with ZIL cab
Custom rear battery cover
Metallic gunmetal paint
Probuild 1.55" Spin Force 5-spoke wheels in gun metal (BRPB155020GMGM)
1.55" MAXGRAPPLER™ tyres in super soft BLACK Gekko compound
HR-locked transmission
Driver figure included
Faux chrome V8 engine with pan air filter under the hood
Hobbywing Fusion SE 1800KV 2-in-1 motor and ESC
Brand new Spektrum DSM2 3-channel receiver
Savox SW2290 30kg digital coreless steering servo
Zil tubular aluminum front & rear bumpers
Read more about Peter Gray in his Builder of the Month article:
Your Radio Control Car Specialist We love building scale models. Let's be honest. Which badass doesn't love a beautiful looking car? Our focus is on designing the best looking products that really perform; products that withstand beating and still look great enough to be shelf queens. Offering you the latest designs made with the highest possible quality at affordable prices is our absolute focus for all enthusiastic hobbyists.
Since 2012, Boom Racing has been manufacturing extreme performance RC products. We want you to love and enjoy these amazing "scale" and "performance" based products to create your own unique realistic RC builds.
We are never going to stop at giving you the best updates and upgrades on our product lines. That's our passion and our commitment to keep you on your toes with excitement and anticipation for what's to come next.
Your Radio Control Car Specialist We love building scale models. Let's be honest. Which badass doesn't love a beautiful looking car? Our focus is on designing the best looking products that really perform; products that withstand beating and still look great enough to be shelf queens. Offering you the latest designs made with the highest possible quality at affordable prices is our absolute focus for all enthusiastic hobbyists.
Since 2012, Boom Racing has been manufacturing extreme performance RC products. We want you to love and enjoy these amazing "scale" and "performance" based products to create your own unique realistic RC builds.
We are never going to stop at giving you the best updates and upgrades on our product lines. That's our passion and our commitment to keep you on your toes with excitement and anticipation for what's to come next.
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