As featured in Truck & Driver Magazine

A good holiday in the sun brought things into perspective by the time the four trucks were delivered.

Meanwhile, Arnie had been speaking to Paul Yeomans, a talented airbrush artist, about doing a full Thunderbirds paint job on the 530.
Travelling to the Benelux countries on fridge duty and seeing plenty of fabulous Dutch custom trucks had some influence on the final outcome.

The truck was stripped at Channel Commercials and the preparation began by repainting the chassis and axles. Alcoa super-wide alloys on the steering axle and twin drives support the rig in style.
Detail improvements included braided steel valve connectors from Rim to Road; they make the job of checking and inflating tyres that much easier and add a classy finishing touch.

The artwork was applied at Channel Commercials with the panels in situ. The top panel has portraits of the Thunderbirds pilots (John, Scott, Virgil, Alan and Gordon, as if you didn't know). The deflector covers have cameos of Parker on the driver's side and Lady Penelope on the nearside, with eyes that seem to follow you around.

The nearside door and panel features Virgil looking on as The Mole tunnels underneath the offices of TLC! Next tot hat is a portrait of The Hood (every good adventure needs a bad guy) bearing an uncanny resemblance to Arnie himself, with Brains, Geoff Tracey, Thunderbirds 1 and 3 with Alan portrayed in the cockpit.

The side skirts show Thunderbirds 4 and 5 with Gordon and John respectively. The space station is often forgotten, but on this tribute truck TB5 is given plenty of space (pun intended). The driver's side door is resplendent with Lady P and the pink Roller coming down the drive of her stately pile. Covering most of the rear part of the panel is Tracey Island, overlaid with Scott Tracey and TB1 taking off.