Misha

Very Kool! 👍🏾 Cheers Misha

Thanks Alan for posting the photos of the SCTA timing stand. The organization dates back to the 1930s being the first to regulate time trials for early hot rodders to run their equipment. Your build looks great and matches the original very well as you’ve described. Cheers Misha

I also latch onto build ideas while roaming the web and collect the images into their own album to keep them in mind for the future. Here are the top samples from it… A fairly straight forward conversion with the possibility of a detailed interior. A couple of Bugs that couldn’t be much more different. Certainly a much more involved scratch build for which I’ve found more detailed photos in a magazine. An interesting build while still retaining a hot rod presence underneath. A couple of worthwhile replica builds, the MG-TC that was Shelby’s first competition drive and Petty’s 43JR during the NASCAR boycott when he went straight line racing. Interested in other ideas that modelling can present… Cheers Misha

Here’s what I’m looking at.. Does 43jr have an AWB? or… Cheers Misha

Well done Alan, you’ve turned a somewhat mediocre kit into an eye catcher, especially the photo of the rear. Your SCTA timing booth is of interest, perhaps a photo or two? It was a pleasure to meet Ute and yourself this past summer. Your travels through Canada and the US have been celebrated by our club, 17,000 kilometres in a rental! Cheers Misha

Just sat down and read thru your build Paul. Great thoughtful planning and work with the bonus of your step by step photos! Thanks for sharing your build. Cheers Misha

A few years ago I built the Monogram 64 GTO in 1/24 in a factory stock version and found it to be an excellent kit. The overall fit was good and offered plenty of opportunities for further detail to enhance the model. The engine compartment was very complete with a power steering pump included. The engine was completely wired and plumbed. The chassis detail matched the engine with crisp parts moulding that was easily enhanced with paint and mild weathering. The entire build was free of problems and upon completion produced an excellent replica of a Goat fresh off the showroom floor. If one were to look for any drawbacks to the kit the lack of any additional parts to allow another version is lacking and the typical Monogram 1/24 scale of the day doesn’t square up with other GTOs that are 1:25. These are very minor points that are far outweighed by the positives of good fit, detail, and accuracy. Cheers Misha

That really turned nicely Jim! Always enjoy box top models, this one looks great along with your thoughtful modifications. Congrats & cheers, Misha

Congrats Scott on a well deserved award! The engine is truly incredible work. Overall I’ll join all the others in saying this is an amazing replica you’ve built. Cheers Misha

Spent Sunday morning at a Show ‘n’ Shine event in the Cowichan Valley. While the skies looked threatening there was a great turnout of cars. As usual I was able to shoot some more fin photos… The early 50s Cadillacs began the fin style with the influence of the WW II twin boom P-38 Lightening fighter aircraft. Aeronautical flavoured design would last for a decade culminating with the 59 Caddy fins flashing into the skies. The Detroit Big Three manufacturers all joined in the fin craze. The 55-6 Fords sprouted fins thru most of their lines as this Crown Victoria illustrates along with a continental kit. Towards the end of the decade fins began to increase in size, as well as the chrome embellishments. The Chev Bell Air showed off a combination of chrome and aluminum fin flash on its flanks. 1958 marked the high water mark for chrome as evidenced by the Buick tail trim. Cheers Misha

This summer’s Deuce Days was a big hit as shown by the crowds filling Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It was also the fourth consecutive event that our club, Scale Plastic Automotive Modellers (SPAM) has hosted a model display at the host hotel. Our involvement stretches back to 2016 as Deuce Days is staged every three years. The past displays have been focused on the 32 Ford which have featured all the various production styles of the Deuce. This year we widened the scope to include Rods & Customs modelling subjects up to 1999. Display of fifteen factory variations of the Deuce from 2019 A high light to this year’s event was having Alan and Ute Barton from Perth, Australia 🇦🇺 join in the festivities. Alan proved to be a most entertaining guest with stories of the Aussie hot rod and modelling adventures. His partner, Ute is also very involved with miniatures with constructing book dioramas, volumes that open up to reveal amazingly intricate scenes. Alan is also very active member of this forum and it was a great pleasure to actually meet him in person! Allan Barton on the right with myself, wearing the DD t-shirt from 2000. B.C. Hobbies (since 1952) helped to promote and sponsor the show and devoted window space to feature a collection of Phil Dauphinee’s Deuces & Customs. Enlarging the model display with more categories resulted in a considerable greater number of examples on the tables and an increased interest among the people passing through the doors. Phil’s display of 32 Deuce models built over the years. Many being replicas of local cars or well known rods. Allan Barton brought a couple of his builds from down under featuring the required switch to right hand drive. They are at the bottom of the shot sitting on the mats. Steve Hayden’s build of a Deuce sedan. Followed by his turbo hot rodded Fiat… While I was unable to complete my entry for this year, there was a WIP category in which I displayed my 5 window comp coupe rail. In the Factory Stock category my entry of an AMC S/Rambler captured the Modellers’ Choice award. This is a kit I completed thirty-five years ago with extensive engine bay and chassis detail and it was a thrill to see it complete amongst the other great builds! Overall this year’s event was bigger and better, building upon past successes one hopes for an even more impressive Deuce Days in 2028! Featured Deuce on this year’s poster. Cheers Misha

Certainly a great kit to see popped out again! Features Monogram’s good fit and decent detail with scale accuracy. While it didn’t offer much in options, apart from the ability to build either a two door post or hardtop version along with it’s being 1/24 scale, it was a fun and satisfying build. Built my hardtop thirty-five years ago as a replica stock with detailed engine bay, mild chassis weathering, detailed interior paint and Humbrol paint with BMF on the body. Still manages a few wins at contests. Cheers Misha

That’s a great looking ride Racine! Congrats on a wonderful save of a unique automotive design. The colours are bang on the body and the interior work. Cheers Misha

Great article Bill, excellent descriptions & illustrations! It’s a thread that deserves to be pinned for easy access. A number of members have bumped this one to the top to prevent it being lost in the back pages. Cheers Misha

In the past I’ve used Evergreen half round strips for upholstery. On the 49 Ford the interior tub offers very faint details so I cut the door sides off and reversed them to apply the custom upholstery. The seats came out of the parts bin with added headrests. The foam idea is appealing as one could do designs such as diamond tufts, the key is finding material thin enough while stiff enough for embossing it with a pattern. Planning on giving it a try! Thanks for all the hints & ideas! Cheers Misha