Lizard Racing

A good fitting tribute. A model is always better when it is of a 1:1 you had. Really like the fenderwell headers!

I miss doing my own work. Time was, you could tune an engine with a screwdriver and a timing light. And sometimes you didn't need the timing light. Now that I have a dead-reliable car, I've gotten out of the habit of car working on. As everyone probably knows, it's a different world now. Cars are smoother, faster, safer and more fuel-efficient. But I do miss the sensation of being pinned back in the seat when you floored it.

I've had a Revell '69 Camaro (purchased at Wal-Mart on sale) on the shelf for some time, deciding what to do with it. Then I was inspired to build Dave Strickler's SS/C drag racer, with the help of Fred Cady. Then I remembered Strickler also ran a '62 Impala 409 that was a terror on the strip. So I looked on Amazon and they had one! It was more than I wanted to pay for a kit, but would be cheaper than getting another Impala and buying Strickler decals. While I was at it, I saw a Color Me Gone '64 Dodge which I also bought. I think I am entering a Super Stock phase.

Just completed the Revell 914-6. I read that this kit has fit issues, but it was on sale at HL for $7.95, so couldn't pass it up. The kit has a lot of detail and decals to make a racecar 914-4 (EP) or 914-6 (CP). But a racecar kit and no roll bar?? Ride height and body fit are issues that caused a bit of extra work. The kit had the worst flash I have seen in a long time. It's pretty much OOB except fabricating the roll bar. I de-chromed the wheels and painted them. Fabricated roll bar, added extinguisher, headrest and oil tank. Sure wish the windscreen was tinted. Added oil cooler and battery box to the trunk along with bracing for the spring towers. Due to the trunk lid fit, it may be a curbside. Oddly enough, I now have 3 race cars in SCCA class C Production: Datsun 240 Z; Mazda RX-7 and Porsche 914-6.

A 1969 Triumph Spitfire Mk. III in British Racing Green with the factory hard top. Just not as a daily driver. I was fortunate to have one many years ago.

When I started building again some years ago, I did dioramas. That was an effort to legitimize my hobby to the wife. Now the collection has swelled to 65 models, built and unbuilt. I had to disassemble four dioramas to make room. Four dioramas remain. I did give a Ferrari Enzo to a friend as a wedding present. Otherwise, I keep all of them.

Really great work!! Did you have some experience with the 1:1 lowrider?

Thank you for the kind comments. I don't do street cars much, mostly race cars. That way all the chrome trim is removed. I took out the kit 348 engine to be a '63 Z-11 427 and put in a small block from the bin. There was nothing remarkable about it so I didn't photograph it. I learned to drive in a '58 wagon with 6 banger and 3 in the tree. It was my street racer. Didn't win much.

My dad always liked the look of the 1958 Chevy Impala. It had a certain understated classic look. We ended up buying a '59 instead. This is the AMT version, an OOB build. I built one decades ago and it looks like this was from the same tooling. Lots of flash and sinks. I did this one as a street version tribute to my dad's memory. And I heard the '58 was a real dog of a race car. Since the doors open, the interior got more than usual attention. There sure was a lot of chrome back in the day! It took two days of masking and painting one section at a time. I also have a '48 Chevy. This photo shows the changes in 10 years.

I someone had the time and resources, several of these kits could be built reflecting the different configurations under which these cars raced. There was Nassau '63 (Mecom), Sebring '64 (three versions) and Sebring '65 with the big block engine. It's all in the book.

Does anybody know if there is a technical reason many kits use black styrene for the chrome sprues? I do mostly race cars with very little chrome and the black plastic is a bit difficult to cover. Just seems funny when the rest of the kit is white.

I got 20 out of 20! One of the few tests I ever aced. I heard of S 7H stamps, but we never used them. I had a Tom Corbett metal lunch box. Had LOTS of fun at the drive-in movie. Memories, memories. Thanks for posting.

Ingrid Bergman always exhibited classic beauty.

I usually try to stick with one to completion. While waiting for paint or glue to dry, I occasionally start on another. I applaud the diversity of responses on this subject. Just remember: It's your model and your hobby; do what works for you.

I have to agree that I hope my time is up before robots take over motorsport. It's already gone too far IMHO. Removing the human element also removes the human interest. Robot vs. human? I saw Jay Leno beat an autonomous Audi at Willow Springs. That probably won't last long.

My wife was born on a Friday the 13th, so I can't complain.

Mean looking!!

Fond memories! I was so glad when I was finally able to use CAD. For the last few years, I was the only one in my group equipped to do "ink jobs." Even 30+ years later, I could still feel my old teacher looking over my shoulder.

Amazing work, both the models and the photography.

It's like the basic rule of working on 1:1 cars: Any tool or part dropped will seek out the exact center of the car and roll there. I have demonstrated that more than once.

So I suppose if a kit is to go into long-term storage, the sprues should be wrapped in paper (?) and isolated from anything vinyl. Anyone have ideas for long-term storage?

I like the crate in the background. An experimental Hemi would have almost unlimited power. I've thought of building up some parts bin engines.

Boy, some of these kits bring back memories. Two of my rarest were combo kits from the early '70s. One was a Ferrari P4 and Porsche 907 sports prototypes. The other was a Brabham Formula 3 and Matra Formula 2. All of these were built, but only one from each survives. I suppose some kits are like rare wines: most valuable left in the package. I don't really agree with that.

I got this Revell kit with the intention of doing an OOB build. But I couldn't help customizing a bit. So I visited the parts bin. Since this kit only offers the stock version, you can do almost anything with it. Just like the 1:1 version. First, I substituted a 435 hp 427 engine from an original '67 Impala. I also had to fabricate a new exhaust with truck mufflers. I found some bucket seats and moved the split front seat to the middle. I added Cragar mag wheels and wider tires from the parts bin. Be careful doing this, as the wheel wells are a bit narrow. Since Independence Day was coming, I used a red, white and blue motif inside and out. The flame decal came from an unknown kit. I hope it looks garish enough. Thanks for viewing. Model on!!

That's always my dilemma: detail vs. curbside. My least favorite part of a build is painting, and it's the most important part. But models usually become a curbside once they hit the shelf. But in the end, do what you like, it's your project. Enjoy our hobby.