Brian Austin

I guess CO2 cartridges were poplar for model racing as well, and appear to still be around. As far as the original video goes, I don't think I'd allow that at a contest. So many materials used for displays and the tablecloths themselves can be flammable. It is a neat effect on video, though.

Jetex motors were used in large numbers by the crew who made Thunderbirds and related British TV shows in the '60s for various vehicular special effects. Quite often they were employed just to kick up dust while the vehicle miniature was in motion on set.

Chevrolet Opala ?

Glad you enjoyed 'em! ?

Classy bookmobile. Get out your Monogram '39 Chevy... https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_07_003 https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_07_005 https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_07_006 https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_07_004

https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_15_003 https://digital.hagley.org/1992213_02_15_005 https://digital.hagley.org/islandora/search/truck?page=1&type=edismax

Tonka Mustang https://www.ebay.com/itm/256306561146?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

This video shows the last open house for this layout, as it will be dismantled and moved for someone else to enjoy!

No judgement was intended on my part. Attempts to look up "Thomas Toys" get choked with results for Thomas the Tank Engine merch. ?

More movie labels. Skip to the 12 minute mark for a modeler's favorite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMZ63jv39vQ

Periodically I do searches for Gay Toys, Thomas Toys and Processed Plastic Toys. Those companies can be tough getting good results for. ?

I still have some old photo bulbs, along with the light stands. The problem is, I constantly tripped over the legs of the stands, and the reflectors got HOT. I use cooler lights nowadays, but since the bulbs still work I haven't had the heart to toss them.

Someone should re-pop these in resin. ?

Amoskeag steam fire pumper from the Will-O-Line kits. Note the packet of small parts. There is text printed on it that suggests these used to be WWII-surplus rations wrappers.

That was the state of the art for the model hobby. Kind of a step up over scratchbuilding. Model railroad rolling stock kits comprised of wood and metal can still be found. A book on model railroading published in the '50s described the attitude many old-timers had against the new-fangled injection molded plastic kits. A couple of model-car club friends of mine grew up with the son of a guy who produced what we might term "mixed media" kits in 1:24 of horse-drawn fire apparatus in his basement. They were comprised chiefly of rough-cut wood pieces, but also included components made from a variety of materials such as cast plaster, rubber, and metal with plastic wheels. These kits were made in the late 1940's by William H. Low, as part of his Will-O-Line. I extensively photographed the four unbuilt examples my friends had. I have seen built-ups and they do look nice.

Here's a rather peculiar interpretation of the General Lee Ebay listing 1 or Ebay listing 2 On the other hand, the same company produced this nicely detailed VW Thing. VW Thing

Sometimes I have the felling that some people (often on FB) have a rosy picture of the horse-drawn era, particularly whenever gas prices spike. If you dig enough through Google Books and such you can find editorials from the 19th century bemoaning the treatment of commercial horses and the state of the urban street.

Round radiators: https://www.prewarcar.com/round-radiators-revisited

Horses needed constant upkeep, and you still had to deal with their "emissions". And then when horses died on duty they were left to rot where they had stood. It took resources to dispose of them. Not exactly environmentally friendly. ?

There have been numerous fiberglass replicas of the Batmobile and the Futura made over the years. There have also been been a replica or two of the Futura made in metal.

The Gypsum plant line was narrow gauge, so Hy-Rail trucks wouldn't have worked there.

I know of that car. According to a book of unusual railroad equipment, this car shuttled workers along a 26-mile line between the US Gypsum plant and its mine. This blog entry has another image of the car. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/plaster-city-1947-but-what-heck-is.html

An entertaining and informative video of a Ford Econoline that once served the West coast. There's even a brief history of the graphic design elements.