Brian Austin

There is a small studio in the UK (Century 21 Films) that is making films based on the old Thunderbirds series. Some of their work has been on YouTube. During the pandemic lockdown, they put together a new series based around marionettes and props they had handy. It ran for several episodes on YT. In fact it became so popular, after the pandemic wound down, they continued production. It's called "Nebula 75".

The "pen" extrudes plastic that can be treated in various ways according to the video. Perhaps a technique or two could come in handy in our work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29dsCVFI0HM

This page has a fun picture of an old-fashioned friction-bearing hotbox. Shows you the origin of the term. ? http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2015/02/friction-bearings.html

I saw this Olds hearse in the late '80s at a rest stop. I've thought from time to time an ex flower car might be useful for hauling stuff. ? While I was thinking how the distinction between automobile and truck has been blurred with crossovers and light SUVs, I was reminded that manufacturers have often included ElCaminos/Rancheros and sedan deliveries in commercial truck line brochures. On the other hand, GM included Suburbans with cars in their station wagon brochures. Lincoln even makes pickups now it appears.

https://archivodeautos.blogspot.com/2020/04/anahi-cabana-casa-rodante-semirremolque.html Argentinean-built 5th wheel RC with a Ranchero, and a slide-in camper.

Apparently pickups fall into the "ute" category in Australia and New Zealand. Also, their "vans" are what we'd call sedan deliveries here in N. America. ?

That's pretty imaginative!

Might be easier to start with a coupe or convertible.

A Revival revival?

Last year I dug out some model railroad projects I had started in the late 1980s. In its rough condition I displayed it at the Classic Plastic show. As you can see here it is edging closer to completion. It is constructed of Evergreen styrene, with a modified TYCO/Mantua HO scale locomotive drive for propulsion. With the cab in the center, this type of electric loco is called a "steeplecab".

(Well, the comic amused me any way.)

I have two catalogs from the late '80s or early '90s era. There was a book of truck modeling I had wish I had ordered. ?

Built by a Japanese modeler. Pictures of the layout from various angles. (Text in Japanese) http://www.ecodacs2.nerima.tokyo.jp/rehsi/essya-ensenhuukei.html How it was built (Text in Japanese) http://www.ecodacs2.nerima.tokyo.jp/rehsi/essyasen.html

Those might be renderings. Back when Deloreans were new a neighbor had one. My friends and I thought it was like a space ship.

I think my late mother was the bigger NASCAR fan in my family. I still have a few VHS cassettes with races taped of TV. I was always more interested in archival film footage of old races. ?

(From a collection of cartoons published in PUNCH magazine, dating to the 1940s.)

I was reminded of some cartoons I'd seen in old magazines.

Fetching a crashed car would be complicated I'd think.

The actual race was fun to watch, the music performances not so much. This style of racing is a fun change of pace from the other tracks.

Les Barker was a British humorist and poet who just recently passed away. Back in the 1990s I saw a performance of his at a house concert. I still have two books I purchased then of his writings. He did not sing or play an instrument, but his songs were covered by well-known folk musicians over the years. Here Tom Paxton performs Les' parody of the old traditional song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". There are also numerous videos on YT of Les himself reading his quite often humorous poetry.