Brian Austin

IMHO, for the past several years GM/Chevy trucks haven't been particularly attractive. The '99 and earlier Silverados were fine. ?

SUV's will be next. ?

I was disappointed his Supermodels TV series apparently disappeared from the Motor Trend channel. I missed one episode and hoped they'd repeat the four episodes.

Is there any logic to the seemingly random number for the editions of the 1:64 diecast sets? 5820 seems to be rather peculiar number. Relating to the issue regarding the '55 Chevy pickup side window issue, ERTL also had a 1:25 diecast, as a bank, that had the same issue. So that problem got around.

Not one of his model videos, but I thought this one was interesting:

The custom headlights were a unique touch. I don't think I've seen oval headlights like them. (They are not like the old Cibie ones).

I was struck by how many miles he has put on his Mercury. Would you drive that little thing regularly with SUVs and trucks on the highway? ?

Detroit Zoo trains (built by Chrysler in the early '50s, powered by a standard 6cyl gasoline engine with hydraulic drive): https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A256869

Detroit Public Library Collection (trucks) https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A(truck) OR catch_all_fields_et%3A(truck) Detroit Public Library Collection (buses) https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A(bus) OR catch_all_fields_et%3A(bus) Example: Futurliner with locomotive display https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A196061 Example: Unusual Yellow Coach truck with early-style container trailer https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A256620

Le Mans-style racing in miniature... https://www.lemansclassic.com/language/en/little-big-mans-2/ Special Interest Autos ran an article on the '39 Chevy, and yes, it's 7/10 scale. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/02/03/sia-flashback-ernie-adamss-dwarf-1939-chevrolet 5/8 and 60%-reduction sized cars will also pop up in a web search for half-scale cars.

Event, an Automobile Racing Club of America race, is said to be in Wayland, MA. Further research found it to be located on the Alan C. Bemis estate, but was unable to find much else. This may be the track layout. image from https://revsinstitute.org/news/automotive-treasures-selections-from-the-joel-e-finn-collection/

https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/MVTN/id/1404/rec/35 Info: Filmed on October 7, 1934. Content Description Automobile Racing Club of America holds first race on new dirt track. Shows race with cars turning over, drivers crawling out and cars being removed from course. Includes close-up of winner Langdon Quimby driving a Willys 77.

Tamiya also made a plastic body kit in 1:10 scale in their R/C line. ?

You can go down a long rabbit hole researching half-scale cars and trucks. Some custom built, some available for purchase. There were even racing series involving children.

Slot car guys like 1:32 kits.

https://www.usdimestore.com/store.php/americandimestore/pg14121/plastics-museum

I wonder how many kits in this series had been released with period-correct decals for a yellow/red color scheme. The 1950 Chevy pickup seems to be one. I also wonder if the license includes other Coka-Cola brands. I have seen pictures of Sprite trucks for instance. I was also just reminded of the old Monogram Car In A Bottle dragster kits that included a full-scale replica of Pepsi or 7Up bottle.

Jimmy Flintstone appears to have a resin body available.

Lots of Jeeps after the war got special bodywork. Sometimes sporty, sometimes not so much...

A Willys-shaped Monopoly game token would have been fun...

Zephyr coupe drawing from above link. (To read the notes and dimensions go to the above link and zoom in. I can't download the highest resolution image).

I didn't attempt to speak with him, but I did literally cross paths with him on the grounds of a concours event in Newport, RI a decade ago or more. ?

How about RC Cola? ? https://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/rmx-6668.htm

I was reminded of the Spitfire episode as well. Then there was the one where he attempted to run a model train along a 10-mile rail-trail segment. He failed that attempt, but some time later he did another episode where he tried it again with lessons learned from the previous episode (titled "James May's Great Train Race"). (There was also a completely separate production hosted by someone else that ran a larger live-steam powered locomotive across a 71-mile course tracing the route of a long-gone railway line in the Scottish Highlands. This was a miniseries called The Biggest Little Railway In The World, and aired in 2018 or so.)