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

My airbrushing endeavours began in the mid 70s with a Paasche VL brush powered by an inexpensive piston driven compressor with no tank. This proved to be a poor compromise as the pulsing air created all sorts of problems when attempting to lay down a consistent stream of paint. Next I moved on to a Sears compressor with a built in regulator and small holding tank. Its drawback was the noise that was akin to a diesel engine! The solution was to get a compressor that would solve the issues presented by the previous ones. I settled on the Iwata studio model which purrs quietly along in its operation, has two lines with separate regulators and water traps and a large enough holding tank. It’s been nearly twenty years of trouble free operation and it plugs into a normal household 110 circuit. While it was an investment, it has saved a lot of headaches and has proven its worth over the years. Cheers Misha

While my Holy Grail list is gradually being reduced (my latest find was the MPC Mako Shark II in mint unbuilt condition!) the most elusive kit is Monogram’s Starbird Futurista released in 1965 and 1967. While being a typically simple kit of the time, it was molded in yellow and red with Monogram's high gloss finish, a plus for me as painting bodies was a skill to be perfected yet. Being a Starbird fan, his three wheeler has been my favourite bubble top. Powered by a hopped up VW four banger and painted in white pearl is my vision for display in the cabinet! The search continues… Cheers Misha

Yup, cross ram for all the above reasons. Looks great by the way. Cheers Mishaps

Very well done 👍🏾 paint & decaling job Thomas! Congrats, Misha

Great work Marcos on a very unique version of the ‘Cuda. Back when I was a kid cruising on my bike to look for the new car deliveries at the dealers, I spotted one of the Mod tops that “blew my mind!” While the trend didn’t really catch on thankfully, it’s great to see it done on a model. Like all your work, the execution and look is right on! Cheers Misha

Sweet ride Bob! I am amazed what current tech can do and you have offered a beautiful rendering of what may be accomplished. My big step with modelling was using an air brush, that was just over forty years ago! About time to learn more about 3D printing. Thanks for the great WIP thread, Cheers Misha

Wow what a build Bob!!! I was following your WIP thread with great interest as I’m working on the same kit, though not quite as extreme. Your ingenuity and quickness of your builds is very impressive, with a great finish. It’s surprising the various versions of the Fiat 500 that are available as models. The diminutive size offers a striking contrast to the usual fare. I echo all the above replies, great work and a pleasure to view! Cheers Misha

The straps were originally to be used as 1/48 WW II aircraft seat belts off a common Edurad P/E fret if I remember Jim. Cheers Misha

Think that the AMT 63 Vette still has one. I detailed one for my MGB Sebring entry with P/E straps from a military kit. Cheers Misha

Wow, thanks for all the great detailed photos of Clark’s Lotus Andrew! One of the most significant race cars of all time. In addition the other photos are excellent, I’m sure you had a fabulous day! Cheers Misha

Gosh, you had me there, almost… I thought you may have missed April 1 this year! Thanks for keeping the tradition up, Cheers Misha

Some more tail fin shots from the opening spring 2025 Goodguys season in Arizona… Cheers Misha

Sad news indeed. A giant of the Kustom world. I first learned of him by looking at the model kit boxes with illustrations of his custom versions of the subject. That was in the early 60s and was supplanted by pouring over Rod & Custom, Hot Rod, Street Rodder and a host of other magazines that have bit the dust. In the early days there was a close association between the leading Kustomizers and kit companies with such names as the Alexander brothers, Barris, and Big Daddy involved with kit designs that offered a multitude of additional parts to enable modellers to execute their own imaginative versions. Rest in peace Gene, may you grace the hallways of Hot Rod Heaven and thank you for all your elegant designs.

The Cupcake Caddy is the third build by Jean Claude I’ve come across this morning and it brought a big smile to my face. All of your work is amazing as you tackle the resin bodies and take it to another level. Your vision in designing the various parts combined with excellent build skills produces stunning models that are unique! Thanks for sharing your work, cheers Misha

Wow, another great build Jean Claude! The combination of parts is imaginative along with producing a unified look to the build. Cheers Misha

Bravo Jean Claude on a great combination! The result is stunning with the colour scheme, stance, and overall eye appeal of the concept. Great build, thanks for showing it. Cheers Misha

What a great thread! One’s heart longs for the days of imaginative stylin’ compared to today’s bubble cars identifiable only by the badging on the grill; oy vey! Combed thru my collection of photos from BJ, Goodguys, and local show’n’shines in Arizona and the Cowichan Valley and came up with the following…. Cheers Misha

Thanks Phil, I’m hoping to at least double my count for this year! Thank you Helmut, There were a number of great builds for the anniversary; a number completed after the deadline too. Thank you for your kind wishes, I’m doing considerably better with a normal heartbeat now! Thanks for checking in Chris. It won a ribbon at the IPMS Vancouver contest this spring. Thanks Ed for your kind wishes, I feel as if I’ve gained a decade back. Merci Pierre, Next will be a replica of the 911 entered in the 1975 Cannonball Run organized by Brock Yates. I’ve decided to build the 71 PorscheT entered by Bill “Captain Marvel” Warner and co-driver Tom Nehl. Thank you Bruce for your kind words as well. Cheers Misha

This past year has been fraught with health issues with a minor heart attack in March leading up to a pacemaker installed in November. As a result my work bench time produced only a single model, an MGB replica of a three car entry by the company in the 1964 Sebring Endurance Race. It was begun the previous year as part of a Forum community build celebrating its sixtieth anniversary and completed in March in time for the 2024 running in Florida. I enjoyed doing the research on the car and searching through visual references. Auction sites provide great photo details, although one needs to be mindful of changes made to historic vehicles to have them comply with current heritage race regulations when building a replica. I was also fortunate to have the club racing kit version with the hardtop and perspex headlight covers included. Being a curbside most of the detailing effort was spent on the chassis and interior. The body colour needed to be custom mixed using the limited range of Tamiya acrylics. Overall the Aoshima kit offered very well detailed and delicate parts along with great fit, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable build! Looking forward to the new year with another replica build of a Porsche 911T entered in the 1975 Cannonball Run for the Forum’s 50th Anniversary community build, and a Deuce Woody for this summer’s Deuce Days in Victoria, BC. While wintering in AZ, with limited workshop resources, I’ve begun prepping a Fiat Abarth 605 SS, another curbside build that I’ve started to lean towards. Wishing all a great year of model construction! Cheers Misha

Great paint & detailing work Simo! The kit offers a lot of detail I was unaware of before. Always room for another Bug. I’ll be following along, Cheers & Happy New Year, Misha

Count me in! As the theme is the 50 anniversary of the 1975 Cannonball, I’ve decided to build a replica of the 71 Porsche T entered by Bill “Captain Marvel” Warner and co-driver Tom Nehl. I participated in the Sebring 60th Anniversary build with my MGB build and thoroughly enjoyed researching the vehicle so as to accomplish a replica build. The plan is to follow a similar method and to focus on the detail rather than scratch building, which always takes me down a rabbit hole. I’ll be using an EM Fujimi kit of the early Porsche which offers great accuracy and detail. While I’m in Arizona for the winter I’ll be gathering reference sources of the Warner/Nehl entry and upon my return to my Vancouver Island workbench the build will commence! Cheers Misha