tim boyd

1976 MPC Modeling Championship - 2nd Nationwide Winner This is the car that won 2nd Nationwide in the 1976 MPC National Model Car Customizing Contest. The yearly contest series ran from 1969 through 1979 and took place in about 20 of the largest ISCA hot rod shows around the country each year. Winning "Best of Show" at one of those regional contests qualified you for the annual National Championship, conducted at the ISCA Omaha (Nebraska) show back then. This model won "Best of Show" at the 1976 Cincinnati ISCA show, going on to win 2nd Nationwide in the finals. At the time you were allowed to improve or change your "Best of Show" winner for the National Championship, so I built a 2nd body, same as the first one other than adding opening doors and taking extra precautions to avoid sinking putty, and placed it atop the chassis/engine/interior of the Cincy car. In the photos below with two cars, the 2nd black car is the original body (later placed atop a more basic chassis/engine). As you can see, I used the same paint scheme on the national winner, but reversed the masking for the flames. By the way, the paint on the national winner was all Testors and Pactra enamels; no automotive paint was used. Also, per MPC Contest rules at the time, no resin body casting and less than 10% brass (in this case, used to reinforce the door frames) was used in the construction of the model. The interior incorporated a wraparound instrument panel and four bucket seats, with the front passenger seat turned rearward like the old 1966 Imperial "Business Director" production seating option. The "carpeting" was real pink turkey feathers, salvaged from the basement of the original Rider's Hobby store in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Yeah, I know what you're thinking....you can't make this stuff up; it must be true, and it was!) The engine was conceived as a very strong poke in the eye of the automotive emissions legislative environment back then, via a front-supercharged 426 Hemi with precision fuel metering intended to pass all emissions tests while setting new levels of street-driven horsepower. Note that we were still using black thread pulled through beeswax for ignition wiring at the time! The model had been built with an interior floorboard configuration intended to accommodate a Lotus-like central backbone chassis, but I ran out of time (I was a full time college student and working 30 hours a week at the time). The MPC National judges noted the discrepancy between the chassis frame and the floorboard in their judging, and correctly so. (Tom Woodruff was able to finesse and bring my central backbone chassis idea to reality with his Pearl White chopped Merc model a year later, It also became a top 5 MPC National Championship winner in 1977. Those of you at the NNL Nats #40 and Reunion may have seen Tom's display where he showed the letters we had to each other with drawings of this and other ideas for Chopped Merc models). This is the first time that details of this car have been shown in color. Look closely at all the details, and enjoy! Thanks for looking...TIM 17 additional detail and overall photos here..... Thanks for looking.....TIM

Heh Tim....was great to see you again too. And you brought some really killer projects to the show, too. Lots to look at and like! Best....TIM

Ed now works part time as a consultant to Revell....this includes evaluating potential new projects as assigned by Revell, and also representing Revell at major auto modeling events such as the NNL #40 mentioned by Len above....TIM

These MPC trike models are actually pretty good stuff. The Honda four is very well detailed, for instance. Also, for those that did not know this, several of the MPC trike models shown in the MPC flier posted by Steve above were originally conceived and built by Dennis (Denny) Johnson for the early years of the MPC National Customizing Championships. Denny had those originals on display at this year's NNL Nats #40 a couple of weeks ago.... TIM

I spoke to my contacts at Round 2 about the original first-issue Ertl CO-4070A kit when I did my article on all the 40+ "Ertl before AMT-Ertl" kits in the other model car magazine a couple of years ago. My takeaway is that the "Eagle" cabover will be reissued eventually, while the original 4070A is not a reissue candidate. Reason being, if you compare the two kits side by side, there were extensive changes and additions for the Eagle kit that are not evident upon just a cursory review of the kits, and personally I don't see Round 2 going to the expense and effort of reverting the tool to the prior status, given all the other projects that they have on their plate at the moment. The feedback from Round 2 seemed to reinforce this view. Then again, as we've seen many times now from Round 2, things we thought we'd never see again have eventually resurfaced. Bottom line, not likely, at all but not impossible, either. TIM

That's an interesting idea! TIM

Double post....please delete. TB

Wow! That will sure visually jump off the hobby store shelves.....kudos to the Moebius/Model King teams....TIM

Yes...that's the article. Pretty cool info in it, too, IIRC. TIM

This looks like a page from the magazine that Dodge sent to their car and truck owners on a fairly regular basis. My Dad was a Dodge guy, so he got the mag. I saved a very interesting article from the mag back in the day that fully documented MPC's promo business, and I used some of the info from that article in my recent book "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits" (CarTech Publishing, 2018). TIM

Uh...except that I took the photos myself. And hundreds (if not thousands) at the D>A>A>M show last April saw them in the flesh...err....wood too! Cheers ....TIM

The "NNL Founders Present the 40th NNL Anniversary Celebration" took place in Toledo, Ohio on the Friday evening before the NNL Nats #40, and on the Saturday evening after the NNL Nats concluded that afternoon; October 11 and 12, 2019. The events were conceptualized, produced, and mc'ed by NNL Founder and 1977 MPC Grand National Champion Chuck Helppie. Chuck wanted us to celebrate the last-ever NNL Nationals with a couple of complimentary events that harkened back to why the NNL began in the first place. Friday night's activities centered around a dinner and presentation/series of on-stage interviews with several figures from the formative years of our hobby, including 1965 Revell/Testors National Champion Rich Morgan, and Denny Johnson, creator of the "Zingers" concept that kitmaker MPC turned into a winning product line. (Several other key figures in our hobby's history were invited but unable to attend due to health issues). Subsequent interviewees included NNL Founding Father Tom Woodruff and the current leaders of several of the other major NNL Events across the United States. Further insight came from Tim Slezak, who eventually became one of the key judges in the MPC National Customzing Contest than ran from 1969 through 1979. Tim sent a letter to be shared with the attendees, as did GSL International Model Car Championship and Convention and International Model Car Builder's Museum head honco Mark Gustavson) as well. Each speaker received a beautiful "Ring of Honor" desk plaque. Those attending left with a better understanding of how the NNL began as a NON-COMPETITIVE gathering where the country's best model car builders could gather to enjoy their hobby and build friendships that would, and will, last for a lifetime... Saturday night's event was set up like the original NNL events in a hotel conference room, with tables for the participants to show their own models and see those of the others. It featured the largest ever gathering of model car magazine cover cars dating back as far as nearly 60 years, and a display of some of the most significant modeling treasures from the International Model Car Builder's Museum in Sandy, Utah. Another highlight was a table of 1949-current Mercury cars, revisiting the original "Merc Deuce Reunion" theme that was so successful at NNL #2 in October, 1981. Many of the best known model car builders of the last four decades were present that evening. It was great to renew so many friendships and catch up with the activities of each other. Not to mention, have a chance to see first hand some of the most significant model cars ever in our hobby. On behalf of the participants, I'd like to publicly thank Chuck Helppie, along with fellow NNL Founders Tom and Karen Woodruff and west coast modeling legend Pryor Passorino, for his and their efforts to put on two nights of pure model car related enjoyment and friendship that we'll all remember for the rest of our lives. ( If you would like to know more about how this event was developed, visit the following Facebook page.... https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Sports---Recreation/NNL-Founders-Present-the-NNL-40th-Anniversary-Celebration-288074061863099/ ) The pictures at the link below start off with the Friday night activities, followed by the Saturday night events. Have fun looking and enjoying, and remember that NNL's far and wide are all about model cars and having fun for sure, but even more importantly, the friendships that develop from them. Also of note, well-known modeler and photographer Doug Whyte, and his wife and son, were on hand at both evening events with a professional video team, and they will be producing a summary of the key events. Be watching for it, and enjoy all the pictures in the album below. Enjoy....TIM

Great project! Makes me wanna dig one out and build it. Really like the fine details you incorporated like the number stenciled on the grille. Congrats...TIM

Oliver....great that you decided to build the kit instead of the alternative! Great touches too to personalize the design....scallops look really cool. Congrats! And let's all continued to convey our wishes to Revell that they figure out a way to put this kit back into production, and to do it SOON!!!! Best Regards....TIM

The Revell display model at the NNL Nats #40...

Guys....I remember the GLMFAA very well. Their club participation and support was a real boost to the NNL Nats, particularly during the first decade of the event. For those that were not there back in the day, the GLMFAA display often comprised nearly a quarter of more of the entire table space. Great memories....TIM .

Sorry, we missed you, Bill. Somehow I feel you were there in spirit if not in fact. Good Luck with the new housing arrangements....TIM

I remember when I was .... oh well, let's just say I didn't really understand the kit modeling business. Then I was hired by AMT do to various projects in the mid 1970's, and interviewed with AMT and Monogram upon graduation before I went another direction. What I found to be the case then (and it remains true today) was that how things and decisions appear to the public was often much different than what was actually going on in the companies,. And while communication between the kitmakers and us (their consumers) is far more open today than back then, there are still topics they keep pretty close to the vest. So.... I don't know any specifics about the '71/'72 Road Runner tool, but I can assure you all of the following.... * The Round Two people are car nuts, and they are also very astute business people. I STRONGLY doubt they have any preconceived bias against the 1971/72 Road Runner; in fact, I personally find the possibility to be inconceivable. * Round Two has many projects in the works and only so much tooling money, and staff time, available to make them a reality. New project ideas are evaluated against existing ideas on the list, and only a certain amount make to the stage of tooling and production. And at least a few of these projects, some announced and others not announced at this time, are pretty ambitious projects coming down the pike. Bottom line, continue to respectfully express your preferences for this or any other potential kit topic. But I also urge you take advantage of the insights from many on this board who have industry experience and/or insights, It can help to explain why certain things happen, or don't happen, in this fascinating hobby of ours. My 2 cents...hope you find it helpful. TIM

A few more images here....TIM

Interesting discussions here. One factor I have been told about the original parts packs was that the small packages were prone to shoplifting and that may have been a factor. But as mentioned above, changing tastes, new and more complete/up to date kit introductions, and the onslaught of slot cars at the same time, were probably key factors in the disappearance of 1960's parts packs. One other point, may have been made but I don't recall it from what I recall of the posts in this thread. That is, for the famous three double kits, it turns out that Revell did tweak some of the existing parts pack trees to assist builders in piecing together the kits. I was dumbfounded to discover this when I built the Bantam Altered for an article in Model Cars in the early 2000's. For that reason alone, not to mention the enhance value of getting all those parts packs parts in a kit that builds two complete cars, I'd prefer to see these parts resurface as part of the production re-run of the three original Double Kits. I was also disappointed that the Bantam body was not surfaced very well and needed a LOT of work to prepare to a presentable appearance. At the NNL Nats yesterday, there was some discussion going on that the company that bought all the old, unused Monogram tools had discovered some car kits amongst the tooling they acquired. Don't remember the details, and as they say, the proof is in the pudding...or....show me the styrene, bub! Bottom line, I'd sure be surprised to see the Double Kits, or even just some of the Parts Packs resurface as production items...but then again I never dreamed we'd see a series of Hudson kits, a chopped Merc, nor some of the rediscovered tooling and kits coming out of Round Two... TIM

Here's the link to my in-depth coverage of the last-ever NNL Nats, with 375 images and all builders identified in the Contests and Shows folder here at modelcarsmag.com. Other participants are also beginning to posting their pictures and coverage of the event in the Contests and Shows section. Be Sure to check 'em all out...Thanks....Tim

Well...this one was one for the ages. In more ways than one, too.... As many of you know, this was the last-ever NNL Nationals...the 40th yearly get together of the original non-competitive model car event. It was a terrific success. Modelers from all parts of the US and Canada, along with the UK. Many of our participants were the guys and gals who attended the NNL Nats during the first 10 years, before the other NNL Events around the US and around the world that were inspired by the Nats began to become overwhelmingly popular. Many, many old friendships were renewed and enjoyed. Why? Because above all us, the NNL Nats has been a venue for, even more than the models, the people that enjoy and participate in this great hobby of ours. In the end, over 1,000 models were tallied - a collection of those we remember fondly from past NNL Nats, and many fresh models (many people made a mad dash to complete projects for this year's event). It was a great way to end and enduring legacy that some people credit with (along with the creation of Scale Auto magazine and the GSL International Model Car Contest and Convention) the ascension and success of adult model car building over the last forty years. What follows is a look at some of the models, historic NNL Nats artifacts, and the people seen at the NNL Nats #40. Be sure to also check out the NNL Reunion album, which captured the Friday and Saturday night events curated by NNL Founder Chuck Helppie. As in the past, I have attempted to identify the builder of each model. In cases where the handwriting was hard to read, I had to guess at the spelling of the builders' names - please correct me if I got the name(s) wrong.... Also, amidst the hub-bub and greeting/catching up with old friends, and meeting new friends, somehow the depth of field setting on my became maladjusted toward the end of the evening, so I apologize in advance for those images that are not fully in focus around the edges. I left 'em in anyway, because I thought you'd want to see the images anyway. I apologize in advance. Thanks for visiting this coverage of the final NNL Nats ever, and thanks for your interest and support. And by all means, in the future please consider attending the nearest NNL events in your part of the country or world to experience the fun and camaraderie of non-competitive model car events! Cheers....TIM LINK to NNL Nats #40 In-depth coverage Randy Derr's John Greenwood IMSA Corvette project...

Thanks Dennis...I'll check it out....TIM

There are new projects underway at several of the domestic companies.....when they will be formally announced and then break the light of day I do not know, but from my perspective the interest in pursuing new projects has done a complete 180 vs this time 12-18 months ago. For the first time in a long time, I'm pretty encouraged. TIM ////