tim boyd

For those that have not already seen this, some photos of the '65 and '66 F100 models under development (3d printed from CAD files) are at the link below...please note that there are myriad corrections/updates to the CAD files that have been implemented after these files were printed.....TIM Moebius Models early development projects on display at 2017 NNL Motor City

Couple comments..... 1) the AMT announcement of a '27T Turtledeck first appeared c.1960 in the instruction sheets of several of their kit introductions that year. The kit that actually materialized, of course, was the '25T Double Kit, not the '27 Turtledeck. (I've not seen the 1963 sell sheet Art referred to above, which eventually resulted in the '27T Tub/XR-6 Double kit...). .. 2) while I would agree that some Revell hot rod kits have missed the mark to varying degrees (mostly minor, but a few significantly), my view remains that two of their prior kits - the original Buttera '26T (undersized engine notwithstanding) and the original 3 '32 Ford street rod kits from 1996 and 1997 were incredibly spot on as new kit introductions at that time. As regards that oft-criticized Buttera 289 V8, keep in mind that in the real car, that engine is a very tight fit in a 1/1 scale T engine compartment. Given the scale thickness of the hood side panels formed in styrene (instead of sheet metal), a kit development designer could either undersize the engine or oversize the body. They made the right choice. TIM

According to Dave Metzner at Moebius, this is a highly limited release....around 1600 made and the Golden Commandos "team" has grabbed some of the production for their own use. Dave's advice,,,if you see one, buy it, because you probably will not see another, and there are not plans for additional kits to be run.... Here's the kit and model as displayed at the Moebius booth at the NNL Motor City earlier today....TIM

Check them out for great model building ideas.....such as this '29 Roadster from Harold Helzer, displayed at the NNL Motor City on November 12, 2017 - TIM

The model car display at the NNL Motor City continues to grow in size and quality each year. This year's themes were Camaros and Firebirds, and Long Roofs, with excellent turnouts for both themes. Jim Drew, Ted Lear, and several other modelers had very large displays of their work. A big buzz was that the models of the late Jack Pennington resurfaced at a vendor yesterday at $50 a piece, and in some state of disrepair. Fortunately, they were hastily grabbed by several modeler/caretakers who knew exactly what they were. They repaired some damage, and put them on display toward the end of the morning. His work looks every bit as stunning today as it did years ago when he created them. Thanks to you guys for this high-stakes rescue!!! As many of you know, I place a high value on identifying the builders of the models I photograph. This time, rather than listing the name under each photo, I did what we (the staff of Street Rodder magazine) used to do when we photographed major events like the Street Rod Nationals. After each photo of a model, the next photo that follows is a closeup of the entry form with the builder's name. Hope this ensures credit where credit is due. Here's the linky to the coverage.... While I've attended the NNL Motor City since its beginning, this is the first time I've photographed the model display. I saw entries from Wisconsin, Canada, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, and there were probably other states represented as well. Congrats to the DAAM (Detroit Area Auto Modelers) and all the participants in the NNL Motor City this year. As usual, I recommend using the "Roll" feature so you can quickly scroll through the pictures and builder credits. (The image below, conceived by Ron Harris, is selected in honor of the automotive preferences of our host here at the MCM Forum.) Thanks for looking....- TIM

Dennis....sharp, sharp, sharp! Your changes add authenticity and give it a "real" (in miniature) vibe to my eye. TIM

Bill.....my understanding is that both kits feature a 283/327 V8.....TIM

From earlier today, images of the Moebius display. The two new Novas and '65/'66 F-Series pickups are 3D printed from CAD files, they have not been tooled yet so there is no official announcement date. 24 images in total at this link. Dave Metzner emphasized that there is further refinement underway - including a new roof panel for the pickups with added curvature, and a repositioned and reshaped rear window on the back of the cab, both applicable to the 1965/1966 F-Series. Three images below are the first takes of the 1965 Chevy II two door sedan Gasser. More NNL Motor City photos will be posted tonight - some really cool models on the table this time. TIM

Some of you may recognize the name Bill Bozgan. He wrote a number of articles for Scale Auto and is a Ford fanatic to the nth degree. He's now retired from the company but works part time with the Ford Archives activity. Bill was a key behind the scenes shaker on the Revell Model A project, and he (like me) thinks a '26/'27 T Turtledeck is a slam dunk kit idea. He is a highly respected historic Ford expert in the eyes of the model car companies, and you can be sure that he has (and will continue) to advocate for this idea. TIM

Well, that didn't take long! A few comments... yes the Nova SS Hardtop is a '64, and the post sedan is a '65. Both have V8's under the hood (the Trumpeter kit was a six). I've seen the CAD work on both, and they appear very well executed. The Gasser is a full fledged effort, not a mild takeoff on a showroom stock car. There is a third version of the kit tool planned, and possibly others later.. No firm production date yet that I know of. Round 2 will also be there, but not Revell. Round 2 will definitely check out the Charger III idea - if the tooling exists in usable original kit form they would consider it for a future kit release. Also want to reiterate that several other guesses in this thread about what might be revealed today .... err...last night, are under active consideration by a model kit company. So keep those ideas coming, including those that can be configured in multiple kit releases (just as what you've seen today from Moebius.) We're having the early stages of ice storm where I live in SE Michigan this morning, so all you guys heading to the show, PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY ... TIM

If done correctly (e.g. original OEM parts breakdown) this could be done both as a '26/'27 turtledeck and as a '26/'27 roadster pickup kit. That's one of the angles I've been pushing.... TIM

Craig,,,,,there were at least four colors, including the ones you listed. I don't recall at the moment what the added fourth color was...may have been white (or black) but I cannot state from memory for sure.... The '32 Custom Tudor was never issued as a stand-alone kit. However, the body itself was combined with the '32 Phaeton/Vicky tool parts for a one-time only 1975 "Street Rod Series" kit....but other than the body, no other parts from the original '32 Custom version of the '32/'40 Willys kit carried over... Hope that helps....TIM

A few of these posts are somewhat close.... but I think most of you will be surprised (I sure was). They're gonna be cool kits (my prediction). Further good news is that several of the other ideas posted in this thread are, to my understanding, on the future kit possibility lists of at least one of the kitmakers. Even further, one of the most frequent suggestions in prior threads on kit tooling spinoffs/derivatives is having the metal cut right now ( I would expect it to hit the market middle of next year). It's always a good idea to send your kit suggestions directly to the manufacturers, and to enter them on kit suggestion lists (like Revell's at NNL East) or website surveys. Believe me when I say "every vote counts" in these type of situations. The reality is that the modeling staffs of Round 2, Revell, and Moebius are just too busy to actively monitor these forum threads on new kit ideas. It also carries a lot more weight if they know someone went to the extra effort to contact the company directly on a new kit idea. Example? As several of you suggested, I'd personally love to see a '70 Ranchero ( particularly a Squire with the Ram Air hood like the one in the current issue of Vintage Truck magazine). While it would have to be new tooling, much of the kit could be based off the Revell '70 Torino Cobra/GT work, just as the new 1970 Charger kit was patterned off the old Pro-Modeler 1969 Charger tool. A note to Revell, along with a copy of the magazine article ( or at least a reference to it), builds the credibility of the idea, and might at some future date be enough to push it close enough to the top of the list that the kitmaker would contact the owner of the featured truck, conduct a measuring session, and then do the analysis to see how much new engineering work would be required to actually create such a kit. As for that Lusso kit idea, like several of you it's at the top of my list as well....some of you with connections to the Asian kitmakers need to actively continue to actively communicate that idea. Maybe to Revell Germany as well. It seems like a hands-down commercial kit success to me. Also, more important than ever now, I am told, is the ability for an all-new kit tool to spawn at least 2-3 follow-up spinoff kits, and more if possible. (Go back and review Luc's posts on this subject if you need more explanation). So when you send those ideas, it will add considerable helpfulness/validity if you also list the other derivatives that could be developed from that kit tool. (I know many of you are already aware of much/all of the above, so I apologize for repeating it here for you guys....) Also, I'm visiting later today with John G. of Round 2 (it's been an annual tradition now for several years), I'll try to remember to ask about the Charger III tool. I agree, that one would be a killer reissue if somehow the original tooling still exists. The 24 hour countdown starts in about 30 minutes.....TIM

Sounds like a pretty cool idea to me.....sort of a Rod and Custom Dream Truck approach applied to a Ford pickup. Certainly no more work than trying to tweak a '48 Ford Custom chopped roofline.....I for one would love to see how this idea plays out if you decide to try it.... TIM

Bill.....smile!.....TIM

"Multiple versions of a new tooling. Hmm... ‘26/‘27 turtle deck T hot rods? With period-correct drivetrain and suspension? Oh yeah. " ***************************** Matt....not this weekend, at least, but I'm pushing this one really, really hard with one of the kitmakers. Others are doing the same. Recommend you (and anyone else who agrees with Matt) to let the kitmaker of your choice know of your desires now.... TIM

Then again, maybe the best solution is to just build the kit as it comes in the box....I could argue (but I won't) that the chop on the kit is every bit as artful as the one on the full size car pictured above. As one of you said (words to the effect). top chopping is indeed an art, and no single execution of art will seem superior to another in the eyes of every onlooker....

Agreed! Maybe even before I get there....the show opens at 9am EST....wonder who will be first to post the news? TB

None of the above ideas.....only two more days and the news will be out.....I expect to be back from the event by early Sunday afternoon and will try to post what I know (and learn) then....TIM

For those of you planning to attend Sunday's NNL Motor City, at least two of the model kit companies will be there, and my understanding is that one will announce two versions of an all-new kit tool there....TIM UPDATE 4 December 2017 - Topic Title revised to reflect that this reveal has now already taken place....TIM

Casey....fully agree that the Boat kit is not a Y-Block, most obviously due to the exhaust port spacing as you note. Ironically, the exhaust port spacing IS correct, though, for an MEL. I checked out the Boat kit engine up close again, and the block has the normal 45 degree V8 angle to mount the head and intake assembly, rather than the MEL's more shallow angle, so in that regard it is not authentic as an MEL, either. Kind of generic engine with a mish-mash of mostly generic parts from various sources. TIM

Eric....that is one gorgeous RR. Your attention to detail stands out throughout this model. Great job....TIM

Thanks Bill and Dave. As to the sources for an MEL, I thought we've gone over this before (and perhaps we did, earlier in this thread, but I don't have the time to check right now). Here are the kit sources for 1/25th scale MEL's * AMT Trophy Series '25T Double Kit (and its many reissues) - as noted above, this is an MEL engine, but AMT chose to make the valve covers look like the earlier Lincoln Y-Block for some reason. * AMT first generation Lincoln Continental kits - 1962- 1965 (I don't have a '61 but I suspect that kit also had it). This was the Lincoln 430 MEL. Several of those kits - particularly the '65 annual kit - had some very cool hot rod accessories for the MEL engine. AMT did a 1965 reissue in the 1990's so this one is not as hard to find as you might expect. * AMT second generation Lincoln Continental kits - 1966-1969. This is the 462 MEL kit. It was supplied in the kits in stock only form (from what I recall), but most of the engine was plated. Even though the real Lincolns switched to the all-new 385 series 460 engine in 1968 1/2, AMT kept the MEL engine through the end of the Lincoln Continental annual kit run in 1969. Someone did a resin rebop....memory says that it was either Missing Link (or one of its facility partners) or Calnaga Castings. In any case, this was a number of years ago. * With a nod to Casey (who posted in a different thread), I should probably also mention that the just-reissued AMT Chris Craft boat kit has a V-8 engine for the race version of the boat, and while very crude, it has several MEL-like features (the exhaust port spacing, the distributor location, and possibly the unusual engine block to cylinder head alignment seen in the MEL and Chevy W-engines, although I can't tell for sure looking at just a completed model). But of course it has the earlier, Lincoln Y-Block valve covers, and it appears to be too small, size wise, for a 1/25th MEL. It would require quite a bit of work to make into a passenger car engine - the Lincoln or Ford Double T kits are a far, far better place to start if you want an accurate MEL for model car usage. . Just to reiterate (again), the Mercury based 1958 higher series Edsels had MEL engines, but the AMT Edsel kit replicates the smaller, Ford based Edsel series, and those had FE engines that year, and that's what's in the kit. * Finally, for those of you into really obscure kit info, the ultra rare Aurora '22 T Double Kit had a pseudo MEL engine, if you can believe it, which does make some sense as in many ways this is an East Coast flavored copy of the AMT '25T Double Kit in some ways. However, the Aurora kit has some very unusual features, including a front cover/engine mounting plate that looks like it was designed for a V-Drive boat, and MEL Valve Covers with "Corvette" lettering. I know Norm Veber pulled some molds of this engine, and made a few copies years ago, so he might be a source, but only if you were trying to build a hot-rodded and nostalgia-dripping Hot Rod model, not a showroom stock MEL. Hope that helps...TIM . TIM PS - anybody wanna guess what kit might have had the Lincoln Y-Block I mentioned above, had things worked out differently?

Justin....it's exciting to see your progress....and mega-kudos for your decision to go with a Y-block! TIM

Dennis.....looking very, very tough & cool. Particularly impressed with your chassis mods.....can't wait to see further progress...TIM