tim boyd

I think you'll see an announcement within 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.....and I think it will have some cool stuff too......TIM

The tooling for the XR-6 (not 8) no longer exists (based on what I have been told by sources that I trust and that have proven reliable in the past). There is a detailed article showing the original issue XR-6 kit buildup in an issue of Model Cars Magazine from about three years ago or so - I'm sure it is still available as a back issue for anyone who wants more info on this kit that was released only once, in late 1963. TIM

Wow.....that is really, really cool. TIM

Have ordered many times from Tom Carter at Spotlight Hobbies. Highly recommended; super-quick service, too. TIM

The last of my four "Hot Rod Hints" Chapters is now open for viewing and (hopefully) model building inspiration. One of the things I like best about building hot rod themed model cars is the variety and creativity they offer to the builder. Often just the smallest touches can give your model an extra degree of personalization when placed next to a box stock build of the same kit at your next Club meet, NNL, or contest. Here are a few finishing touches that add character to your hot rod models and are also easy to accomplish. I've also added a couple of images with aftermarket parts that are now available for the Revell Model A kits, such as these new tops from Altered States....and some new products from Replicas & Miniatures.... The 16 images and captions are intended as just thought starters, but if you want further ideas, you can check out my on-line photo albums of 1/1 scale and scale traditional hot rods at the links in the accompanying source box of the last picture in Chapter Four. . Here's the link to Hot Rod Hints Chapter Four.... While we're at it, are links to the previous chapters for those of you that missed those.... Hot Rod Hints Chapter Three Hot Rod Hints Chapter Two Hot Rod Hints Chapter One This brings to a close our original set of Hot Rod Hints. If there are other topics for modifying and personalizing your hot rod model builds you’d like us to cover, just post your thoughts at the end of this on-line album. And please make sure to let your hot rod model building friends know about this series of "Hot Rod Hints" articles. Whether I do this again in the future will depend to some degree on the number of people who look at this series of articles. Thanks for your interest....here's hoping they inspire some really cool modeling projects on your hobby desks....TIM

Randy.....that is one sharp GT! I've always been partial to the '05 S197 generation.....TIM

After seeing Randy's build, Jonathon's build from a few months ago, and one other one (I think it may have been yours Ron), if I was ever going to build a current car kit, this would be the one to go on the table. And this coming from a lifetime 1/1 scale Mustang GT owner/driver (10 of them that I recall) who doesn't have much use for Camaros, no less! Guys...your work is inspirational and to John G, Tom L and the team at Round 2, mega kudos for your current Camaro kit series. May there be more from where that came from! TIM

Randy.....really, really sharp model you have there. So other than the ride height issue, you didn't really have any assembly problems? If so, that's good to hear Unclear about the ride height comment, though...did you go ahead and lower it in your build, or does your picture represent the ride height right out of the box? Either way, I'm impressed. Thanks for giving us your report on how the kit assembles and looks when completed.... TIM

Chris, that nicely sums up what I am trying to accomplish here...thanks, TIM

Tom.....great color scheme on this one, and very inventive treatment on the interior. Great work.....congrats....TIM

Tasty, tasty baste! Excellent wheel and tire choice, too - and that early OHV Caddy just sings in the engine compartment! TIM

Kit.....wow.....great job on that one! You might want to venture up to the NNL Nats in Toledo this fall; the Cult Theme is Vintage Beach Racing and with your Lincoln Flat V-12 (from what I can tell) it would fit in really well with the vibe on the Cult Theme table. Congrats! TIM

Bravo, bravo, bravo!!!! TIM

David.....it's the highboy version interior from the Revell '30 A Five Window Coupe kit, built straight from the box with paint detail only. Michael, Jon, James and Jeff: Thanks for the feedback, as always, very much appreciated TIM

Here's a real one from the Concours of the Americas at St. John's last summer.... TIM

...this episode of Hot Rod Hints is a nice compliment to the article showing how to build a highly traditional Model A-framed Roadster Highboy in the new Model Cars mag issue #203.and the article on building and kitbashing the '30 A Five Window Coupe highboy version in the new April Issue of the other model car magazine. Just like building a full scale hot rod, it is often the fine details that make a large difference in the impact of your finished hot rod model. In this chapter, we’ll demonstrate some of the finer points of building a model hot rod, touching on firewalls, windshield frames, and more on the subject of proper placement of the radiator/assembly. Check it out the articles in the magazines and Chapter Three at the link below....and be watching for Hot Rod Hints Chapter Four....available in a couple of weeks from now. Thanks for looking....and hope this inspires you to build a new hot rod model or two. Here's the link. TIM

Just adding my two cents worth here, Mark is spot-on with his recommendation above...TIM

Sharp, sharp, sharp!!!! TIM

Heh all....thanks for the feedback. I guess this was pretty popular photo album on the web (if not so much here), I got 40,000 individual page views on Saturday alone....TIM

Del......sounds to me like what you need is the J2-like engine from the Revell '50 Olds Custom kit (the second release from that tool, not the first factory stock version). If you aren't familiar with this one, let me know and I can post pictures The other Olds option I like is the 4-71 blown Olds from the Beatnik Bandit kit. It has the same basic block as the Orange Crate, but is setup with a water pump/generator fan belt drive and dual strombergs - both important for street use. TIM

Alan makes a great suggestion for those that gotta have an SBC in their Ford hot rod.....and another excellent is the blown Chevy 327 in the '62 Corvette Gasser kit. Here is more on both of these engines.....

Why not swap in the Nailhead from the Revell 29 Roadster kit? This is a simple swap.....and can be accomplished with no further modifications if you know the right parts to pull from the Roadster kit. I think there will be instructions on how to do this in the next issue of the other model car magazine. There are also instructions on how to further personalize the Nailhead in the newest (Issue #203) Model Cars magazine, published a couple of weeks ago.. TIM

Snake is right here, although I think it was more mid-1967. Aw....what the heck....let me go check.....(brief pause)......OK, here's the answer. Car Model Magazine, March 1968, "Woodie Rail Job", also featured on the cover lower right hand corner. TIM

Scott.....the Dennis Doty project was originally published in 1981 as a single paperback book under the tab Imprint. This was an excellent book, but hampered by dark and difficult to see black and white picture reproduction. It was republished in 1989 as two separate volumes, again under the Tab imprint. The other book that sounds a bit like what you recall was credited to author Bill Neuman in the 1960's as I recall, but it had a number of Don Emmons projects inside (though he may not have been credited as such). I thought I had a copy of this book in my basement library but apparently not (I just checked). One of Don's most loved how-tos was his Parnelli Jones '63 Mercury, originally published in Rod and Custom (or Rod and Custom Models); it is likely the book had a reprint of this article. Does any of this sound more familiar? TIM