tim boyd

Don't forget that those of you planning to attend the NNL Nats in October are invited to bring your Traditional Hot Rod Builds....including partially completed Revell '29A Roadster kits, to display in our "Traditional Hot Rods" NNL Cult Theme this year. TB

Thanks everyone for your comments. I don't know why exactly, but for me this kitbash seems to perfectly capture the more pure, late 1950's/early 1960's time period of the hot rod world. It's not even close to being slammed on the ground, and it's almost too simple or plain in its appearance, but somehow it delivers a purity of thought about the hot rod genre and build style of the period. Now....onward to finishing the next project! TIM

Marty...no it's just the stock Highboy (not lowboy) radiator grille assembly. I don't know why the lowboy/channeled radiator is so much larger in depth, but the radiator of my next build of the channeled version is going to cut back to match the depth of the HIghboy radiator with a big improvement (I'm betting) in appearance as a result. Cheers...TIM

Mike...nah....they're the FRONT tires from the Revell/Monogram Black Widow kits (the recent reissues with newly tooled tires). Pretty amazing match, huh? Of course, they're not hollow centered so if you are using the Revell kit wheels (which fit better than the Holthaus wheels which were a tad too small in diameter), you'll have to remove the center rib on the Revell wheels. All of a couple of minutes of work if you have a Xuron style parts runner nipper tool....TIM

Paul...a super clean build and love your choice of colors....too bad you can't travel to the States for the NNL Nats Cult Theme Traditional Hot Rods Display....but you'll be there in spirit, for sure. Congratulations...TIM

Here's a link to my first completed kitbash of this kit as posted in the "Under Glass" Forum here...a Model A Roadster Highboy based on the Z'ed Model A frame instead of the Deuce frame.... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/106064-my-first-completed-kitbash-of-revells-29a-hot-rod-roadster-kit/ Cheers...TIM

Here's a sneak peak of a Highboy based on the kit's Z'ed Model A frame (as opposed to the Highboy with a 32 Deuce frame and a Channeled Roadster with the Model A Frame, the two build versions in the stock kit). As we've discussed here in other threads, Model A Highboys based on Model A frames are not nearly as popular as Highboys based on the Deuce frame, but they are seen and often are older restored rods, or new rods build in the old school style. This one uses mostly kit components, modified to accommodate the Model A Highboy/Model A Frame configuration, along with these changes: * BareMetal Foil applied to the brake backing plates, with color insert accents * Chrome Firewall * Hairpin front radius rods * Larger OD rear tires, that also match the tread pattern and sidewall patterns of the kit front tires * Dual Four Barrel intake, carbs, and air cleaner * Holthaus Steelies with Chrome Spyders * Pinstripes from Revell's '50 Olds Custom kit. Paint is Tamiya, Pearl White with Clear on the body, Maroon interior/brake packing plate inserts, and Dark Blue driveline/wheels (it appears black in pictures, but in reality its a dark, midnight/navy blue). Here's a picture....five more posted at this photo album link: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/tim-boyd-on-line-mo-2/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/ Next up? Not shown right now, but well underway is a '30 Chopped A coupe, employing the extra, unused parts in the new Revell '29A kit, with the '30 A Five Window Coupe body from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland. It also includes tall/'n/taller wires and whitewalls, a hot rodder '59 Cad engine, and much more. The overall vibe is very much "Race of the Gentlemen" as opposed to the "spit/'n/shine" gloss of the Roadster discussed above

Turns out that the three Revell Double Kits did have some subtle modifications to some of the Parts Pack trees to ease (relatively speaking) the assembly of the Double Kit feature models. I did a buildup of the Bantam Roadster in an article in Model Cars about 8 years ago or so (pearl yellow with red chassis...). I used Parts Pack components, but compared them to an original issue Double Kit with the Bantam Bomber during assembly. There were, as I said above, some subtle differences in some of the parts between the original parts packs and the kit. This kits were not anywhere near as easy to complete as the new Revell '29A, for instance, but for realism and scale accuracy, they were hard to beat back then and still hold up well today. Needless to say, I'd love to have the three Double Kits back just as much as the rest of you posting here. Cheers...>TIM

I have purchased about ten of these kits now, and have opened the bodies on four of them. One of them had a similar type of depression to yours on each side, one worse than the other, but neither as prominent as the one you show here. In both cases, I was able to file/sand it out without using body putty. You can see the result in the gray/green '32 Ford Highboy pictures posted above. Other bodies I have looked at have either no depressions, or much less obvious ones. If you look at the backside of the body, you can see that there are small feed tags - this is where the styrene is inserted into the body mold. The depression on the outside is an artifact of that. The first kit I got (the same one described above) also had some minor sink marks in the Deuce frame rails - the left side worse than the right side. In both cases, they were sandable without putty. Other kits purchased later that I have looked at, have no discernible flaws in the Deuce frame rails. . TIM

More pix of Alan's Niekamp Roadster replica from my International Model Car Builder's Museum photo album..http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/model-car-events-co/international-model/ .. Alan's outstanding replica is the first one I know of....anyone else done one to date? TIM

Thanks Dennis...exactly correct. Richard...hope that helps. Cheers...TIM

I've had my model car eyes on the Niekamp Roadster ever since the original restoration articles in Rod and Custom in 1971. In recent years, it has come to light that the body was shortened (lengthwise) through the center/door area, adding to the complexity of making a model replica. On the other hand, the Revell Edelbrock Midget nose cone could serve as the basis for a front end conversion. And yes, I have my MCW Automotive Finishes '50 Chrysler Code 05 Haze Blue paint in hand, along with a file nearly 1" thick with reference material. Some day.... TIM

The Revell '70 Mustang Mach 1 kit has the best Cleveland 351 in 1/25th scale. It is really the only mostly authentic Cleveland in this scale. It is entirely stock except for the valve covers, which are Ford Racing aftermarket parts that need to be replaced with parts that replicate the factory stock version. There is a photo of a built and paint detailed engine from this kit in the "Ford Muscle V8's" story I did for the other model car mag a few years back. Good luck with your project...that's a cool car, for sure. TIM

Guys....do we have some traditional hot rod design/build talent on this forum OR WHAT! Bill....lovin' it so far. Your approach to fixing the headers is pretty much what I had in mind, but I like the location of your cut better than what I was thinking. I've been doing some Nailhead parts swapping of my own as well over the weekend...found that the AMT/Ertl '66 Riv valve covers and heads are too LONG vs. the Revell '29A engine block so swapping those heads is a dead duck. Looks like the Revell Parts Pack heads (which I also presume are identical to the Tony Nancy Dragsters double kit Nailhead cylinder heads) are the way to go, as you suggest... Looking forward to your next post. TIM

Dennis...thanks for the feedback...I just checked it myself and now I get your point about the axle tubes. I think you've convinced me. I also remember thinking the '29 kit coil overs were too fat when I went through the first round test shots 18 months ago...I do think they look a lot better in final form with the plating and some flat black detailing between the coils...but I also get your point on the '32 coil overs and may try that approach as well. Resolving the rear axle setup is the last major thing I have to do before completing the model...so it should be done in a few days. Thanks on behalf of all reading this thread for your guidance on this....TIM

JB - great job on that Nailhead! Cheers...TIM

Dave....interesting parallels here between your plans and my own third and fourth builds of this kit, which are a '29 Roadster Highboy built with the Model A frame instead of the '32 frame, and a kitbash of the channeled A chassis with the Replicas and Miniatures '30 Ford Model A Chopped Coupe, employing the extra unused instrument panel and floorboard, which fit Norm's Coupe body nearly perfectly. Like you, I'm using the Modelhaus painted steelies with the chrome spyder inserts (painted yesterday) on the Highboy, and I'm using a Caddy V8 on the '30A Coupe kitbash. My Caddy engine is the unit from the Revell '59 Cadillac kit, with all the shiny accessories from the Revell-Monogram reissue of the original Parts Pack Caddy V8. So far, looks like everything lines up well (probably requiring only the removed of the pin on the tranny crossmember, which should take all of five seconds). I would also like to do a flathead and a full transverse leaf rear spring/quick change conversion, but I think those are down the road a bit for me...would love to see how you do it. Cheers...TIM

Dennis...great progress. It's interesting to compare your version to mine which is also coming along. I've been thinking along similar lines (subbing in the Halibrand QC and "Bell" axle tubes while leaving the outer shock mounts, radius rods, and axle ends from the host kit). I hadn't considered using the '32 kit coil overs in place of the stock Revell kit pieces, but I like the look on your build. In the spirit of early-mid 1960's I swapped a set of hairpins for the split radius rods - I used the extra set from the Revell '32 For 5W coupe kit. I haven't altered the front suspension stance as you have, hoping that the "rubber rake" from the larger rear tire OD I'm using will make up the difference. As a result, I'm expecting my car to have a similar rake to yours, but sit a bit higher all around. Really good approach on those front shock towers....I may (in fact, probably will) copy your approach on that. I'm going to retain the '29 grille on mine, but I hope to vertically section the radiator to reduce the thickness by 50%or more, which should help the "nose too far forward" appearance of the box stock Channeled version I finished last week. Can't wait to see your next updates.....Best Regards....TIM

Dennis...that is some mighty fine kitbashing going on there. for both of these models. Not to mention, these would look great in our "Traditional Hot Rods" Cult Theme Display at the NNL Nats in a few weeks.....TIM

John...good question. I wouldn't disqualify based on disc brakes alone. But as we all know, many of today's 1/1 scale Traditional Hot Rod builds use disc brakes up front, disguised to look like Buick finned drums. Or for even more plus points, Kinmont brakes. Still, that's why we have "Friends of Traditional Hot Rods" section right next to the Cult Theme display. Best Regards...TIM

Aaron...I think louvered trunk lids are entirely a style element. But a pretty cool one, at that. Cheers....TIM

As if you don't know...(smile)....TB

is "TRADITIONAL HOT RODS". With the introduction of Revell's new '29A Roadster kit, and the popularity of 1/25th scale Traditional Hot Rods (as demonstrated by the many posts on this topic here at the Model Cars Magazine Forum), what better time is there to celebrate this building style in scale? Many of you fully understand what i mean by "Tradtional Hot Rods" based on your posts in several categories in this Forum. But for those not fully familiar with Traditional Hot Rods or their build styles, you can refer to my Traditional Hot Rods Portfolio at this link: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/11-scale-automotive/traditional-hot-rod-1/traditional-hot-rod/ which includes nearly three hundred photos traditionally styled hot rods from the 2014 Lone Star Roundup and the 2015 Detroit Cobo Autorama. To summarize, they would be any model that is based on a 1920's through 1948 Ford or other make, AND reflects the sort of build trends that you would see on Hot Rods built anywhere from the late 1930's through to the late 1960's. Street rod era trends like white letter tires, wire wheels, resto rods with full factory chrome accessories, pastel monochromatic paint, graphics (other than flames, scallops, and pinstriping), billet parts, "phantom" bodies like the Testors Smoothster, and 23" wheels are NOT traditional Hot Rods. (These models are still welcome at the NNL Nats as well, but they should be displayed in the regular street rods table near in the center tables of the NNL Nats.) Basically, any model that reflects the design cues of cars featured in Hop Up and Rodder's Journal magazines, is welcome at this special NNL Display area next to the magazine photograph booths at the NNL Nats facility. Still want to see some more pics before you check out the photo portfolio referenced above? OK.... We'll also setup a "Friends of Traditional Hot Rods" area immediately adjacent, for traditional customs, and any other models that are close to, but not entirely reflective of the Traditional Hot Rod genre. While all Traditional Hot Rods are welcome, we expect that a number of NNL participants have new models under construction based on the aforementioned Revell kit, that will not be completed by the NNL Nats date. "No worries", as our mates in the UK like to say. We'll welcome any partially built models based on the Revell kit as part of the 2015 NNL Nats Traditional Hot Rods Cult Theme. Please let me know if you have any questions....and take a look at the link if you need any fresh inspiration. And spread the word, as this will be your only notification of the NNL Cult Theme this year. Looking forward to it, for sure! Best Regards...TIM

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Bill....I never noticed that either...thanks for pointing that out! Cheers...TIM

Bill....carry on, indeed. Great work on fine tuning the proportions! Like you and others, I think a '27T Turtledeck is a slam dunk for the Revell '29A Z'ed Chassis. Will be watching this one come together with great interest....TIM