tim boyd

******************* Guys...I know for a fact that the model companies do listen intently to what the modeling community says, as well as pay attention to what the modeling community actually does (e.g. spend money on newly manufactured kits). Unfortunately, in recent years )mabye the last 15 years or so), pickup kits (both newly tooled and reissues) have not sold that well. I am hoping that the limited reissues that we are seeing this year (including those 1970's vans) represent an attempt by the modeling companies to see if fresh reissues of pickup kits might be ready to reverse that trend, and sell well enough to justify reopening the pickup tooling banks for more reissues, and someday down the road, some fresh tooling. My point is simply this - don't assume the model companies aren't listening if they don't issue a kit of your favorite subject. They do listen, but in the end they are businesses that have to manufacture and market successful products or they won't be around the day after tomorrow. They have to be cautious and combine customer input with many other factors (including historical and recent sales trends of similar subjects) before they take action. Apologizing in advance for those of you that already know this....and I hope this was helpful insight for the rest of you. TIM

OK guys...here's mine. Built straight from the box....fadeaways added....'46 Cad grille....tailights that are in the bumper guards....photographed without hub covers and no rear skirts, without hub AND rear skirt, and with wheel covers and no fender skirts. I had a ball putting together this kit. If anyone is interested in how I built this kit or in seeing some tips to improve your build....there's an On-Line How-To posted at this link....http://public.fotki....d-on-line-ho-1/ Thanks for looking....TIM

Looks sharp Gregg.....TIM

Dennis...that is one sharp street rod and a fine, fine job of modeling it as well...congratulations.....TIM

Ben, I think you mean the Testors (not AMT) Miss Budweiser, correct? If there was an AMT Miss Budweiser kit, that's new news to me and I would like to hear more details. Thanks...TIM

Try Steve Perry at Calnaga Castings.....TIM

The entire Kart, plus the Bonneville racing shell and a second set of wheels/tires, was in the 1963 (not 1962) annual kit issue of the AMT Ford F100 Pickup. TIM

My only paid work for the model car industry occured in the mid-late 1970's while I was in college. I did box art models for AMT, built-up product samples for AMT's Sales Meetings with their sales reps, and in a number of cases, partially to substantially scratchbuit display samples of upcoming kits based on AMT factory blueprints. It didn't pay well at all, but it did allow me to learn quite a bit about the industry as well as prepare myself for future full time employement in the industry that, well, never actually materilalized. Since then, several of the model companies have consulted me about their future kit ideas, and they have solicited my own ideas (a few of which have actually - or may yet still - materialize as kits). I think this soliciting of ideas is a somewhat common practice with a number of long time model car hobbyists/builders and writers. I have never been paid a single penny for any advice or ideas that I have offered. When I was writing the Modeler's Corner column for Street Rodder, some of the companies would send me samples from time to time, which wasn't income but could be considered to offset some money I might have spent myself, but that practice pretty much ended sometime nearly 20 years ago. And in recent years, Revell has asked me several times to build up advance samples of their products and share them on the Internet, and in a few cases (but far from always) I have agreed. Haven't been paid for that either, just afforded a pretty cool sense of satisfaction in knowing that I am being allowed the privilege of sharing a new kit with everyone before it is widely available for them to buy. As one of you mentioned above, this is very much a niche hobby these days and there are just not the resources at the model companies to pay people for their involvement in helping out. Still, it's a cool hobby so no complaints here. So that's my story,....anyone else want to offer theirs? TIM

That MPC '71 Demon was one of the rare instances where the model was actually better than the 1.1 scale car. That's because the wheel openings for the Dart and for the Valiant/Barracuda were different from each other. So when Dodge took the Duster body and added the Dart front fenders, the front and rear wheel openings were mismatched (same with the '71-'76 Plymouth Scamp, by the way). But when MPC took their '71 Duster annual kit and modified it at mid-year to become the Demon 340, they never "fixed" the front wheel openings, so the model carried over the Duster wheel openings on both the front and rear fenders, and as a result, the model looked much more cohesive a whole than did the real car.... Not to mention the box art on that Demon, taken straight from the Dodge catalog, was super-cool! TIM

Virgil, this was one of my top two favorites at the show, and probably would have been my vote for the Ridler award. The color in the photo is very accurate to the color of the real car, and like you, I really liked it. But to me, the very coolest thing about this car was that amidst all the fantastic craftsmanship and finishes throughout the car, the engine itself looked nearly 100% restored stock, right down to the perfect Pontiac Engine Blue paint. That sealed it for me.... Best regards...>TIM

And thank you, again, Harry. Just hope my memory is correct! TB

As usual, Don is being low key about this when in fact he was one of the co-organizers and participants of the first-ever NNL on the west coast, the infamous "NNL West" held in the summer of 1982 in Modesto, California. Don's co-conspirators for that event included some other names you would recognize, including our own David Dale and Rick Rothermel. As for everyone else on this post, thanks for your understanding and "carrying of the torch" for the true meaning of the NNL. Best regards...TIM

David, not just FI but Factory A/C as well.... Was really cool to see the A/C setup inside, although my picture really doesn;t show it all that well... ...check out just below the right steering wheel spoke...

Mark - thanks for the clarification on the interior and chassis on the Shrewsbury Dart; never really considered that possibility (I never had the original MPC Hemi under Glass). Like you, I agree a resin kit is the way to go, although I have yet to see one that is completely accurate. When I do, it will jump to the front of my "to build" list, as the 1/1 scale 1970 Dart Swinger with the 318 2bbl and the "Free Automatic" option package that included an exterior dress up kit, was my "realistic reach" new car choice circa 10th grade/1970. Mine would have been B5 Blue with the black vinyl roof and buckets/console (an option on the package if my memory is still correct). TIM

Ray, yes, the Manta Ray was completed in 1964. The earliest Hot Wheels I recall are around 1968 or so (although I am by no means a Hot Wheels expert). TIM

Turbo...the closest thing to a stock '70/'71 Swinger was not very close at all - a kit from MPC replicating a Ramchargers 1970 Dart Funny Car. It was a retool of the 1969 Swinger body in the MPC Charlie Allen kit. Although the body had the usual funny car modifications (front wheel well moved forward, no headlight lenses, a general lack of body trim), it also included a beautifully rendered "Swinger" scipt in the correct location on the rear fender kickup below the quarter window. Most likely this body was later modified to become the Wild Bill Shrewsbury rear engine Hemi Wheelie car, which has been reissued a number of times over the years in non-original kit livery, but would require even more effort to convert to a restored stock condition. It would be easier to find, however, vs. the original Ramchargers kit. I've seen several and bought a couple of the resin conversions; the two I purchased were relatively close but not 100% accurate conversions. TIM

http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/2011-cobo-autorama-/2012-cobo-autorama-/2012-cobo-autorama-/ Thanks for looking....TIM

Jim....got me! But I just think the vibe in the basement at Cobo is so cool - you would never see this upstairs....TIM

Jeff - Alas...no more pictures. I try to take pictures without people blocking the view, but this car just kept attracting the crowds. Pretty cool, heh? TIM

http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/2011-cobo-autorama-/2012-cobo-autorama-/2012-autorama-extreme-/ Well over a hundred pictures of the traditional/"rat rod" basement section of the yearly Cobo Autorama (considered by many to be among the two most important hot rod shows of the year). Photos of the main floor attractions are also loading now in a seperate folder and should be ready for viewing by 6pm EST or so this evening. Thanks for looking....TIM

Thanks Harry for continuing to set the record straight. I don't recall us having the first NNL in response to Mark's editorial, but more in response to the overall championship model car scene back then which, shall we say, was not really conducive to modelers getting together, showing their work and enoying our great hobby in general. As I recall, we sent invitations to most of the major winners in the MPC National Championship series, and, well, just six of us showed up. But the idea was good, apparently, and things built from there. Of course, the fact that Mark's editorial had recently appeared was mentioned during our get together, as most if not all of us had been approached about participating and chose not to for various reasons. The fun loving spirit of the original NNL's was born on the spot. Before we left Tom's garage that afternoon, the new "group" had christened itself Nameless National Luminaries...later shortened to NNL's. Best,.,.,.TIM

Jack,,,if you ever build a ski boat with that Jet Drive, please let me know or send pictures! TIM

Sorry guys, my note was referring to the sedan delivery body only, from the B-pillar forward, I did not mean to imply that the Barnabas kit included the fenders, hood, etc. Those parts are found in all issues of the MPC '32 Chevy Cabriolet, which is a fairly easy kit to find amongold kit resellers. TIM

Another excellent source for resin 1960's/ealry 1970's drag slicks is Steve Perry's company, Calnagacastings.com Yes, this is the same Steve Perry who did the FreightTranin on the cover of this month's ModelCars magazine. In his typical fashion, he's modified (accurized) all his resin drag slick masters so they are very accurate. And he keeps a running inventory so he can ship quickly. TIM . I'm really liking all the Comp coupe and roadster model projects shown in this post - keep it up, guys! TIM

To add to the knowledge base here, GTX nameplates were added to 1972-1974 Roadrunners only when the 440-4bbl engine was ordered. (And apparently there were a few - generally thought to be about 3-6 cars - I have the actual latest number around somewhere) 440 4bbl's produced very early in the 1972 model run before the engine option was cancelled. BTW, many (if not most) of the current staff and contributors to Model Cars magazine own current generation Mustang GT's, but did you know that two of Model Car's contributors purchased and owned factory-new 1974 Plymouth Road Runners? They were both black with black interiors - and both were owned for a long period of time - one for 16 years, the other for about 25 years...