tim boyd

Len...it is similar in design to the Offy in the old AMT Indy Watson Roadster, but much superior in execution and scale fidelity. TIM

Mike...yes they use a Quick Change. IIRC, it is multi-piece in construction (two sides and an end plate), nicely engraved, and may be on the Satin Plated chrome tree. I don't have any idea of the price at this point. TIM

Single axle....TIM

I was recently invited to take a sneak peak at the finished test shots of the new Revell Midget Series. As I understand it, the first of the two Midgets, the Edelbrock V8-60, goes into production within a few weeks, which means it could be here, I'm guessing, maybe mid November to early December. Here are my initial impresssions: 1. I expected this to be around a Skill 2 type of kit - a relatively quick and fun build, but setting no new standards for kit fidelity. To the contrary, my Revell sources had suggested it would be a very detailed, perhaps even challenging kit to build. Having looked over the parts trees, I now understand why they said this. 2. Perhaps the most surprising attribute of the kits is the scale fidelity. We are going to need to be very careful assembling these kits - the thin (and thus, highly accurate) sections of parts like the nerf bars, radius rods, etc., go beyond even the newly tooled parts in the '32 Five Window. 3. While the Offy and V860 kits share the majority of the parts, there are significant differences beyond the engines. The entire front sheet metal (grille insert, grille shell, hood, hood sides) are different as well. 3. Revell has apparently pulled out the stops on accuracy. Beyond the scale fidelity mentioned above, each kit will contain a photo-etched fret with hood retention belts, steering wheel arms, and a killer instrument cluster panel. These photo etched parts are comprised of chrome plating over a copper base and provide quite a distinctive finish as a result. In the Offy kit, there will apparently be both a tree of chrome plated parts and a tree of satin plated parts. Both the Midget and trailer tires appear newly tooled, and they are all hollow style castings. There are scale fuel lines for both the injectors on the Offy and the carbs on the V860. 4. These kits will be a treasure trove of kitbashing parts sources for those of us who like to build traditional hot rods and track style street rods. Between the first-ever V860 in 1/25th scale (that I know of) to the track style grille shells and hairpin radius rods alone, I can see these kits becoming the de-facto soure of hot rodding accessory parts. I can see buying ten of them just for that reason alone. 5. These kits will have what appears to be the most detailed trailer ever to be included in bi-scale kit. Even to the point of including restraining straps for the ramps when they are folded up, the parts here will become a "must" for adding detail to any trailer project you might be contemplating. Interestingly enough, and perhaps subtly hinting at Revell's ambitions for the kit, the trailer has a discreet support rod to be used when the Midget is on the trailer, because as with some of the best Model Airplane kits, without forward ballast it will tip the completed model rearward. As was reported previously, the trailer will include made-to-fit hitches for both Revell's '48 Ford Woody and '50 Ford F1 Pickup. 6. I have not seen the decals, but I am told that in addition to having decals for the Midgets, each kit will also include matching "tow vehicles" decals, sized to fit the kits noted above. That's about the extent of what I can remember; if I think of anything else I will post it here as an update. Bottom line, I think Revell is trying to make a statement here. I see virtually no short cuts with this Revell model; in fact, quite the opposite (the only thing I see that might be criticized is that the V860 engine block casting, if I recall correctly, includes the oil pan, rather than casting the oil as a seperate part, thus requiring the file and sand treatment along the joints). Revell is clearly pushing the envelope of 1/25th scale kit fidelity here, and I'm guessing that their product development team really enjoyed doing so, to boot. Of course, as I always remind myself, you can't properly evaluate a kit until it's built. But based on what I've seen so far, I do know that these kits just jumped into the very top tier of my personal "What's Next" build list. Thanks for looking and best regards....TIM BOYD

When IMC first tooled up this kit, they scaled it based on a stock L700 that did not have a trailer attached to it. With the rear springs uncompressed, it definitely had that "rake" but it was factory correct. There is a straignt on "profile" (Side View) picture of the unladen L700 in the original Dodge Truck brochure, and it matched the rake of my builtup L700 exactly. TIM So if you are displaying the tractor without a trailer, leave the rear suspension as is, but if you are adding a trailer, it would definitely be approrpriate to drop the rear end ride height slightly.

Jon, yes it was the first issue, a circa 2000-2001 Harley Dyna Glide Custom, along with the aftermarket Harley trailer that was shown at the Chicago Auto Show when Ford introduced the Harley F150. Also yes, it is a seperate, stand alone tool that theoretically could be inserted into any kit box (as long as there was room). I would prefer it to be reissued with Harley licensing and tank decals, even if it cost a bit extra. I did a buildup of this kit in Model Cars magazine a couple of years ago. Here's what it looks like, updated (more or less) to 2006 Dyna Glide Custom specs. Best regards...TIM

**************** Here's a picture of the 1/24th scale Cherry Bomb Harley built box stock. TIM

William, the Grease Set contained two "kits" - the BSA and Triumph Custom combined, and the Honda and Harley combined. I built the Harley pictured above from the Grease issue. Two of the van kits that included Mini-Bikes were the Monogram Tom Daniel "Vandal" kit and the tandem rear axle conversion of the 1975 1.2 Ford Econoline by AMT that was done as a licensed tie-in for a movie featuring a boxing kangaroo....TIM

[ Here's a photo of the Honda 750 Andy refers to above - it was in the MPC 1980 Monte Carlo annual kit, which was just reissued by Round 2 AMT recently.... Norm will produce the MPC 1927 Indian Ace from the Gangbusters setupon request (at least he did for me), Andy is right, this bike is WAY cool and a hidden gem from the early MPC era....TIM

Randy....I'm really liking the start of your project. Very cool and very period. And we know from history that 1970's custom vans are just a few years away from being "in" again so you are ahead of the game here. At least one other very well known modeler is heavily into a throw-down 1970's van project right now. Can't wait to see both of them (his and yours) done....TIM

\ Virgil....one of these would look really authentic in your build style. (Don't ask how I know this). Best regards....TIM

Dirk, I thought your model was terrific. Way nice job! TIM BOYD

Space and Rail....will do. TIM

Blake,,,,not sure what color....maybe Silver big flake metalflake with some candy blue/green/purple panels? TIM

Chuck...cool build and theme. Once again, a great choice for an engine! Best regards....TIM BOYD

another Gasser, Motorcycle, or Drag Boat project. This year... a drag boat. It's a dual Chevy engined drag racing boat, loosely patterned after the "Adios Two" pictured on page 53 of the excellent book "Drag Boats of the 1960's" by Don Edwards, Iconografix, 2008. It required an all new hull top created from .040" sheet styrene and the forward cockpit hump came from the front of the streamliner body in the just reissued AMT Round 2 Double Dragster kit originally circa 1961. The wired and detailed tandem Chevies also came straight from the Double Dragster kit. The sponsons on the front of the hull are from the 1963 AMT Trophy Series Rayson Craft kit, while the balance of the hull came from the "Hull Raiser" kit based on a Kindsvater hull, originally issued in 1968 and reissued in 1975 and in 2006 (the latter being in combination with the MPC 1970 Pontiac Bonneville convertible). Thanks for looking...here's the URL for my 1/25th scale Model Boat Album in its entirety... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/boyd-model-boats/

My linkHere's a link to a Fotki file with photos of built-up versions of most of the motorcycles that have ever been producted in 1/25th scale...excludes dirt bikes.... AS an example, here's a buildup of the ultra-rare Revell Parts Pack Harle Chopper

Here's a link to a step by step buildup of the AMT 1/25th scale Triumph Bonneville in restored stock form, and the REvell 1/25th scale Triumph in box stock form......My link

Jim....that was one impressive car....more photos of it on the next page. The man and woman driving it seemed to be having fun in spite of the rain. The car appeared as new - in great shape. TIM

Thanks for the feedback, Lyle, my pleasure. TIM

Heh Andy....I think it was a 383 small bllck Chevy or similar....and yeah I agree, it looked tough! As for the Caddy, it was just so outrageous I had to take pictures! TIM

Yes, it was a Triumph. At first I thought it was a heavily chopped and sectioned Bentley, but the owner explained. otherwise, There was such a crowd around this car I never did get a really good shot. Very risky, this sort of thing, but I agree, it came out great. TIM And thank you, Scalp, for the feedback! TIM