tim boyd

Ismael I sure enjoyed your Vette build...TIM

Robert....going from memory here...IIRC this is a reissue of the old Revell EMPI dune buggy, which ws first released around 1969. It's a pretty nice kit. It was licensed to at least one othe model maker during the interim years. I'm sure somebody will jump on this right away if my memory is incorrect on this...TIM

TX....that is one spectacular build you have just completed. I've always loved funny cars from this era and yours is one of the nicest builds I have seen. Way to go....TIM BOYD

Very cool Lyle....! I recently completed a similar build. If you bring yours to the NNL Nats this fall we can display 'em together if you want. Tom Woodruff has already promised to bring his two '57 Chevy Gassers built in the 1960's to go along with the "theme"....TIM

Really enjoyed hearing the different views here on this, and don't expect any of us to have the "final word" on this topic....here's my response to some of the points made... - Bob, I once encountered a similar experience with The Treatment on Testors enamel....concluded that the finish hadn't "hardened" yet. Since then I let the paint dry a few weeks, and have not had a problem again. In fact, I am sometimes amazed at how good old fashioned enamel paint jobs can become with the a coat or two of this wax. - I've had bottles of Novus 2 and 1 sitting on my hobby desk for years but I've never used them....will give them a try after hearing the first hand endorsements here from modelers that I really respect. - I have used Meguiar's Show Glaze #7 (and its predecessor product) for a couple of decades now based on a recommendation from my buddy Mark Gustavson. I find it especially helpful on dark paint jobs that have been rubbed out (in terms of hiding the rub out marks and adding depth to the finish). But (and I realize this may be my imagination actively at work), it seems that a final coat of the Treatment adds even more gloss and depth. - Dave, personally I wouldn't try any wax over delicate decals like those from Kieth. I've found that even the best pure was (e.g. non-abrasive was) can still act as a rubbing compound of sorts, and it sounds like that is what happened here. Would be interesting to know if you've had success waxing over Kieth's decals with another product... - Bob, I've already come to the same conclusion as you about the Tamiya rubbing compounds....they are a really superior product and I am using them now on almost every paint job. And like you've already concluded, I am also slowly coming to the conclusion that Tamiya TS13 is the best hobby Clear out there....I still have problems with the Testors One Coat and Model Masters Lacquer Clears sometimes imbedding aerosol bubbles in the clear topcoat if I get just a touch too close to the body or load up just a little too much on the final wet coat. Have not had that experience with TS13 and am also finding it to have what I think is a slightly higher level of gloss. But (sorry to sound like a broken record here), the Treatment as the final touch to a Tamiya rubbed-out TS13 overcoat works great for me. - Thanks everyone for your views...I've printed out this thread and stuck in it in my hobby technique notebook....looking forward to trying that Novus #2. TIM

Guys...you can blame me if you wish. I was the one responsibile for getting model car builders to start using "The Treatment". "The Treatment" was sold at the ISCA hot rod shows in the mid 1970's (as a wax for 1/1 scale exhibitors at the shows) when I was competing against Bruce and others at the national level of the MPC Customizing CHampionship. I bought some (probably at the 1975 Cobo Autorama) and quickly determined - as noted above - that it worked really well on enamels as well as lacquers. I have used it ever since and still do to this day. I mentioned it in my Street Rodder Modelers Corner, and probably in some of my Scale Auto articles. Around 1987, the owners of Thompson International, makers of the Treatment, contacted me directly and offered to pay me to "endorse" the wax, which I refused to do. They couldn't understand my reasoning and they weren't very happy with me. (I just didn't feel right doing a professional endorsement - but I still thought they had a great product). But that's when I knew that I was no longer the only modeler using it. Not long thereafter "The Treatment" Model Car Wax appeared - same stuff, just in a smaller container. Fast forward to today. I'm sure there are great 100% carnauba waxes at the car store. But I';m quite happy with The Treatment, as I find it's very soft consistency to be helpful for model bodies, and it still manages to add more shine, every time, even to my very best paint jobs. So now you know the story - and as I said, blame me if you wish. Cheers...TIM

Zil....Chuck, Tom and I still have all our MPC winnders intact....and I presume Bruce Owen does as well (I once visited Bruce and photographed all his models but unfortunately the color slide film did not turn out....the B&W's turned out fine but just didn't think they did his models justice....) TIM

Al...I remember seeing your builds at the early NNL's (right?) and also at the Riders Hobby Shop Flint contest which I helped Chuck Helppie judge a number of times over the years.....always really liked your stuff....particularly a certain 1949 Mercury IIRC....TIM

Cough....clearing of the throat (SFX).....and let's not forget a certain Mr. Andy Martin ( and Gary Dale) who were also part of that first-ever NNL in summer 1980 in Tom Woodruff's garage.....TB

Rob, as I recall I received the kit in middle to late May, and it was obviously an off-the-production-line piece as opposed to some advance kits that I have received in the past from R-M that were clearly final or nearly final test shots. That means the kit was already in full scale production at the time I received it, the difference being that it was airshipped over right off the line rather than ground and sea shipped as the rest of the production run. At the time my very excited (wouldn't you be if you were him?) Revell contact told me the kit was about two months away from distribution to the hobby stores. All this says to me that the kits are probably nearing the distribution channel and should be in the stores in a few weeks. Hope you guys like it as much as I did when you get yours......TIM

Model Car Building definitely went through a dark period on the 1970's....more or less between the time that Car Model and Model Car Science stopped publishing in the early 1970's, to the end of the decade when Scale Auto Enthusiast began publication... But there was a cadre of model car buiders who kept the flame alive....primarily by their near ruthless competition in the MPC National Model Car Championship each year. Since there were no mags back then, this story has largely gone untold. Bruce Owen was the most successful builder of this era, but there were a number of others who were also multiple repeat winners at the regional and national level.... This picture taken at the Goodguys Columbus show last weekend shows (from the right) Tom Woodruff, Chuck Helppie, Bob Shelton, and Tom Dillion. Tom must have been the most successful builder ever in terms of number of Best of Shows at the Ohio locations of the MPC Champsionship, and he was a multiple year top-5 nationwide winner in the MPC series. Chuck Helppie won Best in the Nation in 1977, Third Nationwide in 1976, and Quality Workmanship Nationwide in 1979. Tom Dillion was just becoming a promiment competitor when the MPC series wound down, but he won a much of awards in the late 1970's and went on to more prominence in Scale Auto Enthusiast (Builder of the Year) and the GSL Contest in the 1980's. I don't recall that Bob was a prominent MPC winner but he has played a huge role in our hobby by being co-author (with Bill Coulter) of the hobby's most accepted kit value guide these days. This picture is of Al Cozby, who entered a Candy Blue Chopped Merc in the 1976 MPC Series that won Best of Show at one of the Ohio shows and was a national finalist in the MPC Series. There's so much more to be told about this era of model car building. Maybe one of these years....TIM PS////here is the link to my 2009 Goodguys Columbus Photo Album....TB 2009 Goodguys Columbus - complete photo coverage

Harold....not too far off on that guess. My Dad factory ordered a 1965 Dodge Custom 880 wagon (the panelled, uper series variant of the Polora wagon in the photos), in light metallic blue, and I've always thought about doing a conversion based on the MPC Custom 880 convertible kit. Of course, mne would have to be a Phantom two-door wagon.... TIM

Harold....not too far off on that guess. My Dad factory ordered a 1965 Dodge Custom 880 wagon (the panelled, uper series variant of the Polora wagon in the photos), in light metallic blue, and I've always thought about doing a conversion based on the MPC Custom 880 convertible kit. Of course, mne would have to be a Phantom two-door wagon.... TIM

Here Model Car Publishing Magnate Bob Shelton models one of the event t-shirts.....267 other photos at the link of more models, modelers, and way cool 1/1 scales cars, bugs, dune buggies, rods, rat rods, customs, tasty street machines, wagons....well....you get the picture. Thanks for looking...TIM Link to 268 Photos of 2009 Goodguys Columbus and Rolling Scupture Ann Arbor

Chuck...I've been called many things in the past but never the Gray Baskerville of car modeling...(grin), seriously, that is a very fine compliment. Thank you,. Chris...love your rods, especially that '29 RPU with the track roadster nose....I built a similar rod about ten years ago and it is still one of my favorites... Best regards.....TIM

Chuck....I have purchased the Replias and Miniatures chassis you describe above and it is every bit as nice as you say. Plus it features a cleanup of the frame "sweep" that requires filing & sanding on the strock Revell kit part if you want an accurate appearance. I'd love to see someone build that '29 Pickup on '32 Rails you describe. Revell didn't include the buggy spring setup in their '32 kits because they have decided (and personally I agree with them 100%) that they want to keep the "modern/contemporary" 5.0L engine and chassis setup as part of the basic kits. And that's also part of the reason you'll never see a replica stock version of any of these kits. They were designed from the ground up to be the first truly accurate street rod type '32 kits, and there would be way too many new parts required for a stock version to be affordable. Plus, in the big picture, Revell tells me very few people are asking for one. In thier view, if there was a demand for this type of conversion, our prolific model car aftermarket would have probably already addressed it. As for the automatic behind the flathead, it's a C4 and that is a fairly common conversion/pairing in the 1/1 scale street rod world these days, and that's why the Revell team designed it that way. You are probably aware of this, but for others reading this post, Norm Veber offers a number of more period-authentic transmission choices that are inexpensive, cast as one piece (no fixing those pesky seams), and IIRC they are really inexpensive. Chuck you covered alot of ground in your post, hope this answers at least some of your questions. Best regards...TIM

Dave,,,,the color it shows up above is just about 100% accurate (at least as it appears on my monitor). Today we have superb digital cameras with instant feedback on your shots....when I photographed the original 13 years ago it was on 35mm film and a good guess as to exposure....wow how times change. TIM

Larry I don't have any specific insider info here, but I think I can safely speculate that if these '32 derivatives continue to sell well it is a natural assumption that other bodystyles might eventually appear. So we kinda have our own destiny in our hands here. If you want more bodystyles, buy this one when it hits the shelves. Of course, given how nice this kit is, I kinda think we'll all be buying it on its own merits vs. buying to make sure other derivatives come in the future. The Revell team put alot of thought into this kit and it shows in the final result IMHO. This is the most fun I've had with a box stock build in many a year. All the best Larry....TIM

Ed....I don't build stock pre-war Fords but from what I know, I would imagine that between this Revell kit, the Tudor Revell kit, the original AMT 1932 Fords, and (according to one of the other posters on this board whose judgment I respect) the AMT-Ertl 1934 Ford Coupe (stock) from the mid 1990's, you could put together an original 1932 Ford that would make Olaf Wahl (sp?), the late Bill Harrison, and others of their stature very envious, or at the least, very interested. This is a project begging someone to do it....maybe you? Best regards...TIM

Dave...no stupid questions here. Yes the kit includes all the full fendered parts found in every one of the other versions in this kit series, with the exception of the Highboy Roadster kit. Here's a photo of the box art that shows both versions....TIM

Finally finished the preview build of the Revell-Monogram '32 Ford Five Window Coupe kit. During the final ssembly added a few personal touches.... * Taller rear tires from the Revell-Monogram '32 Ford Goodguys Highboy Roadster * Engine spark plug wiring added * Moon tank gas cap added (radiator cap from extra Revell-Monogram '32 Ford kit) This kit was a blast to put together. Larry Greenberg uses the phrase "highly recommended" on his top kit reviews; I think that is a pretty good descriptor for my reaction to this kit. Here's a picture of the completed car next to my preview build of the original kit in this series, the '32 Ford Three Window, from August of 1996.... Let me know if you have any questions.... Oh yeah, 27 more pictures of the completed mild kitbash at the link.... Revell '32 Ford Five Window Coupe kit - first kitbash

Real Time Build of new Revell '32 Ford Five Window Coupe kit... Closeups of the decal sheet, new hairpin radius rods, new steering box and linkage, and open steel rim wheels at the link.... Thanks for looking...TIM

Dave,,,here you go....I can sort of answer your question in reverse....recently I used the Revell stock '48 Ford wheels in these big'n'bigger former Goodyear Blues STreaks and they fit fine...so presumably these would fit the whitewalls in the ProModeler '48 Ford....but I have not tried it myself. Both the front side and rear side of the rims for the larger tires have a deeper offset...More pix at the link...TIM

Larry, near as I can tell it represents an approximation of that engine, except for the spacing of the tubes on the exhaust headers which is clearly different. Hope all is well.....TIM

Brett....as far as I know the other dash is the same as the one in the '32 sedan kit....I will take a look at them and let you know later....TIM