tim boyd

Roger...thanks for the link....FWIW I just posted my views on truck kits at that thread....TIM e

Interesting points above, all. The current F-Series has been for the last 30 years or so, and remains (other than a couple of odd months in the last year and a half) by far the largest selling automotive product of any kind on this continent. The Chevy and Dodge pickups are not too far behind. Yet for many years now, what sells best in 1/1 scale has not correlated well to what sells in 1/25th scale kits. This is just my supposition but when the Ford PN96 F150 came out around 1`96-97, there were several different F150 kits done by several different manufacturers and even though the licensing was done to avoid exact same versions across the offerings, I suspect that what business there was, was split across all these tools and everyone did poorly on their return on investment for those tools. Bottom line,,,,personally I don't expect to see any new (current or recent model) pickup kits soon. BUT I would not be too surprised to eventually see something like a 1961-63 Ford Unibody (new tool), '64-66 Styleside, or '67-72 Bumpside. Of course I would love a '70 Ranchero of the Torino GT kit, but again I think they determined there just wasn't enough interest. And then again, as one of you pointed out above, a Ranchero is really a car, not a truck. Of course, I never EVER dreamed REvell would do a chopped '49 Merc kit...so best take my information above as nothing more than slightly informed speculation! TIM PS - there are a ton of GREAT pickup kits out there already. EVer built a Little Red WAgon as a stock A100 (virtually ever part IS in the kit). How about the original issue MPC Dodge D100 Adventurer 4x2's from the early 1970's (you can get 'em on the bay for generally under $100). And yes, both of these are on my personal build list....TB

url="http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22961&st=0"]Ken Hart and many others talk about their ideas for future '32 Ford kit variations Guys....just a headsup that I understand that one or more of the product develompent team from Revell are watching this thread of ideas....obviously, no promise that they will in fact do any more kit variations but it is interesting to know as they've shown a willingness to consider ideas from the building community in their future product plans. Best regards....TIM

There is a fantastic article on the Muira in the new issue of Classic Cars (UK) magazine this month...gold Muira on cover....article is three Muiras including the one owned by the Shaw of Iran retracing the roads shown int he opening of the Italian job original film....fantastic scenic photography and of course the cars look superb....TIM

There is a fantastic article on the Muira in the new issue of Classic Cars (UK) magazine this month...gold Muira on cover....article is three Muiras including the one owned by the Shaw of Iran retracing the roads shown int he opening of the Italian job original film....fantastic scenic photography and of course the cars look superb....TIM

Should have said also....great build Charlz. That is a tough kit to get together right, and that is exactly what you did. Congratulations...TIM

Careful guys about slamming In A Godda da Vida....IIRC it was the top selling album of all time for several years...and remained in the top 100 albums for sales for a surprising number of years.....and as for the eight tracks...everything above is true. A few years back I bought two eight track players on eBay to try to reinvigoriate my extensive eitght track collection....quickly found out that among the few tapes that were not broken (see above for explanation), the rubber rollers had turned into an oily, squishy black mess that quickly obliterated the tape head of the eight track players....oh well. An I still like In a Godda da Vida....great album from front to back. There, I said it, and I'm proud! TIM

Bernard....just a quick note that I'm loving your build so far....great theme and that Fisher 6 was an inspired choice. Don't know if you are planning to go to the NNL Nats (Toledo) this year but if so, please bring along this project and display it in our special "Bonneville/Land Speed Record" cult theme display. Whether you are finished or not... Best regards....TIM BOYD

Tim Boyd Van Project Here's a never-to-be-completed van project circa late 1976/early 1977. It's the AMT Ford Econoline, customised with a widened lower rocker panel, scratchbuiltfront bumper and wheel wells, a lowered door window opening, scoop in the hood, and the rear end changed with a side panel insert in place of the rear doors to continue the side depression around to the rear. Don't really recall why I stopped working on it. Dug it out and photographed in this week as Steve Perry is working on a somewhat related project and I wanted to show it to him. Plus, I keep predicting that 1960's and early 1970's vans are going to come back big in the 1.1 scale rod world (we'll see!) A few more pix at the link.... Thanks for looking....TIM

Hans....and I still have that magazine copy around somewhere....as i recall this was among the verty few times my work appeared in color at that time.... Thanka again these many years later...tIM

Bob...the wierd Al relationship seems to be broadly shared by the modeling community. My girlfriend doesn't think it is so cool though! Andy, thanks for dragging out those photos....I would have been 15 in the first shot and just graduating from college in ths shot wth Bruce and Bill Merrill....TB

Mark...thank you so much for your comments here. This really means alot to me personally, let me assure you. I didn't remember that the LAte Model Custom was to be a part of "BEST of SAE v3", but now that you mention it that strikes a faimiliar cord. I don't recall the project getting to the point that Gary acutally asked me for t he color photograhy, though that would have been pretty cool. (I did prepare a series of how-to articles on a projectd car last year that were similar is scope (though not as highly detailed) as the Late Model Custom series, but unfortunately it seems the topic of the build just did not have enough popular appeal to make it to the point of being published. While I respectuflly disagree on this, it's not my money publishing these magazines, and that's a really important consideration!) I also want to respond to you on just how strongly I endorse your mantra about doing different types of builds and being satisfied with all of them. That has been exactly my modeling philosophy for many years now. While I just don't have the time to do the ultra detailed buids like the Tangerine Dream any more (my last one of those was the Grabber Green Boss 302 I completed about ten years ago) , I still greatly respect those like yourself that do work at that level. Having become good friends with Steve Perry has served to infliuence me and remind me of just how much effort I used to do this in this regard. Still, for the amount of time I have to spend on modeling, I am pleased with myr esults and find completing a model to be a very fulfilling experience. But even better is hearing that I am still having a positive effect on those that read my articles. So thanks to you, and all the others who have posted on this topic, for caring and for acknowleding my work. Very Best regards...TIM

Joe, it was featured in Scale Auto in the late 1990s and now that you mention it, it may have been a cover car. If important to you, I can find out which issue and post it here. Let me know if you need it. Thanks...TIM

Old - i used velour from the fabric store, chosen for its (relatively) short nap. Generally looked pretty good except when wrapped around sharp corners as you can see on the edge of the seats. Thanks for the comments! TIM

Jon,,,,general admission (what I bought) tickets were $25 each; "VIP" tickets were $100 or $175 per couple.... ////TIM

Andy, she's my long time girlfriend/partner Michelle. I'll pass along the compliment...cheers...TIM

At the link is my just-posted photo album with 180 pictures from today's Meadowbrook Concours....thanks for looking...TIM Tim's photo album of the 2009 Meadowbrook Concours

Thanks Custom! There is a closeup of the trunk at the link in the original post. I believe they came from one of the original Parts Packs - perhaps Aurora or Revell. TIM

I recnently completed posting pictures of five of my custom Chevy builds, with completion dates ranging from 1977 through the late 1990's. One of these is my "Tangerine Dream" '51 Chevy Bel Air Full Custom, which took Best of Show at the 1977 Chicago ISCA show, making it eligible for the 1978 MPC National Championship held at the Omaha ISCA show (which was also the finals for the 1.1 scale showcars that year IIRC). The model eventually won 2nd Nationwide that year. (Another of my models won 3rd Nationside at the finals, making what we believe may be the highest "combination finish" by a builder in the 11 year history of the MPC series.) Click on the link for about ten more phots of the car, including closeups. Also at the link are my '51 Chevy Fleetline sedan mild custom, a '58 Impala Full Cusom, a '59 Impala Full Custom, and a '70 Impala Full Cusom. Some of these you may recoginze, while others you've most likely never seen before, particularly in color. Thanks for loolking....TIM BOYD Tim's 1950's-1970's 1/25th scale Chevy Customs

Dave and Andy...thanks for confirming. Andy....cool models! Dave....those are great 1/1 scale pix..... Here's one of a series of pix I took of a killer Corvair powered Manx at this year's goodguys Columbus (stop action photography as it pulled into a line waiting for the exit is at the link....) Live action photos - Manx at 2009 Goodguys Columbus (and a couple hundred other cool cars) Best regards....TIM

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