tim boyd

The Contest Annual continues to be published (they just announced the next annual version) though under Fine Scale Modeler branding vs the previous SA nomenclature. Big improvements over the last several versions, IMHO, on the photo captions that go with the images. TB

Lotsa work from the MCM team went into this issue, from my POV. Hope you guys like it....TIm

The original two Monogram 1/24th Jeep CJ-7 kits were a real sleeper in the Monogram kit catalog c.1977 (sleeper said in a good way). Here is a photo of two box stock kit build versions, mostly sourced from several of the more recent reissues. For those with a collection of the back issues of the old other model magazine, there was a cover story on these kits and buildup advice in one of the last issues of the mag (2019 or 2020) IIRC. The kit was slightly fussy to put together, but the only real issue was the rear hardtop, which could not be tweaked (at least in this project) to fit properly, so was left off the blue build version. If the subject interests you, this is a kit I highly recommend, especially if you do not ordinarily build off-road 4x4 models... 43 additional images here...TB

Here's the no-trim-ring Rallye wheels in the AMT-Ertl kit. The model itself is a kitbash of what would be a 1971 Corvette ZR-2 (454 engine) in WarBonnet Yellow metallic.... More images here if you are interested....TB

Raoul....very, very sharp models!!!! Thanks for posting....TB

Took me forever to find this "under glass" post on this project I've been following for a long time. I have several of the Dumas 1/25th boat kits but have never worked up the skills and time to actually build one myself. Bottom line: Tim you knocked this one clean out of the park. It's my new favorite of your models (tied with your root beer colored '29 lowboy pickup hot rod). Huge congrats on persisting and bring this one home. And thanks for sharing with us as you worked through the challenges and delivered your design vision! Very best...TIM

Rex...looking really good! Glad to see you went with one of the contrasting front seat insert options as well.... My experience was also that the kit took longer than usual to assemble, but it was well worth the effort given all that Revell put in the box....good luck bringing this one home! TIM

Pryor also mentioned this to me. All I could think of was his tall, really big smile, his great sense of humor, and his willingness to set out on his own (not flow with the crowd) on whatever the subject might be. Dave was one in a million and those of us who knew him were blessed to be in his presence. Rest in peace, Dave, and our condolences to Linda and Jenny....TIM

On Thursday August 17th and Sunday August 20th, 2023, Ford Performance and the Mustang Owners Club of Southeast Michigan (MOCSEM) joined forces to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Ford Special Vehicle Team along with Ford Special Vehicle Engineering and Team Mustang. Here are some photos from this very successful Mustang Memories All Ford Show. Reunions of Bronco owners (all generations) and Ford Mustang Bullit cars (all generations) also took place at the event location. There were several 1971 Boss 351 and Mustang Mach 1s at the show, so I took some detail shots for those of you building - or planning to build- the new Revell kits. As some of you know, I was the Ford Special Vehicle Team Marketing Manager and Team Leader from 1995-98, so I was honored to be involved in this memorable event. Use the "Roll View" feature to quickly scroll through the images while also seeing my comments...thanks for looking! Tim Boyd 148 pictures at this link....

Very sharp! Thx for posting....TB

Emre....thanks for a really well researched post and for some very sharp model builds. Also really appreciate you giving credit to Denny Johnson for his original models that sparked the MPC Trike Series. Yes, for those of you wondering, Denny is still building. He showed some of his recent work, along with some of those originals, at one of the last NNL Nats in Toledo. At the time, I told the then-editor of the other magazine that he should do a feature on them, but it fell on deaf ears I am afraid. I have some photos and I will post them here later. Meanwhile I can't think of anything to add from my end, other than that John Greczula took it upon himself in the early 2000s to do a reissue of four of the MPC Trike kits. He setup a company named Retro Hobbies, redesigned all the box art, and took on all the challenges of arranging manufacturing and selling the same. His final product included all four kits in a single box and prompted renewed modeler interest in the Trike kits. If I am remembering the details correctly, John's efforts eventually came to the attention of Tom Lowe who was setting up Round 2 at the time, and John then became one of the lead people in the renaissance of the old AMT/MPC et al tooling, licensing, new kit additions, and box art. John still works with Round 2 to this day. Anyone else have any additions on the subject? Thanks again for your research, model builds, and post, Emre. Really well done! TB

A new and properly done 1933-34 Ford hot rod kit series, ala the '32 hot rod kits, had been on Revell's potential kit list since at least the early 2000's. But there were always higher priorities, and it never made the final cut. Since the Hobbico bankruptcy and German holding company acquisition, I have lost touch with this part of Revell's business and have no idea where this idea stands (or even it if it is still on the list). My guess is no. Too bad.... Best....TIM

Agree! The guys at Round 2 are well aware of this, too, and I do not expect we'll ever see a reissue of this kit, either....TB

Here are a couple of closeup shots of the headlight area of 1971 Mustang Mach 1s and Boss 351s shot earlier today at the SVT 30th Anniversary Reunion/Southeast Mustang Club of Michigan event at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. The 1/1 headlight surrounds are totally blacked out as pointed out in several other posts....thanks for looking...TB

I learned today that one of the most respected resin casters is just about ready to introduce a resin underhood ram air ducting unit for the Revell kit....TB

Aurora '34 5W Double kits.... From the box hot rod version... Factory Stock version body along with AMC-based running gear kitbash from the very latte 1970s.... Kitbashed AMT-Ertl modern era '34 5W... More images of all 3.... Thanks for looking....TB

I built both (but never finished the AMT 3W as it was so bad). FWIW, I think the Aurora kits were better than the original AMT, though still no comparison to the Monogram or the AMT 5W kits. I may have some photos of the Aurora kits at my fotki site; i'lll check and post here if they are...TB i

Mark....as noted elsewhere in the Car Kit News section of the forum...the appearance of the headlights being too large is partly that Chuck (and several others, not to mention, yes, myself) have added a chrome accent around the headlight rings engraved into the grille piece. This incorrectly visually emphasizes the headlight ring and contributes to the oversized appearance of the headlamps. Here's a couple of more shots of applicable 1/1s shot at the 30th Anniversary Ford SVT Reunion at Ford World Headquarters earlier today... I have yet to see a build of this kit where this piece is black as in the 1/1s in your photos; it will be interesting to see if the oversized appearance is still there when this is taken into account during construction of the kit. Needless to say, I will be doing this on my next build of this terrific kit.......TIM

Chuck....very, very sharp!!!! Great color choice, too. Thanks for posting....TB .

Thx Eric. I had not heard that before. TB

x2!!! TB

Hi Eric...what is the hood issue? Wasn't aware of that....thanks...TIM

Thanks all for your comments and feedback! Cheers....TIM

Thanks Alan! TB

Well, it is finally here! Check out the images at the link below for all the skinny on Round 2's 1/25th scale AMT Bronco First Edition kit, including a look at each step of the kit assembly instructions.I recall talking to my Round 2 contacts months before the new Bronco saw its first media features and advocating for a full detail kit of same. I doubt I was the only one doing so, as the possibility of a newly tooled Bronco already seemed to be on their radar screen. Apparently there were many details to be sorted, but confirmation of Round 2's plans followed many months later.Since then, we've seen photos of test shots and some videos of unboxings and buildups, but I wanted to present this new kit in my typical "full detail" photo collage and commentary, as seen below.It is hard not be highly impressed by Round 2's effort on this new kit. Short of in-detail knowledge of how the kit builds up (waiting for you on this, guys!), this appears to be a really well turned-out miniaturization of what remains today (as of this writing) one of the automotive marketplaces most desired and "hot" products. Check out the details at this link for 43 images of all that's inside the box and be sure to use the "Roll View" feature to quickly scroll through the images while reading the captions as well. And be sure to post your builds here at the ModelCarsMag.com forum ... thanks for checking it out. TB