tim boyd

Here is a full build story on the Monogram Uncertain T kit....reboot with full content of a magazine article that ended up getting cut way back from what was originally submitted for publication... TIM

The 1967/68/69 Barracuda tooling was the same (other than year to year revisions to reflect the 1/1 updates) even though the branding changed from AMT to MPC starting in 1968. In fact, per my book "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits" (p.100), the 1967 kit actually carried over most of the chassis and powertrain tooling from the 1965/1966 AMT kits, and that includes the 426 Hemi engine. Which helps to explain why today's 1969 Barracuda kit is so basic in its underskin componentry. Best....TB

Thanks Mark for the added detail. I looked it up in my book, the two kits are covered on pages 147 and 148. Perhaps not as much detail as I would have preferred, but I was way over my book contract "word count" limit by the time I got to these kits. My recollection on the Hemi Under Glass is that the engine was under the rear backlight and attached directly to the differential. Whereas the LA Dart engine was reversed, raised up very high and rearward in the chassis to appear as though it was in the trunk, and then connected through a 1960s style Drag/Ski Boat V-Drive setup to the rear axle. But the basic chassis pan was the HUG, later modified to the LA Dart configuration. This was one of the surprises I encountered in putting together the book, because like several of you I initially thought the entire underbody/powertrain layout was the same in both kits... TIM

Retro Review - Building one of the Rarest Kits Ever:Monogram’s Uncertain TBy Tim BoydEpilogue: The following article was written and submitted to one of the model car magazines 13 years ago.When it finally appeared in print in the April 2011 issue of the subject magazine, the article left out about 13 pictures and captions, and was missing nearly all of the kit assembly photos. Perhaps it was a last minute add to the issue and had to be compressed to just two pages. I was never provided an explanation. But suffice it to say that most writers don't like it when this happens, and yes, I am one of those.Recently I ran across the entire text and photos for that article, so I am going to "republish" it, in a manner of speaking, in its original form as submitted to the magazine. As you read it, keep in mind that the information herein is nearly a decade and a half old, and some of the material about the history of the real car, the status of the tooling, and the current value of the kit has since been superseded with updated knowledge. But in any case, thanks for looking and enjoy the entire story on Monogram's Uncertain T kit at the following link.Thanks....TIM **** PS - here are a few outtake images from the online article at the above link.....TB

Steve....I recall there being more to the story here....it's played out in my Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits book which I do not have access to right now, but if my vague recollection is correct (always a risk these days!!!) the powertrain portions of the HUG vs. LA Dart et al are substantially different. Will track down the book and post an update (or correction) soon....TB

Me too....TB

Here's mine.... ....TB

Tim....no, I've been retired for nearly ten years now; there's a new crew running the show there these days. Wonder if i could convince my wife to take a road trip to Vermont....naw..no chance of that; too bad. (For those of you who do not know Tim, i recall getting a ride in Tim's new 1976 Black Cutlass Supreme Brougham, one of the sharpest looking cars of the entire 1973-77 Colonnade era Cutlasses i ever saw. Come to think of it, the velour-like pillowed black interior was really cool too...) TB

Dan....mine is Vapor Blue as well. I really wanted Grabber Blue Metallic (I was apparently well known at the Ford Design Center for my preference for Grabber Blue Mustangs), but my wife did not like that color. I deferred to Vapor Blue at order time not knowing what it actually looked like out in the real world. Now that i've seen it (on 2023 Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs) it is much too gray for my liking. Oh well...rowing that V8 through the gears should more than make up for it! Best....TB

My 2024 (that's the mostly all new one) Mustang GT Convertible 5.0L manual is scheduled to be built at Ford's Flat Rock assembly plant today.....TB

X2! Go Bill!!!! TB

Del...Round 2's Steve Goldman confirmed that the kit will include the blown y-block option. However, for the best level of detail, the Revell '57 Ford Custom Sedan kits have the y-Block of choice. OF course, the real one didn't offer a blower option but the engine from the nascar kit, as you suggest, would be a very, very cool way to go in my view. Best...TB

What Chuck said!!! TB

Given the interest of you MCM forum readers in my restoration of the 1968 MPC/Dodge/Car Model magazine "Dominator' funny car, as displayed at the 2023 GSL Finale, i am bringing back up front this story on my subsequent restoration of the "Best Detail" winner at the 1970 Detroit Autorama MPC Contest, which Car Model magazine subsequently billed as the world's largest model car contest....for those that missed it when originally posted in early 2020, hope you enjoy the read....TIM

Len....I vaguely recall seeing the 1/1 when it first came out (i was age 10 at the time) and thinking that i liked it a lot better than the real Mustang. So it was a real treat to look over your replica at the GSL, and marvel about how accurately you replicated it (and what it must have taken to accomplish it). Big, big congrats on your achievement!...TIM

Guys....this is a master study in how to chop one of the most difficult bodies out there....the '34 5W Coupe. Ulf....great work and have enjoyed seeing this one progress forward...big congrat from this corner....TIM

Bernard.....congrats on finishing this one up. Especially like the engine components you chose and the louvered truck lid. Guys, I finally had the pleasure of meeting Bernard in person at the GSL this month. In my mind i had him pegged, based primarily on his build style, as one of what I think of as the third generation of hot rod model car builders, maybe in his late twenties to mid-thirties. Surprise on me! Bernard is actually older than I am (and I'm pretty old myself these days). So cool to see how broadly our hobby embraces different age groups and talents. Anyway, Bernard, so cool to finally meet you and keep up your great enthusiasm for and contributions to our mutual hobby! TIM

Charles...that is some of the most realistic "patina" I've evers seen on a styrene body. Best of luck with the progress to come....TIM

Dennis....looking oh so tasty! Your attention to detail...man, those engine mounts! Great to see this one moving forward....especially those progress photos that you posted later on in this thread...TB

Thanks....coming from you Bill with your deep knowledge of both 1/1s and models, I take this is a very big compliment. Much, much, appreciated! Cheers...Tim

Thanks Paul. Ironically, I to some degree reemployed this approach (without the masks) in a series of articles I did for Scale Auto about 10-12 years ago. And we had looked at doing another one possibly for MCM but the article subject used the Testors One Coat lacquers which are as we know no longer available. Here's the sample project for that (stillborn) article idea... Great to know, anyway, that you found some "how to' inspiration in that old model project! I trust you had a safe trip back from GSL. i showed my wife Lia hat picture of you, Wes, and I the other day and i think it really impressed her. Thx for that too! Best...TB

Well said! TB

Thanks Steve! TB

Thanks to all who looked at this coverage, and to all who commented above. Also, just a note that I've update the album with info on the winners where applicable. Info appears in the first photo of each model in the album. Click on the link in the first post in this thread to see more.. Best...TB

Steven...thanks for the coverage and my congrats to the NNL North team and participants for their continued success over 25 years! Looks like some really cool replica stock builds overall, and that ''65 Belvedere Super Stock looks really cool! I recall participating in the "NNL Tundra", a predecessor to this event in some ways, back in the summer of 1982 or 1983. An unforgettable weekend, for sure (Jim Kampmann has all the details...). Thanks again for posting all these images. Best...TIM