tim boyd

I think the above recap is an excellent description of the changes that would be necessary to do a Super Bee kit, and as a result a good explanation of why a 1968 Super Bee kit variant is very unlikely in my point of view. Some of these changes to accommodate a SuperBee would be impossible to achieve without mods to the newly done body tooling pieces, which in my view is very unlikely from a business case perspective. Historically, the 1968 Coronet R/T was the much better seller than the 1968 SuperBee which of course was a hurry-up mid year intro and never got any real market momentum in 1968. (Of course, it handily overtook the R/T the next model year, and then only added to its desirability as a kit topic with the A13 SixPack addition at mid-year 1969.) Which means from a kit marketability point of view, a kitmaker would not want to irretrievably change a tool to the less popular version in the 1/1 scale world... BTW, no insider info here, only my thoughts.... TB

I believe these are the first full color pictures of this model to be "published" in their entirety. The original model was built for an early (c. 1980 or so) version of my then-monthly "Modeler's Corner" column in Street Rodder magazine. I remember building it when I lived in East Lansing, Michigan, my first of an eventual 11 different locales in my 35-year career at Ford. The model was based on the MPC 1933 Chevy Panel Delivery kit, which was issued only twice, first as a double kit with the 1932 Chevy Roadster body in 1965, and then as a standalone kit in 1966. The Panel Delivery body was effectively destroyed a couple of years later when MPC retooled for their "Barnabas Van" kit, and by the time I built this kit, it was already very hard to find. I built it in the then-popular "resto rod" guise, with a completely stock exterior including dual sidemounts paired with modern chassis and running gear. When I took these photos a month or two ago, I was shocked to rediscover the amount of added engine and chassis detail I had included in this project. The engine was loosely based on the SBC in the original MPC kit but with then-current intake and exhaust conversions. The front suspension came from a Monogram 1978 or so Camaro kit (although it was reversed in direction for this install, which is pretty unrealistic in a 1/1 scale application). The rear suspension was converted to parallel leafs with accessory coil overs, mounting a late model axle/differential. Those sweet wire wheels were found in one of Monogram's street machine custom versions of their 2nd gen Camaro tools. The body colors were taken straight from some outdated Ford parts department touchup cans I bought (I was a Ford zone rep at the time). The cargo compartment floor was real wood; some type of exotic African type of whose name I have long forgotten. The quarter panel graphics came from the Monogram 1939 Chevy Sedan Delivery. I always thought this was among my better street rod models, I particularly liked the stance of the finished car, and I still do today. Fifteen additional overall and detail photos follow below. Comments and questions welcome...Hope you like it....TIM

MPC was at their summit when it came to new kit design in the late 1970's to early 1980's. So when they introduced their first annual kit of the 1973 and later Chevy pickup generation, I had to build it as soon as it was introduced in late 1977. This new MPC annual kit for 1978 was the only one of this generation (the kit tool was updated every year for several following years) to be provided in the 4x2 configuration, IIRC. While based largely on the kit, the model included a number of mods such as the big'n''bigger tires on Cragars and sidemount headers from the concurrently introduced Revell Pickup and Vans Parts Packs (anyone remember those???). The suspension was lowered and the interior featured bucket seats, also from the Revell Parts Packs if memory serves. The graphics and the very nice tubular grille came from the MPC annual kit, and the engine intake setup may have also been kitbashed; can't recall for sure. Anyway, this was a really good kit from MPC and due to subsequent revisions to the kit tool, this particular kit version remains a very rare bear discovery these days. Thanks for looking....TIM (PS - please excuse the ajar hood in the picture above).

This one was completed around 1987 or so when I did a whole series of front and mid engine dragster models. It was based on the MPC Garlits Front Engine Dragster with a Boss 429 engine (probably from the Monogram Vandal/Vambulance kits) and a paint layout devised several colors of 1/1 scale automotive pinstriping tape.... After checking this one out, be sure to take a look at Jerry's Boss 429 FED build also posted in this folder for a really well done take on this build theme....thanks...TIM

Very, very creative and extremely well done, Jerry. I too did a Boss 429 FED; I'll dig it out and post elsewhere in this Drag Racing folder. How cool would it be to have both lined up at the tree in a scale drag racing diorama? Congrats and best wishes....TIM

Carl....thanks for the comments on my old model posts. I'll try to keep at it. The runners, I think, were simply cut from Evergreen or Plastruct U-shaped channel ....super quick and easy. Of course, to be fully accurate, it would probably benefit from some diamond plate along the horizontal surfaces.... Best....TB

I don't have any insider info on this, but MPC was already doing some really nice kits at this point in their corporate existence. At that point in time, the Japanese kits were still designed around electric motors and not even close to American kit detail (IIRC, the Tamiya Mercedes 500 SEC kit was the first full detail Japanese assembly kit, and it was first issued around 1984...followed a couple of years later by Hasegawa with their Jaguar XJ-S kits, and soon thereafter by the Fujimi Enthusiast Series kits. (If I'm wrong on the timing here, I'm sure one of our more knowledgeable board members will set us straight...)....TB

I built this trailer from a castoff original issue 1968 Coronet R./T kit trailer. Basically, just removed the fenders, cut down the side rails and added two motorcycle ramps....TB

Del....whenever you get around to building that Sanger flatbottom, I for one would love to see the result. Bet others here would too! Best...TB

40 years ago I completed this model. It was a redo of a trashed AMT 1968 Mustang GT annual kit originally belonging to my brother Robert. It combined parts of the AMT follow-up Shelby GT 500 kit, with 1/1 scale Ford Dealer Parts Counter Glamour Paint and graphics from the Monogram "Bad Actor" kit. The MotorWheel "Spyder" kits came from one of the period MPC kits, probably one of their 1957 or 1960 Corvette kits. The engine was a full detail 428 Cobra Jet. If you look closely you'll see I did a circa 1969 funny car body chop - shortened A-pillars and a roof tilted downward to match, and I opened the rear quarter panel scoops. I remember running this model in one of my columns in the old "Popular Cars" magazine (Street Rodder magazine's McMullen Publishing version of Car Craft magazine). It was paired with a similar model from Ohio modeler and NNL Nats #1 original participant Bob "Subtle Chop" Bost. Bob's model was a super clean modification of the AMT Mustang Mach 1 Concept Car kit. Plenty more pix at the link....(see pix #37 to #48). Thanks for looking....TIM

Just a quick note to thank everyone who read this thread and especially those who commented. Regrettably, there is a widely held view (including some past Editors of some of our model mags) that model car builders have little interest in the history of our hobby. I've always strongly disagreed with that observation. Apparently at least 1,200 of you here agree with me by viewing this thread instead of that "widely held view". And that leads me to suggest that if you have the time, and haven't seen this before, take a look at my picture tour of the International Model Car Builder's Museum..... Here's one image of the Oakland Roadster Show diorama on display there...Thanks again....TIM

Of course I am in no position to comment on the interests of car and model enthusiasts just about half my age, but my "car guy" gene tells me that a kit that builds (with relatively minor mods) something that looks this cool would pass the appeal test no matter what the age of the observer. ( Or not...!) TB PS. More pix here...

Several years ago I had recommended to Round 2 that they search out the tool and reissue this kit. I recall the feedback at time, being, of course, non-committal. In any case, sure happy to see it back. Still one of MPC's best-ever efforts IMHO. TB

That's sure what they look like to me...TB

Actually,, it would start with 'Fever"....but keep in mind, this is only a guess on my part. Could be wrong., too...just sayin'....TB l

Very, very cool! Thx for the pix, Steve! TB

I would expect a hardtop version to follow probably about 9-12 months after the convertible if past timing by Round 2 of derivative kits using the "cloning" method is any example. Later on, I expect you may even see a third version using this tooling set, based on the hardtop body, but that one could follow a year or two after the hardtop (my guess only). TB

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

To add even more confusion....just noticed that on the end cap of the Rayson Craft kit box, there is an additional illustration of the same #22 racing boat on the box top, but from a bird's eye rear 3/4 view....and.....the driver is on the Left, not the right as on the box top illustrated here by Roger. Also, I looked at the instruction sheet for the Rayson Craft kit. It shows assembling the steering wheel on the left for both the ski and drag versions. Further looked at the subsequent Hull Raiser kit instruction sheet, again, driver on the left (these parts are shared across both the kits). Finally, took a look at the 1963 Revell 1/25th "Show and Go Drag Boat" kit (the predecessor kit before minor revisions for the 1971 Hemi Hydro kit). All the box art illustrations and the instruction sheet shows the driver on the left. Mystery resolved? Not even close, but just more indications of the fascinating history of our hobby, I guess. Best...TB

Finally had a few minutes to look at my reference library on ski and drag boats. Piled together it is nearly a foot high and includes 1960's magazines, two books, and lots of eBay.com "for sale" ads. (Yeah, this is a real area of interest at the Boyd ranch). Looking through it quickly, bottom line is from the late 1950's to the mid 1960's most drag racing and virtually all ski boats had the driver on the left. By the mid 1960's most drag/racing boats were starting to to move the driver to the center of the hull. Ski boats remained on the left. Interestingly, every single Rayson Craft boat pictured, both ski and drag, were either left or center, mostly left. (Which raises the question of why the driver is on the right on the Rayson Craft kit box top). A good example of the driver on the left in a racing application is a Ford Industrial Engines and Power Units ad dated April 1964 showing the FE powered "Orange Bowl Regatta" race-winning Rayson Craft with the driver on the left and what appears to be strapped down gas tanks in what would be the passenger seat area. I suspect one could still find this ad on the web in just a few minutes... So based on the references in my library, it seems the switch to drivers mostly on the right must have taken place beyond the time represented by these AMT and Revell kits, perhaps starting in the early to mid 1970's? BTW, here's a couple of my racing boat builds with the driver in the center... Best....TB

John...here you go. Thanks for your interest....TB https://public.fotki.com/funman1712/from-the-pages-of-y/from-the-pages-of-s/from-the-pages-of-s-1/

In case you all missed it in my prior post on the NNL Motor City....posted at this link are a few additional photos of the '65 and '68 GTO projects (as well as other upcoming Round 2 projects) as photographed at the Motor City NNL a few weeks back...TIM

Duplicate post; sorry...TB

Danno....thx for the comments and questions. Those pods were called "sponsons" if I am remembering correctly. They were typically found on drag racing boats, but not the ski boats. The idea was that they would help the hull rise above the water and sort of "capture" air beneath to mostly eliminate the friction of the water and be able to go faster. Worked a trick until something got unstable underneath and then....look out. I'm sure there are those reading this thread who can provide more details and add to or correct the above explanation. As for how the boat equipped with the sponsons got off the trailer...good question....perhaps it was "floated" off the trailer as suggested above...or perhaps more likely, there might have been a dedicated trailer with features accommodating clearance for the sponsons that AMT omitted from their single kit trailer. Best...TIM

Coming together oh so nicely!!! TB