tim boyd

Dan....terrific model display of all those classic Mopars on the transit trailer! Noticed your '70 Chrysler 300....did you base that on the AAM or R&R resin kits, or from a direct Juha source...? Also, really like your underhood detailing of the EB7 Charger R/T.... Thanks for sharing! TB

Hi Tim....your memory is correct....AMT was planning a series of five mid-1970's "custom" kits based on adding parts to their Capri, Gremlin, Matador, and two other annual kitools I can't seem to recall at the moment (one may have been a Mustang II, and the other a Chevy Monza hatchback). They wanted to have buildups to show their sales reps at their 1976 or 1977 annual national sales meeting. So, AMT contracted me to build the Capri and Gremlin versions. The Capri version used parts from an earlier release, so that was a box stock buildup (although the fender flares required some bodywork and putting to make presentable). The Gremlin, on the other hand, required new tooling for the custom parts, which of course did not yet exist at the time AMT needed the model. So, they gave me a complete set of blueprints and I scratchbuilt the all-new front-end parts and grille, cut out the T-Top, and did the custom rear roll pan. I painted the model a pearl greenish-blue, simulated the Levis interior, and finished it to a very high level. When I presented it to the AMT management team, they voiced that I had gone way beyond what they were expecting with the quality of the build. Sadly, at that time I did not have a camera or photography skills, so I think the only pix might be an out of focus shot on top of my bed. Uggh... It was, I recall, a very well turned-out model and I wish I had it in my display case.... Thanks for bringing back the memories, Tim. TB ***** PS - I share your admiration for the AMX II and III, and the second gen Javelin ('71-'74) is a sleeper fave too...plus that Blue Metallic 1968(?) Rebel at the show with the redlines has me wondering what it would take to buy a Jo-Han annual kit of that topic. Probably several hun....and that's way too rich for my modeling budget. Oh well...

Guys.....glad you enjoyed the pix. For those AMC guys who just can't get enough....here's a link to my photo coverage of the AMC Great Lakes meet held at Greenmead Village in Livonia, Michigan, a few years ago. (Ironically, this location was less than a mile away from the host hotel for the 2022 national convention...) Best ////TB

Tasty....very tasty! Glad to know this one is finished and sitting proudly on the display shelf. (Always a big mental plus on my end when it goes into the display. presume the same applies with you.) Cheers Mate...TB

A great choice for a kit buildup (I don't remember ever seeing one completed until now) and terrific work on paint detailing and trim, too. Big congrats from this corner! TIM

Dennis....just discovered what you and the other guys are up to with this Fad T approach. Needless to say, count me in as a strong cheerleader on this! TB

Oh yeah!!! TB

And according to a source I interviewed for my Drag Racing Kits book, there is actually a story behind the "Streaker" name in the original AMT F85 funny car kit....I mentioned it briefly in the text but tried to keep the details a little vague so the subject of the story was to remain unclear....TB

OK, I see what you are referring to about the Model A kit. I think we are all pretty well aware that Revell added the molded in brackets on the Model A Hot Rod frame as an assist experienced builders assemble their model correctly, not as a representation of the real thing having the rear end solidly mounted to the frame. (They used the same approach on their Foose FD-100 kit) Many more experienced builders (including myself) cut away those mounting brackets during assembly. Regarding the lack of a panhard bar - many 1/1 scale hot rod builders use a "triangulated" approach to rear suspension geometry, where the front bars are mounted to the frame in a position closer together, leading out to the rear axle where they are mounted farther apart. This "triangulation" approach prevents the side to side motion. Some builders add a panhard bar in addition, but not all. As for the Phantom Vickie, my point remains unaltered. Others are, of course, welcome this differently than I do. I think it's probably best on my end to not comment any further; don't to create a controversy about this. Best....TB

Ron, that last profile view in your post is the best photo of this car I've ever run across. Many of my file photos are clearly by the same photographer and taken in the same session, but in this image the car just glows, and it does a great job of documenting the stance too. This is very much what I was trying to achieve with my project. Thanks! TB

Not sure I understand your point, Roger. The Revell Modal A kit rear suspension design is right out of the Roy Brizio Street Rods "design 'em to be driven" playbook from the last 40 years and still very much in use today in the hot rod world. They are clearly not hardcore "traditional hot rod" transverse A spring quick changes, but that doesn't make them unrealistic per se, at least in my book. In the case of the AMT-Ertl Phantom Vicky Phaetion, and going from memory here (admittedly somewhat dangerous these days, but you guys will catch me if I'm wrong), unlike the Mustang GT suspension the kit was patterned after, the kit itself omitted any sort of upper rear axle locating arms, meaning the first time the driver hit the pedal hard, the entire rear end would wrap/twist and tear itself out. Perhaps I should have been clearer about what I meant by "unrealistic?" TB

Exactly correct. This was a special model, F-350, only offered on that generation of F350 by Ford when slide-in campers were a big part of the RV business model. Would most definitely not have been my choice if i was running AMT at the time (1973/4, just after this gen of F-Series was introduced). But they probably went to Ford, asked what the top of the line model was, and (from a certain perspective) this would have been a likely answer to that question. I did a buildup on commission for AMT for their annual Sales Reps meeting of the (IIRC) "Tuff Truck" version (the one with the pseudo dually rear wheel setup); I don't recall it being any trouble to put together, but then again, this was 45+ years ago....TB

Thx Tom for the thoughts and observations. My understanding from back in the day when Lindberg first introduced the '64 B-Body Super Stock kits was that the kits were based on the 1990's era restorations or recreations (can't recall which) of the original 1960's drag properties, rather than the state of the original cars when they were first built. As you and others correctly note, by the 1990's such equipment as a driveshaft loop would likely have been required even to get into the staging lanes, so it would have been included in the Lindberg kits if they were indeed back on the 1990's status of the real cars. Having said that, I need to go back into my storage unit and dig out one or two of those parts for my aforementioned and planned circa 1972-74 era A990 project. Thx for taking the time to post and share thoughts...TIM

Two years ago this month, my new book "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits" went on sale, right in the midst of the initial Covid-19 outbreak. Great timing, huh? Anyway, near the end of the book i included a sidebar in which I attempted to list the very best drag racing kits of all time. After drafting the list, I ran it by five of the most knowledgeable kit and drag racing experts I knew for additions, deletions, and any obvious failures of logic and consistency. Once it saw the public domain on printed page, I thought this topic would generate lots of frenetic debate and impassioned comments. Mostly didn't happen. Anyway, knowing the participants in this section of the MCM as well as I do now, wanted to offer these up for your comments and feedback. Did we get the list mostly right? Mostly wrong? Obvious omissions? Anyway, here's the list that appeared in the book. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.....TIM *****In 1/24th-1/25 scale:- 1960’s – AMT Double Dragster, Revell Orange Crate, Revell Tony Nancy “22 JR” Dragster/Altered Double Kit, Jo-Han 1964 Fury/Polara 426 Max Wedge Super Stock annual kits, AMT 1965 Coronet 500 annual kit, AMT Don Garlits Wynns Jammer, AMT “Ohio George” Montgomery’s 1933 Willys, MPC 1967 Color Me Gone Charger, Jo-Han 1968-69 Funny Car annual kits, AMT 1969 Gas Ronda Longnose Mustang, MPC Dick Harrell Camaro Funny Car- 1970’s – Jo-Han Gene Snow Challenger and Mickey Thompson Mustang/Pinto Funny Cars, Jo-Han Sox and Martin ‘cuda Pro Stock, Monogram Don Prudhomme/Tom McEwen Rear Engine Dragsters, Revell Drag Racing Team Scale Funny Cars and Rear Engine Dragsters, MPC Pinto Pro Stocks, and MPC’s Bantam Blast/Wild Wille Borsch Fuel Altereds- 1980’s – Monogram 1984 Camaro and Thunderbird Pro Stocks; Monogram 1985 Funny Cars, Revell Don Garlits Swamp Rat XXX- 1990’s – Revell Pro Sportsman kits, Revell Rear Engine Rail Dragster kits, Revell Oldsmobile Cutlass Pro Stocks- 2000’s – Polar Lights Funny Cars, Revell Chi-Town Hustler and Hawaiian 1969 Mini-Charger Funny Cars- 2010’s – Moebius Models/Model King 1965 Cyclone and Belvedere A990 A/FX kits*****In other scales:- 1960’s – Monogram 1/22nd scale “Sizzler” Dragster/Altered, Monogram 1/8th scale “Big Drag” Model T- 1970’s - Aurora 1/16th scale “Racing Scenes” Pinto and Vega Funny Cars (the most detailed drag racing kits ever); Revell’s 1/16th scale “Drag Racing Team” Funny Cars and Rear Engine Dragsters (1973-1976)- 1980’s - Monogram’s 1/32nd scale Snap-Tite Funny Cars- 1990’s-present – None ***** OK, what sayeth you? Now it's your turn....TB

Craig...that's one I've had in the back of my mind for many years....presently seeing it as a fenderless format, channeled over the frame, and running the hot rod version of the Galaxie '48 Chevy I-6 or maybe the Fisher Head version out of the old AMT '51 Chev. And maybe setup more Vintage Beach Racing or Colorado Hill Climb style that trad hot rod alone.... Anyway, go for it. Would love to see how it turns out...TIM

UPDATE: Ron, going through my old notebook of reference materials on Door Slammer drag racing cars, today I ran across a message from Tom Carter, noted 1960's/70's stock class drag racer from the Grand Rapids, MI area, and probably better know to us as the owner/operator of the Hobby Heaven (and later) Spotlight Hobbies model car mail order and website/forums. Tom often advised modelers on various accuracy issues with Jr. Stock, Stock, and Super Stock class model replicas. In a post dated 21 Feb. 2013 on 1960's and early 1970's NHRA Classification Rules, he noted "no driveshaft loop needed until at least through 1975." Still, I plan to add 1 to my upcoming Revell-sponsored 1972-74 class warrior, and thanks again for bringing this detail to my awareness! TIM

Northville is a small village northwest of Detroit, where lots of managers and leaders in the domestic and global automotive industry live. Like many other places, they have a Cars and Coffee once a month on Saturday mornings. This was my first visit to their event, and I was shocked at the turnout of exotics, late model hardcore performance iron, and historic performance machinery. There must be a lot more wealth hiding in those Northville homes than I thought. Or else a bunch of people spending nearly all their income on cars. Still, social commentary aside, what a bunch of cool cars. Check 'em out below....TIM

Paul's build thread here perfectly illustrates how great models are built and finally completed. A young man who worked for me when I was the Midwest Region Assistant Manager for Lincoln Mercury said it best (and I quoted him hundreds of times in my career later on): Persistence wears down resistance! And it is just as valid as a model building philosophy as it is a management and sales strategy! Keep at it, Paul (though I very much doubt you need any encouragement from this end!) Very excellent work around and had you not shared it here, I venture not a single person would have ever known when looking at the completed model! Cheers....TIM

The 2022 AMC/American Motors National Convention was held at the Sheraton Novi (Michigan near Detroit) on the Saturday August 13. I and my good friend/automotive historian-journalist Ed Ostrowski attended the event and the following images give a good idea of what there was to see. The heaviest participation appeared to be car owners/restorers covering the early 1960's to early 1970's period. The turnout of Javelins, AMXs, and yes, Gremlins(!) was particularly impressive. Check out the pictures below and enjoy! Great modeling inspiration awaits....and thanks for looking....TIM

Steve....really glad to hear the wide oval bigs'n'littles are coming back....and thanks for figuring out the workaround (Firestone branding) given Goodyear's odd licensing hangup on the parts packs....TB

Those eyebrow brushes would have to be pretty stiff to remove my wax residue. Still, would be a big time saver if it works. Let's see, my wife is in her office right now...maybe a stealth visit to her makeup stand???? TB

I agree....Rodney's version looks super-cool...but then again, doesn't pretty much all his stuff meet that criteria? Thx for posting, I hadn't seen this one previously...TB

The engine is a 1996-98 Ford SVT Cobra 4.6L DOHC V8 if I am recalling correctly. I do not recall where the wheels came from, but they were not from the AMT-Ertl kit. TB

What Mike said....TB

And as the basis of a slightly more involved kitbash also using parts from Revell's '32 Ford kit series....(and yes, obviously, looks like I need to have a wax-cleaning session with a toothpick and polishing cloth on those cutlines and moldings)....TB