tim boyd

Guys, need some help from those of you who have bought the new 2021 version of this Revell 1930 Model A Five Window Coupe kit. Please pull out the parts trees and take a good look at the 1932 Ford Highboy frame. Look at the alignment of the front of the frame to rear of the frame. Please post here or PM me and let me know if your frame is a) correctly aligned (not twisted at all), b) slightly warped/twisted but still usable with some "persuasion", or c) warped/twisted front to back to a level that would make it very difficult to use in a kit buildup. I've seen all three instances in the five kits I've bought so far. But I'd like to hear from others to ascertain whether this warpage issue is a relatively rare occurrence or a more major issue. Thanks in advance for your help on this.....TIM

Kit....a number of people have asked me about using the '30A "skeletion" interior in the '29A body. For a whole number or reasons, I didn't think it was possible without a whole 'lotta work. Thanks for proving me very very wrong! Cheers....TIM

Andy, the simple answer is "no". And yes, like you I would love to see these Lincoln and Ford Heavy Truck "ram's horn" manifolds in scale. In fact, we almost got some when Revell was looking for a Y-Block Lincoln V8 to scale for their 1950 Mercury wagon kit, but was unsuccessful despite several people looking on their behalf... TIM

Ah....Mr. Humble..... I have been going through my old Hot Rod magazines and recently noted a letter from you to the Editor and smiled.....this was probably sometime in the 1980's; perhaps you remember? Not to get into another debate, but my vague recollection is that you had some correct corrections on one or more of my pieces, but I also had some corrections on your corrections as well. And just to be clear, it wasn't I that stated that the Chrysler and DeSoto Hemis were the same....as the 1950's Mopar Hemis (Chrysler, DeSoto, and Dodge) were all different though based on the same overall design principles. I think that was Larry's doing in the last issue (and I recall making a similar comment to Wick in my head about that one). I have been guilty, though, of calling the DeSoto a "Firepower" instead of the correct "Firedome" nomenclature, and I'm sure, many other slipups like this over the last 44 years of writing.... Anyway....note to all who area reading this thread - keep an eye out for this Mr. Humble guy. He often has interesting things to say, even if you may not always agree with him! Cheers...TIM

This one is going to be real fun to watch come together!!!! TB

Mike's (above) looks really sharp....and here'e mine, built box stock from the 1990's Revell kit release....factory correct 1967 Marina Bue (not the Corvette paint nomenclature IIRC, but it was the same paint formula as Marina Blue), sourced from MCW Automotive Finishes. I recall it as a very nice kit: very accurate body proportions and details, and no real assembly issues. Only paint detail, spark plug wires, and aftermarket redline tires added .... TB

Thanks for posting, Steve. Looks like you had great fun building that model, I'd bet. And there is yet another model inspired by the P&H Gasser out there (this time, the second version),,,,ran across some photos a few weeks back of a replica of the real car built by John Teresi.....TB

Del....of course you are correct! Went back and fixed my original post. Thx for the catch! TIM

Very, very impressive work, Matthew! Glad the Calnaga scoop worked out for you, too.....TIM

Adding to Jim's and Mark's comments here, I am virtually certain that Revell is planning a second kit release off their new 1971 442 hardtop tooling. As to what it might be I do not know, but there are some good ideas here....TB PS - would sure like to get my hands on a 1/1 1970 Cutlass SX with the 4-barrel upgrade (IIRC the standard engine for that one was - get this - a 455 2-barrel )

Thx Mark...never noticed that. And yes, I had an original kit around here someplace....TB

Two others I meant to include and missed.... * 1967-68 Chevy pickups (unique front end design not shared with later models and only available to builders today as highly priced AMT (1967) or MPC (1968) annual kits with greatly simplified chassis/frame and engine executions. * Dodge W-350 Power Wagon (post WW-II to 1968) 4x4. Several knowledgeable sources in the kit industry have stated that such a kit topic underwent a "measuring session" in advance of kit tooling that eventually never materialized. Other recent kit introductions have used info from measuring sessions originally conducted around the same time frame as that Power Wagon session, so someone most likely still has that completed work at hand.... TB

Steve....my view is that the 70.5 Trans-Am Monogram was so thoroughly compromised in its execution that to do additional derivatives would just not work. In addition to the nose issue you correctly cite and to which I thoroughly agree, the engine in this kit actually a poorly executed update of the 1980-81 301 Turbo from the original kit tooling. While all Pontiac V8's were similar in outward appearance, there was enough difference in the smaller engine to clearly differentiate it from the RA IV for those who (like me, and perhaps you too) are into Pontiac minutia. For me, I envision a morph of the MPC 1970.5-1973 Firebird annual kit bodies with the underbody gubbins of the AMT-ERtl 1970.5 Z-28 kit, along with an all-new and fully correct RA-IV V8. There, now II feel better! Thx for the comments....TIM

OK....since we are dreaming.... Newly tooled off patterned off original annual kits (like the '63 Nova wagon and the IH Cabover) * MPC 1968 Coronet R/T HT and Convertible * MPC 1971 Impala HT * MPC (nee AMT) 1928 Model A Tudor (if indeed crucial parts of the original tooling cannot be found) * MPC 1972 Dodge D100 Adventurer SE * AMT 1967 Galaxie 500 XL HT and Convertible * MPC 1970/71 Cyclone Spoiler and GT * AMT 1969 Gas Ronda Long-Nose Mustang funny car All new tooling/new subjects: for all, full stand-alone engine and powertrain detail, partial or omitted engine componentry unacceptable!!!! * 1962-1964 Ferrari Berlinetta Lusso * 2020- present Ferrari Roma Coupe * 2021-present Ford F-150 Raptor and upcoming Raptor R * 2021-present Ford Bronco 2dr, 4dr, and upcoming Raptor * 2018-2022 Ford Mustang GT, GT350, Bulllit, Mach 1, GT500 in HT (and where applicable) convertible versions * 2021-present Corvette Coupe and Convertible * 1970/71 Cyclone (off Revell Torino tool, if Round 2 does not do as above) * 1970/71 Ranchero GT and Squire (off Revell Torino Tool) * 1968-1972 GTO series, HT and Convertible, including 1970 Judge and the first-ever correct 1/25th scale RA-IV engine componentry * 1970 1/2-1973 Firebird 400/455 Formula and Trans-AM, including 1971 455 HO and 1973 SuperDuty * 2022 Ford F150 Lightning * 2023 Chevy Electric Silverado * 1968-1972 Javelin and Javelin AMX (with correct 390/400 engine) * Generic (but all new tooled) 1966-1970 front engine rail with licensing from top drivers of the period Modified reissues: * MPC Dyno Don and Gapp&Roush Pro Stock Pintos ({by far, the most authentic in MPC's Pro Stock kit series) * AMT-Ertl 1971 Charger Rod Shop Stocker * MPC Charger III * Moebius/Model King 1965 Super Stock Belvedere as campaigned by Butch Leal from 1972-74 * AMT Nitro-Charger funny car * Current top fuel rail dragsters (based off Revell's early 1990's tooling which could be adapted to current rail dragster format/technology) * Polar Lights 1969 Camaro Dickie Harrell Logghe funny car (project was under consideration during original Polar Lights ownership) Several others I've already mentioned to Round 2 and should probably not mention here. ....... TB PS- there are at least 2-3 others I would mention here, except they are already under development (but not yet announced) by the modeling companies...

I think there is a good chance you'll see the MPC early 1980's Supra reissued. In fact, I thought I read somewhere that this was already announced???? TB

The box art side panels show the two decal treatments....see photos #2 and #3 at this review link....TB

Tim....thx for the heads-up on this one. I think I might have seen this for a moment as part of a thread somewhere on V-12 Lincoln parts? Anyway, amazing to see how you bring a project together in Brass, carrying on the legacy of both your own previous brass-based work as well as that of Richard Carroll, Dave Berry, Rich Morgan, et al. Terrific! TIM

Kurt....good to see you back at the bench with this one. Those axle "holders" (locators) are molded into the frame for less accomplished builders who might struggle with getting the axle to sit property when using the coil overs and radius rods as the only locators. On most of my builds with this frame, I used the holders to mockup and glue the coil overs and radius rods to the rear axle/diff, then cut away the holders before painting the frame. Very easy and big improvement in realism for those of us all who actually care about these things. Best of luck with your project...TIM

Thanks Richard and John for the heads-up. I was on automatic renewal with Fotki, and had just updated my credit card info (new expiration date) last week. Still they put me on hold today. What the heck???? Anyway, went back in and updated manually. Looks like it is back OK now. Really appreciate you guys letting me know. Best....TIM

Thanks guys for the comments on the photos, and again, thanks to Steve Perry for arranging the photo session. This was one of the top highlights of my 2021 modeling year, and fulfillment of a dream I've had ever since first seeing Steve's model about 15 years ago. Happy to be able to share it with you all. And best wishes to everyone for a great 2022 modeling year. TIM

Claude....I did that too! My poor Mom and Dad....coming in my bedroom and seeing those Hot Rod and other mag cutouts, taped up on my wall.....then there was the huge poster from the Chicago IV (live at Carnegie Hall) thumbtacked and hanging from the ceiling....smile! TIM

Some of you have been following my build thread on the "WIP - Drag Racing" forum folder here at the MCM forum. But for those who've not seen that, some 53 years after I started building my replica of the first version Prock & Howell Willys Gasser, finally finished the project and soon thereafter joined Steve Perry for a combined photo session of my own project next to Steve's semi-scratchbuilt, former MCM cover car replica of the second version of the Prock & Howell Gasser. In the interest of brevity here on the board, I'm posting just a few images from our comparo photography session. You can see the entire set of 13 images here. And in case you missed the build thread, including all the issues with the project and several disappointments along the way, you can read that here. One thing becomes very evident in viewing the comparo pictures below. Modeling techniques and model builder skills have advanced greatly over the last four decades. Compare the chassis shots with Steve's largely scratchbuilt componentry vs. my kit-based conversions. While my model with its very late 1960's origins would have been very competitive (though probably not a Best in Show winner) in the yearly MPC Customizing Contest series, it wouldn't have stood even a remote chance vs. Steve's model building talents today. To wrap up, I want to publicly acknowledge Steve Perry for his inspiration in getting me to finally finish this project I started 53 years ago, and for hosting this comparo photo session which was a very big motivating factor in said completion. Thanks Steve! TIM

Chris....thanks for your thoughts on this, as personally I am kind of on the fence on this one. That is because when I built the Gasser version test shot a few months ago, like Dave I found the taillight configuration - after painting the lenses red (they were originally on the clear parts tree) and then fitting to the bezel, was a touch on the clumsy side, and more importantly, the finished appearance just wasn't all that convincing to me. At the time I thought to myself that it might have had a better appearance as just a plated part with the lamp painted Testors Stoplight Red enamel (but I did not share my thoughts on this with Dave). Historically, at least to me own eyes, I've had really good results with this "paint on chrome" approach. Here's how it looked on the test shot build with the separate lamps on the clear tree.... It will be interesting to compare this image with the final results/appearance as modelers begin to build that actual kit with the plated /painted tailamps. I do think you've made a very valid point with respect to the Round 2/AMT approach to this topic, and I don't recall hearing anyone having problems with building those new AMT Nova wagon kits. Having said all this, I'm sure your "mold and cast" approach will yield for you an even better result than either of the kit development options, albeit with considerable added effort on your part. Thx again for the observations....TIM (Yes, I fixed the upside-down wheelie bars as seen in this image....eventually....). TB

At the link at the bottom of this post is an album with 50 images and information comprising a look at the final production version of the Moebius 1965 Chevy II 100 series (base trim level) two door sedan (aka "Post") Gasser kit. (This album is a follow-on to an earlier album showing the Gasser-specific Kit components at the late-stage test shot stage, and the assembly of same. If you have not already done so, you may want to review that album either before or after checking out the images and captions here. ) As you review the kit contents, keep in mind that this kit was designed as a modern-day Gasser style drag racer, not an era-correct mid 1960's drag racing machine. WHAT"S CHANGED VS. THE TEST SHOT STATUS? The biggest change between the test shot and final kit form is that Moebius did considerable revisions to the "Daylight Opening" (DLO in design studio parlance) - that is, the view of the greenhouse area from a straight-on profile side view. The refinements addressed the perception of many that the top was "chopped" when in fact it was of the correct height but added material along the top of the doors ("beltline" in Design Studio parlance) along with too-thick upper door window frames and drip molding made the DLO appear too short in visual height and too long in horizontal dimension. I'm including comparison photos of the original completed test shot model and the revised body so you can form your own conclusions on this subject. To institute this level of change (as it affected not just the body itself, but several other kit components that mate to the body) at this very late stage of kit development is pretty much unprecedented to my level of understanding of the model kit industry. WHAT ELSE IS NEW VS. THE TEST SHOT? The other surprise in this kit is that, just like the Nova SS kit I reviewed a few days ago, this kit is stuffed with extra, unused parts that will be welcome additions to your parts box or kitbashing efforts. I've noted some of these extra parts in the album photos. CHECK OUT THE CAPTIONS, TOO: Make sure to use the "Roll" feature at the album so you can quickly scroll through the pictures without missing the added information in the captions that go with each picture. Here's the link to the album.... WHEN CAN WE ACTUALLY BUY THE KIT? The first production run of this kit is now complete, and this shipment is due to enter transit to the States this coming week. Dave Metzner at Moebius Models advises that best available information at this point (26 December 2021) is that this kit will be in the stores and at your favorite mail order or model show vendors in early by mid-February 2022, barring any other supply chain or Covid-related disruptions. Thanks to Dave Metzner and the entire Moebius team for their development of this kit, their commitment to further refine the body appearance at a very late stage in the kit's development, and for providing this kit sample to allow us an early glimpse of the final kit contents and appearance. Hope you enjoy the kit preview, and Happy New Year to you all....TIM

Thanks very much to all of you who have posted comments on this build as well as the story behind it. Glad to hear it hit a resonate tone with you. And looking forward to seeing a least a few other resurrected drag racing projects here in the future. Very best to you all...TIM