tim boyd

Just heard from Fred Farrand (yes, that Fred, who has posted his terrific work here on this board in the past) that his just-completed 1/1 '36 Ford won a Builder's Top Ten at GoodGuys. Sorry, no pix (he held it back for a Saturday reveal). Yet another modeler that does great in 1/1 scale, too. Way to go, Fred. TIM

Let me just say this...my impression is that Street Gasser modelers are going to be ecstatic when this kit finally hits the market, not only for box stock kit builds, but as an invaluable source for other Street Gasser kitbash projects. I reserve the right to change my view along the way, but that's my impression right now based on my latest knowledge of the project. That's all I can say at this point....TIM

The 2021 edition of the GoodGuys hot rod show, their biggest of the year, kicked off on Friday, July 9 with a drizzly and foggy morning. Though participation at the start of the day was clearly down vs. previous (mostly sunny Friday morning) years, activity picked up and the rain stopped (mostly) by the end of the morning. Parking in the Spectator lots was full by early PM, indicating that the weather was no longer chasing off fans of what is probably one of the two top outdoor shows of the year (the NSRA Street Rod Nationals being the other). One change this year from prior shows....a larger presence of factory stock and mildly tweaked cars from the 1950''s, 1960's, and 1970's (and even an Australian Falcon)....so this show is no longer inspiration for just for the hot rod and street machine modelers. Hoping you enjoy these photos from show during Friday morning and early afternoon...Best Regards....TIM

A few days ago I asked for an update ... will let you know if I find out anything new....TIM

Yep....that one. And totally agree with your comments on that engine....TIM

In case it hasn't been mentioned already, there is a great full color cover shot and some very sharp B&W pictures/captions in a two-page feature on this MoonEyes rail dragster in the September, 1961 issue of Hot Rod magazine....TIM PS - in my view, the low bar for box art was the 1990's AMT-Ertl and later RC/Ertl box art....there were some terrific John Mueller & team new tool kits that included many cool features that never made it to the generic and uninformed box art...example being the mini-tubs and planked wood bed floor in the AMT-Ertl 1968 Elky kit....the lifeless box art couldn't raise your heartbeat in the least....while earlier AMT and more recent Round 2 box art does just the opposite. On that scale, the Mooneyes box art is not even near the bottom....just my thoughts....and I am overjoyed to see this kit (and possibly the others to follow) back on the market. Way to go, Team Atlantis....TIM

Thank you Dominik....Cheers...TIM

Patrick...Bulls Eye! Best....TIM

Thanks Josh! Really appreciate your thoughts! Funny, i was just looking through my12" tall stash of 1960's mags at all those drag/ski boat pix, and thinking once again, summer is a great time for building drag and ski boat models. Very best regards...TIM

Al....that is a super-authentic, totally period-correct drag racing replica. Very creative idea and outstanding execution. Congrats....TIM

Lee....really cool update of this timeless Revell kit....very authentic changes and a terrific job on the fade style two-tone paint....congratulations! TIM

Finally got my copy yesterday from Model Cave in Ypsi, Michigan, and yes they had plenty more to sell and do mail order. See their Facebook page for more details. Checked out the kit last night. Really impressive. There are two sets of side rails, one with the "cambered" (presumably unloaded configuration) and one with straight (i.e, loaded) configuration. Looks to me like a very fun build. And really cool box art, too! TIM

The MPC contest series ran for 11 years....1969 through 1979 car show seasons. The actual contest series season mirrored the ISCA / ICAS 1/1 scale showcar season and ran from Octoberish of the prior year through April of the current year. So the eighth annual series would have been 1976....however back then, the Chicago show IIRC correctly would have been in the November prior to the calendar year...so it would have been November of 1975 even though it was officially the 1976 show car season. Does that sound right? Congrats Chris on your win. Guys, the Chicago show was typically among the biggest and most competitive shows of the year for the MPC series, and several times was covered in detail by Hank Borger in his "Scrap Box" column in Car Model magazine. I was lucky and very fortunate to win Best of Show at the Chicago shown during the 1978 contest season (again, held in November, 1977), which entered me in the 10th annual MPC National Finals in Omaha in April, 1978, where the same car (with some minor and allowable upgrades) won 2nd Nationwide. TIM

Kit....don't have a kit to pull out right now, but that axle and parallel leaves setup looks to me like the one from the Monogram 1939 Chevy Coupe/Sedan Delivery kits....and I like those period wheels you chose, too...TIM

Dave, count on it! And like you, Don Emmons was a tremendous influence on me first as a modeler, and then as a role modeler for a model car writer/photographer. my first really heavily modified model was inspired by his Revell Anglia story in the June, 1966 Rod and Custom. My body of magazine work would never have happened without Don first, simple as that. As I think you already know, I dedicated my latest book to Don, Jim Keeler, and Hank Borger as my acknowledgement of their influence on the hobby and me personally. And thanks very much for you comments.....I am honored. TIM

Dave....thoroughly enjoying your build thread here, and that model is looking very cool.. TIM

While one can debate (quite justifiably) the commercial value (or lack thereof) of these kits, the contemporary Revell Midget kits (both V8-60 and Offy versions) are among the best detailed, and yes, (comparatively) easy to assemble 1/24th-1/25th scale kits I've ever built. And great fun, too! If you've never built one, you should check them out. Just my view, of course...TIM

Wow....that is seriously cool. Keep it up, Roberto, will be fascinating to see this one progress! TIM

Thanks Dave....here's the original version before the mild updates and enhancements of the one posted above.....this is the version that appeared in the two-part SA magazine article....

Rodney....oh yeah! And way to go with that Y-Block. Thx for sharing....TIM

Here's what those MPC bad boys look like on a completed model...TIM

Well guys i thought I had posted this image earlier today but it doesn't appear above. It shows the MPC trailer, this one taken from the '68 Coronet R/T HT kit, with cut-down side and front panels (while retaining the rails at the top of the side panels), side fenders omitted, and other minor kitbashing such as the cycle tracks and wheels/tires. As you can see, very different than the 1962/63 wagon kits trailers. And use, the R/t kit trailer decals read "U-Haul-It" as mentioned by Bill above. TIM

Go guys, go!!! So cool, so cool! TIM

Very creative and from a design perspective, highly predictive of how such a real vehicle might have turned out. Kudos Chuck! TIM

Dennis....yeah buddy! Came out great. Love the color scheme, the stance, the engine and detailing, and those killer wheels! Most of all, it looks real.....which to me is one of the ultimate tests of a major modeling project. Always, always a treat to see one of your hot rod projects go over the finish line. Cheers....TIM