tim boyd

Here's one of the early 1960s originals that I built up maybe around 20 years ago or so. Looking forward to the new release! TB This is an early 1960's Fuel Altered built almost entirely from the old Revell Parts Packs. It is also essentially identical to the "Sanitary T Bucket" in the uber-rare Revell Sanitary T/Mooneyes Dragster Double kit released only once in 1963. It uses the T frame parts pack with the rectangular section frame rails, the Blown Chevy parts pack V8, the suspension parts from that also very rare parts pack, and the '23T Cal Automotive body parts pack. I commissioned the custom decals from Steve A. in California, and are my way of honoring my long time modeling buddies Tom Woodruff and the late Chuck Helppie. A few more pix follow....

Model is done, photos complete, captions and text written; some final editing to come. Not sure if or when or where it might run. But I think I can say that the predecessor project that mostly inspired this one is cued up for issue #226, if all goes well. Hoping we all see that issue soon. Best...TB.

Sure was/is Carl. This one enjoyed a second reprint run, so there are still a reasonable number in stock. Not a huge number but enough to sustain sales for a while longer. For others reading this thread, the book Carl is referring to is titled "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits". Those who are interested can get it from the same sources listed above. Cheers...TIM

I am probably going to be accused of self-promotion with this post, and perhaps rightly so. (Mods, please feel free to delete this post if you deem it inappropriate). But I want to alert anyone who has been thinking about buying the "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits" book that the remaining supply of the book at the publisher is down to 150 copies as of earlier this week. At this point the book sounds unlikely to get a second printing, so now might be the time to pounce before it is entirely sold out. The book can be purchased directly at www.cartechbooks.com, through trusted online kit retailers like Model Roundup and Spotlight Hobbies, or through Amazon.com. Best Regards, and thanks to any of you who have previously purchased and read the book! TIM ********** (For those unfamiliar with the book, it was published in late 2020 and features 350 full color images and 175 pages of text covering the vast world of styrene assembly kits of drag racing cars. Twelve chapters are arranged by kit subject (Super Stocks, Gassers, Funny Cars, et al). There's also a bonus chapter showing built up drag racing models from experts like Guy Beaudette, Steve Perry, the late Bud LeFevre, Bill Coulter, Don Emmons, and others. The book is rated at 4.8 out of 5 stars at Amazon.com. If interested, you can read more about the book here.)

Great news Wick! Big congrats. Perhaps there is still life for the printed word! Cheers...TIM

Speaking of which, the Publisher advised me today that they are nearly sold out of the "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits" book. As I indicated above, it is unlikely to see a new print run, and as Tony noted at the start of this thread, the "on demand" copies of out-of-print books are not of the format you typically expect from a CarTech publication. All of which is to say, if you want a copy of the Drag Racing kits book for yourself, now would be a really good time to order it from CarTech, Amazon, or your other favorite book retailer. As for the companion "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits" book, CarTech did a second print run of that one, so the inventory of that title is still sufficient, at least for now. Best...TB

Folks, Wick's experience is not unusual for auto authors these days. Between the collapse of two major book selling chains a while back and the third one teetering for a good while, then the Covid debacle, and the now-ubiquity of the internet as a source to provide historical info (although sometimes of dubious accuracy), the auto book publishing world has suffered a near=mortal blow, and my sense is that it is still really struggling these days. The only things that really sell these days, apparently, are the modern engine how-to books. Car-Tech made it through, somehow, and also seems to be to be becoming a bit more aggressive in promoting their books (good!). My publisher for both books was also Bob Wilson, and I found him to be a straight shooter and excellent business associate. I also give him and the CarTech team kudos as supporters of the model car hobby (they approached me with a request to do both my books, not the other way around). Not sure how relevant this info is to all of you beyond Wick and I, but I'm sharing it anyway....TB

Here's what the Bonneville version looked like when built. And I also echo the advice about the doors and dual blower Bonneville engine. And for those of you with a collection of Scale Auto back issues, I did a buildup article sometime back in the 2000s.... Good luck with your build! TB

Bob....the AMT '63 Chevy pickup was the last annual kit entry for them until the 1967 kit C10 issue (which went to MPC for 1968, and may have actually been an MPC tool merchandised under the AMT brand for 1967, but who knows for sure?) The AMT 1964 catalog F100 was actually a rebox of the 1963 annual kit; they never tooled another F100 annual kit after the '63 until the 1975 (?) kit, which was later issued in AMT annual kit livery for the 1977 model year (that year was the stock only build version with the addition of the rare Ford factory pickup box topper and a "CB"). Unless I'm forgetting something else along the way (the rest of you, join in with corrections if needed)! TB

Bob...I don't think they are planning any updates, at least that is the way it sounded to me a while back when this project first got underway. I'm pretty sure Erik will weigh in if that has changed since then....very best...TIM

Great to see a '65 Imp model get saved...and very sharp paint work, too. Big congrats...TIM

Tony....so sorry to hear that and thanks for the heads-up. I recently noticed that the CarTech 2025 catalog does disclose which titles are "print on demand" and that the quality differs from original printings, but your experience is certainly a situation that purchasers need to be aware of. I do want to advise that for my two CarTech books, there is still a healthy inventory in stock from the original print run of "Collecting Drag Racing Models' and the second printing of "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits". However, those two will not see another print run in the future, so when they're gone, they're gone (I don't think my books would qualify for the "on demand" feature.) So, if you are considering one or both, recommend you order sooner than later. Best...TB

I strongly agree with James' perspective here. He is exactly right on the timing considerations (perhaps even longer when the subject is an all-new tool of a new 1/1 scale product - e.g. the 2021-25 Bronco and mid-engine C8 Corvette). I am pretty sure most would be excited to hear the projects that are under consideration and/or development - that have yet to be announced (or even rumored) - and might actually break cover over the next year or two. One further point I would add is that while we are all enthusiastic builders and collectors, the model companies are a business. They have limited resources (time, manpower, capital/budget) and must make decisions that will ensure the continued success and longevity of their business enterprises. The various Model Companys' personnel that I have known over the years would probably love almost all the kit requests that show up on this board, but they are the ones who have to then make the hard choices on what gets produced, and what doesn't, which requires an entirely different mindset to achieve success. Glad I'm not the one making those choices... Best...TB p

Ron....wow....that is sure nice! I have a couple of '63 Signet craftsman style models hanging around....hmmm....TB

Thanks Phil....you are correct, I missed this one. Thanks a bunch for the tip...TIM

Good question. My guess....chopping the tops on '49-'50 Mercs is just the start. What follows....the bodywork needed to bring one of these to paint ready status is fiddly, complicated, and a real marathon. Been here, done that. These two were done to show different two different approaches to chopping the tops, and were included in the now infamous "Chopped Mercs" issue of Scale Auto Enthusiast back in 1983....(sheesh...that's 42 years ago. Yikes!) This one actually used the MPC snap kit '50 Merc as he basis, and included other tricks like the filled door panel hump and so forth... This one also included a sectioning job IIRC... Sorry RRR for interjecting in your thread....now back to you all! Cheers....TB

Any updates from the rest of you??? Can't wait to see what you've done....even small points of progress count.....TB

Scott....Super sharp....TB

Bill...great to see progress on yours...TB

KK, cool idea to use that Revell '48 Ford convert kit firewall heater on the front panel of your passenger compartment! Details matter!!!! TB

Thanks all for your feedback and comments so far. I tend to get caught up in stuff that is probably on the ragged edge of modeling; these wide five wheels are an example of that. It is encouraging to see your interest, and your posting of similar wheels from other sources. Best....TIM

Greg....just caught this build thread. Great work. Particularly interesting to me as I did a somewhat similar project about fivish years or so ago. Mine had very similar stance, thanks in part to the same front suspension approach you took; but I did not chop the top as you did, and the engine was a Flathead Ford with the R&M of Md Thurston cylinder head covers and air cleaner. The project fought me every step of the way. I encountered many of the same issues you've covered here; really fascinating to see how you've worked through them. Love the Fisher conversion, and the injection plumbing is killer, too. While I was (and am) pleased with mine, yours looks like it is going to reach a whole different level of achievement. Big congrats on what you've done so far and will be following with close interest from this point forward. Cheers, and good luck bringing this one home! Cheers...TIM

According to the latest episode of a recurring video program posted at finescale.com - the online presence of Fine Scale Modeler magazine - Editor Aaron Skinner has resigned and will take a role at Round 2. I do not recall his exact title (it is mentioned in the video), but it sounds like a senior management role in product development. Wonder if any of that is related to the video timing mentioned above? TB

Thanks Nathan. Funny enough, have been collecting parts for a 1967 300 ""N" or a 1968 Chrysler 300 "P" (Chrysler would have skipped over the "O" letter for 1968, just as they did with the "I" for the 1963 which was eventually named "J'). Tentative plan is the 426 Street Hemi 3-2 bbl with A/C as in the original Chrysler product letter as described at the top of page 1. And combining the 1968 Chrysler 300 hidden front headlamp grille with the unique 300 rear end for 1967 only, as well as a unique roofline and color/trim combo. Last week I gave the ebay salvage JpHan interior 4 treatments with Easy Off and actually got rid of all the hand-brushed Testors flat black! Best regards...TIM

Bill...cool car. No worries. Always open to and appreciate any contributions to threads I start! Cheers...TIM