tim boyd

Meant to mention this when I first saw your post a few weeks ago - very sharp build! Brings to mind one of our SVT Wednesday meetings with Ford Special Vehicle Engineering and Team Mustang members back in the day, when I had invited Roger Harney of Revell-Monogram to sit in and we discussed Revell new doing model kits of both the 1999 SVT Cobra and the 1999 SVT Lightning. Fortunately for all of us, he and they followed through, and about a year and a half later, the kits were on the shelves at the stores. So wish there was a similar level of effort and understanding by today's kitmakers of the adult model car market these days! Anyway, Tim, big Congrats on your model. TIM

Dennis....yeah, I've been waiting for your next update. Great progress. When an author does a how-to like that one in the mag, the hope is that people use it for inspiration and then attempt the same thing on their own. Even better is when they make their own adaptations and revise, personalize, or improve upon what I did in the original article. In that regard, it's really inspiring to me personally to see where you are headed with this project. One other comment - your excellent and numerous pictures do a much better job of conveying what you are doing than is possible in a magazine article. While I still strongly believe this hobby strongly deserves its own, stand-alone model car magazine, I must admit that the online forum format is sure a great addition to the hobby and the ability of an author/builder to convey - and teach - what he or she is doing with a project. TIM PS - that mockup is sure lookin' good! TB

Jim....this was around 35 years ago for me that I took the course....and it was optional - we weren't required to take it. I have no idea whether it is offered to employees today. Personally I found it to be a real asset not only in my work life, but my personal life as well.....Particularly since I retired and now have the time to read books and novels instead of business documents and the like! TIM

Years ago I remember checking this out, and my really vague recollection is that there were just a couple of the hot rod Hemi engine accessory parts that failed to make the transition to the Boss Nova kit. i vaguely recall one of them being an intake manifold for one of the induction options. Can anyone verify this? TIM

This kit is not perfect by any means, but it is a respectable effort that builds into a very sharp model: TIM

x2! TIM

Hemmings has now posted online the story they ran in the latest issue of Hemmings Classic Cars. In it Rick Hanmore relates "How my model car almost wrecked Dad's new Riviera". It's a fun read, and I bet we could all tell a story not too dissimilar from Rick's from back in our early days of modeling. And congrats, Rick, for brining more awareness of our hobby to the full size magazine crowd...TIMI

Would it be too much to hope that the "Big Rig Turbine Engine Pack" PP#29 Parts Pack is the GM Gas Turbine engine that was included in the first issue of the GMC Astro kit? It was dropped from subsequent reissues, and to the best of my knowledge (I'm sure you'll quickly correct me if I'm wrong), it was never reissued in any form. It's a really well detailed piece.... TIM

Dennis....surprised but very pleased that you are applying your touch to this oldie but goodie! I remember railing about that non-dropped front I-beam with non-split wishbones when the kit first came out; other than that bugaboo it was a really fine kit for the time. Love the parts swapping you are doing.....but was surprised to learn the latest issues of the coupe had that lowered rear suspension. Need to go see if I can find one in my stash. One idea for a quick fix of the gap in your exhaust pipe fit - I've done this (seems like hundreds of times) and most always works well. Simply mix up a small blob of 5 minute epoxy and flow it into the gap. As it dries, you may need to "mold" it a bit (with an X-Acto) to more properly match the curvature of the two mating pipes. When dry, touch up with some matching paint on a brush and voila - issue fixed (or at the very least, minimized). One idea here that everyone would benefit from is noting how Dennis paint details all of his engine, chassis, and interior components. I learned this approach from 1960's modeler/journalist Don Emmons, and I've found it adds greatly to a model's appearance, especially when time does not allow the kind of detailing that Dennis has added here. And kudos on the Yellow/Black paint scheme. Eye catching for sure! When this kit first came out, I ended up building three versions - IIRC, one for Street Rodder Modeler's corner (mint green, mostly box stock) and two for Scale Auto (two-tone metallic blue and a second one in full blackout mode). When you get yours done and posted in the "Under Glass" Section, I'll post pix of my three as well for a scale Comparo...keeping in mind that mine were built about three decades(!) ago.... Best wishes as you complete this project....and thanks a bunch for taking the time to photograph and explain how you are putting it together. TIM

Floaters? I've had them since college, and over the years (about 45 since then) they've slowly gotten worse. I'm very near sided and that is apparently one of the conditions that is common with more extreme cases of floaters. Again, been told no real solutions like the rest of you. About 20 years ago some doctors were pushing a process whereby they removed all the gel ("vitreous") inside the eye and then replaced it with Saline solution. Then you had to lay on your tummy for about 20 days while the body made new vitreous. Plus, cataract surgery was typically required soon thereafter. How about....NO! Oh...and then there were the docs trying to sell the idea that they could cause the floaters to disappear by zapping them with a laser. That has pretty much disappeared to. Bottom line, you learn to live with them. HOWEVER, last December when I was pushing to finish the book for a pulled-ahead deadline, I experienced the "flashing lights" in my right eye. I had been told if that ever happened, to get to a hospital with a retinal specialist immediately as it could indicate a retinal separation, which can rapidly lead total blindness. In my case, and after calling the docs, the ophthalmologist saw me a day later. He immediately referred me to a retinal specialist who determined I had a tear in my retina of my right eye. He immediately did laser surgery to "suture" (my words) the tear. Same thing occurred in my left eye 3 1/2 months later, again requiring the laser surgery. I still have the flashing lights occasionally when looking far right or far left, but the repairs are looking OK based on the follow-up exams. Kh,...and no change in the tons of floaters in either eye. Bottom line, if you ever see bright flashes in your eyes, either white or bright colors, call your doc IMMEDIATELY or get to a hospital right away. Your continued vision depends on it. TIM

John...just checked; yes, the G&R and Nicholson Pinto kits included a Lenco and a very beefy rear differential. I cover the MPC Pro Stock kit series in quite a bit of detail in the new book. On a continuum from "least accurate" to "most accurate", I'd place the original Jenkins Vega on the left (least accurate) and the two MPC Pinto Pro Stocks on the far right (most accurate) with the others somewhere in the middle, with the even the ranking of the same tooling (e.g. the MPC Dusters) changing from year to year as MPC slightly enhanced the kits. There were a lot more changes and details to the story than I expected, now all laid bare in the book. BTW, the new MPC Jenkins Vega would move rightward on the continuum, based on the new body, hood scoops, and decals, maybe about a third of the way from the left to the right.... And even though the MPC Pintos were the best of the MPC Pro Stocks, I would say they still might be a bit behind the original Jo-Han S&M 'cuda. Then again, as comparatively good as the MPC Pintos were, not until Monogram's 1984 Pro Stocks, though, did we get a fully accurate Pro Stock kit that once again reflected the rapid advancements and changes of the real cars after 1971-72. TIM

Heh Marcos...managed to miss this one. Really, really like the approach you took and the way you carried through the theme so completely. Big congrats from this corner....TIM

Steve,,,my solid understanding is that the newly tooled body is based on the original annual kit body, but it is an entirely newly tooled part. The original annual kit tool was redone for the "Boss Nova" mid-engine drag kit in the late 1960's funny car kit series, and apparently the body changes were so extensive it was not feasible to return the tool to the original factory stock configuration. BTW, really enjoy and respect your replica stock vehicles builds! TIM

In elementary school, there was a series of biographies of many famous Americans of the 16th, 17th, and 18th century, focusing mostly on their childhoods. There musta been at least 20 or 30 of 'em in the Abbot Elementary Library, and I eventually cycled through all of them. I recall them being very interesting and engaging. Junior High, found the Henry Gregor Felson books in the library, and again, cycled through them all. I also liked Science Fiction, so I grabbed the Isaac Asimov Foundation Trilogy from my Dad's library, but just couldn't get going on it. But when I retired, the entire Foundation Trilogy was read front to back within three months. (The Speed Reading Course Ford made us take way back when sure helped me go through those expeditiously). Many years later, I found virtually all the Ian Fleming Bond paperbacks in an antique store for like a $ a copy; I bought them all and read through them about every five years. He was quite the writer.... TIM PS - what Tom said, but with magazines for me it was 1960's Car Craft. Car Model, and Model Car Science, then all the other usual suspects....TB

Moebius is having great success with their 1960's/early 1970's pickup kits; I expect you will see them expand on that market segment before doing any further car projects beyond the '64/'65 Novas. As for me, I've been encouraging Round 2 to go searching for the tool sets that would allow them to reissue the Gapp and Roush Pinto and the Don Nicholson Pinto Pro Stock kits....they were by some measure the best of the MPC Pro Stock kit series, and certainly more accurate Pro Stockers (in total) than the Jo-Han Mavericks and Comets. (Cheap plug) most all of these early Pro Stock kits are referenced (and many are pictured, too) in my new book on Drag Racing Model Kits....along with a Sidebar on an additional series of early-mid 1970's Pro Stock kits that were apparently discussed by another player but never actually tooled.... TIM

What Steve said above. To further clarify, the new Nova wagon body is NOT modification of the original c. 1963 tooling, it is an entirely newly tooled part. I was not specifically aware that there would be a full detail kit down the road, but there are additional kits planned that will use the same body, so that seems a logical next step. The 1964 Cutlass convertible kit to come is based on the same development approach. And re-read the second to last sentence in Steve's post.... TIM

Don't have one right now....I'll keep this in mind if I run across a suitable candidate....TIM

Richard....when I retired at the end of 2013 I put together a list of my partially finished projects. There were about 65 of 'em. Since then, a few have been crossed off the list, but a number of others have been added! However, I did get two projects done and off my list, dating from 50 and 51 years ago: the restoration (in 2019) of my 4th Nationwide finish in the 1968 Dodge/Car Model/MPC Funny Car Contest, and (earlier this year) the restoration of the original body from my 1970 'cuda funny car with the "HydraSlide" frame that won Best Detail at the MPC/Car Model "World's Largest Model Car Contest" at the 1970 Detroit Autorama. Those don't count here, I suppose, as they were once (in both cases, briefly) finished before each suffering catastrophic damage shortly thereafter.... For anyone interested, here are the in-depth details and tutorials showing how they were restored...and a few related pix.... https://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/tim-boyds-car-model/ https://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyd-on-line-mo/tim-boyds-1970-mpc-/tim-boyds-1970-mpc-/ (it was in much worse condition than it appears above....) (Final resto with original paint finish and decals from Detroit Best of Show recreated) Thanks for looking....TIM

What Mark said. They are entirely different kits; they share no common parts and nothing fits between the two. The AMT '34 3W kit was widely rejected - even with the less demanding modeling expectations of the mid 1970's when it was released - due to its numerous inaccuracies and marginal fit/finish. It has never been reissued, and I don't expect it to be in the future, either. Also as Mark said, the AMT '33/'34 Sedan and '34 5W Coupe kits, however, do share a number of parts, including the entire engine/chassis layout. But again, the sedan was widely rejected when it was intro'ed in the late 1980's. The 5W Coupe kit was a far better effort. It has been issued in stock (along with a few hop-up parts) and Street Rod versions. It has also been reissued a number of times since it's initial mid 1990's introduction. TIM

Alan....I plead guilty as charged for my part in this.... Also, like the idea of a half-tarp over the rear seat....I did this on one of my other T-Tub builds.....with the leather source being some of my Mom's 1960's leather gloves..... And Jim, hope you don't mind the temporary deviation from your build stream....obviously I am a willing accomplice in getting any of you to build your own '27 T-Tubs in whatever style you deem cool! TIM

Phil....isn't that the truth! We need to remember that whenever we find that "one best part", no matter what happens to the rest of that (now) incomplete kit. Great advice! TIM

Phil....was already impressed with your project, even more so once I saw your chassis pictures. Your parts list reflects my original preference for building models....search all kits and find the very best individual parts to combine for an accurate replica. (Unfortunately, when I am doing projects for magazine articles, most readers prefer only a few kits be sourced, which inevitably causes compromises in the final product.) Your choice of subject was a classy hot rod, your parts list reflects a deep understanding of how hot rods are built, and your model is a compelling replica of the real thing. Congrats! TIM

Jim....been following your build but did not notice your comment copied above. Thanks for asking permission; you are welcome to post any pictures you like that you find on my Fotki pages. Excellent progress so far, and very much looking forward to seeing how your project progresses....TIM

Ray....really well done. Particularly like the added roll bar. I think your build does an excellent job of displaying just how good a kit this is, including your use of the interior upholstery decals (which look much better than I had surmised from looking at the decal sheet), and your choice of paint colors and finishes just adds to the realism. Big Congrats and thanks for posting! TIM

To anyone following this project, be sure to check out Randy Carlisle's model using the same basic kit. for a somewhat similar = though in other ways, very different = take on this type of hot rod model! TIM