tim boyd

Bob...I'll need to measure later and get back to you, but here's a visual of the extreme Z'ed frame vs. the modestly rear-only Z'ed Model A frame in the Revell hot rod kits....TIM

Dennis....big congrats on your mention in the new issue of Rodding USA as the transmission builder for Eric Justus' uber-traditional 1/1 scale pre-ww II '32 Highboy Roadster! TIM

As many of you know, model cars and their builders were covered extensively in Street Rodder magazine from 1978 through the very early 2000's. Not so much (as a matter of fact, almost never) since. This month seems to have broken the chain....several of you have commented on the model car covered in the new issue of Rodder's Journal (my sub copy has yet to arrive but I look forward to seeing it). I recall hearing that it features a fine custom model by Steve Boutte. Then, yesterday, I picked up the latest issues of Rodding USA magazine. (Rodding USA is published by Paul Martinez, who you may remember as an associated editor at Street Rodder in the early 1980's, and then later on, as the photographer/publisher of an extensive series of yearly pin up and swimsuit calendars. In 2013 he started Rodding USA magazine, an all-color hot rodding mag, available by subscription only - other than a few specialty book shops - and has since published nearly 50 issues. It is well worth checking out if you like Hot Rods and prefer a more hobby focused (vs. the advertising-focused) magazine that covers the hobby very well). Anyway, in the new Issue #48 I first saw a name we all know here very well - in an article of a super-traditional '32 Highboy, in the tech chart is says "1939 top loader 78 case, rebuilt by Dennis Lacy at Early V8 Garage." So THAT's why Dennis' hot rod models are so lifelike and realistic! Then, checking out a 4-page Garage Scene fixture on a '36 Ford coupe, I saw the builder was Doug Klann, owner of Slim's body works near Saginaw, Michigan. I immediately thought of Fred Farrand, another terrific modeler who posts his model builds in this forum from time to time. Fred worked closely with Doug on a 1/1 scale '32 highboy a few years ago, which came out great. Then...wait....Fred has been having a '35/'36 three window coupe built by Doug over the last 3 years or so....could this be it? (I hadn't seen updated pix from Fred since early this year). Turns out, not only was it Fred's, but turns out Fred wrote and photographed the entire article. Yeah! Big congrats to Steve, Dennis, and Fred! TIM

As Brian said, the last I heard was early 2021 and have not heard anything since to the contrary. I'll ask again, just to verify, at what seems to be the appropriate time....TIM

Quick Update: Slow but steady progress. Engine/chassis/front&rear suspension completed and assembled. Added sprint car steering box behind the IP and am now calling the interior done as well. Was fighting with the firewalls (two different approaches) this afternoon. Next steps: install firewall in the body, install interior in the body, glue body to frame, install the grille shell/radiator and connect radiator hoses, figure out front and rear lighting, then hopefully call 'er essentially done. Measured the dimensions and determined that the body will sit a scale 4" lower than it would otherwise (e.g, using the Revell Model A Hot Rod chassis in its unaltered kit form). Doesn't sound like much but makes a huge difference in the actual appearance. Best to everyone...TIM

Rodney....typed out a response to this on my new (supposedly not dumb) smart phone last night, but apparently it didn't take even though it said it did. Anyway, those headers were in the original c. 1963 Revell "Show and Go" drag/ski boat kit, the one Revell updated to become the Hemi Hydro in 1971 (but unfortunately losing those header pipes and some cool seating options in the process). I got my headers from a Replicas and Miniatures trans-kit that transforms the Hemi Hydro back to its original "Show and Go" format.

Just confirmed....the slicks I used are an exact match for those in the 1998 reissue Long John kit, except mine were far more discolored in the whitewall area. Thanks again Wayne for the heads-up. And as Craig suggested, I personally found it impossible to separate the whitewall (which looked very yellowed on my slicks) from the remaining blackwall of the tires (the Long John kit slicks were the exactly same, just not nearly as discolored). (I did not try separating the whitewalls on the LJ kit slicks). Also, Craig, thanks for your heads-up on this Long John link as you posted earlier on another message board. As I think I mentioned earlier, they were the tallest overall diameter slicks that I could find in any kit that would look realistic for a 1/25th scale model. Given the 1/1 scale popularity of this hot rod build style, I would also very much like to see these reissued as a stand-alone part. Best....TIM

Thanks Wayne for the info....sounds like you are exactly correct. Much appreciated....TIM

...originally planned as part of my new book. I had to delete it from Chapter 5 at the last moment as I was way over the publisher's targeted word count. Here's the sneak peak.... SIDEBAR TITLE: What If Someone Decided to Introduce A Newly Tooled 1/25th Scale Front Engine Rail Dragster Kit? Yes, this proposition has more than a healthy dose of wishful thinking, but hear me out. It’s not likely to happen, but it’s not a complete impossibility either. Why do I say that? First, few would have expected Revell to make the investment in 2010 to produce all-new kits of a pair of 1960’s funny cars (the 1969 Chi-Town Hustler and Hawaiian Mini-Chargers), nor to develop a completely new tool replicating their 1960’s “Sizzler” dragster kit, but they did. Second, two of the newest players in the model scene – Moebius/Model King and Salvinos JR Models, are producing newly tooled 1960’s Super Stock and A/FX, and 1970’s to early 1980’s NASCAR Winston Cup racers, respectively. So why not an all-new kit of a historically relevant front engine digger? OK, if you’re with me so far, then what famous rail dragsters would be the best candidates to be kitted? When Jon Asher was Editor of Peterson Publishing’s Drag Racing magazine, he assigned an article to drag racing historian Chris Martin that was titled “10 Best Top Fuelers of All Time”. Recognizing the point at which the article was written (late 1989), just three of the cars on Martin’s list have been replicated with 1/25th scale kits: Don Garlits’ 1986 streamliner, the Walton-Cerny-Moody 1972 rail, and Garlits' first ever rear engine rail of 1971. Noting that MPC’s kit replicated the dragster after Garlits added the enclosed body ahead of the driver’s compartment and rear airfoil above and behind the engine, maybe we should more accurately say 2 ½ (or only 25%) of Martin’s Top Ten list, have seen scale model kits. The biggest gap in model kit coverage of the 7-decade history of fuel dragsters remains the rapidly evolving period of the mid to late 1960’s, so that’s the richest area for future kit coverage. The following front engine dragsters in writer Martin’s Top Ten list have never seen a 1/25th scale model car kit: • 1963-64 Greer-Black-Prudhomme car • 1965-66 Hawaiian car • 1966 Surfers car • 1972 John Wiebe car (Personally, I’d be inclined to add the famous Freight Train double engine dragster the list - OK, it was a Gas dragster instead of a Fueler - but still…). My point? Any of these four (or five) would make a great subject for an all-new 1/25th scale full detail front engine rail dragster model car kit. So, which one would you choose? And who would you choose to make it – Moebius, Salvinos JR, or the standbys Revell or Round 2 (via their AMT, MPC, or Polar Lights brands)? Oh, and by the way…what were the other three remaining “10 Best” Top Fuel Cars on Martin’s list? The following rear engine railers: the 1983 car of Larry Minor-Gary Beck, Joe Amato’s 1984 car, and Eddie Hill’s 1988 dragster that carded the first-ever sub-five second E.T. Those would make for some cool model kits too! The full article can be seen in the November, 1989 issue of Drag Racing magazine. ************* PS - For those of you who haven't already heard, the new book is called "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits" from CarTech Books and it is available now directly from the publisher or the usual on-line and retail books sellers.... Thanks for your interest....TIM

Dennis....seems you are catching a bit of my disease now....that disease I call "variations-on-a-theme-itis". Absolutely love how your (now 2) projects are taking shape. Craig...wonderful idea for a Bodacious Billet build-off! I just posted some idea starters on your thread there.... Now, back to the model room, everybody! Cheers....TIM

All...thanks again for your great comments. And yes, for those of you who mentioned it, the '71 was part of comparo/buildup article (MPC '71 RR vs. Revell (Monogram) '71 GTX, in one of the Car Modeler annuals around 2001 or so.... Best....TIM

YEAH John! What, we've now seen verified documentation of 4 1972 440+6 B-Bodies (Road Runner and Charger), or was that 4 Road Runners alone and another 1-2 Charger Rallyes? (For you non-Mopar buffs, the 440+6 was for years determined to be cancelled before the start of the 1972 model year...that's now been determined to be incorrect info). Here's the '71 alongside a MPC '72 RR painted in 1972 1/2 Code J3 Plymouth B-Body-only Meadow Green (for Mopar Trivia buffs only: the same mid-year J3 Willow Green color introduced on 1971 1/2 Chargers including the Topper package...). Best////TIM

For those that haven't already seen the recently posted finished cars that share a bit of blame for this new community build thread (smile), here are a few... 1. Just completed project started back in 1989 and first covered in the mag in 1990.... 2. Another magazine project that (according to Dennis Lacy) inspired him to post images of his (now 2) new builds in the 1980's/early 1990's idiom (you can see them in the Light Truck WIP section of the forum)... 3. A John Buttera-style '29A Highboy, first constructed and mostly finished by Chuck Helppie, who then gave it to me to finish up with a different paint job and final details.... 4. A smoothy-style '29A pickup, inspired by a Thom Taylor image in Street Rodder mag, finished around 1985 or so.... Will be following this thread and very much looking forward to what you all come up with! Best....TIM

Update....here's a mockup with chassis up on wheels, engine, and body placed on frame, as of last night 26 October 2020. Grille shell will sit perpendicular to the ground in final assembly. This model project has fought me every single step of the way. I keep reminding myself that this is what happens when you combine many parts from different sources into a project in a way in which they were not intended to be used! I literally spent five full mornings going through all my parts resources to find a set of wheels that would fit those rear slicks, which had a very wide(tall) wheel openings. And no, I don't know where the slicks came from; they appear to be a resin part with a (very discolored) whitewall molded in (yes, I had to refinish the whitewalls); they were chosen due to their increased height vs. other kit-based slicks. Final assembly is now underway but proceeding very slowly. As writer Randy Fish used to say in his monthly column in Street Rodder magazine...."updates at 11pm"! Cheers....TIM

This model was constructed about 20 years ago as a pretty much box stock buildup of MPC's 1971 Road Runner kit (in this case, the AMT-Ertl c. 1987 reissue of same). Kitbashing included the wheels, "Day 2" BFG tires, and the addition of the very rare mid-year canopy vinyl roof option. The engine compartment and underbody was mostly the original kit components (this one was built before the AMT-Ertl 1971 Charger R/T kit was introduced, which provides a great source of more accurate underbody details, as can be seen in a very sharp build underway right now by Bob Spedding in the "WIP" section of this forum). Basic engine compartment wiring was added (looks like on of the heater hoses may have slipped out of its firewall connection point....). Paint is 1971 Code J6 Green Go (Plymouth)/Sassy Grass Green (Dodge) aerosol from MCW Automotive Finishes. Thanks for looking....TIM

Everyone...thanks for your comments on the model. Very much appreciated. Interesting that several of you commented on the auxiliary driving lamps. I recall taking those from the Monogram 1939 Ford Sedan Delivery kit.... Best....TIM

Thanks Dennis....I thought the Attempt 1 might be the wheel source but then I looked at my buildup of that kit and it had different wheels....must've kitbashed those too! The entire engine (except for the dragster-style air cleaner) came from the Revell/Monogram/Pro-Modeler 1970 Torino GT kit (not the companion Torino Cobra which doesn't have the extra hot rod engine parts). I can't recall for sure but my memory says the same parts are also in the recent Revell Torino GT reissue (the one with the new/corrected rear quarter panels and bucket seats.) I stockpiled a bunch of those kits as they're the only ones with a truly accurate 385 series Ford 429 engine assembly. And I wanted them available in scale as Ford Motorsports made a real push into the hot rod world with a modified 514 cubic inch version of the same engine a while back. Best...TIM

Charlie, I was referring to the 1930 Model A Five Window Coupe hot rod kit that was just briefly available a few years back before a production interruption in China. It's the one that shares most of the chassis/suspension/driveline tooling with the '29A Roadster hot rod kit that was reissued early this year. Sorry for any confusion...TIM

A new '33/'34 hot rod series has been on the consideration list at Revell for probably 20 years now....but always outranked by something that they felt was a better business opportunity when it came time to determine what progressed to cutting tooling steel. Now that Revell is owned by a German enterprise I feel the chance of ANY all-new hot rod kits is remote. But I do hold out hope for some new variations - eventually - based on their existing hot rod tool sets....TIM

This model was built in the very early 2000's after having been inspired in part by the Deuce Roadsters that were being shown at the SEMA convention each year back then. The engine is the 429 Super Cobra Jet out of the Revell 1970 Torino GT kit, and the main frame and chassis came from the Revell 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster kit introduced in 1997. The DuVal windshield was from Replicas and Miniatures Maryland. The driveline and interior accent color was 1972 Mustang and Cougar "Bright Lime", a fairly rare color replicated here with airbrushed paint from MCW Automotive Finishes. The wheels are from early 1960's Revell, either the Parts Packs or one of the race/hot rod kits that must be escaping my memory at the moment (UPDATE 27 October 2020: Dennnis Lacy confirmed that the wheels came from the Revell Mickey Thompson Attempt 1 Dragster/Bonneville kit). Those who are familiar with the Revell 1932 Ford Roadster kit will see plenty of other parts swapping/kit bashing customization, with both kit-based and aftermarket sources. Happy to answer any questions, and thanks for looking. Cheers....TIM

Before the Hobbico debacle and whatever caused the production interruption, there were some very elemental discussions about other variations in the future. But my sense now is that such an action would be several years away, if at all. Especially given what has transpired since then. As for me, the '30A 5W coupe kit itself provides the basis for nearly endless kitbashing and body variations. Like you, I WANT to see that one back on the market, and as soon as humanly possible! TIM

Last I heard it was tentatively planned for Q1 2021. Let's hope that is correct info, and that Revell sticks to that plan.....TIM

What Mark said... Plus...when I built the Bantam Bomber Altered out of the applicable Parts Packs, but using the Bantam Bomber kit instructions as a guide, I found that a few of the parts on the Parts Pack trees had been subtly altered to make the assembly process easier. I do not not know if this also applied to the Mooneyes Dragster, but I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. Exciting times....TIM

What Richard says. Also, various industry sources tell me this has been a blockbuster year for model car and (especially) model truck kit sales.... TIM

This is discussed in detail in my new book "Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits". The answer is "no" but the info behind the Aurora Tools decision for scrappage is very interesting, and a bit of it is "new news" even among those who are fairly knowledgeable about the history of this business venture.......TIM "