Terry Jessee

Hosted on Fotki This isn't anything near Dave Thibideau's Daytona, but I like it. This is Scale Coachworks' FIA Cobra done in the markings of Dan Gurney's '64 Mille Miglia entry. It's pure curbside, but it's nicely done. Uses wheels and other little parts from the Revell-Monogram 427. Decals are beautifully done. Terry

Dave, I went over to your fotki site and did the slideshow version of this Cobra. It is absolutely breathtaking! What a superb job on one of my favorite race cars. Guess I best get one of those kits. Thanks for the inspiration! Terry Jessee

The pace car for the "first" Indy 500 in 1911 (there were races as early as 1909) was a Stoddard-Dayton driven by Carl Fisher. Terry

Hosted on Fotki This is my favorite photo of my favorite model. Actually, it's not the Surfite, it's the Tiki Hut. All those textures were a lot of fun to paint. I like stuff like that. Terry

This: Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki This is Nemo's Car from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." It was a limited edition Japan-only kit produced by Wave. Terry

Here's a few more photos. Hosted on Fotki Chassis mocked up with engine block and transmission. That engine is a '55 Chevy Cameo pickup engine. It'll be "junkyard stock." Hosted on Fotki I did a blanket for the rear seat. That's facial tissue impregnated with white glue and water. Once it dried I painted on a pattern. You can't see it very well once the car's together, so I just did a suggestion. Hosted on Fotki Here it is inside the body. Terry

I con't remember whether I posted this or not--I looked and couldn't find anything. So.... This is an MPC Switchers '32 Ford sedan kit. I'm inspired by some cars I've seen in Car Kulture Delux and Hot Rod Delux. Hosted on Fotki This is an early mockup to see if I liked the wheels and tires (Modelhaus, by the way). Hosted on Fotki Chassis with the gas tank and tank apron from an AMT '32 phaeton. Hosted on Fotki Chassis up--semi-gloss black before the weathering. Chassis rear--note the weathered apron. This must have been green at some point in its' life.... Hosted on Fotki 3/4 front mockup with the body, grill, and hood Hosted on Fotki 3/4 rear view--note the bullet holes. Somebody saved this one just in the nick of time. Lots of little dents, too.... Hosted on Fotki Nose up stance comes from using the pickup truck radiator and grill shell. Adds to the "patina," too... Hosted on Fotki Sheepskin seat covers were made by covering the seats with masking tape, then heavily flocking the tape--several layers. Hosted on Fotki Terry

Check here, Bill. http://www.hapico.com/02_24th/HIR/079-K122/00.htm Think you can still get one although they're still expen$ive!!! Terry

Hosted on Fotki This is a 1/24 kit of the Porsche 550 Spyder. This particular car is the "Little Bastard," the car James Dean was driving when he was killed in 1955. The main body and chassis (this is a curbside) is one piece. It's an amazing casting. The interior slips up through the bottom and completes the chassis pan. This kit has complete decals for the Dean car, along with some nice photoetch, plated metal castings, and a figure of James Dean--nicely done, too. By the way, the Jimmy Flintstone "James Dean" 550s you may have seen for sale on the 'bay are actually 550A race cars. You'll need to do a bit of work to make them into a street version. More to come.... Terry

Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki This is an MG Automodelli resin kit. The model depicts a car that was entered in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1950. The kit's kinda rough and needs a lot of massaging, especially around the window areas. But it's unusual, and that makes it fun. Great photoetch. Parts fit pretty well, but I think the tires are a bit oversize. I liked building it, although the windows were pretty frustrating. Terry

Shawn Carpenter makes a '55 GMC conversion in resin. He's in the Denver area, but I don't have an address right now. Might try googling Shawn Carpenter Resin to see what you come up with. Terry

Hosted on Fotki Just a quick mock-up of the Modelhaus '50 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Bodywork and interior are nicely detailed, chassis is a flat pan. Nice kit. More to come.... Terry

Hosted on Fotki MG Automodelli (Italy) Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta as raced at LeMans, 1950 I'll do a detailed review for the magazine soon. Terry

Hosted on Fotki Gregg e-'d me a couple weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in reviving "Resin Talk." Initially created by Mike Carroll, Resin Talk showcased all kinds of resin kits and parts. It's an area I've always enjoyed, so I'm excited to bring it back. Watch for lots of interesting stuff! The photo, by the way, is the Modelhaus '56 Mercury Montclair hardtop. This example features some aftermarket wheels and tires, and has been lowered. It looks different now. Watch for a review later this summer. Hope you enjoy it. Terry

It appears that Fisher Pattern & Model has started doing some of the 1/24 resin sports car kits again. Not all are available, but there are quite a few. This is one of my favorites: Hosted on Fotki This is the 1958 RS60 "Center Steer" Porsche that Edgar Barth drove to win the F2 race at the German Grand Prix that year. It's modified from Fisher's little winged wonder. Neat little kit. I removed the rear fender skirts and the fins, then added some dry transfer numbers to complete it. Terry

Okay--why'd it post twice? Computer illiteracy is a terrible thing.... Terry

Hosted on Fotki In that "worst kit ever" discussion somebody asked whether anyone has ever built the Orange Crate. Here's a shot from "Hot Rod Model Kits." This original kit was purchased for the book. A friend was interested in it, so I told him if he built it for me so I could take photos of it, he could have it. And this is the result. All of those Revell kits from the early and mid-60s were tough to build because Revell tried to include EVERYTHING. At the time, kids didn't have the skills to put them together and get a satisfying result. But almost all of the hot rods and dragsters could be done with some patience. And really, that was what made the difference--taking the time to do it right. I like the Roth kits, and those are just as fiddly and frustrating as anything else Revell did at the time. But I want 'em, so I'll make the effort. There are some stinkers in that worst-kit-ever discussion, but many of them are just like this one--hard to build. Ain't it purty? Terry

Hosted on Fotki In that "worst kit ever" discussion somebody asked whether anyone has ever built the Orange Crate. Here's a shot from "Hot Rod Model Kits." This original kit was purchased for the book. A friend was interested in it, so I told him if he built it for me so I could take photos of it, he could have it. And this is the result. All of those Revell kits from the early and mid-60s were tough to build because Revell tried to include EVERYTHING. At the time, kids didn't have the skills to put them together and get a satisfying result. But almost all of the hot rods and dragsters could be done with some patience. And really, that was what made the difference--taking the time to do it right. I like the Roth kits, and those are just as fiddly and frustrating as anything else Revell did at the time. But I want 'em, so I'll make the effort. There are some stinkers in that worst-kit-ever discussion, but many of them are just like this one--hard to build. Ain't it purty? Terry

For those who may not frequent that "other" board, here are a pair of movie car models I've finished recently. Hosted on Fotki This is the Deathmobile from "Animal House." It's a resin kit from Jimmy Flintstone and is essentially a shell. The outside, though, appears to be pretty accurate. It's an unusual model and draws a lot of comment. Hosted on Fotki And this is Nemo's Car from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Produced only for the Japanese market by a company called "Wave," this is also a curbside, but includes a detailed interior. All that "pewter" trim was a bear to paint, but it's a fun model. Lots of little fiddly bits to install. Terry

Hosted on Fotki I got an idea for a project based on the ex-MPC '32 Ford sedan "Switchers" kit. Except it doesn't look like the one on the box. It's more like this: Hosted on Fotki Wheels and tires are Modelhaus hard resin, wheelbacks from AMT's 50 Ford convertible, engine is from the AMT '57 Chevy Cameo kit. Still working on interior ideas, but it's coming along. Terry

Hey, we finally get to see that shop diorama setup! That's cool. I always wondered what that looked like. Great photos, by the way. Those are always fun. Hey, Luke, show this guy that red Dan Gurney Ford shot.... Unbelievable. Terry

Well, I considered it--but I don't have any finished Model A's.... Or Dagmars.... Terry

Hey, Jeff, I really like that burned exhaust look. Nicely done "out of the box." Terry

Hosted on Fotki Got this from my wife--it's the Danbury Mint '34 Ford "California Kid." Neat model, lots of working features and beautiful paint. Terry

Hosted on Fotki AMT "Double T" '25 roadster, built in 1978 from original kit Hosted on Fotki AMT "Double T" '25 coupe, built in 1999 for "Hot Rod Model Kits" from original kit (cover model) Hosted on Fotki AMT '27 Touring built from '68 release Hosted on Fotki AMT '23 T roadster built from original "Street Rods" '74? release Hosted on Fotki Lindberg '24 T roadster, built from '70s "Tee Wagon" kit Hosted on Fotki MPC/AMT Wild Willy Borsch T bucket Hosted on Fotki AMT "Double T" '25 T roadster pickup (stock) built from original kit (box mate to the red coupe) These are fun to build. Got a few more to do. Terry