Alan Barton

Beautiful work Glenn! I have a stalled project on my bench, using a Revell 57 Chev Nomad roof and tailgate. I chose these parts because I started it long before the 57 Ford wagon became available! I do hope my version comes out looking as good as your model. Cheers Alan

Boy, you really tackle some challenging projects, Michelle! The Chrysler by Chrysler is rarely spotted on the road these days, but as it happens there is a light yellow one still in daily use just around the corner from my house here in Perth! They were meant as an upmarket, long wheelbase version of the Valiant of the day and there was also a very sexy two door hardtop in the range - even rarer to see now. Congrats on your achievements - I wouldn't know where to start in slicing and dicing so many computer files to produce what you have achieved. Cheers Alan

Thanks Tim, your opinion means a lot to me. Us speedboat guys gotta stick together, eh? Sorry for the dreadfully slow reply, Sledsel, but the flake is a Tamiya spray can colour called Lame Flake - no, that is not mis-spelled! You apply it straight over your base colour ( I would imagine you have to use Taimiya base colours as their paint is usually too hot to work with other brands) This is the first model I have used it on - it looks amazing in the sun and would be perfect for a sixties style showcar, no matter what the colour.. I really appreciate your comments Claude, as I have always admired your model building style. In regards to the ugliness of the Pontiac ( and other design failures over the years) I often wonder who was at the business meeting that announced "Yep, this is the greatest design we have ever done - all in favour?" And to everyone else who responded last year, thank you for your positive comments. They are what makes this part of the Internet such a fun place to be a part of. Cheers Alan

That's looking really good, Elliot! Great to see how well the parts fit the Revell body - I had never got around to trying them out as I made the molds decades before the Revell body hit the market. I am intrigued that the track nose from the Revell pickup fits so well as my mould was based on that same nose but sectioned at least an eighth of an inch, I might have to look at that combo in the future. If you wish to return the wheel arches to the stock proportions, you can use the wheel arch inserts that are attached the interior panels of the Revell kit. You will need to make a cardboard template and do some careful trimming but it works out really need. Cheers Alan

This one photographed alongside your matt green hiboy tub would make a really interesting "compare and contrast"photo! Cheers Alan

The beauty of simplicity! THose Monogram sprintcar rear tyres really toughen things up. Cheers Alanh

I've liked this ever since I first saw in years ago ( and more recently!) I really need to build my spare one in a similar style. It also occurred to me that a chopped AMT Vicky body planted on top of the phantom Vicky frame and running gear could make for a pretty cool Boyd Coddignton style project as well! Cheeers Alan

I remember you commented on my yellow tub with single headlights, saying it looked better than the double headlights, Tim. I tend to agree, but after seeing yours again, I might just have to re-install the double headlights. So wrong, they're right! Cheers Alan

Green and black was always a great combo for 27Ts. This could have come straight off the cover of a 1972 Rod & Custom magazine! Cheers Alan

Sorry for the late response Misha, but thank you for the kind words. My wife, Ute, and I started our 11 week odyssey by visiting Phil Dauphinee and becoming involved in the Deuce Days in Scale show. Words cannot adequately describe how fantastic the shows are - both the 1:1 and the 1:25! We were treated like royalty and shown amazing friendship and hospitality the whole time we were there. The modelling scene on Vancouver Island is very strong and the standard of build is amazingly high. if anyone on this board has ever thought about attending, I can only say you will not regret it for one moment! Plus, you have three years to save up for your holiday and get a few new models built to join in the display. Might I add, the Deuce Days in Scale is held in a magnificent convention room at the hosty hotel with art deco fittings, deep pile carpet, crystal chandeliers, the whole nine yards. This is THE classiest model show you will ever attend. All you have to do is take about ten steps outside the door of the convention room and you are surrounded by the most exquisite array of hot rods you have ever seen. This is an event not to be missed and was well worth the long flight from Perth Western Australia. Cheers Alan

I've wanted to build one like this for a while now. You nailed it! Cheers Alan

I love it. Just shows what happens when you don't follow the rules! Cheers Alan

I figured this was the best place to put this as it is definitely part of the racing scene. Misha asked me to pop up some photos. I built this about ten years ago, I think, based purely on photos from old books and magazines. I imagineered the whole thing from photos in books and magazines and used the size of a tyre to scale it accordingly.. You can imagine my surprise when I walked in to the NHRA museum in Pomona some years later and there sat the real thing! I think I got it pretty close but the photos showed a light colour that hinted at being made from galvanised pipe. The real thing in the museum is painted with red lead or red oxide so either I misinterpreted the colour or it was repainted years after the photographs I used. It is basically constructed from Evergreen rod and angle with Billings boat wood for benches and deck, and some fine cloth for the shade cover. A variety of Revell Truckers figues and others filled the benches and an old AMT tape recorder is the basis of the timing equipment. Hope you enjoy it! Cheers Alan

Thanks Misha, I will start a new thread now under this category! Cheers Alan

What a magical recreation of the box art, Jim, I love it! The Double Dragster is my second favourite kit and I have built multiples of each version and still have a few more in mind. I've never used the low profile hood before - maybe I need to try a different that version next? When I built the streamliner earlier this year, I took a different approach to inserting the body in the chassis. If you cut the chassis right at the firewall, you can insert the back half through the cockpit opening and the front half can be glued down inside the front body halves. Because the belly pan is a snug fit against the body, you offer the front body section with glue on the inside edges just in front of the back wheel, up to the body and adjust everything until it is in its final position and then leave it overnight. Afterwards, you can't tell that the chassis has been separated! Cheers Alan

Wow! Like everything you build, the restraint is admirable. Using Racing White instead of Pure White gives that perfect 50s touch. But the thing I really like, that a lot of people don't do on their models because they haven't noticed it on the real cars, is sanding and rounding off the edges of the fenders. All Fords from 1935 onwards had a pronounced rolled edge to make them stronger and to minimise damage to tyres. As they come from the kit, that edge is always very square and sharp. It's a simple detail that adds a lot to your build. Cheers Alan

I love this thing - you have captured the spirit of the salt by designing a unique car to just enjoy the thrill of going flat out. Bonneville must be one of the last places where you can build whatever you like, safety obligations considered, of course. You could just imagine this creation pulling up to the starter - and can you imagine the noise! And best of all - the name!!! Genius! Cheers Alan

Wow, that brings back memories! When I was a kid there was a racing team that we passed on the way to school each morning. Three bright red and white Mini Coopers sat on the front lawn of an old house. Pretty sure it was the Terry Lemay Race team here in Perth Western Australia. I imagine they included many of the features of your blue model Phil. Very cool! Cheers Alan

I have one of these in primer just waiting for inspiration - this might just do it! What a cool model from an unlikely source! Cheers Alan

That roadster is to die for! The aluminium hood is such a great detail - it really adds to the raw image of the car! Cheers Alan

I have one of these kits still sealed in the shrink wrap but when my friend Tom from Pennsylvania sent me a gently gluebombed example I decided I had to rescue it! After doing a bunch of complex builds this year I needed to do something simple. The temptation to super detail the model was huge but I held firm and just added a few visual tricks to wrap it up. I didn't like the open hole in the top of the fin so I added an extended radar dome thingie with two protective covers from the probes off a multi meter. It also needed a jet motor so I fabricated an exhaust cone using the compression fitting from a garden hose and a piece of an old rusty cake icing tool! Finally I cut away the sides of the interior to put a fit a slightly undersized driver albeit substantially larger and more to scale than the one that came with the model. Comments and critiques welcome. Cheers Alan

I just finished one of these earlier in the year! They are a great piece of modelling history, especially with their connection to the GM concept cars. I love the lowdown photo you took - so many feature articles on Bonneville cars used this angle and yours is a perfect example. Cheers Alan

You had my attention at Salt! This is such a nice rendition of an early salt car. I have also tried flour to create a salty tire look - it looks a little closer to scale, even though it doesn't sparkle as well as the real thing! Cheers Alan

No worries, Dave, happy to help. Trust me, any firewall you glue to the outside of the body will be too thick. The only solution is to go back inside the cowl to give the engine the clearance that it needs. My water pump pulley on a short water pump is bare;y and inch or so from the radiator and the back of the engine is still under the cowl. Cheers Alan

Lee, this is a fantastic project to pay homage to not only a great guy and a great model but a great period in the model car hobby. Like so many i was mesmerised by the details in this model. A high school friend of mine duplicated it from an MPC Torino ( I think) and it looked pretty cool to us back then. Keep up the good work! Cheers Alan