alan barton

Thank you everyone for your very kind comments. The model certainly holds a special place in my collection. Cheers Alan

This model is a tribute to a every dear friend who passed way last year due to a sudden onset health issue. Larry O'Toole was the publisher of Australian Street Rodding magazine. I have been the columnist for the Scale Rodding column in this magazine for the last six years. I first met Larry when I drove my freshly minted 29 roadster across Australia in January 1985 to have a feature article done on my rod. We had been friends ever since. Larry was a hands-on hot rodder since he was old enough to drive and built a heap of cars during his lifetime. Most of the technical how-to's in the magazine for over forty years had been based on work he did in his own shed. The last one he completed was a red 36 Tudor and when his son, Al asked me to contribute to the issue commemorating Larry's life, I chose this car to model. It is a simple model which is just as well as I had less than three weeks to build it to meet the deadline. It is a resin body ( sorry, I don't recall the manufacturer but I have had it for close to 30 years) on the fenders and frame of an AMT 36 Ford coupe. Much of the interior was fabricated to replicate Larry's rod, including the pre-requisite right hand drive dash. To save time, I grafted the top end of a Revell fuel injected 302 Windsor engine from their 32 Ford series engine to the basic Pontiac block from the AMT kit. It worked far better than I expected and lets be honest, it is hard to tell that I had to resort to some sleight of hand to achieve the look I required. Colour is Tamiya Bright Red with Tamiya Gloss clear, all from the spray can and polished with Tamiya fine rubbing compound. In a few months the magazine will celebrate its 400th issue and the model column will be celebrating its 302nd issue. I suspect this might make it the longest running model column in a full sized hot rod magazine.... ever? My thanks go out to Larry for supporting our hobby for all these years, and to his son for continuing to run the column - Al has been the editor for many years himself now. I do hope you enjoy my tribute build to a true gentleman and a life-long hot rodder. Cheers Alan

That 32 windshield header panel conversion is a very neat twist on a traditional hot rod. The gold wheels are the prefect finishing touch! Cheers Alan

Bill, that is so smoooooth! I am in awe of people who can chop vintage rooves this nicely and get all the window mouldings re-joined without hiccups! I struggle on them every time - much respect here for your skill and patience. Cheers Alan

I've recently completed another five Switchers models . Truth is, you are way better off buying the Revell versions of any of these kits but as I am trying to assemble one example of every model hot rod kit produced, I had to do these ones! Like any kit, they respond to some love! OK, first up, the 32 Tudor that I chopped when I was seventeen but only recently finished. I also used an AMT radiator shell, grille and headlights as the MPC items are clunky. The firewall is a resin copy of a Rat Roaster firewall. I was after a San Diego Prowlers look. Next up, the Sedan Delivery built from the Coca Cola release. Close to box stock but I grafted the fuel tank and inner fender edges from an AMT Deuce to fill that annoying gap across the rear. Again used AMT parts up front. The lowboy tub has extensive reworking done to the top edge of the doors and tub, using Evergreen half round strip, to improve realism. The flathead and pipes are from a Monogram Pie Wagon and seats are from a Stone Woods and Cook Willys. The roof is the chopped version from the AMT phaeton kit. The five window coupe is surprisingly close to box stock. The frame was perfect for a gasser, including the not very dropped front axle and the over the fender headers. Amt inner fender and fuel tank modification at the rear. AMT tyres and Cragar rims. The hood does run downhill a bit but it needs more work than I was prepared to do to fix it. Finally, the 32 roadster uses a Revell orange Crate Olds engine and an AMT windshield frame because the Switchers one lacks any real detail, as you can see on the tub. The most recent re-issue of the roadster kit came with the chromed grille and I used an original AMT cutaway hood to give it that 50s vibe. The interior is from the current channelled version of the Revell 29 roadster. Amazingly, they all use the Switchers 32 frame which is nothing like a 32 frame! Like I said, with a bit of massaging and a bit of love, they scrub up OK! A current project of mine is to graft a spare five window coupe roof ( they are separate like Monogram 34 and 36 coupe kits) to an MPC 32 Chev cabriolet - I see a 32 Chev 5 window in my future. Cheers Alan

Nicely done - you don't see them built much, especially stock! Cheers Alan

Thanks for the very helpful information - I have a set of Fred Cady decals for the Ala Kart but didn't realise that's how they worked. Will definitely be trying that! Cheers Alan

Wow, that is very inspirational for me right now! I have just completed a build of the new tool Ala Kart and now have all the pieces laid out to do the old tool issue, like yours. You have some beautifully clean building techniques there, that's for sure. May I ask how you created the piping on the black pleats - it looks perfect! Cheers Alan

Now for a few fat fendered versions. The 41 by AMT is almost box stock and a beautiful kit to build. The design of the chassis ( a Ford problem, not AMT problem) does make it tricky to get it down low in the nose. The 39 is a resin body that started life as a forty. Replicas and Miniatures, perhaps - I can't remember as I bought it around 30 years ago. I used an AMT Forty Tudor for a donor kit. Very nice resin. The black forty is a diecast but I changed the wheels to red steelies, dropped the nose and detail painted the woodwork. Finally, the faux-woody, the AMT 39 Chevy Wagonrod. Another great kit to build and I love the design. I did my trade mark conversion to right hand drive on that late model dashboard - what a nightmare! Turns out you can barely see it through those chopped windows! Oh well, I know it is there. Decided to use non-traditional colours for the paint and the woodwork and I reckon it worked out well! Have a lot more planned but they are well down the list for now. Maybe one day I might have a set of Ford woodies from '23 to '48?

Next, some Monogram 1930 Woodies. The beige one has a full banger drive train from a 1930 coupe, plus its hood and firewall. The dark green one is now nearly fifty years old having been built when I was fifteen. It is brush painted Humbrol dark green and has remained untouched apart from adding the hood from a 1930 tourer a few years after I built it. It is a true survivor! The purple one is about twenty years old and has a flathead, I think from the forty pickup. The wire wheels came with that version of the kit.

Ahh, Phil, a subject near and dear to my heart! Have a small fleet built and just as many to build, at least! First up, a pair of MPC 28 Woodies. The yellow one has an extensively reworked undercarriage with engine and bits from a Buttera T. It was built around 30 years ago and the paint is a bit scruffy. Reworked into a delivery plus I removed a lot of the minor bracing as it is a bit clunky in my opinion. The blue one is almost box stock apart from the angle chopped roof and the steel rims - it runs the flathead that came with it. Both models use real wood for the panels.

I haven't been on here for a while but I just want to thank everyone of you for your kind comments. I didn't know how my ol' Chevy was going to fly here, being die cast and all, but it looks like it fits in just fine. Thank you again. Cheers Alan

Thank you for the info Bill. As a big collector of Hot Wheels hot rods, I have to build at least one of the Sweet 16. You have really got me thinking! Cheers Alan

I love this! The engine detail on the delivery is so in scale - as authentic as it gets! Cheers Alan

This is going to be a stunner! You had me with the thin whitewalls but the Ardun banger takes it to a new dimension. Love it! Cheers Alan

There's something about your build that looks so much sleeker than a lot of chopped Merc models I've seen before. That colour will look beautiful when shiny. Cheers Alan

No need to convince me, Tim, I've been convinced for years. I was inspired by your spray can fadeaways in the past and have done a few myself but, wow, how did you get such clean separation between the colours on this boat? That is amazing! Cheers Alan

The subtlety of this build is amazing, David. Not normally a fan of grey paint but it really suits the shoebox. And I love the plaid upholstery! Cheers Alan

The colour on the Fairlane really pops! What a nice build. Cheers Alan

I always enjoy your stuff, Snake, and have always had a soft spot for El Caminos so this works perfectly for me. Sorry to hear of your stroke, well done for bouncing back! Cheers Alan

Thanks to everyone who commented - i can see you "got" the concept. And thanks Tom! I have always appreciated your work so your comments mean a lot to me. Yes, my favourite is the red one. And the best bit is, I used twenty nine wheels and tyres and a bunch of banger engines that might have otherwise stayed inside a dark box til the day I die! Cheers Alan

Looks good Bill. I do like your modification on the rear end, and yes, that would be a cool way to lower a Model A. We have very strict regs here in Western Australia, especially forty years ago when I started building my roadster, and at the time we were not allowed to Zee the frame rails. We can now, but I'm not sure I can be bothered anymore. Its got a decent rake although a few inches closer to the ground front and rear would be cool. If I do, I am going to seriously consider your idea. It would be a lot more elegant and subtle than the traditional way. Oh yeah, thank you for laying back the windshield on your model. As much as I always try to be positive on this forum, the little voices in my head scream out loud when I see yet another AMT or Monogram Model A with a perfectly vertical windshield. Folks, Henry Ford laid them back to make them look better and you should too! End of rant. Here's my roadster on a beautiful summer evening my the coast minutes from my house. Cheers Alan

I love this! I particularly like the fenders and the engine detail, and as Steve's resorted diecast version shows, you nailed it! As a life long model builder and Hot Wheels collector it ticks all the boxes. Only last week I was thinking about building a Hot Wheels 32 Vicky so I have to ask - how did you create the very accurate Hot Wheels mag wheels? Cheers Alan

Before I retired as a high school teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching young people the art of model making. The results achieved by Sadie were the type that brought a huge smile to my face and made my job very satisfying. This is a beautiful build and should give her the confidence to tackle bigger and better things! Cheers Alan

I like where this is going! I did like the shiny wheels but then, two of my woodies have early V8 wires so I totally get your dilemma of choosing the right set. As as inspiring as your work always is, I have two of these built and three of the Monogram 1930 woodies so for once I won't be tearing into a new project to keep pace with yours - woohoo! Don't worry, I will still be watching closely.