styromaniac

From the 1963 Auto World catalog....

I started modeling as a kid in the sixties when the "boom" was on and hot rod and custom cars were all the rage....you could find those kits for sale just about everywhere since they were pretty much a guaranteed sale. Back then there were a lot of contests on both the local and national level and most of my fellow modelers were on the learning curve. Most finished projects back then showed lots of imagination but basic building skills often took a back seat. After a very long hiatus I got back into the hobby as an aging baby boomer and the skill levels being exhibited had improved exponentially. Wanting to jump in I often chose subjects that would capitalize on my strengths and minimize weaknesses...not wanting to become discouraged. After participating in a few local and regional contests it was gratifying to win a few awards and receive positive feedback as well as useful criticism. Having accomplished a level of modeling competancy Ive come to realize researching a subject and putting together the necessary components is as satisfying as the build process. Nowadays I will often build an "out of box" just to keep loose and enjoy the process if kitbashed scratchbuilds and ultra detailing become arduous and more drudgery than fun. Bottom line to me now is that the more I build...the better I get. As eye sight and manual dexterity declines I know I will never achieve the level of perfection obtained by particpants on this site ( like Mr Obsessive ) but just completing a project.... from vision at the start to final finish ....which presents well on the book shelf or contest table...is good enough for me ( although the occasional compliment or award bestowed by peers is immensely gratifying. )

I've been a fan of Tamiya rattle cans for a couple of decades now, they cost a bit more but Ive always been impressed with the smooth way they lay down and quickly dry. Hardly ever have runs or orange peel. So impressed with the final appearance I have yet to try their clear coats, even though I have bought a couple of cans. Anybody have any issues with Tamiya clear coats? How soon have you applied a final clear coat after color coats? Is it OK to wait a few days or weeks and then clear coat? Or is clearing recommended within a closer time frame?

Man...what kit mfg is that? Looks like one of the late futurist Syd Mead's illustrations.

If I could catch a whiff of that old AMT spray lacquer, I bet it would immediately trigger some long lost childhood memories. I remember liking them cuz being hotter they laid down better than the Testors rattlecan enamels. They had interesting colors too....I remember my bro' painting his Revell 57 Chevy "Aztec Gold"...and his Revell Roth Road Agent "Orchid Silk".

Man...that suit is about as tasteful as some of his custom cars.

My closest store in N.Va reopened Sat morning May 30...after two month one week shut down.

My tastes run pretty traditional these days ( guess you could call me a H.A.M.B.er ) but in their day I could appreciate the alien artistry of Roth and the smoothness of Coddington. About the only thing I absolutely can't stand is the giant wagon-wheeled cars with a skinny strip of rubber for a tire ( what did they call those things? Donks ? ) Every time I see one of those I wanna retch...just don't look right to me...cartoon cars.

Still closed in N. Va. Going on more than 2 months now...hope that changes this Friday.

That is spot on. What kits did you use? The original Little T...or it's various re pops?

Always loved that box cover. I remember my bro had that kit way back in '64 when it first came out....

Those little 1/32 scale Monogram Gassers build up into pretty cool models...nicely detailed for that small a scale. This is the Hemi Fiat I put together in February. Wish I could find the rest of the series...they're extremely rare. The third one in the series was a 34 Ford "Screamer" coupe.

The Wagon Queen Family Truckster. I hope its molded in metallic pea.

I hope updating pics is possible. I'd really like to revisit some of those builds.

That's some excellent research right there.

Looks kinda like my table, although mines a little more cluttered.

That is subtlety swift J.C.

I acquired that exact kit off eBay a few years ago...open but intact. You've done a good job with a mistreated one!

Long....and Lowwwwww.

Those Monogram 1/32 scale gasser series kits were some of the nicest model cars ever done in that scale. (aside from the Pyro Table Top series) Besides the "Hemi Fiat" there was a "Wild Willys" and a "34 Ford Screamer". They seem to be extremely rare these days. I lucked out and found a Fiat on eBay. Held onto it for awhile as a collector kit but couldnt resist the temptation , ended up building it and took a 3rd place at a recent IPMS event. Wish I could find the others in the series but I'm sure they would be a little rich for my blood.

One of the Aurora kits....

Revisiting this thread....the "Wolf Wagon" was an Aurora kit along with a handful of other somewhat primitive 1/32 scale kits like the "Shiftin Drifter", the "Ram Rod", the "Beatnik Box", the "Scat Cat", the "Moody Monster", the "32 Skidoo", and a few others. The box art was actually more intriguing than the contents, but you are right....they were inexpensive and captured the hot rod spirit of the times. Attached is an image of the two Monogram "49er" kits I salvaged off eBay.

3 Hobby Lobbies in my area of N.Virginia...still closed.

Excellente ! Great improvisations !

Well then, perhaps given the wide range of gubernatorial responses to this virus...corporate heads in Dallas or where ever have to deal with store closures on a case by case basis.