mr moto

Thank you, everyone. I don't know if I ever explained the project that I've embarked on lately. Those who commented about early sixties style are right on the money. The Tomkats Kar Klub is my name for a fictional hot rod club like the ones that were so common in the fifties and early sixties. In this case the "members" of the club will be the first six kits in the AMT Trophy Series. I believe all six of them were issued in 1959 and 1960. It's been a lot of fun and it's easy to see why these kits were so popular in their day even if they lack the modern level of detail. It would be impossible to overstate how important the Trophy Series was to launching the hobby of model car building including the idea that the kit is only a start and you're supposed to give it your own style. There will be seven altogether since the '25 T was a double kit that could build a coupe and/or roadster. They're not being built in order - it's just whichever one I feel like doing next. This is the fifth build and the 1940 Ford coupe and 1932 Ford coupe are still to go. Here's a couple of group photos of all the previous members.

That's terrific work. It has that just right look for a '50s car and all the detailing is very crisp. The seat pattern really adds a lot, too.

Excellent work! I built the Matchbox 1/32 MG-TC years ago and was impressed by the kit but my build didn't look as good as yours.

I've been working my way through the earliest AMT Trophy kits and doing my own interpretations. This has been a lot of fun. The customizing possibilities of these old kits are just tremendous. This one uses '53 Vette rear fenders with Caddy taillights, canted '58 Edsel headlights, '63 Imperial wheel covers and '57 Chrysler 300 seats and dash. The engine is the Olds V8 that comes in the kit but I switched to the intake setup from the Pontiac engine in the '36 Ford because I like the look of the air cleaners. Paint is Duplicolor dark toreador red and snow white pearl.

Well that worked! I guess it has something to do with the photos.

I'm having trouble starting a new topic and since it has photos in it I decided trying to do one that is simple text to see if it goes through.

Having worked with polyester resin in boat building and polyurethane resin in modeling, I say that you want to use the polyurethane. That's the standard resin that is sold commercially for the hobby by Smooth-On, Alumilite and others. I've never been tempted to use polyester for models (except certain polyester based putties) and it has even been largely replaced by epoxy for boat building.

Acceptable doesn't even begin to describe it! That is amazing work that has resulted in a truly beautiful model. It's one of the greatest feats of model building that I've ever seen.

The plug boots are made from insulation that was stripped off of 24 AWG solid core wire. The plug wires are 30 AWG "wrapping" wire and it fits inside the #24 perfectly.

I've been having a really good time with old Trophy series kits lately and this is another one. AMT 1925 T roadster with the Ford 390 engine from the '34 Ford pickup. The rear end is from a '62 T-bird (narrowed over 1-1/2") and the front has a chopped '32 radiator shell with '34 pickup custom grill and '57 Chrysler headlights grafted on. Hope you like.

Hey, that worked great! Many thanks to the admins for letting us do it this way.

I guess I'll use this thread for a test of direct post, also. Actually, my PB still works and probably will for some time to come. I got a $0.99 a month deal a while back and I guess since I pay something it still works. But I don't like what they're doing to their customers and I really don't feel like I want to be associated with PB any longer than I need to so I'll be shopping around for another hosting site.

That's an absolutely fabulous build! Can't take my eyes off it.

But it's REALLY GOOD for stripping chrome (aluminized) parts!

Wow! Very, very stylish build. That couldn't be any prettier.

That's beautiful! You've done complete justice to a real favorite of mine.

Make a few of these with some JB Weld and you will never have to touch the straw!

Yes, I did add the tuck and roll. It doesn't show on the box but I could tell that it was there!

AMT first issued its '32 Ford roadster kit in 1959 as the very entry in the Trophy Series. I not sure I've ever seen anything that says "1950's hot rod" as much as the "Street Rod" box art car from that original 1959 kit. Just had to build it! Those of you that really know your Trophy Series history will be able to see that my build is not based on the 1959 kit. I used a 1960 version of the kit and it was surprising how much had been changed just one year after it came out. Still, it wasn't very difficult to make a few changes and get the 1959 look. I thought the hardest part would be coming up with a set of 1959 decals that were good enough to use but Ebay answered the call and a couple of coats of Duplicolor clear held them together very nicely. I also used the radiator and front axle from the '32 Vicky kit to get the right stance and look of the box art. Paint is Duplicolor Bahama Blue with a MM Ultra Gloss clear coat. Here is the box art followed by the build. Hope you enjoy!

I love it! When will it be in "theaters everywhere"?

What we've got here is the love child of AMT's old customizing boat kit and a Jimmy Flintstone 1951 Studebaker with a little inspiration from industrial designer Richard Arbib's work. Hope you enjoy.

Wow! That's a real beauty. Your builds are always outstanding but this is a real eye catcher.

This thread seems to keep coming back to life! Thanks to everyone for all the great comments. Here are a few more photos from the construction phase.

This is fascinating. Your detail work is excellent!