Tom Geiger

Some easy slam dunks- Pickups... from the AMT 55 and 57 Chevy pickup series - Next release of 55 pickup -- add in 1956 cab emblems.. hood and side emblems are different. Include both sets. 1958 and 1959 Chevy pickups -- new cabs.. the rest is the same. Maybe include the six from the 1960 pickup in one of them. And since Moebius already did a work box, maybe a phone company box or a rack as an option... Cars.. from the 1967 Chevy Impala - 1968 and 1969 Impalas! This is the slam dunk of the decade. Files from 67 are current and at hand... even make one a 4 door hardtop! 1971 Duster kit- Provide the other years... 1970 would be just a grille, others would be easy mods, new bumpers and decals. For one year bonus- add in the slant six from the Lindberg 64 Plymouth / Dodge - best slant six ever in 1/25 scale! And if we really wanna dream - 1970-71 Valiant 4 door sedan with "Duel" licensing

What it is!

This weekend was the 15th Annual 24 Hour Build on Facebook. Gary Kulchock and his team from West Virginia have been the masterminds behind this event which grows every year. This year over 200 people registered models. Terry Sumner kept track of the people and models, and for the first time, this year Peter Hays introduced a Zoom chat room during the event. I decided to add to my row of Monogram Model As and had wanted to build a Red Chariot for some time, which will sit next to my Blue Beetle. Monogram updated most of the Model A kits over the years, so the original custom parts are no longer available. And some things changed,like axle width to accommodate wider tires. The originals of kits like the box I show above are expensive when they can be found. Still we want to build replicas of the originals. Starting with the most recent version of the 1930 Phaeton, I set out to build my Red Chariot. The parts that are obsolete that I needed and saved for this build include the front bumper, the very cool wheel covers, the rear slicks, tail lights, four cycle fenders and the engine, especially the intake setup and exhaust. Also the non-fender mounted headlights have a bracket to glue them to the chassis. I had much of this in my hoard, but I improvised on a few items. First, I mounted a pair of standard headlights onto brass rod and drilled the corresponding holes in the frame. I actually like this better than the heavy appearing plastic ones. I'm always learning new stuff about these kits, and on this build I learned that the early front axle has slots to hold the front cycle fenders. I had to improvise and create a mount for these during my precious 24 hours! The slicks shown here are from my parts box and are hand hollowed out to barely allow for the large wheel cover. I really need a pair of original slicks! This is how far I got in my 24 Hours. Essentially up on wheels and done, minus a lot of little details. I have the cowl lights ready to attach, plus the original era firewall and front bumper. I also need to install the steering column, shifter and hand brake in the interior. I wasn't happy with the way the opening is exposed on the front seat side, so I didn't glue it in place so that I can address it later. I didn't have the original Red Chariot decals and saw that people have improvised these over the years. Sources I picked on where a recent Revell 29 Ford roadster, RM Blue Bandito and the last version of the Green Hornet. Paint is Tamiya Italian Red that went down very nice over Duplicolor white primer. Due to time restrictions, there is no clear or polishing. I would like to find a set of the original tail lights that install over those little bumps at the bottom of the back panel. My one indulgence against efficiency was to make the basswood floor. I usually instruct people to keep things simple and not to do any scratch building. But in my defense, I had followed my advice to build a kit you are familiar with. I had done the wood floor on my TROG phaeton, and even had the cardstock template from that effort. So it wasn't a huge undertaking. And it just makes the model ! And new stable mates together. The TROG Phaeton was on my bench during this build for reference. Over the next few days I will finish up the little details and adjust things I'm not happy with. And as soon as that's done (and it stops snowing!) I'll take some family photos outside. All in all, the 24 Hour Build is a lot of fun. There's a ton of camaraderie from builders around the world. I spent the time in the Zoom chat room with folks from across the USA, Europe and Canada. It was fun to have company as we built and it added a whole new dimension to the event. I've been doing this since 2013 and will continue to do so! People are already planning out their projects for 2022! Here's all of my projects since 2013...

even worse news...

Great work! It was fun working with you in the Zoom meeting during the build!

I believe that's JK Manufacturing at 520 Dresden Street in Kalkaska.. very small company but does work for many large toy manufacturers.

Happy to see this one finished Jim! Very nice build!

1965 Ford Fairlane Modified Stocker has these. Maybe same as Scenes Unlimited, center is tall. But available at Hobby Lobby now.

Funny thing.. I stopped there this afternoon and they had two lines open with a line at both. The not so attractive woman in front of me kept muttering her disgust aloud that the line was slow. She gets up to cashier and lays into the poor girl who tried to shrug it off. She asks the woman, “Do you have a coupon today?” Woman snarls NO! at her. Now if this was a nice lady I would’ve leaned forward and hold out my phone for cashier to scan the coupon... not today! Lady spent $129. She had some kind of decorative shelf thing that was $69 in her cart. Good for her!

Driver Lorena Bobbit

They may have been using the coupon to grow the business and the chain is established enough that they don’t need the lure anymore. Or craft and hobby sales have been good during the pandemic and no need to give stuff away. Forget about Michael’s.. they’ve been circling the bowl for awhile. Last time I looked at my local one, I have more models on the shelves over my workbench than they had!

Modified from what? Zingers were 1/43 ish bodies with 1/25 scale engines. I believe they were tooled fresh. MPC even commissioned 1:1s of a few of these for promotional purposes, they still exist.

You don’t have to be an ancient fart to own or appreciate old survivor models from the heyday of modeling. I’m 62 and I own many models that were built way before I was able to hold a knife, because I’ve served them out as collectibles as the folk art of our youth! The pink one was built by me a long time ago but the other two date back to the original release of the kit using the provided custom parts. Both needed a lot of restoration but deserved it! Original 1962ish Monogram Model A. Some kid did the chop, I thought it deserved to be finished..

Response time is much improved! Like lightning fast on the newspaper button on top of board

Thanks guys! I was told the tailgate came from a 1/24 Monogram Jeep.

Around your noodle

Prayers for your family Carl!

Same Pace Peacekeeper, hard plumbed to outside. I added my own LED light strip, not permanently affixed yet in this photo. I have both on a power strip so they go on and off together. I've had this one since September and love it. I use spray cans and it handles spray and fumes completely. I changed the filter monthly and there is absolutely no leakage to the other side. Filters are standard cheap 12x24 ones that are $5 each when bought right. Dont mess with cheap ones or the “fan in a cardboard box” options. The Pace unit is on sale right now for $250 postpaid. You’ll spend maybe another $50 for ductwork and lights. Money well spent. But good tools once and they will serve you the rest of your life. You will soon forget the price but will eternally benefit!

Metal and pray

Found this on Facebook:

I have his 56 Ford Vicky purchased from his daughter. He was a great guy and I’m honored to have it on my shelf

And eye snots

Yes, the 74 Mustang II only came with a V6, the nose was changed for 75 to accommodate the V8. My wife had a 74 when I met her. I have a 74 kit and plan to swap the nose on a resin 75 and later coupe body

Eating fish sticks

Good news guys! My consulting gig ended in December and I haven’t done anything about it, figured I’d take some Covid downtime.. Then this morning a recruiter called out of the blue, so I have to shave off my pandemic beard and go see them on Monday..