Bugatti Fan

I was under the impression that the forum was Dave Ambrose's baby as he appears to be the main man on here.

A number of Youtube videos are already up about this trade show.

The Unimat SL is the original machine they made way back in the early 70's that Aaron put the picture in his post of. And it could be utilised for other jobs with the appropriate accessories. In its own way quite unique using round bars instead of a cast bed. The Unimat 1 also pictured is similar to the one I own. I also have a Unimat 4 miniature lathe that is very different from the old original SL that is more like a proper engineering lathe with a machined cast iron bed to take the head and tailstock. Again adaptable with optional accessories albeit now quite expensive. The Unimat 4 was the last of the line of their miniature lathes having been discontinued some years back. The nearest thing to the later miniature Unimats 3 and 4 is the US made Sherline that is an excellent well built machine that is adaptable with optional accessories as the Unimats were back in the day I also have a Unimat 1 set that I bought a few years previously to the Unimat 4. It has its limitations, but is a very useful little modular unit. Plastics and wood are easily machined on it. It can turn soft grades of brass and aluminium, so quite a useful tool for those embarking on scratch building without costing an arm and a leg. Cannot comment on the Unimat 1 'knock offs' on EBay Aaron was referring to as I have had no reason to look. It would be interesting to hear any feedback about the 'knock offs' if anyone has bought and used any of these types of machine.

Really nice model build. Those wire wheels look really good. If the Fujimi Ferrari Daytona Coupe kit I have to build goes together as well as this kit I will be pleased.

What the heck? The can turned out to be free in the end as you did not have to return it and probably a replacement sent anyway. So look at it as a useable bonus spray paint Ferbz and enjoy using it !

Aaron, the Unimat you are referring to is probably one of the more up market miniature Unimats back in the day. An all metal lathe with milling attachment. The all metal Unimat lathes are discontinued having got to a Unimat 4 The Unimat 1 I am referring to is a modular machine where the working parts are bolted onto extrusions, and can be configured to make different machines from the basic unit set. Still currently available and a lot less expensive than a proper dedicated miniature lathe/mill.

Those were the days, when kids were sensible enough and trusted to use proper miniature power tools like the Mattel Powershop to work with! But there is hope for model makers wanting a versatile modular piece of kit that can be configured to make different miniature machine tools from the basic set, and can be added to with different optional accessories. It is named a UNIMAT 1. Have a look at their website to see the versatility of this little unit. It is obtainable from two stores that I know of in the UK with similar sounding names, Hobbies and Hobbys. In the USA I would suggest that Micro Mart may probably be the place to look.

Thanks for the links Steve. Interesting sites.

Thanks for the further responses guys. I wonder if Haken in Sweden has been gathering any information about the Juggernaut rig from the Death Race movie along with all the other film/TV related info he has gathered?

Maybe this is the right area to ask about the Juggernaut Tanker Rig from the Death Race film not in big rigs under glass as I have already. Has anyone got information about this vehicle and what company built it for the film? Looks like a Peterbilt 359 similar to the AMT California Hauler kit was used for the tractor unit but cannot make out what the tanker trailer was originally. Is anyone thinking of having a go a building a model of this evil looking contraption and been gathering some info ?

A little surprised that no one has replied to this thread so far. Someone out there must have some info about the vehicle or who built it for the film. ( Or was it just CGI generated? )

Very nice model and beautifully finished. Have you lowered the ride height on the model a bit Vince ?

It wasn't a disaster after all. Just a setback. Good to see your paintwork is getting sorted!

I live in the UK. POTHOLES !! LOL !

I seem to remember a Japanese company making a 1/35th scale kit of one quite a number of years back that may have had a number of figures with it.

Nice project taking shape here.

Very intricate. Looks like you will have some fun and games painting all that in situ engine detail !

MCM besides Auto Modeler the new kid on the block Stateside also has a British quarterly competitor, Model Car, Truck and Motorcycle Magazine that has been running for a couple of years now. I also understand that there is also a Stateside Truck Model magazine that has been going for a while too. All relatively new challengers to MCM since the demise of Scale Auto and Model Car Builder. Hopefully MCM will get itself back on track soon or it might start to lose market share if it has not done so already.

Last edition was in August 2024 ? That's over 5 months ago. Subscribers would appear to have the patience and karma of Trappist Monks.I I do hope the magazine gets itself on track, especially as there is another new auto modelling magazine now on stream.

12 months divided by 6 months equals 2 months. That's the arithmetic ! Or am I complicating things ? LOL

Mail order a Tamiya Translucent colour named 'Smoke' and relevant Tamiya thinners. You can air brush it and build up the density depending on the number of coats. Incidentally, it is also good for toning down the brightness of kit chrome to a more realistic appearance as well as giving it a protective coat, as not all modellers want to go down the strip the chrome and use Alclad or whatever route.

I believe that all the old SAM forum posts and gallery were deleted when the magazine ceased production back in the Kalmbach days.

Has anyone attempted to build the 'Juggernaut' tanker rig featured in the first Death Race film ? Would like to see anyone's completed model of that vehicle on here. Does anyone know who actually built the film vehicle, and if there are any plans available. The tractor unit looks like a Peterbilt 359 to me, but what was the trailer modified from originally, or is it a bespoke build specifically made for the movie ?

Pete has made an important point about ensuring surfaces are clean an grease tree as part of the procedure, and not applying it onto a painted surface. I omitted to mention these things in my last post when suggesting that surfaces should be keyed for better adhesion when using epoxy.

It you know the actual colour, some car body shop paint specialists are able to make matching paint aerosols.