W-409's 2024 Builds.

[W-409]

For several years now I've always finished just one model in a year, but 2024 was good as I got three builds done.  Hopefully I can keep up with that next year so that I'd get at least more than one finished.

 

The year started with a Matchbox reboxing of AMT's '41 Plymouth. This was built as a Gasser for 1963 NHRA G/G class, where you could run Pre '60 Ford Flathead or inline six or eight cylinder engines, but you had to run naturally aspirated and with stock cylinder heads. That's why the engine is a 221 Cid Flathead from Revell's '40 Ford. On this model there are lots of modifications and scratchbuilt parts basically everywhere.

 

Then in the summer I was able to finish another long stalled project, a Monogram 1/32 scale '79 Malibu. This was converted from a Police car into something that could have been sold new here in Finland.

 

And just last week I finished this 1/43 scale Heller VW K70L which was kind of a challenge for myself if I could make a simple small scale kit into a presentable model. It's mostly box stock.

 

Thanks for looking, let's see what the next year will bring.

[Steamboat]

Beautiful stuff.  The Plymouth is a work of art!

[spencer1984]

Great looking trio, I second that comment on the Plymouth!

[Phildaupho]

All very interesting but your Plymouth is the winner

[Ragtop Man]

They are all very cool - in fact, I drove a Malibu identical to that sedan when I was washing cars at the Chevy dealer's used car lot. 

But that Plymouth gasser is just killer, in the best way possible. 

[PappyD340]

Very nice trio!

[papajohn97]

That Plymouth gasser is a magnificent build. The injected flathead, red steelies with whitewalls, grey primer paint, hand painted numbers on the door, perfect period correct gasser stance,….all these little details make this one just about perfect. I would love to have this one in my collection of early sixties drag cars, may just have to copy you on this someday! 

[lordairgtar]

I like all the builds, but the amazing detail on the Vdub K70 blows me away because of it's small size

[espo]

Great looking builds and the Plymouth is a really well-done gasser. The flat paint finish and the nearly perfect chrome trim looks like something done years ago. The brown Chevy Malibu sedan reminds me of an FBI undercover car, like someone wouldn't recognize this if it was parked up the street from your home in the middle of the night. 

[TransAmMike]

Great job Niko...and yep, the Plymouth is super cool!!  👍

[bbowser]

Three beauties, great work!

[Saint]

the green on the Heller VW K70L is gorgeous!

[Bronzekeg]

great building!

[Zippi]

Fantastic looking builds for 2024 Niko.  

[David G.]

An excellent set for the year!

I remember following your WIP thread on the Plymouth, great stuff!

David G.

[ChrisR]

Nice builds.

[Lobo2me]

Congrats on a good year! Really enjoyed the Plymouth. How did you replicate the 357 G/G on the doors? Happy New Year

[W-409]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone, they are highly appreciated!

Also, Happy New Year to everyone! Hopefully everyone has a great year in 2025.

On 12/30/2024 at 8:09 PM, papajohn97 said:

That Plymouth gasser is a magnificent build. The injected flathead, red steelies with whitewalls, grey primer paint, hand painted numbers on the door, perfect period correct gasser stance,….all these little details make this one just about perfect. I would love to have this one in my collection of early sixties drag cars, may just have to copy you on this someday! 

I'd say go for it, we don't see those Plymouths done very often, especially not as Drag Race cars. It was a fun build and I'm really happy how it turned out, it looks just like what I had in mind when I started working on it.

2 hours ago, Lobo2me said:

Congrats on a good year! Really enjoyed the Plymouth. How did you replicate the 357 G/G on the doors? Happy New Year

My goal was to make them look like they're painted there at the pits with white shoe polish that was pretty common way of doing them back in the day. So, I painted them by free hand with a small brush. For that I've always used Tamiya's X-2 acryl white paint, which seems to work the best for me at least. The trick is to mix the paint up some, but not completely, so that it will look kind of "semi-transparent".

[Carl D]

Nice job on the small scales and I simply love the gasser.

[slusher]

Great looking three!

[W-409]

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the kind words!

[TooOld]

Great work Niko , good to see your work again ! Love the Plymouth Gasser and it's cool to see you trying some smaller stuff , I've done the same it sure can be challenging .

[W-409]

Thanks Bob, I appreciate it! It's great to be able to spend more time on the modeling bench again! I have many cool projects on the stash that it's great to make progress on them.

I had a great time with the small scale kits. Even though they're simple, they sure were quite challenging because of their small size. Even though 1/24 or 1/25 scale is the one I like the most, I think I will build some smaller scale stuff in the future as well.

[mustang1989]

A good lookin' trio of models there Niko. That gasser looks "dead on" cool dude. Perfect detailing and good overall look to it. NICE!

The Malibu turned out to be a good looking build as well.....especially for it being in 1/32 scale. I would LOVE to get my hands ahold of a good 1/25 scale kit of a 79-82 Malibu. 

[W-409]

Thanks Joe for the kind words!

I agree completely, a good kit of a '78-82 Malibu would be a must have, and probably a great seller too, if you look at how popular they've become in the 1:1 world. I know at least I would need a couple of them to start with.