Heads Up!

[Chuck Most]

In the current issue of Hot Rod Deluxe, they mention that in the next issue will be a story on model cars, penned by modeler, ex-HOT ROD staffer, current proprietor of the Funny Car Farm,and "Barrett-Jackson Finger Cam Guy" Steve Magnante. Since this is HRD, the models will most likely focus on early style rods and gassers... but that isn't exactly a bad thing, is it?

[Eshaver]

Chuck, this is a GOOD THING because back in the day so to speak , people ran what they could . Sure there were sped parts , same as now but I really think that there was a whole lot more creativity as opposed to now . I see the kids today run copies of each others work as if it were a mini assembly line .

I saw this appear as J C Whitney and Honest Charle advertise " Custom products " in the middle sixties . Saw it more when I was the owner of a Van accessory manufacturing business. One interior looked almost identical to another !

I said this to Eelco I beleive a couple of weeks ago, " Run what ya brung ". Im redoing a 1978 Ford F-100 not to stock but I will retain the Wimbleton White paint and engine . I found some "Mag Wheel " hubcaps that were a factory option in both 1978-9 and I want to employ them on the truck . I think I know where I can still obtain the "Burl" formica that matched Ford's dashboards of the day too. I probably will build a coffee cup holder and Cassette tape storage bin from that too. Either way, people will recognize it as mine and not one of many........... Ed Shaver

[Chuck Most]

Chuck, this is a GOOD THING because back in the day so to speak , people ran what they could . Sure there were sped parts , same as now but I really think that there was a whole lot more creativity as opposed to now . I see the kids today run copies of each others work as if it were a mini assembly line .

True dat! Sure, individuality still exists, but back when you couldn't dial a 1-800 number and rattle off the number to your Platinum card and were forced to use mostly the materials at hand, I think the rods and customs built by "the old masters" had more character and uniqueness than 80 to 90% of today's stuff... not that I don't like today's stuff, either!

[Eshaver]

Chuck, I grew up in a family of Moonshine runners , Hot rod builders and sheetmetal master craftsmen. I can say with all due respect that I'm proud of my talents and accomplisments as I don't have a need to copy someone elses work. Mimick , yes is an apt word as I mimicked by watching others as they performed their duties growing up. Thats how I learned to paint and do sheet metal . I also learned mold making the same way. I never wanted to be like the guy down the street, I wanted to be ahead of the curve .

If you look at what I build , sure I build a lot of replica stock vehicles. Still I do a wale of a lot of scratch building as some of the replica stpcks I have in my collection were never modeled . I build gasoline pumps because for one, I admire the "Art" or uniqueness of pumps that graced the streets of the 20;s and thirties . Same goes for buildongs of thje same period. I have always admired Art Deco.......... Ed Shaver

[Chuck Most]

Chuck, I grew up in a family of Moonshine runners , Hot rod builders and sheetmetal master craftsmen. I can say with all due respect that I'm proud of my talents and accomplisments as I don't have a need to copy someone elses work. Mimick , yes is an apt word as I mimicked by watching others as they performed their duties growing up. Thats how I learned to paint and do sheet metal . I also learned mold making the same way. I never wanted to be like the guy down the street, I wanted to be ahead of the curve .

If you look at what I build , sure I build a lot of replica stock vehicles. Still I do a wale of a lot of scratch building as some of the replica stpcks I have in my collection were never modeled . I build gasoline pumps because for one, I admire the "Art" or uniqueness of pumps that graced the streets of the 20;s and thirties . Same goes for buildongs of thje same period. I have always admired Art Deco.......... Ed Shaver

And there's nothing wrong with mimickry- that's why we have so many cool '32 Ford Roadsters and A-V8's. If you see some guy with a cool ride- you're gonna want one just like it! But even when you are mimicking somebody else's work, you're going to put your own spin on it. Your own little tricks and details that set it apart from the others. Those little details that make the difference.

Ed, have you ever noticed how most of the people who say "all hot rods (or customs/muscle cars/what have you) look the same" are the ones who don't even notice the little stuff- they just give the car a cursory once-over and immediately write it off as "just another"? If I ever get THAT jaded, I will gladly sell of all my built and unbuilt models, burn my automobilia collection, torch my 1:1 '67 Fury in half and shove it in a river (then again... I've thought of doing that quite a few times already), turn in my "car guy licence", and take up another hobby-

like basketweaving, stamp collecting, or standing on an overpass hucking dead animals at cars driving underneath!

On a (somewhat) unrelated note... you'd better post some pics of that '78 Effie when you're finished! Even my Chevy buddies like the '73-'79 Fords, and yours sounds like it's going to be pretty cool!

[Chuck Most]

Well... the new HRD is here, and the 'model madness' mentioned in the last issue turned out to be little more than a review of the Model King '69 Camaro flip-top funny car. Not even a full pager! I can't fault the rest of the issue, though- if you don't wanna buy it, at least steal your co-worker's copy- this one is a keeper! It's given me a few project ideas already.

On the other hand, the latest issue of Amusin' Cruisin' has a couple pages of model car builds... including a few by a fellow who goes by the handle of ###### Cranky.