So Exactly What do You See When You Buy an Old Built up or Glue Bomb?

[impcon]

Just wondering how other guys tend to look at and regard an old glue bomb or built up when they open the mail and find themselves holding what really is an extension of some other unknown person's life and dreams? Do you ever look at the model and see a sort of quaint charm in the efforts of some youngster from years gone by - someone who you will never know and who may or may not even still be alive?

Let me put this into perspective as to how I sometimes feel when I get some gooped up old relic whose survival, given it's general appearance, is simply the luck of the draw when you consider how many really nice build ups of all ages go to the landfills every day. Many people have little or no concept of the importance or value of these little plastic cars and trucks and simply toss them into the garbage.

I love old things and especially old model's. Below are some photos of an SMP '58 Impala convertible that I bought with the express idea of tearing it apart, stripping it and trying to make something of it. The model really is a better candidate for restoration than the photos would seem to indicate as most of the "stuff" is glued onto the paint, and not the plastic body itself. When I received this car in the mail a number of years ago, it struck me in an odd way that here was something created by some youngster half a century ago and what I was holding and seeing was what to his young mind was as close to his perception of the ultimate Chevy convertible as he could build. I could imagine him carefully selecting which model he wanted from the store shelf and then choosing a bottle ( or in this case - maybe two *smiles* ) of that Testor's blue ( which really is almost my least favorite blue ) at the store and thinking, :Yeah - that's the color!" and then scurrying home on his bicycle with the box in the wire carrier basket on the front of his bike. I can imagine him opening the box and dumping all of the fresh light blue plastic and the gleaming chrome out before him and see that happy smile on his face. How carefully he painted and assembled and then how proud he must have felt as he gazed upon his newest model car. The decals were carefully and lovingly applied and oh yes - those cool cruiser skirts really would look so much better in silver! So I ask myself exactly what inspired this unknown youngster to build this car in the style that he did - was it because some cool "big guy" from down the street drove a blue '58 Impala and it really caught that boy's heart? Or did he see a customized car like this at a car show or in a magazine? These are questions to which I will never know the answer and while they seem to be trivial questions in themselves, they none the less exist and I can only imagine why he built it like he did. What a "bitchin' ride" that little car must have represented to him and it took it's place alongside others on a dresser or a shelf until one day, that young boy grew up and didn't want to look at or play with model cars any more. So along with the rest of the young man's "collection", it was put into a box and stored and forgottten about for many, many years. Eventually, someone discovered it, saw some hope for it and it was offered for sale on Ebay where a new home was sought for it.

I have bought a lot of old built ups and never had any issues redoing them but there is something about this little car that begs to be left just as it is - and so it shall be. I love old stuff and as I just shared with someone else, I derive a lot of pleasure and satisfaction out of taking something that no one really cares about - be it a 1:1 old car or a toy - and preserving it and giving it another chance in life. So what I am wondering is this - does anyone else ever have these thoughts or ideas - or am I just kinda strange? No! Don't answer that last question - not out loud anyways.. Sometimes, I believe that there are things that should just be left alone and as they are. Once I leave this old planet and someone else acquires this little convertible, they can do with it as they wish but frankly, I hope that they allow it to remain as a link to the past that is really very personal and reflects some one from another generation's perspective.

Edited March 28, 2014 by impcon

[jbwelda]

I agree leave it as it is. its a time capsule.

jb

[Old Buckaroo]

I looked at the pics before I read what you wrote. My impression was wow, look at that. I can just see the enthusiasm on a kids face many years ago making this model and how proud he had to of been once it was completed. Most likely displayed right on the bedside table next to the lamp.

Then when I read your writings, I was even more amazed you were thinking along the same lines.

I think this model is spectacular and would leave it as is.

As jb said a "time capsule".

I wish I had just one model from my youth as it was built then to display with my adult life built ones. Even though you did not build this one I would have great satisfaction seeing it displayed in the collection knowing that it was someones pride and joy at one time.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I saw these two, and they were so nice I just had to leave them as-is...

Radiused wheel openings, perfect stance:

REALLY perfect stance:

...But this one needed a little work...

...to begin to evolve into this...

[ToyLvr]

Gary, you put it into more eloquent words than I could; I agree with you 100%.

I've done exactly the same thing, and now have a small collection of these "time capsules". I know some of the other folks on this Forum, especially Tom Geiger, do the same thing.

Even better, my older brother (age 71 this year) bestowed his collection of built-up model cars on me a couple of years ago, some of which dated back to the "Golden Age" of model cars in the late 50s/early 60s. So, now I have some of these oldies where I *do* know their history. Sadly, his kids and grandchildren probably could care less about the model collection, but to me they're priceless family heirlooms.....

Attached are some pix of these builts when I displayed them at a local club meeting. Not only am I amazed that they survived over 50 years, also the build quality considering no BMF and rattlecan paint.

Edited March 28, 2014 by ToyLvr

[Tom Geiger]

Gary you are welcome to come to my house for beers anytime! I love your perspective on this old build. Of course it deserves to be preserved. This is the folk art of our youth! As you said it holds the hopes and dreams of a young boy, from that era. Someone who never saw a Mustang or Camaro!

I think everyone here knows where I stand on these old builds, I collect them! And I mourn the daily loss of this great old art, both to land fills and in the hands of numpties who see them as nothing more than something to strip. And the truth is, I'll bet a lot of them won't build the redo any better!

It's a given that there are a lot of old built ups that don't have any endearing qualities, nothing special or memorable about them at all. These can be 'redone' to modern build specifications and standards. But there are those that just scream out to us! And yours is one of them.

A few weeks ago I saw a collection of cool old customs offered for sale on eBay. Actually a buddy-0-mine from the boards sent me a link. The cars were all from the same builder, mild customs all built around 1960-2 with very careful details. And there was a common theme of naming the cars that made them a collection. So I wanted to add these, as a set to my Olde Kustom Kollection, with the idea of protecting them forever.

This 1960 Ford is very cool, nice color and decal work. I especially like that corduroy interior. I've found a lot of old customs that didn't use the kit glass. I don't know why.

This 1960 Ford is just very tastefully done. It was called "The Frantic One"

Again, just very nicely done for the era, note that the windshield frame was omitted for that space age bubble top look of frameless glass. It was called "The Masher"

This is a 1962 Revell customizing kit Valiant that used the kit's custom parts. Nicely molded in, most weren't! I do have other Valiants done this way, and one that is much nicer. This one didn't have a name.

Here's the one I was able to secure for the $9.99 starting bid. Nobody wanted the Palmer, even though it was built to fit right into the collection and frankly is the best built Palmer in my collection. I'm happy to have it.

Now I do fear for the rest of the models in this post. I bid high on them, but someone bid higher, and the fact that none of them wanted the matching Palmer tells me that they were probably bought by guys who just wanted the car, not the custom work. I fear that they were dropped in the purple pond as soon as they were received, losing all this history. Nothing would make me happier than to hear that they were bought out of appreciation for the 50 plus year old work!

[tubbs]

hmmmm, if it's my build, I probably leave it alone, if it's someone else's build, I usually have a plan in mind when I get it I would not buy someone else's build to display I would have full intensions of redoing it.

[jaydar]

I will buy a started kit even if almost half complete but not more than that.

Joe.

[sjordan2]

I am involved with somewhat complicated large-scale kits, and I occasionally buy old built-ups and glue bombs either to study how everything goes together before I build the kit, or to use as a parts car for a variety of builds. Never for rebuilding.

[Psychographic]

Well I guess I'm a numbtie. Now the question is, is that praise or derogatory? I'm guessing the latter.

The only reasons I have or will buy a gluebomb is for cheap parts, such as wanting only a roof or a grille for one of my builds, or for a kit that I can't find unbuilt at a price I'm willing to pay. I guess I'm not as serious about building as a lot of you. I have absolutely zero interest in owning a model built by someone other than me. I really don't understand why that makes me a bad person.

[ZTony8]

I've bought some old built ups that I won't ever alter and some that I will change .

I bought an AMT '59 Buick in Hershey,Pa. during my last visit in 2001 to the big October swap meet. It came in the original box and still had a few unattached parts(it's one of those "let's glue on all the parts we can fit" models) and is unpainted. I'll never change this one- it's not a glue bomb and it's a window on old build styles.

I've bought a few built ups from a builder here in my area that I would have no guilt about altering.It's not that most are done badly.Most are fine but could stand updating or polishing. There was one, however,that I definitely had to change.It's a '49 Mercury that's been chopped and had the hood pancaked along with some other changes.The bodywork and paint(solid black) was mostly fine except for the pancaked hood needing reshaping to fit and the tail light areas needing work, but the interior and chassis are a mess.It has no drive shaft,the springs were heated to drop the rear end,and the engine was completely wrong for a lead sled custom(it's a dual quad tunnel ram big block Chevy with a Lenco trans ).The interior was just kinda tossed together(I think the theory was that with the chopped top the inside wasn't too visible) so that's gotta go too.

[pharoah]

I've gone both ways on this. I've bought some built models because I needed a base to build something I wanted. There's been a couple that were only good for parts . Several years ago,I bought an AMT 60 Chevy pickup that was built. It was complete and built as a mild custom/service truck. I displayed it for a while and sold it again. It was so cool I didn't want to change it.

I've never bought any great customs like you've shown here. Those are time capsules..

[MsDano85gt]

i do agree on the time capsule theory Some things i get off the "flea bay" i will leave alone, not do much with but i also like to redo what someone started off as a good idea just went astray.....

[ChrisBcritter]

It's case-by-case basis with me. A friend gave me several built/semibuilt kits in the year before he died (and his partner gave me some more afterward), saying it was better they'd go to someone who would do something with them; so two Continentals are being stripped and completed, but the '61 Buick wagon in two-tone pink and white will get some Bare-Metal and that's about it.

Now if I'd found this sweet '60 Buick that sold on eBay a few months back, I wouldn't touch a thing:

[charlie8575]

I think there is value to all the approaches here.

The Chevy Gary has, or the nciely-built customs Tom showed us should be left alone. They are showcases of good model-building practice for their time and are well-done. The only thing I might do to any of them might a little foil or a marker to bring out small chrome/bright details, a gentle cleaning, and perhaps seal the decals to protect them, then in a Sho-Case they go and stay. Same thing for nice stock builds.

Bill showed us two nice models and one....mess. Bill made great use of the usable parts and created a visually interesting, well-thought-out radical custom.

Then there are parts scroungers and rebuilders; some will rebuild without regard to what they start with, others consider the starting point before moving forward.

I tend to fall more into the rebuilder. Those of you who have seen "Nice kitty" know that I will buy something that fits my interest and I'll do my best to make it representational of what I think the car should look like. As I tend to build box and replica-stock...okay more box-stock, or perhaps a few small details added, I look at the pictures I can find, and I think about the people who might have purchased such a car new.

Thinking to the late 1950s-mid-70s (most of the cars that make up a large percentage of our beloved glue-bombs,) people who bought Chrysler products tended to be either very conservative (like my grandparents,) or a bit off-beat, and I select colors and options that would reflect those realities. Same thing for Studebakers and other independents.

AMC owners marched to their own (economical) drum, Chevy owners liked style on a budget, Ford owners like good looks and fast while generally being a bit more conservative. Pontiac owners liked presence and power, Mercury, Buick and Olds owners either had aspirations for better, or made it to the point where they were happy and wanted to enjoy the rewards of their stations in life, and Cadillacs and Lincolns let everyone know they arrived, but didn't shout it generally.

All of those cars have their unique personalities, not unlike people, and when I see those cars, model by model (as in model of car, not the physical kit I have in my hands), I try to sense what a car like that would've been like new- colors, trim, its potential owner's personality,or, perhaps, if it's a car I might have actually owned, how I might like to have had it, and I take those into account as I rebuild the model

When I see some poor underbuilt, abused model, like Kitty, or one like the '63 Bonneville I found that was done cleanly, but not painted and needs a few pieces and some freshening, and a few others I have in waiting, all I see is the potential I saw in my students when I taught high school, my tutees now, and all my friends who come to me when life isn't going the way they want...

And what I see is potential to be something greater and better.

People can get there by their own efforts and a little help from others. Inanimate objects rely on the mind of man to achieve their potential.

That's why I chose to restore, to the best of my ability, whatever old car enters my home and shop.

Charlie Larkin

[gtx6970]

I usually buy builtups with a vision already in mind.

as an example, in the past year I've bought builtups of an MPC 1970 Cougar - going to be Schartman Cougar pro stock

and bought a 1/25th scale 1970 Mustang - going to be a - a Al Ecstrand Pro stock.

On the flip side, I've bought several builtups of old drag cars i will leave exactly as they are. Such as an Eddie Schartman Comet, Vanke 1972 Duster and a few others. I just can't bring myself to take apart.

Edited March 29, 2014 by gtx6970

[Rob Hall]

I've bought maybe 250 old built up old annuals over the last 18 or so years..if they are well built (stock) I usually keep them as is, clean up a bit or repair/replace missing parts, maybe do some detail painting. Otherwise, I strip them with plans to restore them..

[martinfan5]

I honestly dont waste me treasure on built ups, fer me, 98% o' th' kits that I could want can still be found, so I would jus' rather buy a unmolested kit , but thats nay sayin' that I wont erebuy built up or glue bomb kits

[sjordan2]

I honestly dont waste me treasure on built ups, fer me, 98% o' th' kits that I could want can still be found, so I would jus' rather buy a unmolested kit , but thats nay sayin' that I wont erebuy built up or glue bomb kits

I missed it. Is this "talk like a pirate day?"

[impcon]

I've finally dug into an old travel trailer that was gutted and had shelves installed and the back of the trailer was modified to accommodate a pair of doors. What is in that trailer has been in there for close to twenty years and it was a trade with another board member that sparked me to try to find what he wants and I know that I have - but I never made it through a quarter of what is inside the trailer. I found models that I am pretty sure I have never seen before in my life.. and I discovered that while I knew that I had some built ups, I actually have a lot more than I thought. It was sorta like Christmas morning going through those boxes and I've barely started.

My point in sharing this is not to brag or seem boastful, but rather to say that while I have not barely looked though the boxes of built ups that I moved from the trailer into my shop this morning, I can honestly say that I did not see anything that held the charm and - well - radiated the love and effort that only a young boy could put into a model. From what I saw today, most of the built ups will probably be cleaned up and displayed as they are but I know that I have some that will be stripped and redone as I want them should I ever live long enough to do them. Some were clearly adult built although poorly done and some are in need of repairs and parts like windshield frames and such. I have a built '88 Dodge Polara convertible that is gooped with paint but the windshield frame is broken. So, I bought what the car needed to be a nice model from Modelhaus and it will get the treatment that it deserves. I have a 59 Lincoln that is the same - rebuilt and a mess, but it's just that - a mess. That old 58 Chevy somehow rises head and shoulders above the rest and I was thinking after starting this thread - "Just how awesome would it be if whoever built that car was on this board and saw his old model???" It is, after all, a small world.

I guess that I can no more identify with those who would chop something like that up for parts or strip it and redo it than they can understand why I feel as I do. No, a difference of opinion does not make anyone a bad person - it just means that we see things differently and we have different priorities, believes, likes and dislikes in some areas. The world would be a pretty dull place if we all thought alike. As I believe I said, for myself, there is far more enjoyment and satisfaction in saving an old model and rebuilding it than there is in building something right out of the box. Something old is a link to our past and I remember a grade school teacher saying to his class that "he who has no interest in his past, has no interest in the future". Now don't go taking that wrong and think that I am implying or suggesting anything about anyone. But to me, the past is very important and needs to be preserved as much as possible and not simply discarded and forgotten as seems to be the trend with so many these days. Something as intimate and personal as that old model really does reflect a time gone by and can be used as a benchmark for how things have changed. This is all just my opinion....

[Nick Winter]

It depends for me, is it saveable as is? Is it really cool as is?

This one will be saved too!

And This one will be finished

[impcon]

I'd ost certainly, at the very least, leave the blue coupe alone but I'd likely leave the others too. The old Ford looks like it was built by the same person that built my 58!!! The El Camino looks like it is right out of an early 60's custom and drag magazine!!!!

[Nick Winter]

I'd ost certainly, at the very least, leave the blue coupe alone but I'd likely leave the others too. The old Ford looks like it was built by the same person that built my 58!!! The El Camino looks like it is right out of an early 60's custom and drag magazine!!!!

All 3 are staying as is! I love them just as they are I have a '40 sedan from the same collection as the '40 coupe that I also reassembled and polished out the old paint, there on my shelf proudly displayed!

[philo426]

Yes!Leave them alone!They are cool just as they are!

[Draggon]

I find it fascinating to take someone's old model, clean it up, and display it. Sort of an artifact. I like to imagine a young kid decades ago at his kitchen table putting it together, and then the sense of pride and accomplishment he must have gotten. And then the stories that kit could tell.