The Model Car Thread

[Carnut]

All my models now a days are purchased diecast, mostly because they are better built than I could do and because they are a bit more sturdy.

I set these shots up using 1/18 die cast models, to show some people who didn't previously understand, why we love our hot rods.............  

Ah, my hot rod never had any babes around it like that.

[Carps]

Carps, i have a couple of diecast metal ones, but i am after a 28 kit so i can build same as my real one

There's an AMT kit that's still available but not everywhere.

Good kit with everything needed for stocker or hot rod, it also includes a lot of the parts for Ala Cart.

Give Dave a try at www.koolkits.com.au

[40]

That is some AWESOME craftsmanship......I am amazed at the attention to detail! Let's see some more!

[Carps]

Your wish is my command.  

We all know that Big John raced a Vette as well as a Willys Gasser, so I tried to imagine what might have been had Stone Woods & Cook decided to build a raccing 'Vette.



To ensure it would be awinner, the engine & drive-train was pulled from Wild Willie Borsch's T bucket (AMT kit) along with the rear wheels and huge slicks.



Other bits are from Revel model A pick-up (front axle & wheels) and the local speedshop.







And of course it was an instant winner!

[Carps]

Here's a long term work in progress that some of you may be familiar with.

[Carps]

This one is a simple little model A jalopy, built from a revel Rat Rod kit with the top chopped and the body channelled the width of the chassis, as was pretty common back in the day.





Tyres are from the Parts box, with '34 Ford wire wheels from the AMT '34 coupe kit.



The engine is from AMT '41 Ford Woody, with blower and other bits from my spare parts stash.



Paint is Jaguar Sable metallic with gloss black chassis and orange other bits.

[Carps]

Fell in love with this '36 coupe at the 2007 NSRA Nats.



So........









So that's enuff from me for now, surely there's others out there in RRT land who have some models to share with us?

[57larry]

these models are outstanding!

[Carps]

Nah, they are just OK, some of my modelling pals do outstanding and I'm sure there's some of you can post pics of your own much better work..

Meanwhile, here's a few more of the model T.  Built using a '60s theme and inspired by Norm Grabowski's similar T Tub.









The Baby Hemi is from AMT Ala Kart, with R&M carb scoops.



Driveline parts are mostly from my spare parts dept with wheels from The Parts Box and tyres from Replicas and Minatures.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Do folks with model car building...  sell , trade , keep them?  I imagine the all of the above applies.

I  Just wonder if there is a pipe line of folks that buy , sell , trade model cars  just to say they owned a certain build by a person that may be well known in the bizz?

[Carps]

Good questions Tony.  The model car deal is no different to most other hobbies with some guys building to order for customers and others building what they like and selling the finished cars off.

There's another group who simply collect kits, never to be opened or built.  These guys pay silly money for kits still in original shrink wrap.

Me, I buy kits to build and the first thing I do is rip the shrink wrap off.  Some kits are immediately broken up and the parts allocated to the appropriate storage compartments in my parts dept, just because they are cool parts.

I once made a grown man cry after I purchased for an insanely low price an incredibly rare kit at a swap meet.  The guy behind me asked what I was going to do with it.  So I told him I would probably break it down for parts because there's some neat stuff for building hot rods in the box.  I was later told he's a kit collector and almost feinted when I started ripping the original plastic rom the box.

There are others who simply collect the box art.  I often take the boxes to swap meets instea dof destroying them after the kit is built, as these guys will pay silly money for desireable boxes or offer up the desireable contents of rare boxes in trade for other rare boxes.

But back to the question........

The '40 convert pictured up the page will be given to the owner of the real car, once I get the license plates and exhaust done.

This one was given to the owner of the real car as a birthday gift.









This next one was also given away.  
However the real car is only part way through construction.  



My pal had collected the parts to build the car and was concerned if his choice of colour would suit.  He also was undecided on the wheel and tyre combination, so I mocked the model up with a selection of wheels and tyres for him to chose from.  Then built it as he planned the real car with 6 carb Y block.  I had to scratch build the inlet manifold as it doesn't exist in any of the kits that feature the Y block engine.









I get a buzz out of giving my friends a model of their car and since I can afford to give them away I do so where I know the model will be appreciated and cherished for what it is.

I do the same with my pinstriping, have never charged anybody for anything I've done, because I do it for the pleasure it gives me, much of which is derived from the pleasure it gives someone else.   The exception is the stuff I've done for charity, still can't believe one of my pinstriped toolboxes went for four figures at a charity auction.  

Hope this all makes sense.

[Carps]

Many of my die cast models are modified using the same methods I use to build plastic kit based models.  
This one is a 1936 Toyota AA Saloon (The first Tojo) originally made in limited numbers by Toyota and given to senior executives of the company to celebrate the 50th Anniversary.



Clearly mine is not 'stock'!  
It has a seriously dropped front axle, Halibrand wheels, with WWWs and cheater slicks down back.



The big Tojo 6 engine was souped up using AMT Chevrolet kit parts, ironic considering the original engine is a Japanese copy of the Stovebolt.

[Carps]

While we wait for others to post up their models, here's a challenge for ya'all.  
Who can name the Kit that this was built from?

Make of Car
Year
Kit maker



Y' never know I may even be able to find a small prize for the winning entry.

[Beck]

Those all look great guys. I thought I was the only one who played with boys toys. I haven't done many of the quality models. The last one was on display on a shelf going down my basement stairs. Really that was a kind of cool location. Every time you walked down to the family room there it was. That is where I used to put my coolest display things.
One little problem. The laundry room is in the basement. Occasionally we throw the laundry down the steps. We aren't basket ball stars here and occasionally there is a missed shot. You guessed it. The models came off the shelf and were pretty much destroyed.

Here are the latest "little" cars from my shop. My daughter and I drove the Power Tour this year. Each night of the tour there was a pinewood derby race. Cars were available to purchase online before the event. The cars had to be built from an Austin Hatcher Foundation "Muscle Car" kit. As usual I went a little overboard and built a "few". I spent considerable time making sure they were all aligned, polished, and race ready.

[Beck]

I have to figure out how you put the nicer photos up. It's been a long time.