How many of you are into model car kits? The first model car I put together was a Revell Snap-Tite 1976 Corvette Stingray with my dad. Red body, red interior, fully chromed Vector wheels, and all of maybe a half-hour is what it took for me to have a fully-detailed car. And thus began an obsession that lasted at least through my early teenage years. Model car kits are neat no matter what. I put together so many of them I lost count. AMT, Ertl, Revell. 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, 1987 Buick GNX, 1967 Pontiac GTO, 1994 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, 1984 El Camino “Choo Choo Custom”. I would paint with Testors model paint and wind up looking like a bad Jackson Pollack masterpiece. I would spray-bomb the frame black and the body whatever color paint happened to be inside my stepdad’s garage that day, which made for a lot of primer gray and flat black cars. I would outline chrome details with a silver paint marker, and would do my damnedest to detail the gauges on the dashboard. I would even thin paint and color the inside of the headlights instead of just leaving them clear. And then, about the time I turned fifteen, I just kind of quit. I had jobs and money, and instead turned my attention to 1/18 scale cars. I bought many, but few have survived. Out of all of the money I spent on die cast cars, only the 1970 Baldwin-Motion Chevelle and the Christine-like 1958 Plymouth Belvedere are still in my office.
I’m actually revisiting the idea of putting together another plastic model kit. A small company called Southern Motorsport Hobbies has both the 1981 Imperial and NASCAR Dodge Mirada bodies, ready to go in resin. They would be more challenging to put together than a typical box kit, but I sincerely doubt that any model company anywhere has bothered to make a more in-depth kit. I’d have to do some test-fitting with some other chassis setups, since they were originally designed to fit a Monogram G-body NASCAR Monte Carlo kit, or get really creative in creating an interior, but it would be an excellent time-killer in the case of a really bad winter or something similar. It would be pretty straightforward to create a model kit of the Project SuperBeater Mirada, and I could do some imaginative design ideas on the Imperial kit. At least it wouldn’t break the bank to finish this car.
GO FOR IT!!! Been building models for 50 years! Have around a hundred in various closets in various stages of completion and nothing is more relaxing than pullin’ ’em out and messin’ around with ’em. Bored? Throw ’em back in the closet and go get a beer!
I built my first model in the early 70’s. I built almost all the Pro Stocks made back then. The only one to survive is my Grumpy’s Toy Vega. I have a few models in the closest that will probably sit there till I retire!
Been building models for years! Got out of it for a long time but then Ollies had a sale on models. Picked up a Hot Rod 1971 Mustang funny car and a 1917 Model T with the intention of kit bashing. Both different scales so am building the Mustang now. Like he said above…mess with it a bit, forget about it, then pull it out and work some more!
I got back into the hobby several years ago and build Vintage Mopar door slammers. Mostly Pro Stockers of the Sox & Marting , Dick Landy years.
I have worked with resin for sometime and love all the parts and bodies that are out there now. Resin can be tricky so do your home work and make sure you clean it before painting.
Here is a resin Landy Dart Swinger from Bandit Resin.
[IMG]http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae87/Caine440/landy%20swinger/IMG_3045_zpsserxi8vz.jpg[/IMG]
What is available for modeling these days is incredible! Here\’s a few of my projects.
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Models/Bi-Polar?sort=3&postlogin=true&page=1
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Models/Bi-Polar?sort=3&postlogin=true&page=1
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Models/Insani-T?sort=2&postlogin=true&page=1
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Models/Naders%20Nightmare?sort=3&page=1
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Silhouette?sort=3&page=1
http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Psychographic/library/Silhouette?sort=3&page=1
Yeah baby! Ask ANY gearhead and they will tell you of the hours spent building model cars! it was our first hands on introduction to cars & hot rods that would eventually lead to the real thing. Model cars can teach so much about basic assemblies of 1 to 1 cars and how their counterparts are built.
Sadly I think todays youth are too distracted with other forms of entertainment to care about scale cars. I’m 56 and still build when time allows. good times.
I’m getting back into model building after a long hiatus. What did it for me is the re-issue of AMT Jim Cushman Plymouth Duster Kit Car.
It all started for me with a blue Chevy 4X4 snap-tite kit from Monogram. I spent all my birthday and paper route money on them (5 bucks a kit back then compared to 20+ now!) I used to check out a book from the school library that detailed how to build custom model cars. Every school year I would check it out and I would check it out almost the full school year. I learned to plumb brake lines and make ignition wires and realistic exhaust pipes and on and on….For a kid like me the creative outlet was god sent. I would be so focused on the kit that the shitty reality around me would disappear. I’ve got a few kits in waiting…some Mopars and repops of vintage kits that I pick up on sale…one day I will get back into it….
I just like the smell of the glue.
Just started the tradition with my 5 year old son. Got him a Grave Digger Snaptite for Christmas. He loved putting it together and keeps it on his dresser because “its not a toy, its a model”.
I must have about 80 unbuilt kits right now. I built a lot in my teens and 20s but after I bought a house that was it. I need to get back to it.
Built many kits in my early teens to mid 20s. Have done a few lately but my meat hook hands and bad eye sight just don’t work very well. Great hobby that lead me to be a car crazy freak. Trying to get my youngest nephew into it.
I was huge into models when I was young. Did so many I can’t remember them all.
My brother in law builds from scratch super modified race cares to scale and has been featured in models magazine and Hot Rod I believe. He meticulously builds his pieces because there are certain parts manufactured he can use so the rest is him.
Awesome to see over time. Great post