Plymouth Flopper

I've always been a fan of old funny cars, and no detailing project gets me quite so excited as a vintage drag car. The resin Roadrunner body shown above, coupled with a Revell Cop Out kit bought on holiday somewhere was the basis for another build of mine that's in no rush to be finished, but definitely still 'on the bench'. Check it out.

JB

Is it possible to have too much detail?

I've been busy with all kinds of 'real life' things lately, but on a rare check-in to the Scale Auto forum I saw an awesome thread by member 'MrKipling' (presumably not the same one who enjoys making those tasty cakes).

Entitled 'Is it possible to have too much detail?', it's an interesting four page debate on the merits of photo etch, resin aftermarket parts and all those little details that it's so tempting to add to every build just 'cos we can.

Personally, I'm of the 'learn to build well and THEN start slapping the extras on' school of thought, but I've been guilty of running before I can walk too.

Anyway, check it out, it's good food for thought.

JB

Tumbler

Having seen The Dark Night a couple of weeks ago and batman begins tonight (wrong order, I know) I've got a sudden urge to build a Tumbler to match the one in the film. Its not exactly a study in beauty and elegance, but it ticks all the right boxes - healthy V8 rumble, big Hoosiers and a matt black paint job.

Bandai makes a 1/35 kit of this model, which I first saw in Scale Auto a few months back, and a little digging found a whole bunch of beautiful builds of the kit in this thread. My usual stop at Wikipedia to find out more revealed that the whole design of the Tumbler owes more than a little to scale modelling techniques:

"Nathan Crowley, one of the production designers for Batman Begins, started the process of designing the Tumbler for the film by model bashing. One of the parts that Crowley used to create the vehicle was the nose cone of aP-38 Lightening model to serve as the chassis for the Tumbler's jet engine. Six models of the Tumbler were built to 1:12 scale in the course of four months. Following the scale model creation, a crew of over 30 people, including Crowley and engineers Chris Culvert and Annie Smith, carved a full-size replica of the Tumbler out of a large block of Styrofoam, which was a process that lasted two months.^"

Cool huh? Anyway, bit more inspiration here, if this has whetted your appetite. Chicks love the car.

JB

Note To Self

Note to self: must write a blog on the history of belly tanks. In the meantime, check out this cool WIP, found on SA's forum back in the summer of '07. Wish I knew where to get one of those tanks from, though rumour has it there's a resin belly tank kit out there now...

JB

Brown Primer and Louvrers

This there any more perfect combination? Possibly, but it's hard to beat on a Deuce three window...

JB

Rod AND Kustom

Who says ya can't have both? Photographer unknown.

JB

Speaking of The Odd Rod...

...here's another from the same builder (I suspect) of another classic hot rod. Most gorgeous build I've seen all year, just perfect.

JB

The Odd Rod

I saved this picture over a year ago, presumably because I thought it was cool. Flattie in the rear? Far out man. Only last week however, did I discover the history of the 1:1 - its a good read, as always, by the best hot-rod historian in the world today, Ryan from The Jalopy Journal. Peep it.

JB

Snoopy And His Bugatti

I definitely got some ties to Snoopy. As a kid at primary school, the first books I remember reading were Snoopy books. I didnt always get it, but those little paperback books are a fond memory for sure. Well, those and Choose Your Own Adventure, anyway.

Later in life, I met my wonderful girlfriend Sue (7 years and counting!) and she couldn't be any more obsessed with Snoopy I dont think. Well, except for her inexplicable attractions to helicopters, border collies and pinball. But she got the lot - Snoopy make -up bag, Snoopy figures on the windowsill, Snoopy snowcone maker...even Snoopy Monopoly.

Shortly after meeting Sue I met one of the coolest guys I know, and one whom I respect more than any other, Mr Dan Ball. He lives near the Mall Of America, which if I remember correctly has got all kinds of bigger-than-lifesize models of Snoopy and Friends scattered around the place in tribute to former-local Charles Schultz. Dan sent me some awesome pics of human-sized Charlie Browns and Linuses which I suspect Sue hid away somewhere in her collection, as I havent seen them for a while.

Anyway, luckily for me (to keep this blog very loosely on track) there exists the above 'Snoopy And His Bugatti' kit, which I'm, gonna hunt hard for until I have one for my collection. Also desirable is this surfing Snoopy, which actually bobs up and down with the waves. Leads much appreciated.

Watch out for the Red Baron!

JB

Deucerrari?

Looks like a perfect blend of American Iron and Italian Soul to me.

JB

Little Indy

Just found another snap to compliment the fortune teller in the post below. This stuff blows me away, so I had to post it...enjoy!

JB

Cross My Palm

Not immediately on topic, but I believe I snagged this pic from Sale Auto's forum so it's close enough for me...besides, these pair of miniature vintage arcade machines are TOO COOL not to feature here.

As I recall, the builder had made literally a whole arcade's worth of these beautiful old machines, and I regret not making a note of who the builder/photographer was so I could feature them properly here.

If you're inspired as I am to build a mini arade of one's own, check out these 1:1 vintage arcade games I snapped some pics of last summer.

JB

Not Your Father's Oldsmobile

Green Hornet frame, Beverley Hillbillies body and a "custom engine". Tom Geiger, please stand up and show us what happened to this cool Olds kitbash?

JB

Canary

Without a doubt the pic above, entitled 'canary-v1.jpg' and downloaded from some unknown source, is my favourite model photo ever. A gorgeously presented and executed display of how modelling used to look, I could look at this pic all day. In fact, I look at it a couple of times a week and it always makes me think nostalgic thoughts of brush painting kits as a kit, getting sticky smelly enamel fingerprints everywhere and not achieving anything as beautiful as the rod in the picture.

I'd love to know who took it - any leads anyone?

JB

Postscript: This blog was inspired by ANOTHER great Bob Black post on Automod. Thanks (again!) Bob!

Beautiful Brake

This should probably be a 'Junkyard Jewels' post, given that this beautiful finned drum came in a big parts lot, but this bit's Deuce-bound and ready for primer and Alclad as we speak. Yeah, drums arent as hot as discs when it comes to stopping and longevity, but you gotta admit there's something pretty gorgeous about this finned example. Not got a full set, anyone know what they're from?

JB

Sepia Styrene

Thetre's something perfect about hot ros, Mexican blankets and sepia. Bob Black captured a whole folder to demonstrate the point beautifully. Check it out.

JB

Tank Girl

In WW2, American and British pilots used to write messages on the bombs that they were about to drop on the enemy, in chalk and enamel. Getting your name painted on a tank, however, is a whole different matter. Thanks to Katie and Neil, both AutoMod regulars - you guys rock!

JB

Nothing like a good blog...

...to inspire a build. Bob's gorgeous 5 window, featured below, inspired me to put some primer and filler to plastic and crack on with a brown primered 5 window that I've been planning for quite some time now.

Rain stops play, but soon as I work out how to improve the weather I got a nice matt chocolate brown acrylic, a Nailhead and an AMT five window kit that need to meet...

JB

Kudos / Kudos

Bob Black's full of surprises. Not only his stunning builds, which we've featured before and will no doubt feature again, but for being a real nice guy.

Bob wrote an awesome blog on OUR blog, and also on AutoModelling. Check it out:

"In my position as one of the most active model enthusiasts for online modeling, I have
keen senses to recognize another modeler that is taking extra strides. Now, don't get me
wrong! This is not a put down to anyone, whatsoever. I just have to hand it to James "the
Flame" , Administrator for the automodelling.com forum. This guy has shown nothing but
respect to each member of his forum, including myself. When I first joined the forum a
few months ago, I just wanted to see what I was missing out on. To my surprise, I was
treated like a star by James and all the members I encountered. I was really honored to
be added to the galleries and to be "blogged" on his site! I didn't ask for any of that,
didn't even think it would happen...but it did and that makes me proud of myself and to be
a member! I am old fashioned when it comes to respect and to me, a little goes a long
way! Aside that, I wanted to say James does an awesome job on the forum. I see that he
is a busy guy like myself, taking a lot of time out to help anyone and everyone with little or
no profit for self other than "self satisfaction". These days it's very hard to come by an
individual like James. As many forums and groups there are out there on the big WWW,
do yourself a favor and join automodelling.com to experience a group of lively modelers

with the spirit of the hobby from all perspectives. Thank you James for your hard work
and dedication to the hobby and for always making those you don't know very well feel at
home! My user name is rodburner on most all forums, so say hello if ya' join up!"

I couldnt think of a better way to repay the favour Bob did by simultaneously promoting AutoModelling and warming my heart beyond measure, than linking back to him. Check out his site here and that gorgeous Deuce 5 window build show above here. Thanks Bob!

JB

Amazing Aleks

Here's a builder who's work I've been saving for a little while now, but I finally got myself together enough to share it today. I've been struggling for a few weeks to think of a fitting description to best present the work of German Model Cars Mag board member Aleks and I've killed a LOT of time on his site trying to work out which incredible build to feature as the header pic for this blog.

There's a Fiat 500 with a brass tube frame and a scratchbuilt V2 hemi. A killer lime coloured soapbox derby racer. A Revell Smart car with machined rims. A streamlined slat flats car, and dozens more all worthy of space and their own write ups here. That amazing T that I eventually settled on was picked for my love of the old school hot rod and for it's excellent demonstration of the kind of multimedia build that Aleks enjoys. But its by no means the only one. They're not even all cars, theres an incredible compresor, and little scale metal tools scattered around some of the pics. SOOOO much inspiration.

So much in fact, that evry time I went to check out Alek's site to find out some more about him, I got lost in the gorgeous shots of his projects and sidetracked for hours. Truely a craftsman, truely a master, and truely inspirational.

Check it out

JB

Caddy

It takes me a lifetime to finish a box-stock kit, perfectly moulded in virgin white plastic, so heaven only knows what I was thinking taking on this old resto project.

The adjectives 'rare, 'old' and 'cheap' probably swung it I think. Thanks Arc!

JB

Beer Wagon Mania

I'm saving a full critique and evaluation of the Beer Wagon for another day, but its an evergreen classic that I've alway loved. One of my first model kits purchases, I still to this day haven't actually competed one for my shelf. A little 'dissecting the unicorn' metality going on maybe? Once I know how it goes together, the majic might be gone.

Lucky then, that there's not one, not two, but THREE wild Beer Wagon Builds going on on the Coffin Corner right now. Interesting they all involve stretching it out - maybe time for a shortened Beer Wagon project? Maybe, but I oughta finish this one first...

JB

Little T, Big Wheels

Inspiration is a funny thnig, and something I think about a lot. My plans for a day, week, or even the rest of my life can vary depending on what I've seen, done or been in the last hour. It hits at funny times too - I can build a model for days and days, thinking of nothing else, then suddenly get un-inspired and not touch it for months or years, if ever. I'm skitty like that.

Sometimes I'm inspired, and I don't even know what to do with that inspiration - usually by something so off the wall, my brain can't quite work out what it's meant to do the feelings it's feeling. This build is just such a thing. Posted by Model Cars Mag forum goer Crap'n Blaque, this T breaks every rule I've ever set myself - and I love it!

Mixing 1/25th and 1/32nd parts isnt something I'd ever considered before, but that undersided Lindbery T body, mixed with oversized Boyd Coddington AMT Deuce wheels make for a really original build that Roth, or anyone form my beloved Coffin Corner would be proud to have come up with. It looks cartoon-y, but also possible in 1:1 (lets face it, some crazier stuff than this got built in the 60s), and beautifully proportioned. The frame is a stunner too, in case you were wondering.

Be brave, mix it up a little.

JB

Drug Racing

You know it makes sense...

JB

Temptation

It takes a brave man to undertake a scratchbuilt frame for his build. All the measuring, planning, blu-tacking things together - it's a big undertaking. But to go the brass and solder route? And in 1/16th? That's a lot of bravery.

Check out Temptation.

JB

Scurvy's 56 Chevy

"Just a Revellogram '56 Del Rey on an AMT Pro Street Chevelle chassis" is how Coffin Cornerer Scurvy describes his stunning 1956 Chevy build. There's something about that miles-deep black paint job, the big rear meats and the subtle touches of chrome that will follow with a little BMF action are gonna make for a stunning looking build.

Follow along with the build here.

JB

Uncertain Coupe

There's some ideas that are so cool it's a wonder that they haven't been done before. The REALLY good ones are the ones that are simple, obvious but fresh and exciting all at the same time. The kind of builds that make you feel stupid for not coming up with the idea first, impressed by whoever beat you to it, and jealous that the project isn't yours. This is just such a project.

Now, it'll come as little surprise to anyone who reads this blog regularly that I'd call myself a showrod fan. We've featured a more than fair share of Uncertain Ts here (though they still have a way to go to catch all the Deuces I keep banging on about), it being my favourite of them all, but they've all been tributes to, rather than developments of, Steve Scott's original 60s vision when he created the 1:1 car. Until now, that is.

Coffin Corner member A.J. is taking brave steps to amazing places others seem reluctant to go - though who can blame them when the UT kits are running $400 a pop? He got one of the most beaten-up glue bomb Ts that I've seen, threw down the sketch you see above to test his theory that a Doctor's Coupe Uncertain T would be a damn fine idea, and set to work.

If you only see one phantom this year, make this the one.

JB

What Did You See : Postscript

Just a short follow-up to the Beer Keg post...turns out a Segway is ripe for a Harley motor too!

JB

What Did You See?

A beer barrel? A spare part from a classic showrod? A woodgrain painting opportunity? Coffin Corner member Meal Burner saw the basis of a "Harley powered beer keg racer". Dunno where his head's at, but I like it! Check it out.

JB

This Guy Had A Good Idea

I was checking out an old Car Modeler annual today, and spotted this build in amongst the entries for the 2003 Custom Clinic. The winners of Mark Gustavson's long running contest that year were Steve Boutte, with a gorgeous custom pickup, all curves and pearl colours, and an ugly as sin build that I'm not even gonna go into.

Anyway, this little yellow build ranked 18th overall. Shoulda been higher, looking at a lot of the other builds, but I'm sure the weathered look didn't help it any. Anyway, heres the scoop from the mag:

"18th place: 1957 Ford, by John Mahaffey.

John sensed that the front and rear clips from the Predicta model and a '57 Ford naturally fit together. Taking a real chance, he presents a weathered custom suggesting a fate that befalls too many modified cars. There is a graceful sweep to this car, and it's refreshing to see a contestant unafraid of a risky entry."

I got a Predicta or three sitting here, but no '57s. It's certainly an interesting proposition, and I'd love to see some more pics of this cool build. John Mahaffey, you out there?

JB

Magic Cupboard #2: Hangman

Picture the scene. Its the middle of the seventies, that showrod you put together in the sixties is showing it's age after a decade on the show circuit and you just KNOW there's gonna be some kinda mechanical mishap round the bend. Flat battery, bubbletop blowing away in the wind, Barris signed it whilst you weren't looking - you know the deal. But how to get it back to the garage? Towrope? Nope. Lowloader? Nope. Its gotta be something fly. Enter The Hangman.

Based on the earlier Dragon Wagon kit, this TD design is a little less desirable in collectors circles thanks to a mid nineties reissue, but it's thanks to that reissue that I've got this one in my collection, stashed away for another forty years or so.

Dig the noose tow-rope, the distinctive single-coil sprung front axle and those cool drag-style 12 spoke front wheels.

JB

Another 48 Hours

It only takes a couple of days for AutoModelling.com member Rodburner (aka Bob Black) to get a cool project on it's wheels (or even finished!).

This time, he's got a channeled '34 on the bench, finished with that gorgeous true blue pearl paint. Really pops, with them whitewalls.

Follow the project's progress here.

JB

Deskspace...

....I has it.



JB

Tractor Grilles

I was browsing The HAMB the other day, as I do when I have a spare hour or two, and I came across an interesting thread regarding tractor grilles. Not the most interesting topic, you might think, but some of them farmer's front ends look pretty damn cool dropped onto a rod. I haven't researched this phenomenon much, but it certainly grabbed the attention of the guys on AutoMod.

Check out a couple of threads here and here.

JB

Magic Cupboard #1: Uncertain T

I'd wager that some of the readers of this blog will have a Magic Cupboard. It may not be a cupboard, it may be a Magic Pile or a Magic Attic or a Magic Somewhere else. Mine though is a cupboard.

Some people call them 'grails', but I just call them 'projects I'll build when I'm a bit better so I can do them justice'. Much simpler that way...

I realised today that most of my very favourite unbuilt kits are hidden away and I dont ever really see them, so the Magic Cupboard series (named after where I keep al these unbuilt kits) is gonna expose some of the cool stuff I'm saving for a time when I can build them to the level I want to.

Theyre not all rare or valuable, but this one is both. It cost me some £200 from eBay a while back, it's an original issue Uncertain T and it IS gonna be built. A resin copy has been in production for a while (more on that the very second one reaches my door) and that will no doubt form a test run for this 'real' build, but in the meantime this kit couldn't be further from the front of the pile.

If you ever find one of these somewhere, buy it, it'll bring a little bit of joy to your life guaranteed.

JB

Study Of A Hot Wheels #5: Fore Wheeler

Golf has never been a sport that I've considered being much fun. Crazy golf, yeah, sure, I can dig it. but walking about for three hours with a bag of clubs trying to put a little ball in a series of little holes doesnt sound like my cup of tea at all.

Enter the Fore Wheeler. Suddenly, a day at the club looks a little more entertaining - though the green keeper's gonna hate you pretty quick.

Blown Hemi, mounted WAY high at the back fo the car is gonna make for interesting handling weaving round the sand traps, that moon tank out front hints at the performance this thing has and the Maltese cross shaped skull on the short stubby nose is sure to make sure you DEFINITELY dont fit in with the checkered-trouser crowd.

See ya at the 19th!

JB

Cool Cooling

Sometimes all it takes to kick start a stalled project is a little inspiration. Having been stuck on my kustom 40 Ford project for a couple of weeks, I decided to do a little digging through my parts stash. Now, I've done all the hard work on this Ford, there was a TONNE of bodywork that needed attention before I even started with the kustom touches - the teardrop rear fenders, the new grille, the new lights and all the little tweaks that I wanted to make.

All that's needed is paint, a few minor bits and pieces (the steering wheel, some scratchbuilt rear shocks, stuff like that) and then it's ready for assembly and detailing. The cooling system had me stumped for a while, with the radiator being so visible it had to be something cool (pardon the pun) but also functional. Whatever I chose, it'd be visible from the front through the grille, when looking towards the front of the car from the back and from above. This was not a job for your ordinary rectangular radiator.

GSo, with a little digging, I came up with this interesting piece. I like the asymmetrical design of the pipes routing out of the top, I like the size of it (it fills the bottom of the front grille, whilst leaving a gap at the top where those wonky pipes can be viewed nicely) and it's not like anything I've ever seen before.

Now to finish the paint...

JB

Ron Weissinger's #3

Another sick pic with no info bar what's on the build sheet. I like how this (1920s era?) 'streamliner' would be much better aerodynamically if the whole deal was turned backwards. That stuff didn't matter back then though, just craftsmanship, exciting new pursuits and heroism for those brave enough to chase it. Great tribute Ron.

JB

Fred Bell's Deuce

Another 'photographer unknown' situation here, but at least I can make out from the build sheet that it was put together by Fred bell. Hope he finds this blog one day and digs that I dig it.

And what's not to dig? What looks like an Arrowhead moon tank, nice Revell steelies, engine struggling to stay contained in the confines of the engine bay and a subtle but oh-so-effective flame job. Perfect.

JB

Shorter Woody

I'm not sure who was building this when I 'right click saved' the picture so my usual apologies to whoever snapped this image. Its cool though man, great idea for a build. Some things just look cooler by being shorter!

Having a can of propane in the back of the image makes me wonder the means by which these parts were to be fixed back together - hope it made it out alive!

JB

Study Of A Hot Wheels #4: '32 Ford Vicky

Considering my well-documented Deuceophilic habits, I've only got a couple of them in my Hot Wheels collection. Both of them green - should I read something into that? This is a 2004 'reissue' of one of the original Redline Hot Wheels, issued as part of a range of 24 cars, in various colour schemes, in 1968. Dig those rectangular low-mounted headlights and the Gasser ride height.

I love the simpole clean look of the original issues of this car (check them out here - the blue is my favourite I think) but the tattoo-inspired tampos on this one are hella cool, fresh looking, and make the whole car for me. There's a whole series of these, called 'Tat Rods" which I think I just decided to collect - uh oh...

JB

Chevro-clay

I've never featured much clay on the blog before, and I doubt I will any time soon, but when I spotted this 53 Chevy in a shop in Hampstead at the weekend, I had to have it if only for it's 'something interesting to write about' factor.

I've mentioned before on the blog that the 51 Chev is my all time favourites, but the 53 shares a lot of it's styling cues, and is close enough that I'd happily 'settle' for one on my driveway. If it's two tone red and blue and has licence plates reading 'CUBA', then so be it.

I've been pondering the origins of this model (sculpture?) for a couple of days and I'm happiest with the theory that it was a souvenir bought home from some Londoner's holiday - bought to remind them of a happy week or two in the sun, smoking cigars, visiting talent shows and drinking the banana. It looks well done enough to definitely not be a first effort, but imperfect enough not to be mass produced either. How you'd go about making a hollow Chevrolet out of wet mud by hand, I have no idea, but thats my theory until I come up with something better.

Whatever it's story, for the princely sum of one Pound, its now stting proudly in my collection, all cartoon looking and ugly in it's garish colour scheme. Viva Cuba!


JB

The 48 Hour Deuce

Seeing as I'm just about to build one of these AMT 5 Window 32 kits, this build hit home. I'm mid-high detail build, and I wanna do something quick and easy. That AM/Coffin Corner member RodBurner shows, a SWEET model in two days is entirely achievable.

The AMT kits dont get so much attention any more, given the extra detail and accuracy of the Revell Deuce kits. I love the look of the AMT kits though, they build into a nice model despite the lower parts count - Tim Boyd did a gorgeous build of this same kit in Scale Auto a couple of years ago.

This is the nicest AMT 32 I've seen though. From the colour, to the whitewalls and steel wheels, the white interior and roof insert, the stance and the speed in which this was built - this build inspired me no end like only a Deuce can.

JB

Edit: Forgot the thread link!

Tin Plate Car

I've been thinking about pinstripes a lot lately. My toolbox, which we featured a few Saturdays ago, sits next to me all the time, and since it got a little decoration I've started to appreciate this art more and more. Its not a skill that I really thought would translate well to 1:25th modelling, though I've seen it done. Just the thickness of the lines would be a limiting factor in doing something cool, I'dve thought.

Turns out, the problem was me. I was thinking like a model maker and not a pinstriper. A pinstriper doesn't care about scale, he just cares about sick looking symmetrical lines, like those on this awesome 50s (I think?) tin plate car, striped by Nefarious Pinstriping. Too cool

JB

Big Brothers

Big Brother fever is sweeping the country again, and it's the time of year when people would rather be out in beer gardens but find themselves at home watching Channel 4 every night. These big ol' Yanks would be a great addition to the evening TV schedule:

These two big bad beefcakes are the last two in this mini series of builds that Harley Richards very kindly donated to me, via a Coffin Corner charity auction. I've soaked up incredible amounts of ideas, tips and inspiration just from looking at these builds and I know I'm going to enjoy them for years to come. The diecasts are on my desk next to where I'm typing, the built kits are on my display shelf and all the cool stuff he showed me when I was collecting this bounty is STILL bouncing around my head weeks later. The gorgeous brown-primer 32 roadster. The slingshot dragster. The unusual kits that I'd never even heard of before. The rare old Parts Paks and kits that I'd kill to have in my collection - tonnes of things.

One thing really stuk though. Harley's desk was a quarter of the size of mine but IMMACULATE. Two projects sitting there, works in progress. A cool little bike frame with engine (which itself inspired me - I love seeing stuff in progress and seeing one of Harleys builds in progress is like hearing your favourite band recording a new song) and another one. No parts laying about, no tolls scattered everywhere - I gotta get myself together. Hence today, to celebrate and pay tribute to these many fine builds, I'm tidying my bench. Who knows, it may even stay tidy for a couple of days until 'new project fever' hits again...

JB

Fendered Aluma-Coupe

A lot of 'real' rodders argue that it isn't cool to be a Boyd fan. And true, his super-sleek modernised creations are about as far from the traditional rodding scene as you can get. That said, and much as trad rodding will always be my first passion, I love Boyds stuff. There, I said it. Some of it dated better than others, but they're all clean, pretty, and inspirational. I'm working on a Boyd tribute 32, and I build my own version of his Aluma-Coupe, and I've seen every American Hot Rod fifty times. I bought all the AMT Boyd Coddington signature kits, although they were arguably little more than poorly thought out cash-ins.

Harley did his take on Testors' snap kit long before me, and did it better too. He envisaged a fendered version, with a big sexy rear end moulded effortlessly into the sides of the body, and sleek swooping front fenders perfectly complimenting the front end that Boyd envisaged. he pulled it off too, and then some. His build looks more Boyd than Boyd - just the kinda sleek sexy machine that the bearded one would love. Great tribute, even if none was meant.

JB

Blown

We've shown a lot of pretty pics and exterior stuff from my new collection, but not so much of the actual mechanical bits. Just to prove that Harley's more that just a pretty paintjob, check out what's under the flip-front of this pretty Gasser. Definitely sexy, to my eyes.

JB

Warcraft

Much as I love the 32 grille on a 32, I've recently started thinking about other options. The 32 body is distinctive enough to take a new nose and not lose it's identity.

This die cast street rod is rocking it's 33 grille shell, looking to me like a warrior holding his shield, proud and bold about to do battle.

JB

Union Special

If you gotta go Austin, this is probably the way to fly - in a sky high, beautifully raked sky blue build, more than 20 years old. Sporting gorgeous vintage door art, paint that still smells like it's gassing out (ahh, the wonders of enamel) and opening door and flip front, this Harley build is my new favourite eye-candy.

JB

"Mr Gasser"

I'm familiar with Testors paints, but I had no idea they made die-casts too. Not too common over here maybe? They should be though, they do a damn fine 1:43 Willys gasser

JB

Off Topic

Or is it?

I've been debating the next part in my mini-series of the bounty I found whilst pillaging Croyden, and by the time I'd decided what to do, about a week has passed. No blog for a week? Blame my think box.

Anyway, here was the dilemma. This blog is kinda like the Jalopy Journal, but for models. Well, that's the goal...Ryan's writing skills and eye for a good story are a whole solar system away from my sporadic ramblings, but the stuff that he features is all the kinda stuff I like. On the accompanying message board, Ryan and his operate a stict rule; traditional rods and kustoms only.

My rule for this , inspired by personal taste than an attempt to ape someone else's formula, was no tuners on this blog, however cool. There's enough amazing stuff to feature here without branching into something I don't know much about. Don't get me wrong, my 1:1 daily is a 3 year old 'hot' hatch, I got nothing against people who wanna build this stuff, but my plan was to stick to the old stuff here.

Then, in my haul, was this cute little 2 seater Suzuki. It's got after market alloy wheels, carbon fibre on the silencer and the plate indicates it was tuned by computer rather than screwdriver. And yet, I think it fits. Why? Let me explain.

First up, its tiny, light. Not silly money. Long bonnet. Rear driven. Kinda classic looking, like some kinda relative to the Austin Healey Sprites and MG Midgets for the 60s. The Japanese do retro pretty well (see the Mazda MX-5's resemblance to old Lotuses - no accident, it was part of the design brief), and in it's metallic British racing green finish, it's not hard to see where they might got some of the ideas from.

Sometimes stealing liberally from the past works out pretty well (New Beetle), sometimes its questionable at best (PT Cruiser), but in this newer-is-better-gotta-get-the-newest-thing-now world, the fact that anyone in these big companies is even looking back to what's gone before is pretty damn cool.

JB

Postscript: Regardless of how off topic the model itself was, the blog it inspired was DEFINITELY left of centre. Do not adjust your set, normal service will be resumed shortly...

MG

My family's got a little history with Morris garages and their products. As a kid I was dragged around countless MG Owners Club shows until we finally got our own (modest) slice of the pie; a got-the-runs-yellow rubber bumper Midget. I think it's still in a shed somewhere, but noone's in a rush to drag it out right now. My mother works, and has worked for as long as I can remember, for the MG Owners Club, she drives MG Metros rather than the regular Austin/Rover versions and our coffee table is home to today's newspaper and 'Enjoying MG' magazine.

This in mind, I've never actually contemplated adding a scale MG to my collection. I should've probably, those old pre-MGA roadsters that I saw all those shows cant have hurt in the development of my love affair with the shape of Americas equivalent early Fords.

I forget which model of MG this is, my encyclopedic knowledge of these things has waned somewhat since I discovered girls, but the shape of that wheel arch, that sexy wire wheel and the louvres mean this old English lady, kindly donated by Harley, is certainly welcome in my collection any day.

JB