Von Harl

Here's how my Saturday panned out. Woke up, drove to Harley's, took possession of a tonne of cool stuff, saw some even COOLER stuff, got excited like a little boy every 30 seconds and finally got a parting (one) shot of some cool lines on my new Stanley toolbox.

Though quite OT - this tool box is actually for my RC gear, I couldn't resist sharing those cool lines with anyone who'll look. Thanks a million Harley.

JB

Stupidi-T

He may have called his latest creation 'Stupidi-T', but Dave Kapp is no fool. It takes a clever guy to take a body as beaten-to death creatively as the Model T and do something as fresh and different to it.

Built with an Infini-T body as a basis, some Funny car bits here and there and a nice clean Hemi out front, Dave's created a cool 70's vibe with this build, kinda like if Barris made the Uncertain T. That nose screams Barris T Buggy to me (though also looks nothing like it) and the Boyd paint job is a nice hat-tip to another builder not afraid to try new things out and shake things up a little.

Read the story of this one in Dave's words here - it'd be stupidi-t not to

JB

Junkyard Jewels #28: Inline 4

For someone with a large collection of spare engines (easily a hundred now, it's getting to be an obsession) I rarely know what the non-V8 ones are. I know where they'd work well though, and this one is gonna get a great home.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #27: Trailer

The coolest thing about this trailer, incomplete but an easy fix, is that when restored I'll have to build at least another two models to go with it. And I've got two of them! Like those little mudguards, they might get 'borrowed'.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #26: 5 Stud Steelie and Whitewall

Only got one of these, and it looks like a dog ate it, but a resin copy at each corner of a fenderless roadster would look a sick thing indeed.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #25: More fake Torq Thrusts?

Speaking of Torq Thrust lookalikes, this wheel may or may not be influenced by American Racing Equipment. Looks cool in a piecrust slick, whatever it is!

JB

Junkyard Jewels #24: Bike Wheels and Axle

Always liked seeing a set of these on a vintage rail - as impractical as they are. They're perfect for a T Bucket too - anything wider looks too wide to me. These are destined for a 60s style Deuce roadster of some sort...

JB

Junkyard Jewels #23: Unknown Frame

Once, as a kid, I found an old dune buggy frame, behind a building. It was all overgrown and rusted, but I could see what was there. The wheels were on it, the seat was there - it wasnt pretty but it was certainly something I wanted to drag home. I found a lot of cars as a kid, just by hunting around and riding my bike around and stuff. Found some old 50s race car in one garden, a shortened Fiat 126 in another, a Fiat 500 and black cab in one guys garden...I loved it.
You don't find cool stuff like this where I live though. I don't even know exactly what it's meant for, but it's a cool looking ladder.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #22: Fake AREs?

Poorly done Torq Thrust replicas, inspired by Torq Thrusts or just looking a bit like them? Whatever, these are just different enough to be cool.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #21: Chrysler Turbine

The car that could've changed cars as we know them is a cool subject to find in a junk lot. No turbine in this one, and missing some bits..perfect start for some kinda REALLY unique street machine? Hell yeah. Turbine bronze is hot, by the way. Reminds me of semi-naked chicks on the beach.

The future could've been bright people...

JB

Junkyard Jewels #20: Deuce Pick Up

You'd be surprised how many Deuce pick up kits there are. Worst is the Lindberg version, best is the new Replicas and Miniatures conversion kit. Not sure who made this one, but it came in a parts lot that I picked up largely cos this was in it. Now if only someone would make a roadster pick up conversion for the Revell 32 kit...

JB

Surf'n Van

They dont make box art, all forward tilted windscreens and funky colours, like this anymore.

JB

L'il Squirt

Picked this lairy pink A roadster up in a parts lot a while back, as far as I recall. There's been so many...

She's got no engine, and that colour scheme would probably get a rethink if I did it, but it's cool to have a build in my collection that someone else spent time and effort on. Said collection is about to get an expansion, whilst we're on the subject...more on those in a week or two.

To restore or not to restore, that's the dilemma; sympathy for the creator, or rescue the pink car?

JB

Keith's Kustom

Built by Keith, and probably photographed by someone else, I dunno what this is (Corvair lights?) but I think it's cool as hell. Certainly not an exercise in conventional smoothing and tweaking, that sticky-outy grille and the big chrome bumpers in particular going against the grain...but isnt that what this is all about?

Good work Keith

JB

Twin Engined Cad

I cant help but to find something beautiful in all that detail, like looking into an expensive gem, with all the colurs and planes and shapes. Flawless.

Zoom in though, anywhere, and the detail is incredible. And two engines means twice the things to wire up!

Built by Del Paone, though picture taker unknown, sorry.

JB

Circle Track Cuda on a Pearl COE

Another day, another 'borrowed' picture. i gotta start writing down where I get this stuff from, but with 50,000 pics it'll be a while...

Anyway, this Ford COE (I think?) / Cuda circle track racer is a real fresh combination of genres. Tuner style wheels on the truck, and a sexy modern buttery yellow pearl job. 70s muscle with a dirt car wing. Who woulda thought those things'd work so well?

JB

Altered Outlaw

Dave "Scurvy" McGowan sure knows how to mix up a cool car, showrod fans.

With a recipe consisting of Roth's Outlaw body, a Winged Express frame and chassis, Caddy mill with blower, Lil Coffin rear wheels, Jesse James chopper front wheels and tyres from a 1/20th Tamiya F1 car this is gonna be one of the most most going-est showcars we've seen. Check it.

JB

Writing About Pictures Is Like Cooking About Music...

...but picture posting is broken tonight, so what better to celebrate than by hooking you up with some picture galleries of mine? Enjoy!

Last year's IPMS Scale Modelworld 2007
11 pages of how we do things in the UK. This one's a favourite, as is this roller-painted bus.

Cool 1:1 Inspiration
If I see something full-sized that I like, I pop a pic of it in here. Particularly good if you like old rods...

Goodwood Revival Minis
Something cool about seeing a plucky little Mini racing relative Goliaths at Goodwood I think.

Hopefully, more picsa tomorrow, but at least ya got someting to look at now, right? Failing that, go build something!

JB

Lil Beach Bastard

Joe D sure makes some cool parts...resin guns and knives not included...

JB

Messerschmitt - Update!

It was really cool to hear from Harley Richards today; you might remember his amazing Tip-Top-Tee project from a while ago. Turns out that little yellow cutie that I posted a pic of last week was his too! Shoulda guessed really!

I didn't know this before having only seen the pic above, but the car actually has TWO V8s out back there. Bet sixteen cylinders would get this thing airbourne, wings or not! More here, for anyone needing a fix of automotive craziness and extreme building skills from one of the UK's finest builders.

JB

T & A

When a master-builder like Art Anderson starts an old-school hot rod project you probably oughta pay attention, you're guaranteed to learn something. Art's a walking encyclopedia of early Ford info, and probably THE best scratchbuilder I've ever seen. Check his various posts here and see what mean. Don't forget to check out the Olds truck he's building whilst you're at it, and find out what a master can do with a little wood and some deodorant.

JB

Scratchbuilding from Sweden

I'm on a bit of a scratchbuilding-binge this week, and I was delighted when Rikard said I could feature his build on the blog. His Pro Mod Chevy Nova project is one of the most in-depth projects I've seen for a long time - he's already got seven years invested in it! The hardest thing was deciding which pic to feature at the top of this story, but the easiest thing is being blown away by the skills demonstrated here. If this big ol' dose of super-modelling doesn't make you wanna go detail something up to the max, then nothing will.

JB

Call to Arms - help a charity, and get some modelling supplies

When a good cause comes a knocking, I'm proud to say that the many fine builders I know are quick to dig deep and help out. The Coffin Corner has had a drive on lately to support the Living Legacy Foundation and I'm proud to have a lot of Alclad supplies up for auction. Bid here, and support a very worthy cause, or if metalizers don't take your fancy check out the dozen or so other cool auctions that they've got listed in their For Sale section.

Dig deep if you can guys, we're supporting a charity here who supports at least one modeller and his family, and that's enough reason for me...

JB

Tiger's Trike

Here's a dilemma I have frequently whilst writing this blog. Sometimes I've got little to no information to go off when I'm writing, and I fill in the gaps or keep it brief. The best ones though are where there's a tonne of background for you to see to the story at the click of a mouse. Rather than retell someone's story I'd rather point you to them so you can hear (read) them tell it themselves, but also I worry that that doesn't do them justice.

So, with full acknowledgment paid to just how amazingly cool I think this trike is (I don't even like trikes!), here's FreakinTiger's WIP. I love it, and if you're as big of a scratchbuilding-enthusiast as I am you're bound to pick up some ideas...

JB

Got Scallops?

I'm pretty sure this car is featured in a Scale Auto Contest Annual, and if it is then I also kinda recall that the scallops were handpainted with One-Shot. Whatever, that Mica blue looks gorgeous, and the colour really pops.

JB

49 Ford

I don't go for a lot of Kustoms normally, but this one must've caught my eye as I took the time to hijack the pic from somewhere and it made me smile when I found it tonight. The gold paint, not too bright, not too dark, whitewalls and nice stance probably swung it for me.

JB

Draggin' Bug

Photographer and builder unknown, and this is the only pic I've got, but this A/FX Beetle is every bit as cool as that VolksRod we saw the other day. Wonder if it ever got finished?

JB

Old #5

Anyone calling themselves ModelCarJedi has gotta deliver when it comes to putting together something cool. He delivered.

JB

Making Chicken Soup...

"I just cant seem to toss anything out!" says Mike Hundahl. I know what he means, I'm a little bit of a hoarder too, and I've NEVER thrown anything modelling-related out. Even sprue - I just know it'll come in handy one day! Seeing Mike's build on the Coffin Corner yesterday, I finally feel validated. He certainly didn't pick an easy start for himself, but that just makes the result all the more astonishing.

JB

Tim Nolan presents: 'The Brick'

Tim Nolan is one cool cat. A Showrod Jedi with a wild imagination, a Rat Fink obsession and a 1:1 Deuce Coupe in the garage is always gona be the kinda guy whose work I'll enjoy.

His latest, The Brick, is a crazy twin engined Lincoln in a beautiful metallic green, with attention to detail to die for. Check that matching green wiring out! Its mocked-up but unfinished in the pic above, but to see where's its currently at, check out this thread on the Coffin Corner.

JB

Old Joe

You just don't see enough ratty old rails built. Even less that are this cool. Kudos Ramone, check it out kids.

JB

Classic Motor Show 2008

I know, I know, we don't feature 1:1 stuff here, but I found plenty to inspire me at this year's Classic Motor Show in Shuttleworth. Maybe you will too?

JB

Paint Hero

We first mentioned True Fire a little while back with CarModDave's True Fire Tub, and I've been looking forward to featuring my favourite model car painter, and a true master of the art, John Vaillancourt. Check THIS collection out:

These are just the first three pics I found, but they're all as stunning, beautiful and elegant as these. Hero hero hero.

JB

Junkyard Jewels #19: 5 Spokes

One more set of wheels from the Junkyard to round up this trio of round-related blogs. Unusually, I actually have four of these ones!

JB

Junkyard Jewels #18: Another Wheel

Dunno if this is cool or not, but its a bit different! Rough too...

JB

Junkyard Jewels #17: Seventies Wheel

Well, I THINK it was from the seventies...still looks fresh though! Imagine it in Alclad Magnesium, I think I'll have a pretty cool shoe for something

JB

Bernard's Dominator

After raving about Bernard's Beautiful Coupe yesterday, I thought it'd be cool to share a pic of his oldest remaining build, which he put together sometime in the 60s. Actually, my plan wasn't quite as perfectly formed as that...I have a folder of bookmarks featuring builds that I'd like to feature on the blog and after featuring Bernard's Coupe yesterday I looked through my folder and realised that the next in line was another one of his from 40 years previous. Dirt, dust and damage aside, Bernard certainly had chops back in the day and did a beautiful job considering the materials available at the time (cardboard body anyone?).

More detail and pics here - and kudos to Bernard for deciding to leave this little slice of modelling history just as it was build all those years ago.

JB

Bernard's Beautiful Coupe

I've got a tonne of respect for anyone who's been doing something they love for years and years. Those who inspire me most are the often ones who have houses, garages or workshops full of car stuff, hot rod parts, RC car stuff, model kits or just about ANYTHING that they're passionate about. Some people though, can blow me without all that hassle.

Model Cars Mag forum member GKB1 (aka Bernard) hadn't built a kit for 40 years prior to this one, but his lack of modelling lately certainly doesn't seem to have dulled his skills. In fact, perhaps all that time was just time well spent planning?

Bernard started his build with a Blueprinter reissue AMT kit, which contributed its body, frame and interior pieces, with the stock Flattie replaced by a Caddy mill - which required much modifying up and scratchbuilding on the ol' Ford's frame. Dropped over said frame is the unchopped body with a 4" shorter grille from Model Car Garage to bring the top of the grille shell down to the level of the top of the cowl. Naturally, the interior needed significant modification to fit the new channeled body - in fact it's fair to say that Bernard probably didn't have an easy time with any of this build, yet stuck with what amounts to a very impressive 'first' build. Something to be proud of.

There's so much on this build that is just so right for me, it's hard to know where to begin. The deep deep (Tamiya) blue and gold combination, for one. The realism that was clearly considered at every stage. The (Revell?) whitewalls, complimented by the roof insert and firewall. The attention to detail. The subtle use of photoetch and resin parts. The stance The concept....I could go on for hours but will settle with pointing you in the direction of some more pics of the finished piece. Go here, or know you're missing out on the coolest 34 this side of the 60s...

JB

VolksRod

I never thought I was a VW nut, but this is the second in a week, so who knows? Losing the fenders is definitely how I'd kit out MY Bug, if I ever found myself in possession of one.

JB

Ramblur

Unknown source again, sorry, but who woulda thought a Rambler could look so cool? Got a pic of it finished too, but that primer touches a good button for me

JB

Big Red Cool

I found this build on Scale Auto one day a couple of years ago, then spent a whole day a few weeks later trying to find the thread again so I could save the pic. Sadly I didn't make a note of who was making this cool little build, or what it was. I seem to remember it was 1/16th and maybe an old Revell kit, but more than that escapes me...

I'd love to do one of these in 1:25, but I'm not sure it's even based on a real car...

JB

A/FX

We don't normally feature 1:1 car pics on the blog, but if this photo doesn't make you wanna build a scale fuel altered of your own, nothing will

JB

V8 Messerschmitt

I dont know who thought a V8 Messerschmitt (as found in my collection of 'cool shit' pics) was a good idea, but I agree wholeheartedly with their sentiment.

JB

Undermarket: Lindley Ruddick

There's AFTERmarket parts manufacturers, and theirs UNDERmarket parts manufacturers. The aftermarket firms are the ones you've all heard of. Replicas and Miniatures, Detail Master, The Parts Box. But beyond these niche companies are companies that are such a good secret they're that you wont find them in any shops, in magazines or on eBay. Well, maybe eBay, but only if theyre selling the stuff themselves. We're talking seriously cool stuff, sold in tiny quantities, and a real treat - if you can hunt them down at all.

The term 'undermarket', which I just came up with when contemplating how best to describe them, isn't meant in a derogatory sense in the slightest, it just reflects I think the 'under the radar' nature of these firms. Googling for anything they make probably wont bring up any results showing you where to apply your credit card number in order to get them. You might have to write a letter (yes, a real one, with a stamp), or call a phone number between 5 and 6pm. These guys aren't interested in making big bucks out of the parts they lovingly create, they just do it for the love of it, and it's high time they were recognised. Also, I love to gloat about the cool shit I have in my collection...

First up, is Lindley Ruddick who, as far as I can tell, only makes one kit. Like I say, this aint big businesses we're talking about here...

Lindley followed the lead of Replicas and Miniatures by producing a simplified version of their ultra cool AMT Bonneville Kart, as featured here. Now, $40 might seem a little excessive to some, and seeing as the frame and engine are pretty much hidden when the body is on, Lindley has made a simplified version consisting of an upper body, a lower body, and a vacuum formed clear canopy. You might thing it sacrilege to detail down, but any kit that can look as cool as this one that we featured in February is fine in my eyes.

Even cooler, Lindley is running a kind of offline community build project, sending the kits out to interested builders, on the provision that they display them at NNL West 2009. He had quite the turn out of karts in 2007 and 2008, and I'm excited about sending him mine to display at next year's show. I'm thinking white/red SoCal Speed Shop style for mine, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, if you're interested in these, check out Lindley's site here.

JB