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