EXCLUSIVE BUILD: Revell’s new Ford GT 40 p. 12

August 2018

SPECIAL ISSUE IMPALA TURNS 60! WE GO GAGA WITH: 4-page gallery 2 how-tos 1 Great Model

World-famous lowrider Gypsy Rose - p. 30

Pick your

kits PAGE 33

12 NEW MODELS reviewed by our experts BONUS ONLINE +Build Bobby Unser’s ’68 Indy Eagle CONTENT CODE PAGE 3 12 pages of contest photos: 50 vehicles Vol. 40 • Issue 2 Get ready to traverse the terrain in the Scout SS II! International’s “early SUV” is being reissued for the fi rst time ever in the rare and desirable SS II off-road version! Featuring a specialized door- less body, off road tires and an expanded decal sheet with new graphic options, this kit is sure to jump off the shelves! It hasn’t been available since the late 1970s! KIT FEATURES Fun and easy to assemble expanded original decal graphics with new options INTERNATIONAL OFFROAD SCOUT SS II Molded in white and clear, ฀vintage packaging #AMT1102 (1:25 SCALE) with chrome accessories Vinyl off-road tires “KEEP ON CLIMBIN” WITH THESE OTHER GREAT KITS FROM ROUND 2! SEE OUR FULL PRODUCT LINE-UP AT ROUND2CORP.COM!

1969 DODGE CHARGER CITY SLICKER AUTOCAR A64B TRACTOR HONDA SUPER HAWK CB77 MPC879 (1:25 SCALE) AMT1099 (1:25 SCALE) MPC898 (1:16 SCALE)

INTERNATIONAL ®, and other International truck trademarks are licensed by INTERNATIONAL TRUCK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY Dodge related logos, vehicle model names and trade dress are trademarks of FCA US LLC and used under license by Round 2 LLC. ©2018 FCA US LLC. 2018 ©Autocar, LLC. Honda®, the Wing® logo, Honda vehicle model names and their trade dress are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. used under license from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Many Honda vehicle model names and trade dress may be seen at www.honda.com. All rights reserved. AMT & MPC are registered trademarks of Round 2, LLC. ©2018 Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628 USA. Product and packaging designed in the USA. Made in China. All rights reserved. Website Access Code: SCA1808 Enter this code at: www.ScaleAutoMag.com/CODE INSIDE to gain access to web-exclusive content AUGUST 2018 Vol. 40 No. 2

Kicking off our special Impala turns 60 issue, is Antonio DeSouza’s lowrider based on an AMT kit of the 1964 Impala. He added rabbit ear antennas, rear window blinds, headlight covers, and custom Supreme wheels. The body’s candy paint job is from Mr_Stylez408. A gallery starts on page 16.

FEATURES REVIEWS

12 12 Pre-pro Ford GT build by David Thibodeau We build Revell’s newest car kit 10 KITS,

20 ’65 Impala: Recreating 2 DC p. 44 45 a brother’s beater • 1980 Jeep Honcho by Mark Jones 20 • Porsche 944 Turbo Racing It wasn’t pretty, but it ran • BMW 2002 Turbo • Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne 27 ’60 Impala: 12 tips to • 2018 Ford Mustang GT 48 create a better Chevy • Norton Commando 750 PR by Marcos Cruz • 1912 Ford Model T Delivery Learn 12 ways to improve a build 27 • BMW 320i 30 One Great Model: • Jaguar XJR-9 IMSA Hot pink Impala • Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD • 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix 54 by Armando Flores • 1927 Duesenberg Indy winner Don the shades, then take a look!

30 33 Most wanted kits by Robby DeGra DEPARTMENTS Vote for what models you want made 4 Starting Line 44 Kit Reviews 36 NNL Milwaukee Gallery by Robby DeGra 5 Shop Talk 55 Truck Stop 33 NASCAR’s 70 years was the theme 8 New Products 56 Advertisers Index 42 Buckeye Classic Gallery by Jim Casassa 10 Tips & Tech 57 Classifieds/Events Photos from the Hilliard, Ohio, show 32 Classic Kits 58 Museum Pieces 34 Bench Racer 59 Finish Line Check us out at ScaleAutoMag.com

ONLINE GALLERY, KIT REVIEWS, TIPS & TECH, Scale Auto (ISSN: 0195-217X, USPS:493-550) is published bimonthly by VIDEOS, FORUM, AND MORE! Become a registered Kalmbach Media Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha, Wis,. and additional offices. member today and get in on all the action! Postmaster: Send address changes to Scale Auto, PO Box 62320, Tampa, FL 33662-2320. Canada Publication Mail Agreement # 40010760. 40

STARTINGLINE BY MARK SAVAGE

Executive Editor Mark Savage Impala models still turning heads Art Director Tom Ford Assistant Editor Robby DeGraff Editorial Associate Monica Freitag

Editorial Offices 262-796-8776 Fax 262-796-1383 E-mail [email protected]

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I’m old. trunkload of useful tips in this one! CUSTOMER SERVICE Change of address, delivery problems, new subscriptions, I remember hearing Dinah Shore sing, Plus Marcos Cruz gives us his best tips renewals, product orders, or customer inquiries “See the USA in your Chevrolet,” while for spiffing up a 1960 Impala. Phone 877-246-4844 watching Bonanza on our family’s black Meanwhile, for Ford guys we welcome Outside the U.S. and Canada 813-910-3616 and white TV. David Thibodeau back to the Scale Auto Customer Service [email protected] Digital [email protected] And you can be sure many folks have fold as he builds the pre-production Back Issues [email protected] seen the USA from a Chevy Impala. version of Revell’s Ford GT racer. It’s a Please include your name, mailing address, and telephone Launched as a chrome-laden family beauty. Now we await word from Revell number with any correspondence car in 1958 (see above) it became a flat- Germany as to when it will hit the U.S. CIRCULATION finned wonder in 1959 and a handsome, market. Circulation Director Liz Runyon hardtop and convertible in the 1960s. There’s much more in this issue, New Business Manager Cathy Daniels I think the 1959-’67 Impalas are the including our first Most Wanted Kits Retention Manager Kathy Steele real icons and it’s those that we celebrate survey in years. Read on (p. 33) to find Single Copy Specialist Kim Redmond here in glorious styrene. out how you can vote for the model you KALMBACH MEDIA We turn our attention to Impala most want produced! CEO Dan Hickey because of its anniversary and staying Finally, we must Vice President, Content Stephen C. George Vice President, Consumer Marketing Nicole McGuire power. sadly say goodbye Advertising Director Scott Redmond While there were a few short breaks in to our longtime Art and Production Manager Michael Soliday production, the most luxurious Chevy friend and has hung in there for 60 years and only contributor, Wayne Scale Auto (ISSN: 0195-217X) is published bimonthly by Kalmbach Media Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187- now is being threatened with extinction Moyer. Wayne died 1612. ©2016 Kalmbach Publishing Co. All rights reserved. because Chevy, like Ford, is considering April 1. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: United States – 1 year (6 issues) $29.95, 2 years (12 issues) $51.95, 3 years (18 issues) $74.95. Canadian 1 eliminating much of its car lineup. His work first year $36.95, 2 years $65.95, 3 years $95.95. Payable in U.S. funds. Impala is said to be one model on appeared in Scale (Canadian price includes GST). BN 12271 3209 RT. Canada Publication Auto Enthusiast Mail Agreement # 40010760. International 1 year $36.95, 2 years GM’s accountants chopping block. Wayne Moyer ’s $65.95, 3 years $95.95. But modelers love those 1959-1960s August 1979 issue. POSTMASTER: (USPS: 493-550) Send address changes to Scale Impalas. They are classics and can be That was issue No. 2. Wayne wrote more Auto, PO Box 62320, Tampa, FL 33662-2320. Scale Auto assumes that letters, new product information, and built showroom stock, or as low-riders than 100 stories for us, including the die- other unsolicited materials are contributed gratis. Feature articles with gorgeous, glittery paint jobs. cast Collectors Showcase column for 10+ are paid for on acceptance. Photographs and other editorial material accepted separately are paid for on publication, at which time Scale We cover the gamut this issue, with a years. We have one more of his recent Auto obtains publication rights. Information about submitting articles colorful gallery of builds from various builds that we’ll run in a future issue. to Scale Auto is available on request from the editor. Unsolicited material, if not accepted, will be returned if adequate postage and shows in the past year, plus a stunning Wayne loved 1/43 scale, die-cast and wrappings are provided. One Great Model of a real California white metal models, and all racers. We’ll Scale Auto assumes no responsibility for the safe return of chariot that may just melt your eyes. miss him and extend our condolences to unsolicited material.

Better put on your shades before you his family and many modeling friends. Printed in U.S.A. open the center spread! Please read Bill Coulter’s Regular contributor Mark Jones goes rememberence of his friend online at to great lengths to recreate his brother’s www.scaleautomag.com/waynememoriam beater ’65 Impala, with rust and faded paint. You’ll find an Impala-sized [email protected]

4 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 SHOPTALK

We’re on Instagram the team are doing. and in particular I enjoyed Jim Sheperd’s Instagram is a powerful I really enjoyed Robby’s interview and review of the Baja Bronco immediately tool for sharing our finished article with Atyd Pradana, it reveals the following Bob Downie’s article on builds, connecting with other limitless boundaries of our hobby and building a modified off-road Bronco. modelers, and finding inspiration. Give acknowledges a very basic fact: die-cast I recently subscribed to Fine Scale us a follow at has been, is, and will be a very big part of Modeler as well, I find it a great resource @scaleautomagazine. our hobby. I’ll send you some pictures of for adding additional details to my –Robby DeGraff, several modified die-cast I have in my model cars and for trying different Assistant Editor collection. techniques for weathering, aging, etc. With the amount of flux the plastic I’m also glad to see the inclusion of Our hobby knows no limits model industry is in, a die-cast might be some car kits in the new product listings Bravo! I just read my digital version of the only way to obtain a base model for a in FSM as well. the June issue and have nothing but particular project. I look forward to –Wayne W. Webers praise for the work you and the rest of more articles on this subject. via email The multipage reviews are excellent REVELL UPDATE

The bankruptcy of Hobbico 1. All Revell US operations 4. There has been no in various forms, Snap Tite has led to Revell’s assets ceased on Friday, April 13. announcement of a and Snaptite, Junior Kit, being bought by a German The Illinois offices were distributor for Revell Bad Medicine, Renwal, RM investment group, listed in closed and 15 people lost Germany Kustom, court documents as Blitz their jobs. products that California 18-313. It is based near 2. Revell Germany will may be sold in Wheels, Munich. Blitz also bought continue to operate as in the U.S. market. Monogram, Pro Hobbico Germany. the past with Blitz being its We suspect an Modeler, Revell The sale was approved by owner. No word on any announcement will come Monogram, Red Baron, Ice a U.S. bankruptcy court layoffs or changes in soon though as the T, and many more. Friday, April 13. Sale price Germany. Sources tell us investors will want to see 7. There was at least one was $3.9 million with that Revell Germany staff cash flow get back to its other bidder for Revell several contingencies that only found out about the previous levels soon. In beyond the Blitz bid. could raise or lower the sale on April 13, and no addition, court documents 8. Also up in the air due sum. Hobbico, based in further details were say that all inventory must to Hobbico’s bankruptcy is Illinois, had owned Revell available at press time. be moved from the Hobbico the distribution of Italeri and was forced to sell it due 3. We believe model kits warehouse in Champaign, and Hasegawa models. to its bankruptcy. already in development, Ill., within 30 days. Hobbico was their U.S. Here’s what we know including the Ford GT that 5. Court documents say distributor. There has been about the sale. No official we feature on p. 12 and the sale included all molds no word yet on who else announcement has come to which is due out this and tooling owned by Revell may take up Italeri and us from Blitz, or Revell summer, will still be US, so those now belong to Hasegawa distribution in Germany. Our info comes produced. We hear the Ford Revell Germany. the U.S. market. from court documents and GT will now be boxed as a 6. It also included Revell –Mark Savage, industry sources. Revell Germany kit. trademarks, such as Revell Editor

Check with Your Local Hobby Shop or order on line from www.newcenturyhobbies.com SCALE 1/24 & 1/25 1-800-777-3977

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 5 SHOPTALK

Does size matter? US because that’s the scale that was One minor point though; surely the I’m a subscriber and I’ve always chosen in the 1950s for the plastic James Bond film the car starred in was wondered...why not do only one scale for promotional models which then evolved You Only Live Twice, rather than For model cars? Why have both 1/24 and into plastic kits based on promo tooling. Your Eyes Only, which was much later. 1/25? I’m sure this has been asked I’ve heard mention that the drawings Keep up the good work, and thanks. 1 million times, I’ve just never seen an used to develop the tooling were –Richard Tyjas answer. commonly done in 1/10 scale, then easily via email –Dean Smith reduced mathematically to 1/25. via Facebook The reason for both? People in the US Richard, thanks for your note and glad Dean, excellent question. We tossed it tend to think only inside our own borders. to hear you enjoy the “Classic Kits” out to some of our experts and there isn’t They’re familiar with 1/25, and consider column. The kits I feature are generally a solid, short set-in-stone reason why. 1/24 a “foreign” scale. The rest of the from my collection, although in some Here’s a roundtable of three answers that world mostly ignores 1/25, producing kits cases they are the box art only (e.g., we hope will help: in the globally-recognized 1/24 scale. Both without the unbuilt kit contents). Mark Jones: 1/25 is basically an scales produce models in what I call the This MPC kit was a purchase about 40 American scale that became the norm due “golden size,” a perceived perfection of years ago from a hobby store that had a to promo cars. 1/24 is a logical derivation scale for the subject that’s big enough for a closeout sale on old AMT and MPC kits. from the earlier established railroad scale, lot of detail, small enough not to take up I checked my notes, and of course you O gauge 1/48, twice the size. HO is 1/87. an enormous amount of room. are correct that the movie that featured Bob Downie: I’m not an expert Mark Hembree, FSM associate the 2000GT was You Only Live Twice. historian on why the two scales exist for editor: Thomas Graham’s book Not quite sure how I made that mistake, the model car world. That said, 1/24 is an Monogram Models is a great resource. but thanks for the correction. architectural scale where 1 inch = 2 feet, Graham explains that when Monogram Keep watching, I have many more cool basically half of 1/12 scale. This has been released its 1930 Ford Model A Phaeton (and in some cases mostly unknown) kits the common international scale for most in 1961, it committed to 1/24 scale (more lined up for future “Classic Kits” columns, plastic model cars for decades. in keeping with popular European scales including several dating from more recent 1/25 became the common scale in the such as 1/48 and 1/72). However, AMT, times such as the late 1970s and 1980s. Revell and others in the American Best regards. modeling industry went with 1/25. The –Tim Boyd difference is barely noticeable, and the GRAND SLAM reasoning is even less apparent — but that Breathe easy NNL #3 is how it wound up. Hi, I have been building models since 1968, and still love the hobby ... but I TOY & MODEL SWAP MEET From Q-Branch would like to know if there are any SATURDAY, OCT. 13TH, 2018 I’ve just received the June issue of places that sell VOC model paints? Low- JOHNSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER Scale Auto. I always look at “Classic Kits” odor for chemically-sensitive people. 9937 E. COUNTY RD. A, JOHNSTOWN WI first and this was no exception. Tim Any help in this would be greatly (7 Miles East of Janesville, WI) Boyd always finds fascinating models; I appreciated. SWAP MEET 9AM-3PM • NNL 10AM-4PM wonder, are these from his own stash? –Roy White I remember the Airfix version of the via Facebook Toyota 2000GT though and built one back in 1968, but sadly I no longer have Hi Roy, Mark Jones here. Low-odor is a it. It was good to see the MPC version somewhat tricky term in this case. Contact: Kevin Koch 920-728-3585 featured, as I don’t think it ever came to I use low VOC automotive clears [email protected] England. because in California that is all we can

We specialize in Out-of Production cars & truck kits old and new.

If you have a collection to sell, or want to buy kits from us directly, please email us. [email protected]

6 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 buy, but it is still highly toxic at 2.1 VOC. FUTURE GETS A NEW NAME (AGAIN) I also have some old spray lacquers that are 89% VOC for comparison. I’d suggest Tamiya acrylics for modeling Pledge Multi-surface Finish has a new(er) name. in the low VOC range as most of the zero The ever-useful-for-modeling-purposes floor VOC stuff I know of is for house painting polish goes by a new moniker now: Pledge Floor and other industrial uses, not conducive Gloss. Along with a new name, this S.C. Johnson for fine details. product also comes in new packaging (see photo). Here at the magazine, we’ll be using its full Kitbashing dump trucks name upon first reference, and PFG after. We can’t I like Scale Auto and have been reading guarantee its identity internationally. it for six years after returning to the If you’re on the hunt for this clear polish hobby. While I primarily build military outside of North America, go to our sister models, I’ve taken an interest in big rigs. magazine’s website, FineScale.com and type in, “In A recent “Truck Stop” column made the past, it was Future” — that will lead you to an mention of kitbashing the Mack and article on using the product and how it is known PayStar dump trucks. Try using the around the globe. dump body from Revell’s dump truck -Elizabeth Nash, and build the rest as a Kenworth W900 Assistant Editor at FineScale Modeler magazine tractor. You also could use the dump body from MPC’s Gravel Trailer kit, then the rest of the trailer as a container vehicles, a reaction to our June issue story Wheels cars at 90 pounds (about $125)! hauler. on Atyd Pradana in Indonesia. Patrick But you can only buy this on the –Scott Tait writes: internet, so you don’t really know what’s via email Matchbox cars, originally a British in the pack until it arrives! make, are again on sale in some toy I’ve just found Hot Wheels at another Big prices for little cars shops here (U.K.). If they are old stock, supermarket site, 5 pack of cars at 11 Editor’s note: Patrick Wickham chimed which is rare, they might be 5 pounds pounds (about $15) and a two pack of in with a unique global perspective on a each (about $7) but nothing below that. Superman cars also at 11 pounds! thread floating across our online forum I’ve just looked on a supermarket about the economy of customizing die-cast website and they have a 50 pack of Hot

227 SANDY SPRINGS PLACE, SUITE D-372 – ATLANTA GA 30328 Specializing in The Micro-Mark old and collectible SUMMER SALE is ON! model kits, over 10,000 in stock! We buy model collections. We also do mail order. Come visit us on the web at: Your source for Model Kits and Parts— www.deanshobbystop.com www.modelroundup.com Contact us for a free catalog. Specify car or military list. MPC-889 Dyno Don Cougar Funny Car (1:25) Kit 116 N. Washington Street, Owosso, MI 48867 $29.90 Phone: 989-720-2137 Fax: 989-720-0937 (June, 2018) Email: [email protected]

SALJR-101 1977-80 Olds 442 "Gray Ghost" $33.90 + S & H (1:25) Detailed Kit (June, 2018) Replicarz Exclusives 1:18 View Complete Catalog of Models, Parts COMING and Supplies Online, or If Not Online, SOON! Send $10.00 for New Updated Fall, 2017 List Don’t Miss Our Best Deals of the and Receive $5.00 Off Your First Order. E-mail: [email protected] Year on Paint, Tools, Kits & More! Phone 404-250-0265 Visa/MasterCard/Discover/PayPal R18504 $249.99 To get a FREE Catalog, go to 1964 Green Monster Land Speed Car, Art Arfons the Catalog Request page CALL TODAY to place your ad at www.micromark.com and enter Promo Code 4399 1-888-558-1544 13 in. long x 4 in. wide 166 Spruce Street Rutland, VT 05701 ext. 625 P. 802-747-7151 F. 802-775-1981 Visit us at www.replicarz.com www.ScaleAutoMag.com One Stop Shopping Over 50 Brands Over 3,000 Models Largest model selection in North America Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 7 NEWPRODUCTS

1/25 Scale

Volkswagen Beetle, No. PLA06, Peterbilt 352 Pacemaker Cabover, $16.99. From Airfix. No. AMT1090/06, $47.95. From AMT, available from Round2. ’70 Corvette LT-1/ZR-1 Coupe, No. Books AMT1097/12, $31.95. From AMT, available from Round2. 1/20 Scale

Dodge Scat Pack “Dyno” Don - The and Plymouth Cars and Career Theodore Racing Wolf WR3, No. Rapid Transit of Dyno Don Bobby Allison 1969 Mercury 9800. Contact your local dealer for System: Nicholson, Cyclone Spoiler II, No. POL948/12, price information. From Gilles Chrysler’s Muscle $34.95, by Doug $30.95. From Polar Lights, available Company Ltd. Studio 27. Car Marketing Boyce, soft cover, from Round2. Program 1968- 176 pages, 322 1972, $34.95, by black-and-white Other Scale Jim Schild, soft and color photos cover, 192 pages, ISBN: 978-1- 400 black-and- 61325-405-9. white and color From CarTech photos ISBN: Auto Books & 978-1-61325-343- Manuals. 4. From CarTech Auto Books & Manuals.

The Corvette 1966 Mercury Super Street Rod, Hunter, $26.95, No. AMT1098/12, $31.95. From AMT, by Tyler available from Round2. Volkswagen Camper Van, No. PLA06, Greenblatt, soft $19.99. From Airfix. cover, 240 pages, FEATURED PRODUCT 110 black-and- white and color This kit (No. 85006, $24.99) contains photos ISBN: an assortment of abrasive applicators, 978-1-61325-347- a complete Flexible Detail Sanding Kit 2. From CarTech with three peel and stick sanding pads, Auto Books & needles, abrasive cleaning disc and a Manuals. bottle of magic buff to give your model that perfect shine.

Available at KalmbachHobbyStore.com.

8 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 SOURCES

American-Excellence www.american-excellence.com

AutoArt autoartmodels.com

1925 Duesenberg, Indy winner, No. CarTech Auto Books & Manuals Chevrolets of the MOPAR Muscle - R18021, 1/18, $249.99. From Replicarz. www.cartechbooks.com 1950s, $34.95, by Barracuda, Dart David Temple, & Valiant 1960- Gilles Company Ltd. Studio 27 soft cover, 192 1980, $47, by www.studio27.co.jp pages, 350 black- Marc Cranswick, and-white and hard cover, 160 Replicarz color photos pages, 290 black- www.replicarz.com ISBN: 978-1- and-white and 61325-374-8. color photos Round 2 From CarTech ISBN: 978-1- www.round2corp.com Auto Books & 787110-71-7-8. Manuals. From Veloce 1978 VW Scirocco, Gr. 2, No. 81, No. Veloce Publishing Publishing. BOS321, 1/18, $125. From BoS-Models, www.veloce.co.uk available from American-Excellence.

1970 Plymouth Collecting Muscle Superbird, BAC Mono, No. 18114, 1/18, $150. From Car Model Kits, $18.95, by Geoff AutoArt. 1965 Ferrari 275LMI, No. 127594, $29.95, by Stunkard, soft 1/43, $45.95. From IXO, available from Timothy Boyd, cover, 96 pages, American-Excellence. soft cover, 176 120 color photos, pages, 400 black- ISBN: 978-1- and-white and 61325-300-7. color photos From CarTech ISBN: 978-1- Auto Books & 61325-395-3. Manuals. From CarTech Auto Books & Manuals. 1963 Volkswagen T1, No. 07008, 1/43, $119.95. From Autocult, available from Replicarz. 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, No. Die-cast 222051, 1/43, $46.95. From Premium X, available from American- Excellence.

1987 Porsche 928 H50 Study, No. NE047130, 1/43, $89.95. From NEO, Check us out at available from American-Excellence. www.ScaleAutoMag.com 2015 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, No. featuring reviews, product information, 81579, 1/18, $160. From AutoArt. photo galleries, and more!

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 9 TIPS&TECH BY KEN HAMILTON

Lots of ground to cover this time so let’s get started.

Q: I’m currently in the process of stripping the old paint off a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle “Red Alert,” and was wondering if there’s anyone making replacement decals for this particular livery? -Kevin Morden Fall Creek, Wis. via email

Ken: The kit you’re referring to is the old AMT “Bob Hamilton Red Alert,” a kit that commands a pretty good price, but you’re in luck. We found some on eBay for about $18, quite a bit cheaper than buying a vintage kit just for the decals. Go to eBay and search for “Chevelle Red Alert Model Car Decals” and you’ll find it too!

Speaking of Chevelles: I have a 1966 sections together with interior bracing Ken’s tip: Here’s a site we happened Chevelle station wagon that I’d like to and re-contour the space with pieces of upon by accident. By their own convert into a hearse. I want to increase styrene and putty. Another thought, description Acme Laboratories offers the length of the body by the length of would be to create new panels by carving several types of computer “freeware,” its rear door. a simple wooden buck and, as you including a nifty license plate maker. My plan is to cut the body straight mentioned, heat-form new panels to fill Pick a state and year (several time down behind the B-pillar and make a in the spaces. periods are available for each state), then model of the body. Then, either heat- This sounds like a cool project, let us type in your desired vanity plate or forming or vacuum-forming an know how you make out. If any of our number. The plate will pop up as a JPG, extension. Care to offer any suggestions? readers have a favorite way to lengthen which can be saved to your computer -Chris Magor this body, we’d love to hear your ideas! and printed out. Check it out, the Adelaide, Australia address is www.acme.com/licensemaker via email Q: I’ve seen model car instructions that refer to colors like gloss copper metallic Tip: I’ve been modeling for close to 60 Ken: Chris, to turn your wagon into an and apricot metallic. Who makes these years and have finally found what I eye-catching hearse you might want to paints? think, is the perfect spray paint for do a little more than simply cut it down -Mark Forster plastic models: Acrylic Graffiti Paint! the middle and add an extension. Do a via email I’ve purchased 78 cans with tons of Google Image search for “hearse” and different colors from brands like you’ll see really ornate and creative Ken: Unless instructions mention a Montana, Ironlak and Mountain from examples that would make for a great specific paint manufacturer, colors listed www.dickblick.com. model, including higher than stock – are usually just suggested. There are You can get a variety of spray from and even sloped – roof lines, filled-in literally hundreds of model paint colors tight to wide, and with the low pressure side windows, fancy trim, etc. to choose from. application it’s super smooth and easy. The trick is to cut the body in a Visit a local hobby shop to check out You don’t even need a primer coat. Since location where the ends of the extension paints from Testors and Tamiya and the paint is acrylic, the tips are very easy would blend into the body with the least discuss your needs with the owner (or to clean. amount of effort. In my eye, that would check the website of those particular -Ken Brodsky be around the front of the rear wheel manufacturers). Investigate the hardware Islip, N.Y. well and up to the window, and across store for spray paint not normally via email the roof just behind the C-pillar, per the associated with scale modeling, like sketch above. Rustoleum and Krylon. We’ve seen great Ideally, you can pick up a second results with these! Chevelle wagon so you can easily extend If you still can’t find your required WANT MORE ? the frame, fill in the gap in the roof and color, scan the internet. That’s what we Subscribers can access the Tips & Tech cut a section out of the side of the donor did for the colors you mentioned, and archive at ScaleAutoMag.com car to lengthen the body. found that Montana makes a gloss If that’s not possible, tack the cut body copper metallic and Lowe’s Valspar paint

10 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 TIP OF THE MONTH: Making simple valve covers

HERE AT THE T&T WORKSHOP, we love techniques that offer great results while remaining within the grasp of the average modeler. Kevin Murray’s method of making valve covers using simple hand tools and a few pieces of styrene is a golden example: You’re going to need pieces of plastic that are the length and height of the valve covers, but a little wider. Measure the width of the cylinder head and draw lines on the styrene block as shown. Drill holes down the lines on each side depending where you want the bolt locations. Make sure the holes are along the lines. Next, cut off the excess plastic, making sure to cut down the center of the drilled holes. Don’t cut the holes completely off! Sand and file the edges on the top of the valve cover until you have nice round edges. Sand the sides flat, too. Finally, cut a rectangular piece of thin styrene and glue it to the bottom of your new valve covers. Trim the bottom piece as close to the valve cover as you need for your cylinder head, then glue it into place.

Thanks for the tip, Kevin. As a finishing detail, you could add model railroad nut/bolt/washer castings, and maybe a breather, to the covers for a bit of extra detail –KH

comes in apricot metallic. would have any number of uses on the Plus this ... Reader Harold Kie sent PS: If you’re proficient with an hobby bench. along a lengthy email containing a airbrush, don’t forget nail polish as a Dave Bergeron myriad of great tips. source for great colors. Vernon, Conn. Space doesn’t permit sharing them all via snail mail at one time, so we’ll spread them out Tip: I stumbled onto a way of over several issues. Here’s an excellent tip reintroducing the grainy look of cast- …and one last Chevelle question: about flywheels. metal parts after you’ve sanded off the I’ve been looking for a model of a 1971- mold lines and injector pins, leaving a 1972 Chevelle wagon. I recall seeing a Tip: To make a flywheel with a realistic smooth finish but as a result, destroying resin body a few years back so there ring gear, take a piece of Evergreen .010- that cast texture. must be a few floating around inch x .020-inch strip stock and put it in Do your prep, wash the part and add a somewhere. Any help? a vise alongside a 8-32 machine screw thin coat of Testors Fabric Spray. I do a -Wayne Nolasco that is about 2-inches long. Tighten the quick pass to lay down a thin, even coat. Ocala, Fla. vise to cut teeth into the styrene strip. When that dries, paint with your desired via email Next, using flat styrene stock, cut a disc color. I use Model Master Metalizer the diameter of the flywheel you need (non-polishing) gunmetal because it’s Ken: If there was ever one made I’m not and glue the strip of teeth around the thin and doesn’t cover the grain of the aware of it, and I couldn’t find any perimeter of the disc. Drill a hole in the fabric spray. reference to one on-line. But then I’m far center of the flywheel and make a hub This technique is especially effective from being an authority on resin kits, out of round stock. It’s best to refer to a on engines, transmissions and rear axles. past or present. Once again, can any of photo of a real flywheel as some have -Ken Wachal our readers help? various holes in them. Scio, Ore. Meanwhile, Wayne, you might think via email about performing some plastic surgery QUESTIONS FOR KEN? by combining AMT’s 1972 Chevelle and Tip: While shopping at a local Dollar 1965 wagon to come up with a Store, I came across a source of cheap reasonable facsimile. Just a thought. Mail your building questions and modeling tips to chrome-plated plastic in the housewares SCALE AUTO, Tips & Tech 21027 Crossroads Circle, Box 1612 department. There were a number of Factoid: The 1972 Chevelle was the final bowls, utensils and flatware sold in all year of the second generation model. The Waukesha WI 53187-1612 wagons were 10 inches shorter than full- sorts of shapes, sizes and thicknesses. size Chevy wagons. Just 54,335 Chevelle E-mail: These items could all be easily cut to wagons were sold in 1972. [email protected] create pre-formed, plated details that

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 11 2017Scale Auto exclusive FORD GT

Pre-release build of Revell’s newest kit

by David Thibodeau

Ford’s new GT is Revell’s newest car model kit and the pre-release model went together fairly easily.

was a bit skeptical at first when the new Ford Not only did he tell me the car was being GT was unveiled. A twin-turbo EcoBoost V6? tooled, but he asked me if I wanted to build the IWhat happened to the rumbling sound of the test shot kit for Revell to reveal it at the historic V8 of its late 1960s brethren? Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany Of course this changed quickly when Ford early this year. That first build had to be introduced the race version GT that would give completed in about two weeks. Luckily the kit most of the GTE class racers a run for their goes together so well it was not a difficult money. After its first year of racing the Ford GT deadline to meet. had won its class in the 2016 24 Hours of Le The kit’s second version is the one I am Mans endurance race. reviewing, and it appears that ultimately it will Revell has hit a homerun with its new kit, which be released by Revell Germany, now that Revell can be built to replicate one of the four team cars USA has been closed. (See Revell news update, for the 2017 season. As soon as rumors started that p. 5.) a new Ford GT was being produced I contacted Ed This also is to be the model that graces the Sexton at Revell USA to conirm the chatter. Good side of the production kit’s box! Here’s a first news, the rumors were true! look at how well this kit builds up.

12 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 The Ford GTs that ran in the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, were numbered 66, 67, 68, and 69, matching the years the original GT-40 won Le Mans in the 1960s.

1 2 Keep in mind this is a test shot kit, which I 3 discovered had bad sink holes on the rear Once the body was cleaned up of flash and fenders. These were easily eliminated with mold lines, it was airbrushed with Gravity One of the most difficult tasks of creating this two-part putty called Icing, by USC (U.S. Colors two-part white primer. This is a very Ford GT is nailing its paint scheme. Revell split Chemicals). This stuff dries fast and is smooth primer and requires minimal sanding. the body into two pieces that fit back exceptionally easy to sand. together flawlessly. That makes masking a breeze! I used Tamiya flex tape to get a clean tape line for all the colors. Gravity Mulsanne Blue and Arnage Red, specific to this car, were used over its white basecoat.

4 5 Once all the colors were masked and applied, 6 the body was cleared with one coat of After the decals were applied I recoated the Gravity’s two-part clear coat. This gives the body with two-part Gravity urethane clear to The chassis was primed with Tamiya gray decals a nice surface to adhere to. Decals do protect the decals, which had been created on primer out of the can and then airbrushed not always react well over flat basecoat paint an ALPS printer for the test shot kit. I allowed with SEM Products semi-flat trim paint. I like and can develop silvering. the clear to cure for a couple days before wet this because the black yields a perfect finish sanding the body with 2000-grit paper and for the entire chassis. polishing it with my cordless motor tool using Gravity compounds.

7 8 Revell made this kit full detail, including a full 9 roll cage that extends throughout the car just After painting the front intake assembly in like that in the 1:1 version. Going off reference SEM’s black, I highlighted the fins with a silver The interior was shot again with SEM’s semi- photos of the racer, I detailed both cage pencil. flat black, followed by detailing various areas assemblies and added Tamiya black panel wash with a detail brush. Revell provides all the to create weathering. interior logos and markings on its decal sheet, a great addition! Next I sprayed the seat with Krylon stone texture spray, followed by Testors flat black lacquer spray.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 13 10 11 The next step was painting and detailing the 12 wheels and tires. The wheels were sprayed Revell’s engine is quite detailed straight from with Tamiya Gunmetal (PS-23) enamel. Once the box. So I sprayed it with Alclad II Next I brush-painted the racer’s A-pillars, side installed in the tires, the tire decals were DurAluminum (ALC-102). To simulate the canard wings, rear spoiler’s Gurney flap, and added along with markings using a fine brush. carbon fiber intake and valve covers I sprayed the headlamp bezels with Testors acrylic Finally, a nickel was used to mask the wheel as them with Tamiya Gunmetal. This was followed black. I sprayed Testors Dullcote from the can. by a Tamiya black panel line wash to help bring out even more detail.

13 14 Next I used a Molotow Liquid Chrome pen on 15 the headers. These pens have become a The GT’s dash is cleanly detailed, and the powerful tool in modelers’ arsenals recently steering wheel detail is provided on Revell’s Once those side bars were in place, the rest of and if you want instant chrome on your parts, decal sheet. The side roll bars also were the cage was installed along with the window this is the way to go. Just don’t touch the installed at this time. net. This really is an amazingly well-done part too much or the chrome will rub off! interior that could easily be superdetailed with seat belts and additional wiring.

16 17 I used the Molotow pen again on the brake 18 rotors. Based on reference photos, I mixed The rear radiators were then sprayed with Vallejo Brass and US Army Drab to simulate Alclad II DurAluminum and washed with Tamiya The engine bars, air box and turbo system are the hubs’ color. The calipers were painted with panel line black. I also painted the turbo units installed next. This is the trickiest part of the Tamiya Titanium Silver enamel (X-32). Once with the chrome pen. assembly, but if done in the proper sequence the chrome cured, I toned them down with per the instructions, it won’t be a problem. I black window tint from ScaleFinishes. added heat detail using Tamiya Clear Orange (X-26) then installed the upper and lower suspension, and brake hubs.

14 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 The No. 68 Ford GT of Sébastien Bourdais, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller won the GTE class at Le Mans in 2016. The No. 69 Ford GT was 3rd. The No. 66 was 4th.

19 20 Next I installed the front suspension and 21 brakes. Everything fits well. Revell really did a Now the Ford GT’s major subassemblies are fantastic job on the design and fitment of the ready to meet each other for good. It’s a tight squeeze, but the body and chassis car’s chassis pieces. fit well together. I found it best to glue the chassis at the side exhaust plates and the front fender area where it meets the chassis.

22 23 The glass borders were done with a marker, 24 which is cleaner and easier to do than using Once the mirrors were painted and installed, I paint. Also, instead of using the upper used my finer chrome pen to paint the Finally, I put the snug rear wing in place. It fits windshield blue band from the decal sheet, I reflective glass surfaces. nice and tight, a bonus because it can be painted it with Vallejo Sky Blue. That way I removed for transportation. That was a good could paint the side mirrors’ tops in the same feature for this test model’s trip back to matching blue. I also coated the front Revell for the kit’s box art photo sessions! headlight glass with a yellow Sharpie to mimic the look of the 1:1 car at Le Mans.

The Ford GT looks sharp, went together well and beautifully replicates a similar car that won the GTE class at Le Mans in 2016. The No. 67 car finished 9th.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 15 GALLERY

Impala turns 60 by Mark Savage, photos by Robby DeGraff

Check out this wild paint job by Danny Hernandez of San Jose, Calif. His 12-year-old son Nicolas built the model and Danny used House of Kolor’s Candy Brandywine paint on Revell’s 1963 Impala kit. The roof was done by taping two razor blades together to get the tape thin, then laying out various designs. The final step was airbrushing over it with three unique nail polish colors. The trim is Bare-Metal foil.

16 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Chevy’s 1962 Impala SS was one hot convertible. Its mighty 409 cid V8 even gave the Beach Boys something to sing about! Now, eyeball these snazzy styrene Impalas in our gallery. Photo: General Motors

Mike Orth of Visalia, Calif., perfected this 1962 Impala over six months using DuPont True Blue for the finish. He added a billet steering wheel, steel-braided upper hose clamp, and wired the motor. It sits on aftermarket wheels and, of course, the car has been lowered. Simple and clean is what Mike was after, and he nailed it.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 17 Lowriders and Impalas are nearly synonymous these days. And their There’s a simple elegance with this black 1962 Impala SS convertible paint jobs, well, WOW! Here’s Juan Amezcua’s 1970 Impala from AMT. It and the lowered look makes it seem even more lean and sexy than a took him four months at his Van Nuys, Calif., home to create this stock model. Luis Xavier Cano, of Newark, Calif., built this in four beauty with a pallet of House of Kolor paints. months and used House of Kolor’s Jet Black for the finish.

David Champion of Long Beach, Calif., did a load of work to this Revell You won’t find many Impalas cleaner or prettier than young builder 1967 Impala, not the least of which were the custom patterns he James Shultz’s 1962, based on a Revell kit. He saw the 1:1 car in person painted on the body with House of Kolor paints. There’s the custom and then again in a magazine, so he had to build it. The trunk’s speaker hideaway grille and taillights, handmade custom seats and console both boxes and center console are scratchbuilt, and he added a Kentucky covered in cloth, plus chromed motor, frame and gas tank. Wheels are plate as he’s from Louisville. James hinged the trunk with paper clips, 13-inch Jevries Low Rider Ds to which he added center caps. scratchbuilt fuel lines, and hand-painted the chassis. The white is naked styrene (can we say naked?) and the top is one coat of lacquer Flaming Orange. Bold Pegasus tires and rims complete the look.

This beautiful blue ’59 Impala is another of Luis Xavier Cano’s efforts, and took a year to master. This is based on a Revell kit and is bathed in a variety of House of Kolor blue paints and features a “gangster window” in back, plus a scratchbuilt trunk that opens. The dazzling patterns are all Luis’s own creation. WOW!

18 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Pete Valdez went wild on this sparkling House of Kolor candy flake paint job on his 1965 Impala and who doesn’t love those deely bobbers on the antennas? Valdez, of San Jose, Calif., said this is his first such build and only took him two weeks to create. We love that the pattern carries over into the detailed engine compartment as well.

We saw this fine 1961 Chevy Impala at the NNL Nationals in Toledo. Don Orange you a fan of Impalas? We are, so at the NNL South we snapped Poling Jr. of Troy, Ohio, worked on this Lindberg kit for about a year this shot of a 1961 Impala SS built by Monty Davis of Ellerslie, Ga. Its adding master pulleys, fan, radiator hoses, clamps and plug wires, plus roots are an AMT kit and he tells us this is Createx Pearl Tangerine on a dipstick. He opened the trunk and added batteries and pumps for the the body, plus Pegasus wheels and brake rotors. He scratchbuilt the lowrider’s hopping suspension and mounted Pegasus wheels. brake booster and master cylinder too. Appealing? Oh yes.

Not all Impalas are hardtops or convertibles, this 1958 Nomad is based At age 12, John Michael of Los Banos, Calif., is getting in on the Impala on an AMT kit. Larry Fernandez of San Jose, Calif., added a 1956 top to craze, but opts for a newer 1996 SS from Revell. John limo-tinted the the Impala body and Revell 1959 Impala whitewall tires. Larry used windows, and changed out the rims and steering wheel for a bit of Pactra lacquer paints as the base with a lacquer clear finish. personalization. The color is Testors Metal Flake Black. Classy!

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 19 Build a beater Weathering, washes help create a brother’s first car by Mark D. Jones

A lot of modelers create showroom stock Impalas, but Mark Jones decided to recreate his brother’s rusty, sun- faded Impala.

’d like to think I remember this car an attempt at immortalizing an tires had self-weathered themselves. The fairly well even though I was not old unremarkable to most, but significant to browning wiped off easily, but the out- Ienough to drive when my brother a select few, “as it was” Impala. of-registration whitewalls needed owned it. He bought a Mist Blue 1965 correcting. Impala from the original owner in 1976 BODY WORK IS FIRST There also was a tiny bit of damage for a whopping $160. Or maybe it was It’s easy to justify shortcuts in prep from the tire on the trim in the center of $100 in cash and a hand-shake barter and painting on subjects that are to be the hood; it was left as it was. Some of deal for a Frantz oil filter, some weathered, as if the treatment will hide the trim pieces on my brother’s car were miscellaneous parts, plus a few hours of the lack of effort and proper cleanup. distressed and this looked like that type mechanical work on an unspecified I’ve found more realistic results come of wear. vehicle for the balance. from treating parts as if they will be Parting lines were sanded off, and the Times were different then, and details clean, then distressing them later. I’m panel lines along with the bright trim are foggy after 40-plus years on a vehicle just following the rules of nature. In were scribed with the back of a hobby that really is only noteworthy as being some cases, it doesn’t make sense to go knife to define them, before a primary someone’s first car. the full “like-new” route, especially coat of Krylon primer was applied to At 11 years old it was original, regarding paint sheen and details on both body parts. This was wet-sanded complete, and relatively straight, but parts only to be grimed up later. with 600-grit paper once dry. well-worn and seriously faded with a Construction began by cleaning the To make installing the door handles “mild” rust patina some of us at that age parts and building the subassemblies. I and antenna easier (and stronger) during might have thought could be “buffed started with the body. final assembly, holes were drilled with a out.” When creating faded, distressed pin vise in the body and respective parts. There are no photos of it, just our finishes, I follow a basic process, which Steel pins made from piano wire were recollections and entertaining stories. So also must be adjusted on-the-fly. added to those chrome parts and set after the two of us discussed the First, I noticed that one of the tires aside. particulars last year, I knew what I had had left an impression in the hood, 1. Two moderate coats of Tamiya Gloss to do. I cracked open my sealed first Even though the parts were bagged and Aluminum (TS-17) were applied as a issue of the 1/25 scale Monogram 1965 the tires outside the bag, this type of base, 2. Since this will serve as the raw Impala I had been saving to create a damage is not uncommon in older kits. metal of the car, a uniform finish isn’t showroom stock version. This would be Apparently knowing my intentions, the needed, just full coverage. As soon as the

20 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Factoid: The 1965 Impala hardtop rolled on a 119-inch wheelbase, weighed 3,600 lbs., and had a list price of $2,800. A new house at the time cost about $13,500!

1 2 A tire had damaged the hood, but I fixed that 3 spot and the mild sink marks where the hood I emptied an old can of Tamiya Gloss Aluminum hinges were to be mounted, by using on the body. Heck, it was beginning to Next, I painted the body with Tamiya’s Pearl superglue as filler. All were sanded smooth splatter, even after being heated a bit, but Light Blue and did pre-shading with a black with 400-grit sandpaper. this step is forgiving since the paint job need wash. Once dry I scuffed the paint with 600- not be perfect. grit sandpaper.

4 5 I airbrushed on Testors Pontiac Engine Blue 6 for the final coat and allowed the body to dry While sanding the body in straight lines it’s for about 18 hours. vital to not take too much off the raised body Now I began sanding the hood and other flat lines. Then, move on to performing more surfaces to expose earlier paint layers. Here circular sanding motions. you see the body after about two and a half hours of sanding.

7 8 Engine detailing got away from me, but the 9 basics included painting the transmission Wiring comes from my wire stash, and its aluminum, the bell housing steel, then air- routing does not follow OEM standards, but The engine’s bottom, bell housing, and trans- brushing the block, heads, intake manifold, reflects common placement. mission were treated to black applied with a valve covers, and oil pan Testors orange (No. sponge, and a brush for the hard-to-reach 1127). spots. I stippled with the brush. silver was dry, a not so uniform coat of black (X-18) to the panel lines. Once the but not all, and not down to the plastic. Pearl Light Blue (TS-58) was applied wash was dry I scuffed the body with It is bound to happen occasionally and is from the can. sandpaper, 3. easy to fix by airbrushing or even hand- While the short dry time is not Next I added the final color, thinking painting silver onto the exposed plastic. required, putting the blue over the Testors Pontiac Engine Blue (No. 2728) Next I worked on larger areas to uncured silver melds them, which helps looked about the right shade I reveal earlier coats of paint. The raised later when sanding to create a sun-faded airbrushed it on, 4. Since this is going to edges on the hood get cut through look. Like the silver, this does not need be weathered, the shade is not critical. quickly, so attention must be paid to to be perfect, being more for a color tint Wet-sanding was next, and I started avoid sanding them too much, 6. At this and safety net for when the final color with a well-worn piece of 600-grit point I set the body aside for a bit to gets distressed. In addition, I went sandpaper. First I sanded along the body ponder if it needs more distressing. It’s lighter on the top surfaces to mimic the lines to give the body a uniform sheen easy to overdo it when weathering. A sun-fading effect. and remove the slight orange peel, 5. few days can give a different perspective, I should have drilled the side-view Then I switched to a circular motion and more sanding can be done later. mirror posts for pins and the location to mimic the way the car would have points on the doors when I did the been washed/waxed, checking frequently BEYOND THE BODY others earlier, so I drilled now before to make sure I hadn’t gone too far. I In the meantime I started work on the applying a pre-shading wash of Tamiya wanted to remove a few layers of paint, rest of the parts. Since most needed to be

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 21 10 11 I applied a wash of Tamiya Flat Earth (XF-52) 12 and Windex to the chassis and suspension I used Rub & Buff silver on a paper towel to subassemblies, while the coil springs were highlight parts of the pipes and mufflers. Then After misting the Dullcote, I added about 5% painted with Badger rust. A rust wash also used the same brush I stippled the engine German Gray, by volume, to the airbrush’s cup was applied to spots where coolant leaked. with to add dirt and rust to the pipes and to mute the contrast of earlier chassis mufflers. assemblies. The mufflers are a good example of how well this works.

13 14 Here we see the Adobe Illustrator whitewalls I 15 created on self-adhesive vinyl to use on the After a another wash of Tamiya flat brown (XF- aging kit tires. A lacquer thinner wipe down 10), with a little black added in spots, the With wheels in place, I went back to work was all the prep needed to apply them. chassis was sealed with Dullcote. The tires dirtying up the engine. Another couple washes were brush painted with flat brown reduced of black and brown were added to make the about 50% with Tamiya thinner (X-20A). grime seem sticky and real. painted various shades/sheens of black I finished model). Most of the other and letting gravity guide it. After it cleaned up all of those pieces in a ancillary parts were cemented to the dried, another wash of dark earth, tinted marathon session and sprayed most at engine so it could be wired. I left the fan with flat black, was applied. Then I the same time with Testors black chrome off for easier handling, 7. dirtied the engine’s lower portions trim enamel as a base. I used 30-gauge wrapping wire for the further, 9. I wanted to add extra engine detail, ignition wires and vacuum advance One more wash was applied with a but not go overboard. hose. They are wired in the correct firing grimier black tint made by adding a little Originally I planned to just add order and the molded-in valve cover flat earth and rust. (I used old acrylic ignition wiring and maybe an alternator looms were used, although I ran the No. Badger Model Flex brand for the rust.) A bracket. I began by drilling out the 2 plug wire in a non-stock, but common, small wrapped wire loom made from distributor, coil, and heads for the plug path. Usually I let the paint on an engine three strands of twisted wire coated in wires with a No. 75 bit in a pin vise. I dry for several days, but since this will be white glue and then painted black was also pinned the base of the distributor getting dirtied up I didn’t mind the attached to the alternator. Then the fan and coil into the manifold similarly as smudging. was installed. the door handles were done so they The line from the carb to the fuel After the top wash dried, the bottom would be strong enough to wire while on pump was made from small gauge was given another round of extra grime the engine. An alternator bracket was electrical wire I found in my stash, 8. with the same wash. A hard fuel line was made from sheet styrene too. From the factory it would have been a added to the pump and the engine was Next I began prepping the carb and hard line, but that wasn’t always the case set aside until installation. fuel pump for lines, and making an back in those days. The PCV vacuum aluminum rear bracket for the A/C lines are made of thin and medium vinyl CHASSIS, WHEELS & TIRES compressor. I didn’t make an exact copy tubing left over from a Tamiya The chassis and suspension parts had for the A/C piece since the compressor motorcycle kit, with a wire “T” been sprayed black earlier then given a isn’t located quite where it should be, connector and elbows. light, but uneven, dusting of Floquil and I didn’t want to reengineer too Washes were done using acrylic Weathered Black, mostly around the much. I just didn’t want it to be paints, mostly Tamiya with Windex, or higher and raised areas. More was supported only by belts. occasionally water, used as thinner. needed for a rusty, grimy look, 10. After painting the transmission, I Once those items were secured with The exhaust pipes were drilled out airbrushed the block and components super glue, a wash of Tamiya German and sprayed a gunmetal gray. Then the Testors orange. Overspray was Gray (XF-63) acrylic was applied to the same rust wash used on the chassis was intentionally applied to the front of the top and allowed to run to the bottom of applied along with silver and stippled bell housing since that is how the factory the engine, making sure the assembly black on pipes and mufflers, 11. did it (knowing it will not be seen on the was oriented as it would be in the car, The underside subassemblies were

22 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Factoid: The fourth generation Impala, model years 1965-70, was built in 11 U.S. plants, two in Canada, and one in Australia. It sold more than 1 million units in a year.

16 17 Moving on to the black interior, I used a wash 18 of flat brown on the speaker, defroster vents, German Gray was used in the door panels seats, and package tray. wash. But I did not seal the panels with I used an old flat bush for another wash on the Dullcote, leaving the different sheens to give car’s chassis as it needed more rust to reflect them a little more character. the “beater” nature of the car.

19 20 Rust paint was applied by dry stippling in light 21 layers to build up different densities on the I worked on the cowl and hood stippling rocker panels. This shows the process after German Gray with an old toothbrush. Then Once I had the kit’s badge decals in place, and three applications, but I added more, again worked the flat areas, roof and hood, with a dry, I carefully used lacquer thinner, applied with an old brush. sponge. with a fine brush, as a setting solution. I followed that with more hair dryer heat. cemented together, but still needed more plotter and applied to each tire. were set at different angles while drying grunge. The real car rode low in back Next I installed the engine, firewall to spread the grime, 16. and sagged to one side so I set up the and related parts, which were painted Meanwhile the carpet was created by rear suspension to reflect that. That’s not like the chassis. A brass elbow was added airbrushing a mix of Tamiya semi-gloss how the kit builds from the box. I to the brake booster for the vacuum line black (X-18) with 20% talcum powder achieved this by shaving just a bit of the to plug into, and a piece of wire was used The foot pad on the driver’s side was upper control arms where they meet the as the primary brake line. The interior painted weathered black first, then differential mounting points, and floor/front section of the chassis is then masked off. After drying, I sealed it with opening the upper shock mount holes in loosely set in place. a light application of Dullcote. Then a the chassis to accept the difference. An additional wash of flat brown was few washes of gray and light earth were I mounted the inner wheel halves to applied to the chassis with a little black applied. their respective axles so I could do the added in a few places. Then the tires The inner door panels also were next round of weathering with them in were brush-painted with the same, but treated to a primary wash, but German place since this will not be a roller, 12. reduced with thinner, 14. Once dry they Gray was the tint instead of brown as on I’m glad I did as the fit was tight due to were buffed with a paper towel to let the seats, 17. The silver trim was brush- the paint. A simple shaving of the inside some of the black tire color show painted Tamiya Chrome Silver after the of the wheel mounting bosses made through, and then mounted to the inner first wash, then a second wash was them fit. The tires wrap much more rims already installed to the suspension. applied. easily over the inner rims. Testors Then the engine and under hood area After sharing the car’s progress with Dullcote lacquer was lightly misted over were further dirtied with various brown my brother, he recalled more details. the bottom as a sealer. and gray washes, 15. The electrical loom Apparently the Impala was a bit rougher The kits whitewalls cleaned up fine, was cemented to the driver’s side inner than I recalled! It was rustier than I had but were not concentric to the tires. I fender well and the fuel line put into the made it; probably due to its early life in wiped them off with lacquer thinner and frame channel. A little touch-up was Michigan. To adjust, I gave the chassis sanded the seams with dry 400-grit needed where I reinforced the front another wash of rust paint, then added sandpaper. In the photo, two are sanded cross-member to the frame with super even more with the stipple technique and have the whitewalls removed; two glue. It had left white residue. used on the mufflers, before the wash are as they came from the kit, 13. The interior had been painted earlier fully dried, 18. New whitewalls, larger in diameter along with other black pieces. The dash’s I decided the exterior had been and thinner, were computer-drawn top was dry-sanded with 400-grit to distressed enough by my earlier sanding, using Adobe Illustrator to fit inside the make it look sun-baked. A flat brown so I painted most of the trim with a raised rib on the sidewalls. These were wash was used on everything else with Tamiya Chrome Silver paint pen. Now it cut from white self-adhesive vinyl on my the seats getting multiple coats. They was time to begin rusting the body. I

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 23 22 23 As with the body’s badges, I used my lacquer thinner trick on the air cleaner’s decal and it shriveled, which only added to the car’s realism A much diluted wash of rust and Windex was applied to the body after a under the hood. Dullcote sealer. The wash was allowed to run, pool, and dry overnight before more rust was hand painted in sanded areas.

24 25 For the insulation blanket I used a product for making ground cover on model railroad layouts called John’s Grass. I mixed a few colors to The wheel covers’ knockoffs were given a light rust wash on the back create a mottled look. and sides and a dry-brushing of silver to tone down the chrome and depict aging. started on the lower rocker panels and worked well with the theme. underside, painting it black and giving it fenders, 19. Knowing that they were impervious a gray wash. The insulation blanket area Next, I began stippling and dry- to standard decal solvents and setting was masked off ,and white glue brushed brushing rust around the cowl and the solutions, I tried straight denatured on before sprinkling flocking material previously sanded areas on the hood, alcohol to help the fender scripts and over it, 24. The tape was removed as high points, on the fenders and tulip badges conform to molded-in details. soon as the “grass” was pressed into the panel below the rear window. It’s easy to Even with using a hair dryer and forceful glue, then set aside to dry overnight. To get carried away with this technique so I blotting, they did not conform as much dirty it further, I cleaned the edges and purposely try not to do too many areas as hoped, 21. added a little black. at once. Then, gray was added via brush, I used the kit’s air cleaner decal, which The outer recesses of the wheel covers toothbrush, and sponge application, 20. shriveled after I applied the lacquer were painted flat black, and the ribbed Bits of rust looked harsh, particularly thinner, a volatile chemical not centers were given the same wash. Once the rear fenders’ peaks and the left rear conducive to decal application in fully dry, another wash this time of quarter panel. I let it dry a few hours and general, 22. I drilled, then filed out, the Tamiya flat base (X-21, about 10%), lightly sanded the worst parts away using oval intake of the snorkel before painting mixed with German Gray, was applied to the wet sandpaper used to distress the it a satin black. After the decal was the whole cover including the bright, blue paint. The goal is to make it look applied, a few washes of light earth and chrome to give an oxidized look, 25. like the elements have taken their toll German Gray were added. The grille and bumpers were cleaned over years. A little back and forth A light Dullcote sealer was sprayed and painted as if going on a new car. between paint and sanding is normal for over the exterior to keep the weathering Since the chrome was going to be the desired results. work from being disturbed when weathered, I sanded the mold lines off additional paint and washes are added. the bumpers and used Rub & Buff to ADDING FINE DETAILS Even though it is a matte clear, a little replace the silver on the plated areas that I intended to use the kit decals for the gloss was still visible so a diluted wash of were stripped. A wash of rust and badges since instead of chrome they rust and Windex was added, 23. Windex was applied to the bumpers and were actually a dithered gray, and that Next I worked on the hood’s allowed to run and dry. Another light

24 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 26 27 After weathering the grille and bumper I used the rust/Dullcote (50/50 ratio) mixture I’d used previously, airbrushing it at low pressure to add That same rust/Dullcote mix also was used on the body. Holding the rust specks as a fine splatter. airbrush further away and raising the pressure creates a light surface bloom of rust.

28 29 The console was given a wash of light earth and flat brown while the steering wheel horn ring was toned down with a rust wash. I used tinted Dullcoat (10% flat brown XF-10) on the hubcaps and both sides of the tires. Each coat was allowed to dry before adding another to achieve the look I wanted. wash of German Gray was applied to the The core support and radiator parts pieces again, but this time by brush, black trim on the rear bumper and front were assembled and cemented to the using the same Tamiya Chrome Silver as grille, 26. chassis after being weathered with the before after decanting it from the pen. A The same mixture was misted on same materials and techniques little black on the wind wings was added various body areas to create more previously outlined. Battery cables were to simulate rubber seals. surface rust. Varying the pressure and added and run to the starter solenoid The windshield had a faded green tint distance creates different effects. Lower and engine head. One of the A/C lines along the top edge, and as I recall it was pressure and/or closer proximity will was installed too. A little more spot starting to delaminate and fog around create coarser rust, 27. painting of rust, dirt and grime was the edges. I mixed Tamiya Clear Green Next I moved inside. Chrome parts on applied as each part was cemented in. (X-25) with Pledge Floor Gloss (about the front seats were hand-painted and Lights were installed in the grille and 50/50) and airbrushed the tint on the top installed before being treated to the same the bumper mounted to it. We don’t of the glass from the inside. To simulate airbrushed pitted rust look. The dash know the car’s actual license plate, but delamination on the other areas I mixed was painted to match photos I found knowing how California numbering a little flat base with PFG and airbrushed online and I added generic radio and works, I guessed “R” would put it in the it from the inside on the windshield and gauge decals. The same washes used on proper period. The other letters and both sides of the backlight, 32. the door panels were used as well. Now numerals are personally significant to us, Note: 5% flat base goes a long way this subassembly was ready to be 30. and the PFG does not need thinning. installed, 28. Now it was time to finish the body. Too much flat base will dry chalky. The headliner was painted flat black About 10-15 minutes of dry time will BACK TO THE BOTTOM after the seams were scribed to make show the results and that is when you I prepped the platform by pressing the them look like they were starting to split. should decide whether to add more flat hubcaps into the tires, giving the caps Then a wash was added, 31. base. If it is too chalky it can be stripped and tires a series of light coats of At the same time I detailed, painted, with Windex or tamed with straight PFG Dullcote tinted with flat brown (XF-10, and installed the taillights. I painted the applied over the top. about 10%), 29. window frames and other fine trim I was disappointed in the windshield’s

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 25 30 31 I drew the license plates in Adobe Illustrator and printed them as decals. The front plate was misted with a light coat of highly diluted A wash of gray and brown was applied and sealed with a coat of silver in Dullcote to create a sandblasted effect, while the rear plate Dullcote to create the aging headliner. was matted out.

32 33 Working to create the faded green windshield tint’s lamination defects, I tried to shoot my mixture of Pledge Floor Gloss and flat base to To finish the Impala I just had to install the air cleaner and attach the create tiny runs mimicking that spidery effect on the windshield. vacuum line. Now my brother’s aging Chevy, in miniature, was complete. fit since the rest of the kit fit so well. light wash of gray. removed, it seemed appropriate to leave There were good-sized gaps about 0.025- To finish the engine bay, the air it ill-fitting, which actually may be inches along both A-pillars and the cleaner was installed and the vacuum accurate. overall fit was fiddly. I cemented the four line attached to the power booster, 33. ■ The car lists to the left at least as corners in with super glue; at least I much as it sags in the rear. The real car didn’t need to worry about fogging the FINAL THOUGHTS had significant suspension issues due to glass. Just a few notes about final assembly rust and rot until my brother rebuilt the Then the side gaps were filled with and finishing: front end among other things to keep it Formula 560 Canopy Glue. Once dry, ■ The last pieces to be added were the rolling and eventually resalable. This the wind wings, rearview mirror and the door handles and side-view mirrors. adaptation of it represents how it was dome light were installed. A wash of Even though they were pinned into before he repaired the major issues. gray was applied to both sides of the holes, I attached them with the canopy This build turned out to be an even glass’s perimeters. I also slopped black glue instead of super glue so in the event more engaging and entertaining project on the inner fender wells so the body they get knocked off, they might be than I had expected due to the memories color would not be seen after mounting more easily found. A light wash of rust, it brought back during construction, and it to the chassis. like the bumpers received, was applied to the conversations it stirred with my Then the rest of the A/C lines were these pieces after installation. family. installed and weathered to match the ■ The antenna was not cemented into The icing on the proverbial cake came surrounding area. The chrome wipers the fender so it can be removed for when I presented the finished model to also were toned down with Dullcote and cleaning (dusting maybe?) and travel. my brother and showed him every dirty a gray wash. ■ The hood fit a little off-kilter after I aspect. The body fit over the interior and mounted the body to the chassis. While His response was a simple, “You chassis with no problems. The front and an easy fix could be had by sanding the nailed it.” rear badges were hand painted, shot with edges, I decided that since it still fit, Dullcote, and then dirtied with another albeit snugly and was easily opened/

26 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Spiff up a 12 steps to a better ‘mild’ customizing job by Marcos Cruz

Marcos Cruz offers tips to a successfully customize a 1960 Chevy Impala from Revell’s kit. Flashy wheels and tires, fine foil trim, and a super paint job are the keys you need.

hevrolet launched the upscale Impala in While there is certainly a lot of history around 1958 and was Chevy’s most expensive this iconic American car, the second generation Cmodel in its lineup through 1965. The Impalas have always caught my eye. There’s Impala has had longevity too, with only a couple something about those flat fins and long, sleek of brief breaks in its 60-year run. bodies that made them an instant favorite, not Impala was a steady part of Chevy’s lineup only to car buyers of the time, but also to today’s from 1958 to ‘85, then went on a hiatus. It was custom car builders and lowrider aficionados. back again from 1994 through ‘96 before being As a tribute, I chose to build a mild custom relaunched in 2000 and continuing through version of Revell’s 1960 Impala. Sure, this kit has today. Although talk of late is that its most been around awhile and I’ve seen it built in current run may end soon, sadly. We hope not. myriad ways over the years, but it makes for a Impala’s popularity crested as the best-selling great starting way to commemorate the 60th car in the United States in 1965. Everyone knew anniversary of the legendary Impala. someone who owned one at the time. Remember “See the USA in a Chevrolet?”

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 27 1 2 You can use a scriber to scrape the lines on 3 the plastic as you prep the body. This helps Adding a wash to the scribed lines will help later when you paint it and then add Bare- you see if more plastic needs to be removed. Washing the scribed lines with an appropriate Metal foil. colored wash will add contrast to the panel lines once you paint the body.

4 5 Cool tires and wheels will make your custom 6 Impala stand out, but be sure to wash any For the interior I used Hugger Orange to resin parts before you start working with match the body, plus Desert Yellow from Bare-Metal foil makes the steering wheel hub them. Tamiya for the seats. look like a custom wheel and decals make the dash gauges pop.

GETTING STARTED: BODY PREP until the right tires and rims are chosen. overall color of the car’s body. The first and most imporant step is I decided on a set of unique whitewall I like the fact that this older kit body preparation, since this kit has some tires and rims from Modelhaus. It’s a real supplies the modeler with separate age and the mold itself has seen better plus that the whitewalls are separate on window cranks versus the old molded-in days. This is pretty noticeable in the top these resin parts because it makes them versions. The color I used on the interior rear panel lines that make up the chrome a lot easier to paint. Like every other is Tamiya’s Insignia White (AS-20). molding around its fins. I’ll be foiling resin part, these have to be washed and this area later, and I guarantee that you’ll any excess resin removed before working ENGINE & BODY WORK be happy you addressed this issue now if on them. Now I turned my attention to the you also decide to add foil. I also wanted to do something a little engine, painting it Model Master Chevy Using a scribe, carefully start scraping different with the carpeting on this 1960 Engine Red (No. 28006). the lines on the plastic, being careful not Impala’s interior. To lend more realism under the hood, to force the scribe. Rather, use a very Flocking is the most popular method I installed distributor wires from Detail light touch and continue scribing until in replicating carpet, but I actually used Master. Underneath the car, the chassis you can easily see the line. The key here textured paint instead. I remembered is painted with Testors Flat Black (No. is being patient and working slowly. seeing a can of this stuff at Home Depot 4768) and various Testors Metallizer I added a wash to the scribed line to and thought now was a good time to try colors. see how much more plastic needed to be it out on a model. I gave my Impala a bright, noticeable removed. The goal is a visible line, but At first I wasn’t happy with the results, paint scheme, something that is pretty keep in mind that every kit and situation but quickly found out that this paint commonly seen on a custom Impala. will be different.I typically scribe the needs to be sprayed from a distance to Though my ideal choice was a Hugger panel lines on all of my models and this achieve the correct, desired texture. Orange from General Motors, it wasn’t was no exception. After a few light coats, I let the fresh used in 1960 at all, or specifically on the Once satisfied with the amount of textured paint dry for a few hours. Impala. I went with Model Master plastic removed, I gave the pieces a wash Once dried, I airbrushed Tamiya Hugger Orange lacquer (No. 28108) with Tamiya’s Panel Line Accent Color Desert Yellow (XF-59) to give it a hue I here. wash. This was brown, but you can thought would go well with the car’s But then again, I didn’t want this to be choose a wash from Tamiya’s many hues iconic color: Hugger Orange. your ordinary ‘60 Impala. I dreamed of that will contrast well with the color you Meanwhile, the dash was painted with finishing this with a two-tone paint job, choose for your car. Ultimately, these the same color as the body. Decals were so I coated the roof in Testors Flat White early steps will help me with the body placed for the gauges and Bare-Metal foil enamel (FS-37875). To make things a work I’ll do later. was applied to the steering wheel and even more interesting and spicy, I shot other small items called for chroming. Tamiya Pearl Clear (TS-65) over both DETAILING: TIRES, RIMS & MORE Included kit decals were used for the colors. To me, no custom build is complete seats and they contrasted well with the Approaching the finish line on the, I

28 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Chevy offered no less than seven V8s in the 1960 Impala. The strongest was the Super-Turbo-Thrust Special, a 348 cid V8 making 335 horsepower.

7 8 After painting the engine with Model Master 9 Chevy Engine Red I installed distributor wires. Underneath I’d used Testors flat black on the Impala’s chassis. Model Master Flat White enamel applied to the roof made my anniversary Impala a sharp two- tone beauty.

10 11 Marking your hobby knife blade with a black 12 Sharpie will make it easier to see as you use it Early body cleanup and a smooth application on delicate areas. of paint will ensure your foil work for the Before you install the grille be sure to use a chromed areas goes much more smoothly. black wash on it to give it a more realistic appearance.

Yes, a lot of moms and dads needed an Impala to cart their Baby Boomer kids around. Chevrolet sold roughly 490,000 Impalas in 1960, but none painted bright Hugger Orange!

spent a little more time mastering the you see the tip better if you mark it with will certainly show through your foil body. After painting, I wet sanded and a black Sharpie. work and spoil the finished model. polished it, then applyied plenty of Bare- Don’t forget to give the grille a black Metal foil to accent all the trim. IT’S A WRAP wash before installation. This step gives As mentioned before, the body work Done, the body takes shape with all any model an added, much-neeed, and you do on the plastic at the start of a the Bare-Metal foil completed. helpful touch of realism. build really helps at this stage. One word of advice, make sure that Now you’ve got a slick, mildly You can see how well those scribed your paint application is as smooth as customized 1960 Impala, a beautiful lines help in guiding the blade (see tip possible. This includes the paint on all model of an iconic, mid-century family No. 10, above) after the application of the trim that the foil is being applied to. car. the foil. For visual purposes, it also helps If you have a rough, orange peel finish, it

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 29 ONEGREATMODEL BY ARMANDO FLORES

Roof first sprayed a silver base, followed by SG-100 clear, then with a drop of Candy Pink mixed with Gypsy Rose Micro Metal Flake.

My inspiration for building this lowrider was a hope to create a replica of one of the world’s most famous lowriders, Gypsy Rose. The 1:1 Gypsy Rose is a 1964 Impala, part of the Imperials Car Club in Los Angeles, California, and owned by Jesse Valadez. My modeling debut was a bust out at last year’s Mooneyes Custom Car Show in Yokohama, Japan. To scale down Gypsy Rose, I used a ’64 impala SS lowrider kit from Revell. Its body was modified to be a non-SS Impala, by 175 separate rose decals changing the original trim, followed by applied by hand, then each rose hand-painted a variety opening the doors and hinging the entire of colors car. The finish was the most challenging part, as I tried to exactly match the original car that was painted by talented artist Walt Prey. A lot of aluminum parts were machined on a lathe, which I then polished to mirror a chrome look. My build of this iconic lowrider took about 500 hours, and I am proud to have replicated Gypsy Rose in 1/25 scale because of the original car’s beauty and incredible back story.

Pinstriping by San Diego area’s Johnathon Mercado, who specializes in 1/25 scale pinstripes

Chromed engine area, suspension, dual exhaust and drivetrain

MORE ON THE WEB

See a close-up video look at the 1:1 Gypsy Rose at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RypisaIa60A

30 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 ABOUT ARMANDO I’m from Burbank, California, and been an avid car model artist since 1992. For years I’ve built the legendary lowriders, and own probably the biggest collection of lowrider Metal hinges installed replicas. My passion for car to create opening models comes from growing up trunk, doors, and in the San Fernando Valley, hood where lowriders were very popular in the 1970s. Building model cars is an art, it’s my Each rose decal passion, and I want to make covered with model building the No. 1 hobby. multiple coats of Follow Armando on House of Kolor’s Instagram: Ice Pearl and clear @armandoflores1032

Chandeliers hanging from side pillars inside are crafted from brass and have working 1.5- volt lights

House of Kolor paints used with a lot of tape lines, airbrushing, brush-painting and roses, roses, and more roses

Floral theme and paint colors continue underneath on the car’s belly

Premium Sportway 5.20 tires by Jevries and machined aluminum wheels that Armando polished

Scatchbuilt interior uses styrene and foam, painted with House of Kolor’s paints followed by bright pink flocking, plus flower pots and pillows on the rear seat

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 31 CLASSICKITS BY TIM BOYD

y 1966, the model car hobby had show style two-piece bucket seats, front Breached its apogee and was starting and rear roll pans to replace the AMT 1966 FORD FALCON to contract as many Baby Boomers bumpers, a fine egg crate grille insert moved on to other pastimes. You’d never with rectangular headlamps, two rear Kit No. 5126:150 know it though by looking at AMT’s wheel flares, and the usual assortment of Introduced: 1966, never reissued in 1966 product lineup, particularly their custom bumpers and tail lamps. this form Ford kits. For most builders, however, the kit’s Present value: $160 A great example, AMT’s 1966 Ford “killer app” was the “A/FX” match racer Falcon Sport Coupe. The third version. It began with a supercharged generation of Ford’s compact shared V8, incorporating a deep oil pan with The tooling saw minor yearly updates much of its underbody with the new Cobra nomenclature, and a unique through the 1969 model year with intermediate Fairlane, while its styling pyramid-style intake that mounted four revised wheels, engine accessories, grille shared influences from several rejected Weber carbs. A multipiece roll bar textures, and so forth. For the 1968 and designs for the first-gen Mustang. replaced the rear seat, and a six-piece 1969 versions, the kit dropped the AMT’s “3 in 1” kit brought well- transverse leaf straight front axle factory air cleaner/carb and wheel/tire turned out custom and drag versions to assembly mounted to the frame. setups, meaning the builder could no go with the factory stock offering. A power dome hood with cutouts for longer replicate showroom stock The kit included a rare feature for its the carbs was secured by molded leather Falcons. The drag version saw one more time, a separate rear seat that could be belt straps, while in back a parachute release when it was added to AMT’s omitted for a drag version, revealing a with a streamlined shroud added more “small box” funny car kits series for a simplified rear floorpan and bulkhead. competition flavor. The finished drag short 1969 production run. The engine was a Ford 289 cid V8, version sat on two styles of American This kit showed AMT’s design team at with the then-obligatory plating for the mag wheels, with a front raised high in its best, applying tasteful custom touches valve covers and air cleaner. the air and the rear wheel wells altered to and drag equipment to a kit that other- The sharp custom version added car clear the drag slicks. wise would have been fairly tame.

32 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Your kits

Inform the industry and get the wheels rollin’ by Robby DeGraff

Chevrolet Classic Impalas from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s already have been turned into styrene kits, but how about a kit of the latest 2018 Impala?

it manufacturers churn out box after HERE’S HOW TO SHOUT box of desirable kits modeled after rides Kwe love. Muscle cars, exotics, motorcycles, commercial trucks; the list goes on. But in We created a survey which can be example, I’m fascinated by reality, there are vehicles that are overlooked accessed by plugging this URL obscure Japanese cars and or ignored that we’d like to build a replica of into your computer, tablet, or would love a full-detail kit of a and proudly display in our collection. smart phone’s internet browser: 1990s Toyota Crown luxo-barge This is an important thing to discuss, www.scaleautomag.com/ymwk with opening doors, but I don’t because if we want to get more people, and expect that to happen anytime younger ones, into modeling, giants like GUIDELINES AND RULES soon. Tamiya, AMT/Round2, Revell, and Hasegawa, We expect to sort through a wash need to pay attention to today’s trends and of different answers, because • Vote once and only once. No tastes in automobiles. everyone loves something campaigning, no stuffing the With more and more technology arriving different. But there are a few ballot box, no crusades. Trust each year, and a wide variety of vehicle styles rules to follow: us, we can tell right away when to choose from in dealer showrooms, I can this happens. Don’t be that guy think of an entire parking lot full of subjects • No reissues allowed, only new or gal. You are on your honor. I’d like to see transformed into sprues of kits plastic. Remember, manufacturers might I think it’d be a blast to build a kit of Kia’s • We’ve said it before and we’ll not listen to us, but they do listen hot, new 2018 Stinger GT sport sedan, then say it again: Please be to you. We’ll publish the results in customize it to the max with aftermarket reasonable. Try to think of a future issue, on our website and parts. something that actually might on Facebook. We’re excited to see So now it’s your turn, to tell Scale Auto and be popular and marketable. For all of your ideas! (indirectly) your favorite manufacturers what you want to build or collect.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 33 BENCHRACER BY ANDY KELLOCK

Bobby Unser’s Eagle

Build the 1968 Indy winner by combining the Olsonite Eagle kit with a turbocharged Offy engine and aftermarket decals.

since the 1967 The decal set I used is No. 164 from race was won Fred Cady. Cady’s decals too, are getting on Goodyears, harder to find, but as a backup, Indycals ending Firestone’s also makes a set. The decals include the long reign that yellow and black areas, but you’ll need to started in 1919. paint the red areas first. Because of the 1968 would also be the masking required, I painted the yellow his year marks the 50th last year that a front- areas too and used only the black decals. anniversary of one of the most engined Offy roadster would All the complicated masking is at the Texciting Indy 500s. qualify for the race. You honestly front of the car on four separate pieces. The green flag dropped and 1968 couldn’t write a better script for If you glue the body side pieces (No. 2 & looked like it was going to be the year of motoring than this! No. 4) to the cockpit top (No. 3) you can the turbine car. Narrowly losing the In a sad repeat of 1967, the turbine still slide the chassis into it. Once these prior year due to mechanical failure after cars disappeared due to mechanical pieces are glued into a single unit, the leading almost the entire race, Andy failure, never to be seen again, allowing masking becomes much easier. Since Granatelli’s STP team returned with a Bobby Unser to sail to victory in his there are two engine choices in the kit, vengeance, fielding three turbine- turbocharged Offy-powered Eagle. there are two accompanying engine powered cars redesigned by the Gurney’s star was rising as a constructor, covers, but the one to use is for the No. legendary Colin Chapman of Lotus and his Eagle design took 1st, 2nd and 48 car. fame. 4th place. Not a bad start for a new Paint all the body parts gloss white The turbine’s major opponents were chassis, and it made for an exciting year. first, then tape the nose cone (No. 1) to Dan Gurney’s fleet of new AAR Eagles. I’ve actually seen the 1968 Eagle twice the assembled body shell from the With seven entries, the Eagles made up recently. It was displayed at the Peterson inside. To correctly achieve the shape of almost a quarter of the grid. And, to Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in the red, yellow and black areas, counter the winning Ford four-cam 2017 and again at the Unser Museum in photocopy the decal sheet, cut out the engine dominating Indy much of the late Albuquerque, N.M., its usual home. appropriate pieces, then tape them to the 1960s, the Offy engine returned in a new After such a chance encounter, I had to body. turbocharged form. build a model of it. Next, apply the masking tape using The tire wars were in full swing too MPC made a kit of Unser’s Rislone the paper pieces as a guide. Mask off the Special at the same time as the Olsonite white and black areas and then paint the QUESTIONS FOR ANDY? Eagle, but they are very hard to find, and rest of the car yellow. A good match for expensive when you do. this yellow is Tamiya yellow (TS-16). Mail your race car modeling questions to An alternative is to start with the Then, without removing the original SCALE AUTO, Bench Racer reissued Olsonite Eagle kit from MPC, masking, add more tape to preserve the 21027 Crossroads Circle, Box 1612 where you can grab its body, chassis, yellow areas and paint the red sections. Waukesha WI 53187-1612 wheels and tires. The turbocharged Offy I used Tamiya Italian Red (TS-8).

E-mail: can be found in the MPC Indy 500 “Hall Now you can apply the black decals over [email protected] of Fame” box set in the 1974 McLaren the paint to finalize the racecar’s paint kit. scheme.

34 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Glue the cockpit top to the body sides to Using a photocopy of the decals as a guide, The turbo assembly in the middle is made make a unit easier for masking. Use the No. mask off the white areas and paint the yellow. from the 1974 McLaren’s engine. Above are the 48 engine cover from the Olsonite kit. Then, remask and paint the red on top of the intake tube and exhaust outlet made from yellow to ensure there will be no white gap aluminum tubing. In the lower left is the oil between the colors. I also left a white area for cooler included on the Eagle’s chrome tree. At the gumball decal. lower right is the intake manifold.

I planned to use the entire following pieces from the McLaren kit: correct, and you just need to paint turbocharged Offy from the 1974 the exhaust manifold (No. 14), turbine semigloss black inserts in between the McLaren M16-C kit, but realized not compressor (No. 5), and the exhaust spokes. The tires have a raised line and only was its intake manifold and exhaust turbine (No. 9). I made the exhaust lettering you can paint to replicate lower down on the engine, but also the outlet and air intake duct from metal Goodyear’s Blue Streak tires. transaxle was completely different. I tubing, and its intake manifold on the I used the included vinyl seat belts toyed with the idea of mating the Offy right side from aluminum and plastic and painted them with acrylics since with the Eagle’s transaxle. This proved to tubing. enamel won’t dry on vinyl. My roll bar be too difficult, so I took the easy route Finally, there’s an oil cooler mounted also had a significant seam line on both and built my model as a “curbside plus.” on the rear deck that was surprisingly sides, which I replaced with a piece of I used the engine block and sump included on the chrome tree in the polished aluminum wire. from the Eagle, mated to the transaxle, Olsonite kit. This is a nice inclusion Now you have a replica of a significant and omitted the heads and intake. To from the Rislone kit. Indy winner. Gentlemen, start your mimic the turbocharger, I used the The wheels and tires in the kit are building!

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www.ScaleAutoMag.com 35 SHOW COVERAGE NNL Milwaukee Waukesha, Wisconsin • April 14, 2018 • by Robby DeGraff

Steve Freund built Italeri’s Western Star for the owner of the company Freund works for. The owner is fighting cancer and this is a replica of a truck he drives. Alumnium stacks, bumper, tool boxes and airlines give this big rig some bling, while homemade decals and mud flaps go quite well with its classic white finish from Testors.

This intimidating 1958 Ford C600 pickup comes from an AMT kit and Heller’s Massey Ferguson kit was built by Jim Kampmann who grew up was built by Bill Statler. The chassis and bed are borrowed from a die- on a farm and spent time around the tractors his grandfather sold for a cast, while its wheels and tires came from his parts box. It’s finished in living. He added plug wires, battery cables and finished it with Tamiya a dark Krylon flat black. paint.

36 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 A blast from the past? Tom Tilton paid tribute to not only a favorite beer of his, but two stock cars. On the right is a 2001 Revell Dodge Intrepid NASCAR kit, and on the left a custom AMT 1940 Ford Coupe on a modified ’34 Ford chassis. The paint is Testors silver lacquer.

Continuing with the show’s NASCAR theme, Bill Read built Revell’s Another iconic stock car model done well, Fenton Earnshaw built AMT’s limited edition No. 5 Kellog’s “Spooky Fruit Loops” car that was piloted Richard Petty STP Grand Prix kit box-stock and finished with authentic by Terry Labonte. Its engine is plumbed and wired, and he added racing colors from Testors Pactra. aftermarket hood pins, seat belt, and a window net.

Jim Allen’s been a lifelong NASCAR fan and welcomed Revell’s new A Plymouth Valiant in stock car livery was a fun find at the show. Tyler release of stock car kits. He picked up a Kevin Harvick kit and pieced it Halliday built this SMP kit for his club’s challenge, added bungee cords, together in six weeks. It’s mostly box-stock but he added decals from light covers, side exhaust, and stole the tires and wheels from a 1964 Power Slide and extra roll bars. It’s finished in Tamiya pure white and Petty Plymouth kit. An automotive Duplicolor universal white paint and bright red. Testors Wet Look Clear finish it off.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 37 NNL Milwaukee

Al Stout’s 1940 Ford from an AMT kit is a head-turner. He mixed colors This retro 1984 Suzuki Katana GSX 750S comes from Tamiya and was together to match a paint hue from 1965 called “Evening Orchid,” with built by Paul Johnston. He’s on a quest to finish all of Tamiya’s bikes, three coats of clear over it. He wired the 327 cid Chevy engine and and added chrome Mylar for the mirror surfaces and drilled out the added wheels and tires from his parts box. holes in the brake rotors. It’s finished in decanted Tamiya spray paint.

Bennett Boyajian, 8, built this AMT Grave Digger kit with his dad over Gary Capra almost sent this AMT 1960 Chrysler Imperial to the “plastic the course of a weekend. So far the duo are working on snap kits scrap yard” but decided to rescue it. He shaved a few body lines for a together, with dad doing the painting until “Bennett can hold the spray cleaner look, added chrome bits, headlights from a ’58 Chevy, lake can button down!” That’s a perfect father-son activity! pipes and a Continental kit out back. Don’t miss the cat purring!

John McMillion loves 4x4s so he built MPC’s cool kit of Daisy’s Jeep Drag racing on the Oregon trail must have been what Don Stadick had from The Dukes of Hazzard. He added photo-reduced magazines and a in his mind when building AMT’s Li’l ‘Stogie Death Valley Draggin’ model kit box seen on the seat, a Bare-Metal foil grille, and a colorful Wagon show rod. He added copper and aluminum injectors, plug wires, a custom spare tire cover. The Jeep is finished with Duplicolor paints. scratchbuilt intake and injectors, along with metal spring coils.

38 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Rick Shepard wanted to craft a street rod version of the famous 1941 Willys dragster that was popular in the 1960s, so he got creative with Revell’s 1/25 scale kit. He chrome-plated the frame and suspension, added wheels and tires from his parts box, and the stunning candy lime green finish comes from Bob’s Paint.

This 1958 Ford F-300 was mostly scratchbuilt using a Modelhaus resin John Anton’s “Phantom” Ford Econoline Custom Van comes from an body and all sorts of other bits from various kits. The rear differential AMT kit and has its own graveyard diorama as a base! The van is fully and transfer case are from an AMT 1978 Ford F-350, while the frame, wired, and has a purpley white pearl interior with white shag carpeting lower floor and pickup box came off of AMT’s 1953 Ford F-100. Peter that’s also illuminated. What’s in the cargo area? A coffin and skulls of Altwies added fuel lines, wired and plugged the engine, and filled the course. interior with more than 30 detail parts.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 39 NNL Milwaukee

This rig begs the question of “What inspired you to build this?” Rick Buikema’s answer was comical: “A good friend talking about working on toilets at work,” he says of this custom rat rod called “Dale’s Turd Herder.” Made from Lindberg’s 1932 Ford kit, Rick added a 1918 Stutz motor, TV antennas for its smokestacks, and the tank was crafted form a woman’s plastic deodorant case.

A rad blast from the past, this Pontiac Sunbird Formula came from a There’s plenty of detail and hard work that went into Pete Altwies’ Revell kit and was built by John Anton. He started the project when he 1969 Ford Thunderbird from an AMT kit. Our favorite modification is the was 13, put it aside, and decided to recently resurrect it. The finish is four-speed manual, because Pete told us he wished they sold it with candy red with gold, and John added a custom insert on the hood. three pedals! There’s also a fully wired and plumbed Boss 429 cid V8. The stellar finish is an early 1970s Lincoln color: Dark Gold Metallic.

11-year-old Lilly Ingram won Revell’s 2004 Chevrolet Corvette in a This gorgeous 1948 Ford Custom started as a Revell kit until John raffle at a meeting for her model club and built it right out of the box. Anton transformed it into something greater. The interior is entirely We really like the flame decals she added! Nice job, Lilly! scratchbuilt behind suicide doors, its roof is modified, and the engine fully detailed. John finished the car in three coats of white pearl with white and copper flakes. Every chrome part has copper leafing on it.

40 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 AMT’s 1999 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra looks perfect in Electric Green. Robin Travis got bored of her sister’s horse shows and decided to This was a long project for Ken Kellner, who painted the kit in 2003 but customize a 1939 Chevrolet Coupe “Hot Metal” die-cast she had from finally finished it about 14 years later, adding carpet and detailing the Testors. The car was prepainted black, but Robin added her own radiant engine and chassis. looking flames!

Mike Kolver’s 1965 Mercury Cyclone AFX was built as a Moebius test Rob Schmidt took AMT’s 1968 Torino in 1/43 scale and added unique shot model. He made the front wheels posable, added spark plug wires, wheels from a die-cast. The little muscle car is finished in fingernail and finished it in Bob’s Paint. polish and urethane clear.

Another wild creation is John Anton’s cycle he built from a 1/8 scale Monogram kit. John likes his choppers from the 1970s and finished it in silver flake and decanted Purple Pearl from Testors. Peek closely at the tan saddle seat and you’ll see that the seat pins are actually pinheads!

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 41 SHOW COVERAGE Buckeye Classic Hilliard, Ohio • March 17, 2018 • Jim Casassa

His wife inspired Dirk Hoops to take a week and build this Revell 2017 Brett Brenning turned a Revell 1967 Shelby GT into a highly detailed Ford GT. The bright finish comes from nail polish. slot car that he actually races on a scale 1/8 mile track. The finish is all House of Kolor paint. Our favorite part? The hand-painted stripes.

This Revell “Wicked” chopper features many modifications made by “The Race of Gentleman” provided the inspiration for John White to Anthony Althouse. He modified the fender and tank, and replaced the build his flathead V8 Ford Model A roadster. He used a Revell 1932 Ford kit’s downtubes with super glued chains. Scratchbuilt parts include the chassis with a 1940 Ford X-member. He fabricated the hood and trunk seat and oil tank, and the bike’s paint is Testors and Krylon. lid from brass, and added a pre-wired distributor and fuel lines.

Craig Cochran’s Revell 1932 Ford roadster shows what happens when A loyal fan of Bill Elliot, Nick Snyder, converted an AMT Impala into a old school meets new ideas. There are parts from Replicas and model of “Awesome Bill’s” 2009 Motorcraft Ford. Nick fully detailed Miniatures, Parts by Parks, and Model Car Garage. Scratchbuilt parts the interior and modified the kit to accept a Ford engine that he spiced include a see-through radiator, drive shaft, and alternator setup. up.

42 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 It seems you seldom see a Revell 1948 Ford coupe built purely stock, but that’s what Keith Price did. He built it straight out of the box, and added a wire antenna. The paint is Krylon’s Colonial Red.

Dave Huddle had a blast creating a unique street machine by combing Vern Heizer’s colorful Jo-Han 1959 Oldsmobile was inspired by the an Opel GT body with the engine and chassis from a pro street Chevy customs found in the pages of Rod & Custom. The only modification was Beretta. He used Testors paint and automotive clear coat. The flame to lower it all around. The decals came from Franklin Ink and the paint decals also were robbed from the Beretta kit. is House of Kolor’s Tangelo Pearl.

Inspired by a picture he saw in a magazine, Don Poling Jr. cut the top Dennis Tull built his Modelhaus 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer with a off a Revell 1950 Olds to make it a convertible. He used the top and three-color scheme to match a car his father once owned. Dennis interior from an AMT 1951 Chevy, and wheels from Revell’s 1949 cleaned up the casting, added flocking for the carpet and metal foil for Mercury. Clear coat covers the metallic red paint and Fred Cady decals. the trim. The paint is a combination of Tamiya lacquers and enamel.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 43 KITREVIEWS

Revell No. 85-7224 Molded Colors: White Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $22.95 Pros: Parts fit, cool snowmobile Cons: Odd wheels, ride height, grille and body proportions

body faster and harder than what I am Revell 1980 Jeep Honcho “Ice Patrol” used to. A single piece of clear styrene makes Originally released in 1981, this the reference photos I found online. It’s up the windshield and vent windows, Jeep J10 Honcho returns, this time with mated to Jeep’s Quadra Trac all-wheel- and it snaps in and stays in place without unique cargo, decals, and other drive system. glue. In lieu of a back window, the kit has accessories. Research on 1:1 Honchos shows a a louver window cover, which I painted he last time Revell’s Honcho was variety of color and stripe schemes, and semi-gloss black. made available was in 2001, when it was the decal sheet in this kit ofers two Included in the kit (but not seen here) dubbed “Pink Poison,” as a part of the stripe options: blue/blue/white as it is a tool box and a gas can, perfect for Blacktop Warriors series. appears on the box art, or red/orange/ servicing the Arctic Cat on a snowy he irst thing I noticed was the lack yellow as it appears on my build. north woods winter excursion. of a chrome tree. If you’re trying to build Also included is a decal for the script All in all, I am happy to see this kit a semi-accurate factory/stock Honcho, “Jeep” stamped into the tailgate, the rereleased, and pleasantly surprised by you’ll need to apply chrome to the grille, “J10” scripts, gauges for both the Jeep what’s included in the box. Everything side mirrors, and both bumpers. I used and the Arctic Cat, two sets of its, making it a quick, enjoyable build. Alclad II. Wisconsin license plates, wheel It’s a good candidate for customizing – Speaking of the grille, it’s my least pinstripes, and a host of other “Jeep” and whether it be an of-roader, rock climber, favorite part of this kit because it’s “J10” logos. service truck, or whatever the builder inaccurate. It’s too tall, and has too few Applying the long body-side decals can dream up. horizontal bars between the headlights. was a challenge; even with setting -Jeff Bloomhuff In fact, I think the body sides appear solution, they gripped the surface of the too tall, too, which is a shame because it’s a unique subject and a fun, easy build. You may recognize the “Ice Patrol” name from a diferent release in Revell’s catalog. In 1978, they released the “Ice Patrol” Chevy Of-Road Pickup, which contained the same 1979 Artic Cat El Tigre snowmobile seen here. Although its windshield its a bit poorly, I enjoyed painting and building the El Tigre. It went together quickly which is a nice change of pace compared to a full car/truck build, and the snowmobile will it in the bed of the accompanying Jeep only if the tailgate is open. he Jeep’s engine represents the AMC 401 cid V8 and consists of 13 pieces. I chose an acrylic from Model Master’s military line for a close color match to

44 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Hasegawa No. 20315 Molded Colors: white, gray, clear, chrome- plated Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $62.99 Pros: Complete engine, photo-etched and detailed interior Cons: Fiddly engine construction, seatbelt material hard to glue, polarizing paint scheme Hasegawa Porsche 944 Turbo Racing

It’s not the prettiest race car, but mounted transaxle is molded as part of apply, including a few under the hood since the Porsche 944 Turbo Cup was a the loor, but once the rear suspension and inside. Microscale Micro Sol settled landmark series, I wanted to build this and exhaust system are installed, it all the decals over any curves. car despite its, um, unique, paint looks pretty good. he pink splotches have to go on irst scheme. Trying to ind historic he all-black, platform style interior (apply the decals in numerical order and information on why someone wanted to hides much of the molded detail. he you should do ine). I used Tamiya pink paint a car white with pink splotches, seatbelts were the only disappointment. to touch up spots where the decals tore. I then cover with gold ticker tape and his was my second attempt using let each layer dry before moving on to Egyptian hieroglyphics was a quest.he Hasagawa’s seatbelt material, and it the next. Next, I applied the gold ticker model was a little easier to decipher. didn’t go any better. I already knew super tape, then the hieroglyphics, and inally Hasagawa packs 111 pieces onto six glue didn’t hold well, so I tried a few the sponsor decals, which I varied a bit. sprues, four generic slicks staggered other solvents. Both methyl ethyl ketone But installing the chassis to the body front to rear, retaining poly caps, photo- (MEK), used to secure styrene joints, or went fairly well. etched seatbelt anchors, adjusters and a lacquer thinner had no efect. Ater placing the rear of the chassis buckle, vinyl to cut into seatbelts, and Instead, I cut strips of blue painter’s into the notch on the back bumper, I two sizes of black rubber hose to detail tape. his worked well. it’s self-adhesive squeezed the nose of the car together to the engine. and I had no trouble threading the tape create clearance for the intercooler and Yes, that’s right, this Hasagawa kit through the buckles and adjusters. radiator to it past the bottom of the includes a fairly well detailed engine. When preparing for paint, make all of front bumper and lower fascia. Although Several parts are chrome-plated, and the modiications called out in the this paint scheme wouldn’t be my ist despite the satin inish, I opted to spray instructions as it appears a street version choice, this is a well-engineered kit that it with Model Master aluminum plate was available at one time. Scrape of the went together with few issues. Adding buing metalizer paint. I found it side moldings from the doors and turbo some wiring and plumbing to the engine showed a much duller inish than the badge from the hatch, ill the scribing for bay would make for a standout model, plating presented. Color callouts list the sunroof, and plug license plate holes. and it could always be built as a privateer suggestions for GSI Creos Aqueous Once painted (Tamiya Racing White) racer. Hobby Color and Mr. Color paints. I spray, you have more than 100 decals to - Eric White used primarily Model Master and Tamiya equivalents. Construction begins with the engine’s 17 plastic parts and four pieces of rubber hose. It went together well, but I ended up removing and reinstalling the intake manifold as my irst attempt wouldn’t allow the rubber air inlet hose to properly route below the air box. Connecting the crossover pipe from the exhaust manifold to the turbo was iddly, but I managed to get it to it and align with the rest of the exhaust system. he 944’s suspension has 17 parts, making a reasonable representation of the car’s chassis. A belly pan covers most of the engine’s bottom and front suspension, but it builds into a sturdy posable steering system. he rear-

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 45 Hasegawa No. 21124 Molded Colors: White, black, chrome, clear Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $54.99 Pros: Excellent parts fit, good chassis detail, decals for window trim, many decal options Hasegawa BMW 2002 Turbo Cons: Fragile chrome trim, weak interior door panels, little tabs This kit represents a 1973 version trim as decals and the silver pieces are need extra attention to be of one of BMW’s lagship cars. It builds a printed as metallic silver, white was the removed from small chrome parts curbside and is let-hand drive only, with best option for more contrast, and I used 106 parts and more than a half-dozen Tamiya (TS-26) pure white over a ine extras. white primer base. Window frame decals it, making a Four rubber-like tires with tread detail Quality of the molding is good, with tedious task manageable. Instructions similar to vintage Michelins, are mold lines on the body faint, well-placed call for that trim to be painted during included with poly caps to mount the and easy to clean. Several delicate parts the assembly steps and could be skipped. wheels to the chassis. require extra care when removing from Only the inside edge of the rear quarter Self-adhesive chrome Mylar transfers the sprues and prepping for install. windows needs to be painted silver, but for mirror faces and other bright inish Most pieces are for the belt-line instead I hand-painted all the trim on items are included, while the decal sheet chrome trim that runs around the entire the inside edges so if the decals didn’t has all the little badges and many options body. My sample had one piece broken, fully cover the areas, they’d already be for things like gauges and radio faces. which I repaired and used foil on ater the proper color. here are multiple choices for the painting to revive its chrome look. I applied the decals, letting each one exterior graphics. Some decals will Small tabs molded onto many of the dry before applying the next. A stronger beneit from a small amount of Tamiya chrome pieces must be trimmed, as decal solvent was needed to get most of Mark Fit (Strong). some are almost the size of the parts, the window frame decals to conform Instructions are typical modern such as on the wheel center caps. fully. It took a little longer to decal the Hasegawa. Read all the way through I was concerned the strips it so frames than to hand-paint, but the before painting, to not overlook holes to snugly before any paint was applied to results are worth it. open or dimples to ill. the body that it might lead to breakage he rest of the decals were applied he well-appointed interior its nicely, or poor itting. mostly as directed, but I used a few of but door panel detail is faint. Paint black To make the strips it easier, I sanded the optional one’s to match photos I and it isn’t too big of an issue. A lighter the groove in the body with a fresh piece found online. To change things up, I dug color might prove otherwise. of 400-grit folded in half, using the a pair of appropriate California plate Its chassis has great detailing and is folded spine as the cutting side. Ater the decals from my stash and thew those on. made up of quite a few pieces. body paint dried, I installed the trim one Even with the stress of the chrome here are only two or three colors that piece at a time, irst with the mentioned trim it was a very enjoyable kit to build would be correct; white or silver and repaired one which was inished with a and really captures the real car. It is a possibly a light metallic turquoise. patch of Bare-Metal foil to hide the recommendable kit. Since the kit provides the window missing chrome spot. -Mark Jones

46 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Revel No. 85-2514 Molded Colors: White, clear, and lots of chrome Scale: 1/25 MSRP: $45.95 Pros: Opening doors, nice decal sheet, overall stance Cons: Extensive parts cleanup required

primed and painted them a dull Revell Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne aluminum color. Casting of the diamond-tuted interior Kenworth began selling the K-100 Patience, test itting, and a little extra panels is well preserved, and looks cab-over-engine (COE) tractor in 1963, cleanup will pay of, and in the end you’ll convincing on the completed build. and in 1976 they introduced an have a fantastic looking model. Because the sleeper portion of the cab industry-irst, raised-roof sleeper called he instruction booklet has black and lits of, the interior can be viewed from the “Aerodyne.” white illustrations. If you’re going for a above. Other functional features on this Revell originally released the K-100 stock or box-stock look, like I did, many model include opening side doors, Aerodyne in 1982, and then again in parts of its chassis, suspension, and cab poseable front wheels, and a tilt-forward 1996 and 2005 by Revell of Germany. will be shot the same color, so jump cab. he kit has 284 parts and carries a skill ahead in the steps and prepare all of Speaking of the interior, it was my level 5 rating, which I wholeheartedly these at the same time, if possible. favorite part of the build. Joining the agree with. he decal sheet features a yellow and dashboard, kick panels, doors and door Building a kit with that many parts is gold stripe pattern and “Coast to Coast hinges to the cab was somewhat of a a marathon, not a race; if you’re looking Transport” livery. It’s likely a ictitious puzzle. Ater a few test its, it came for a quick build, or something that goes brand, although a web search found together beautifully and put a smile on together easily out of the box, this is not numerous companies of the same name. my face. it. With tooling dating back to 1982, Worth noting are decals for the two his rig sits on 10 rubber Michelin there’s a fair amount of lash on the woodgrain dashboard instrument Pilot X tires with nice tread detail. I shot parts, and almost every part in the box panels. hey look great and provide a the sidewalls with Dullcote lacquer to requires signiicant cleanup. quicker, more accurate alternative to give them a more rubber-like And it’s not just lash — many of the detail painting all the knobs, switches appearance. parts’ tabs do not it into the slots they and gauges. All decals are durable and I am thrilled to have this K100 on my are meant to it into. But of course, we easy to work with, typical of most shelf, and I recommend it if you don’t are modelers, armed with blades, iles modern Revell kits. mind the extra work! and sanding sticks, and should expect While the box cover shows a -Jeff Bloomhuff some grunt work, right? beautifully built green tractor on the front, three of the four side panel photos seem to be of a diferent model, perhaps a previous release of the K-100. I wish more (and better) photos of the completed build were included. It would help with a few of the complex assemblies and vague connecting points given in the instruction sheet. here’s an abundance of chrome- plated round and cylinder-shaped parts like the turbochargers, fuel tanks, and exhaust stacks made of two halves that need to be mated. Sadly, gluing those parts together leaves an ugly seam. For the fuel tanks, I stripped the chrome plating, used putty to ill the seams, then

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 47 Revell No. 85-1996 Molded Colors: Bright orange with a little metallic, black, clear Scale: 1/25 MSRP: $13.95 Pros: Easy to build and paint, fits well, no stress, a fun model for any age group, cool subject, captures essence of the car Cons: Not highly detailed, model Revell SnapTite 2018 Ford Mustang GT year does not match box-top photo, minor accuracy issues. This is a simple kit with a skill level While the photos could have just been 1 rating aimed at a market likely to resized, I drew and made my own spend more time playing with it than waterslides. before hand-painting the silver GT building it. Packaging is similar to a Panel lines are cleanly molded, but emblem. traditional promo with 13 pieces Note, it not as deep or deined as I prefer. I Its chassis has the front spoiler, side shows a 2016 car on the box top; not rescribed them and added ones along rockers and rear difuser detail molded what comes in the box. the top of the doors below the windows. in, including the exhaust pipes. I drilled Semi-sot tires easily dismount from I scribed a line on the front lower grille a pilot hole with a pin vise, iled the the rims to allow for painting the wheels to make the color break between the exhausts open with a rat tail ile then and sanding tire tread. I let the wheels orange and black, easier to paint. sprayed light gunmetal (TS-42). on their metal axles when I painting All the body parts were sprayed here are accuracy issues stemming them Tamiya metallic black (TS-40). brilliant orange (TS-56) and the roof and from this kit being modiied from an To build the Mustang, you must window frames were shot with Testors earlier year Mustang, and to a Mustang un-build it irst. Its windows and black chrome trim. he roof was waxed enthusiast they might even be glaring. headlights need to be carefuly removed with the rest of the body to raise its he wheels can be changed and the from the body. Sand the rear side sheen a bit. interior is not all that visible once windows, headlight openings and their I also made a pair of “5.0” (engine assembled into the body due to the the edges with 400-grit until there’s it size) emblems for the fenders. he let windows not being crystal clear. without friction. I cut half of the side emblems are there but molded on Keep in mind this is a “Build & Play” mounting tab of the headlight piece to the sot side. he rights are rather faint kit so it’s not really fair to hold it to the ease inserting into the body and the and disappeared under paint. he hood standards of a typical curbside model. glass’s mounting holes were reamed out. vent details were accented with decals. But for a nice simple shelf model that is he black pre-painted window trim he rear panel comes with pre- enjoyable to build and paint, it might be was let as is, but the headlights were painted taillights and a GT emblem on a non-issue for most people. painted silver from the inside as they raw black plastic. I painted the whole Sometimes a simple project is just the lack dimension. Ater trying various part black then hand-painted the lights right thing for the moment and these mild solutions, I used a polishing with a base of chrome silver followed by kits ill that niche well, especially if compound to remove the paint. Tamiya clear red (X-27). Its lights looked you’re willing to do the same basic prep I made simple decals to spruce up the too bright, so I misted on a few light as for a more complex kit. he kit is also headlights and turn signals (credit Bob coats of smoke (TS-71) to tone down ripe for customizing. Downie), inding photos for reference. and give a glossier inish to the black -Mark Jones

48 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Italeri No. 4640 Molded Colors: Black, yellow, silver, clear, chrome, vinyl Scale: 1/9 MSRP: $89.99 Pros: Very detailed, good wheels and tires, popular subject Italeri Norton Commando 750 PR Cons: Fit issues, confusing instructions, difficult assembly Norton’s Commando was produced frame required considerable cleanup to from 1967 to 1977. Engine displacement remove mold seams. was 750cc until 1973 when it was Fitting the engine assembly to the four-piece interlocking assembly that enlarged to a broader 850cc. frame is when you will start wishing for inserts into the hollow tire. No glue is Italeri’s release of this Norton bike an extra set of hands. From this point required and the spokes are well done. appears to be a tool previously released on, I tried to use as little glue as possible. he headlight assembly that includes by Protar and this kit is deinitely for the It was starting to appear that assemblies the mounting bracket for the removable experienced modeler. would need to be taken apart to correct aerodynamic shroud is iddly and hard here are 161 parts plus 56 screws, alignment issues. his assumption to adjust. here was too much play at the nuts and springs and be ready, no proved correct. mounting bracket and shimming was screwdriver is provided. In total there Functional rear shocks assemble required. Its mounting bracket was are 32 vinyl parts, 14 representing easily, but an alignment issue appeared short-molded on the side that accepts electrical and mechanical lines. A clear when mounting the swing arm. Fixing the screw. his area was rebuilt with fuel line also is supplied. this required illing and re-drilling the super glue and then re-tapped. Instructions for the bike are presented pivot holes. he shocks when mounted he cycle’s two-piece fuel tank has in 40 steps printed across ive pages, to the frame and swing arm, set the ittings and fuel lines and the seat cover front and rear. I found it confusing going vertical alignment of the rear tire. My behind it is vinyl. he kit’s chrome back and forth with their fold-out swing arm hung low on one side moving plating is good with an acceptable format when tracking where a vinyl line the tire of the vertical center line. I amount of lash. here are decals for the started and stopped. I inally cut the resolved the issue by putting a stop plug gauges, all of which were in register and sheets apart and put them in sequence. in one of the shock tubes to stifen it. performed well. he instructions do have images of he front fork’s suspension also is Keep in mind that during assembly assembled areas but unfortunately they functional, with two springs inserted you are trying to igure out where all the are dark and were not much help. into each shat housing. he shats are vinyl lines connect and how to route Following the assembly steps while metal so ensure they move up and down them. I had more than 100 hours into applying common sense is freely without disturbance. this build. he kit’s a challenge, but all recommended when building this Spoked wheels and their tires are a the details are there. Commando. highlight of this kit. Each wheel is a -Al Hoffman A word to the wise before starting: test-it everything, especially where screws are involved. On this kit, the holes were either too big needing to be illed and re-tapped or too small requiring enlargement. Check and correct all the screw holes before assembly begins. Piecing together the Commando starts with its engine and gear box. he engine is well-molded and detailed, with chrome engine covers and wiring that stands out. he frame is next and is divided along the upper tube. Ater joining the halves, test-it the fork pivot bolt in it’s housing. Mine had too much play, so inserting a sleeve will correct this. he assembled

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 49 ICM No. 24008 Molded Colors: Gray and black Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $62.99 Pros: Well-detailed wheels and tires, impressive engine Cons: At times difficult to read instruction manual due to the ICM Ford Model T 1912 Light Delivery Car color chart, no brass-finished parts One of the most iconic cars in the loor a simulated wood grain inish. automotive history is Ford’s Model T, he irewall and hood brace mount to built at the Highland Park Plant in the chassis using only a few pieces, and respective brackets that hold them, in Michigan from 1908 until 1927. the radiator slides on to the two the aforementioned Krylon gold. I also his 1912 Model T light delivery car accompanying hood sections. hese inserted the two round windows into the from ICM, a Ukrainian manufacturer, detailed hood sections are impressive back doors and joined them to the comes with about 100 pieces, all of though, giving the appearance of an previously painted cab. which are clean with little to no lash. actual hinged hood. Mating the cab to the T’s chassis A color chart gives recommendations Cars back then were pretty basic, and required close care. When gluing it in for each part, and it took me a couple of as such, the Model T’s interior is fairly place, start from the back, all the while looks to understand each of the callouts. simple and Spartan, with not a lot of lining up the cab with the loor setting I’d recommend painting the loor section pieces. I do wish some of these interior into place. irst, then assemble and paint the cab. parts were actually named for what Final details inished of my build, and Don’t forget the two pieces for the hood, they’re intended purpose was. For I mounted my (Krylon) brass-inished paying close attention and doing so will example, the steering column includes pieces, like the headlights, lanterns, side save you time when attaching the parts pieces that I believe are destined for classic and comical “aooga” horn, rear to the loor section, including its chassis. advancing the timing. license plate frame, and taillight to the he engine is well-detailed despite he steering column gets completed, chassis. being made up of only a few pieces. Fit with the two-piece steering wheel I slapped on the included Texaco and inish of the two block halves are attaching up above, along with the gas, Motor Oil decals to make it look like a seamless, and the detail on the cylinder brake and clutch pedals mounting true light delivery truck ready to drop head even includes the spark plug tops below. of a load. showing through. Nice touch, ICM. Next, I began painting the brass -Tom Nowak One drawback is the absence of any headlights, side taillights and their chrome- or brass-inished parts. I used Krylon gold paint to simulate a brass inish for the T’s radiator, headlights, window frame and more. Mounting the front suspension, engine, and rear suspension to the T’s chassis is next, and once these components are assembled, you begin to see how fast this kit builds. Ater attaching the two-piece exhaust system, steering pieces for the front suspension, and inishing the rear suspension, you’re ready to add the wheels and tires. ICM did a spot-on job with this Ford’s wheels and tires. hey really pull the entire kit together, as its white rubber tires are incredibly realistic. Moving on to the loor section, if you want to really detail this kit, opt to make

50 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Hasegawa No. 20313 Molded Colors: Red, gray, clear Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $52.99 Pros: Detail of the molded parts, straightforward assembly process, clear instructions with detailed paint callouts Cons: Lack of interior door detail, lots of masking or brush painting Hasegawa BMW 320i required

The first thing that impressed me hat seemed to take care of the instructions call for the use of four when I started taking parts out of the depressions and the line, but the line separate colors when painting it. box was the amount of engraved detail. spotted in the middle of the roof Inside, the interior is molded in a tub- Its one-piece body was molded with re-appeared when a inal coat of Testors like fashion, so there’s little interior door the grille open so that you can see One-Coat lacquer was sprayed. I should panel detail. he front bucket seats, rear between the iconic Bimmer individual have used a primer sealer on the roof, seat, console and the instrument panel vertical bars. I was also amazed at how but I didn’t have time to strip the paint are separate parts. he instrument panel thin the 320i’s complete body is. he and start over. has detailed engraving and the front plastic is thin enough that it appears here were also depressed areas along buckets are molded as a single piece with almost translucent when held up to any both sides of the trunk lid that I built up head restraints. light. Molded as part of the sedan’s body with putty, and this ix didn’t give me Rear seat head restraints are separate are the grille, badges, and door handles. any additional hassle. pieces as are the center console, parking hankfully I didn’t ind any mold Hasegawa’s instruction sheet lays out brake and shit lever. he steering parting lines that required cleaning, only the assembly process in a straight- column is molded with a control stalk on a few small feed tags. forward manner using multiple both sides and a decal is included for the However, my sample had four round diagrams. Be sure to follow their instrument faces. depressions in a row down the middle of assembly sequence, in order, or you’ll Front, side and rear glass are molded the roof. here also was a visible straight encounter problems later on in the build. as a single piece, and masks are included line in the middle of the roof that ran he instruction sheet even tells you in the kit to use in painting the from windshield opening to rear the correct size drill bit to use when perimeters of the windows. Delicately- window opening, but couldn’t actually holes need to be opened. molded wipers attach to holes in the be felt. I illed the depressions with Color callouts are very detailed, but lower edge of the windshield. Tamiya putty before priming and block- the paint brands they refer to may be he outside mirrors have separate sanding the roof. diicult to ind in the United States. faces which will need to be painted. he BMW’s undercarriage is quite Accompanying mirror faces, door detailed for what is essentially a curbside handles and grille surround gave me an model. he front and rear suspension are opportunity to try my new Molotow made of a limited number of pieces that Liquid Chrome pen. attach to the chassis plate. Engraving on his was the irst Hasegawa kit I’d ever all these parts is crisp, and the front built, and while some things I suspension is designed to allow for pose- mentioned here were new to me, they able wheels. may be familiar to others. he lower part of the engine and he overall quality of the molding and transmission are molded as part of the the parts design is impressive consider- chassis plate. Room for addittional ing this kit was irst released in 1993. improvement arrives, as the I was impressed by the it of the parts undercarriage could be made to appear and the attention paid to exterior details, even more realistic by way of careful especially the Pirelli tires, which have detail painting with either a brush, or by great tread and sidewall detail. masking and spraying. Once together, the inished model For example, the entire exhaust from provides a realistic appearance of BMW’s the engine to tailpipe tip is molded as a 320i. single piece, but the color callouts in the -Jim Casassa

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 51 Hasegawa No. 20316 Molded Colors: White, clear Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $49.99 Pros: Excellent curbside replica, good decals and stance Cons: No brake caliper detail, unclear instructions, excessive flash

track sans covers. I added Tacky Crat Glue to the areas where they mounted ater decals and painting, so I could have the option of displaying the car with, or without, them. Decals performed well despite not being made by Cartograf, and needed only a little bit of coaxing from solvents. Hasegawa Jaguar XJR-9 IMSA he green is accurate to the Castrol Motor Oil shade, however the red has a The Castrol Jaguar XJR-9 IMSA is performed well. A light scuf on the bit too much brown in it, making it look a reissue kit of the tried and true Silk Cut contact area of the tires will eliminate more like rust. livery that Hasegawa released many the faint mold seams. A few areas need to be touched up to years ago. he interior is sparse and with good match the decals like the top of the front he Castrol-sponsored car ran at the reason, as it was mainly black or Carbon lower air dam along with the lower wing 24 Hours of Daytona in 1988, and this iber on the 1:1 racecar. It is noticeably pedestals. No. 60 car won its class. diicult to see inside once all the glass is All in all, the entire model builds up his reissue is a curbside with in place, nevertheless, I detail-painted quite well. I liked the extra efort needed absolutely no engine detail, except the the areas called out by the instructions, to remove the rear wheel covers to exhaust hanging out back. added all the appropriate supplied decals entirely change the look of the car and I noticed a lot of lash in the kit to the gauges and molded-in seatbelt show its great wheel and tire stance this indicating the molds are getting tired. harnesses. kit possesses right out of the box. Directions were a bit poor on some of Pay special attention to the rear wing It’s a great alternative to the fully- the details that needed to be changed on and body modiications needed to make detailed kit from Tamiya. If you prefer to the body to make it correct for the it this speciic, accurate, car that have a nice, closed-up, clean, curbside victorious Daytona car. competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona. replica of the XJR-9 then this kit is right he Jag’s chassis is molded in one here are a lot of parts not used in this for you. piece with the interior tub glued to the kit, that are in turn, intended for the Silk -David Thibodeau top, and there’s no front suspension Cut Le Mans variant. detail at all, just two locating pins for the In the box are two wings, wing ends, wheels to slide on with rubber poly caps. and an exhaust system to represent the Included are rear suspension arms and other versions. he wing parts assembled drive shats to give the illusion there is a lawlessly, but if I were to build a really full suspension out back. detailed replica, I would have gotten rid For some odd reason, the brake of a few light sink marks that were detail in this kit completely lacks present. calipers. How would you slow this big he body has those dreaded rear cat down? herefore when you look at wheel covers molded into the body. I the brakes, there is nothing there to carefully removed them with the actually stop them. backside of a hobby blade. he wheels have nice detail for the I made the covers so I could attach or center hub screws and valve stems. remove them like the teams did for Hasegawa provides white “Dunlop various tire changes, and at times the big Denloc” transfers for the tires that cat would do quick runs around the

52 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Hasegawa No. 20309 Molded Colors: White, clear Scale: 1/24 MSRP: $69.99 Pros: One of the cleanest molds I have ever worked with, fit of parts, Cartograf decals Cons: Fragile roll cage requires Hasegawa Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD careful assembly

Driver Juha Kankkunen and he Celica wears rally-inspired OZ body the decals laid down great with navigator Juha Piironen took Toyota’s Racing “turbo” style wheels and nicely minimal setting solution needed. Castrol-sponsored No. 1 1993 Celica rendered Michelin gravel race tires. Final assembly went without any real Turbo to a victory during the 41st Trust Decals for the Michelin lettering are a hiccups. Ater the interior was mounted Bank Safari Rally held in East Africa. pleasure to use. Trim the lettering as you inside the body the chassis was slipped he Safari rallies are demanding and want it to lay on the tire’s sidewall, then in and clipped using the pin and groove treacherous of-road events, but the wet the outer layer of the decal, wait a mounting tabs that require no adhesive Toyota took both the WRC couple of minutes and then remove the to the chassis. Manufacturer’s and Driver’s backing and voila, the white lettering is he last pieces added were the rubber championship for the 1993 World applied crisply and beautifully. mud laps, air snorkel, of-road lights, Rallycross season. Steps No. 11 through No. 15 construct and metal antenna. he Celica advertised is the unique, the body. Parts are rendered beautifully Overall I was excited to receive this all-wheel-drive, turbocharged GT-Four, with only the faintest of mold lines, automotive subject to build, as this was but this kit is a curbside and you’re relatively hidden along panel lines, and not something I would have normally unfortunately not able to show of that are easily cleaned. Paint is Toyota bright built. I looked forward to building incredible powerplant. white followed by clear, both from outside my comfort zone because it Instructions start with the buildup of Duplicolor. I refrained from a showy would challenge me. his was an the bucket style interior. As expected “dipped in syrup” look. incredibly enjoyable build. with a rally car, there’s minimal detail on Windows were masked, and the black Anyone who hasn’t taken a go at a the door panels but the seats are nicely trim painted then re-masked, so the side Hasegawa kit needs to look into the vast rendered Recarros with provisions for and rears could be tinted with Tamiya’s array of rally cars ofered, and inish at the pass through racing seat belt window tint clear. he body then was least one variant of the incredible Toyota harnesses. Make the belts by using a decaled using the two beautiful Celica. sheet of super thin plastic that needs to expansive sheets by Cartograf. Even with -Tom Valenta be cut to size using the included guide all the rounded corners of the Celica’s and small photo-etched clips, buckles and mounting hardware. hey later get mounted to the rear roll bar. he Celica’s dash is molded with minimal detail but the ix is six decals with carbon iber backgrounds, switch and button detail, and a speedometer and tachometer. he seats, dash, and fuel cell are all mounted to the interior bucket before the fragile seven-piece roll cage is installed. he 15-piece chassis includes a chassis pan, well-detailed exhaust, and engine with attached drivetrain (all of which end up hidden behind skid plates). Next is the suspension build, comprising four struts, separate disc brakes, and poly bushings for the wheels to mount to, along with the front and rear skid plates.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 53 Auto World’s 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

As the ’60s took off, so did the accents relect the 1:1’s on-purpose lack all visible. Its blue engine block has the exciting era of American muscle cars. of lashy chroming and the whitewall appropriate wiring and belts, a caution One of Pontiac’s entries in the game was tires encompass 8-lug wheels bearing decal, and two Carter S4299 four-barrel its Grand Prix, based on the Catalina, “Pontiac Motor Division.” carbs cast in silver and chrome. which hit dealers for the irst time in he detailed cabin has carpet, gold- 30,000 Grand Prix sold during its irst 1962. rimmed steering wheel, folding seats, year, but only 16, yes, 16 421 Super Duty What’s modeled here is the ultra-rare and detailed dash. here’s even the versions were made. hat’s what makes 421 Super Duty, in Ensign Blue. his bulbous tachometer capsule mounted to this accurate die-cast so special. feisty beast had a monstrous four-barrel the center console ahead of the manual 421 cid V8 that made 405 horsepower. shiter. All that’s missing are fuzzy dice his is a fully interactive die-cast. he hanging from the rearview mirror! Scale/Type: 1/18, die-cast metal trunk, hood, and doors open, and its Mechanical detail is aplenty. Exhaust Stock No: AMM1122 poseable wheels roll. Minimal chrome (with cutouts!) and suspension parts are MSRP: $94.99

Replicarz’s 1927 Duesenberg, Indy 500 winner

Replicar> has been making an his model is, well, a winner. First, it’s hub and spokes, plus ive relective exclusive line of cast resin Indy 500 beautifully molded and inished with gauges on the aluminum-look dash. winners for years. Lately it has turned its just a dark blue No. 32, trimmed in red, Underneath is a detailed suspension attention to Indy-winning Duesenbergs, gracing its body. No sponsors in 1927! with brake cables. And the black wire including the 1924, 1925 and now 1927 he hood comes of in two pieces if wheels wrapped in treaded tires are Indy winners. All are terriic. you unfasten the leather straps, two on beautiful. In front is a crank to start the his most recent one is the baby blue- the let, one on the right side. engine and a ine screen mesh nose gray Duesy that George Souders used to Underneath is a replica of Duesenberg’s piece. his is simply an elegant racer. crack the winners circle in his rookie powerful 122 cid straight-8 engine. year at Indy. It also was the last On the right is a blackened exhaust Duesenberg to win the 500. Souders pipe running past the cockpit, which Scale/Type: 1/18, die-cast resin started 22nd, but worked his way features a matte black seat with silver- Stock No: R18022 through the ield and ended up leading painted rivets around its edges. here’s a MSRP: $249.99 the last 51 laps. giant 4-spoke steering wheel with silver

54 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 TRUCKSTOP BY DOC WISEMAN

Tips and thoughts on building tow trucks

have a strong affinity for working engine) box trucks, which can be Itrucks. Don’t get me wrong, I converted to medium-duty wreckers. appreciate multicolored, candy-coated For heavy-duty wreckers, AMT and beauties dripping in chrome, but give me Revell have released three kits in various a hard-working fleet truck any day. schemes. AMT issued a Peterbilt with a In my past career I’ve seen a lot of the twin boom heavy wrecker that closely first responders, the hero tow truck. resembles a Holmes twin-boom wrecker. Tow truck operators strategize to The downside, it’s kitted in 1/43 scale, remove the worst wrecks from the most but you can be use this as a reference kit inaccessible locations. And these and scale it up to a more feasible 1/24. workhorses have been around since cars AMT also released a single-boom rig became commonplace. The earliest in 1/24 scale on a Peterbilt chassis. This wreckers were hand-cranked winches wrecker can be fitted to almost any other built into A-frames mounted on a of AMT’s kits with minimal mods. pickup chassis. These were locally built Revell has released two heavy-duty by junkyard operators or mechanics and wreckers, one on a Peterbilt and another had a limited capacity. based on a Kenworth. The Peterbilt rig is Today’s wreckers are custom-made by loosely based on a rig from Stepp’s specialty manufacturers, and run the Towing Services in Florida. I’ve actually gamut from pickup-mounted single- seen the 1:1 machine Revell’s model is boom rigs to triple tandem rotators with based on and the kit is mostly accurate, a 100-ton capacity. apart from a few bugs, the most obvious being an incorrect front bumper. THE KITS The kit has a wide “Texas” style There are a few tow truck model kits bumper while the prototype wears a available, but these are long in the tooth. standard style. Recent releases of this kit Lindberg has a single-boom wrecker do not have the licensing agreement based on an early 1930s Ford pickup. Its with Stepp’s Towing Services, so the box boom assembly can easily be art depicts a plain unmarked truck. transplanted to another chassis, and with This wrecker kit replicates an older judicious scratchbuilding and detailing, Century single-boom rotator with twin I’ve had the best luck visiting tow can be a convincing model. winches. The rotator type boom is operators or body shops. These folks are MPC and AMT have kitted tow trucks basically a low elevation crane, and its proud of their rigs and might welcome through the years, but the only one twin winches run along the single boom you and your camera to capture solid they’ve re-popped is the mid-’70s era to a pair of pulleys. This results in the reference photos. GMC. There are a couple kits of 1950s flexibility of a twin-boom rig with the Need more inspiration? There are a and 1960s vintage machines, but they raw power of a single boom. couple of national professional haven’t been reissued in decades. The rotator allows the boom to swing organizations for tow truck operators To create a light-duty wrecker, you’ll almost 180 degrees from side to side, and nearly every state hasa similar either need to kitbash one of these early greatly increasing the truck’s versatility. association. These groups often run kit bodies, scratchbuild a body, or The other Revell kit is built on a shows where operators show off rigs. possibly find one of the few resin Kenworth W900 chassis and has a single The national American Towman show wrecker bodies and graft it onto a more boom that doesn’t rotate. The wrecker also features rigs with one-of-a-kind recent truck chassis. body is a generic tandem type that can paint jobs that match a theme. The beautiful thing about be adapted to another chassis and its In addition, these events are flooded scratchbuilding a wrecker body is that boom assembly has decent detail and with trade booths dishing out brochures the shapes are angular, meaning they can includes hydraulic lines for the lift and photos of booms, winches, and be replicated with sheet styrene, and cylinders. A little detail painting and control boxes for wreckers. square or round tube. Another option, weathering can result in a solid replica. build a flatbed recovery body using QUESTIONS FOR DOC? techniques we’ve talked about in past FINDING THE INSPIRATION Truck Stop columns. I’ve noticed that a local International I don’t recall any of today’s major dealer has taken delivery of a new Send your truck modeling questions to SCALE AUTO, Truck Stop plastic kit makers issuing any medium- Roadstar day cab with a Century rotator 21027 Crossroads Circle, Box 1612 duty wrecker kits. I keep pestering resin wrecker. I’m thinking of kitbashing one Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 casters to cast a medium-duty cab for us! using a Moebius Models’ Roadstar and A couple of the Asian kit makers have the Stepp’s Towing Services wrecker E-mail: [email protected] made a few late-model COE (cab over body mentioned earlier.

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 55 WWW.B-N-LRESINS.COM Email: [email protected]

Resin parts for 1/24 1/25 scale models. Motors, engine parts, 4x4 truck parts and accessories.

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Marketplace Replicas & Miniatures Company of Maryland just Flock It!   with Soft Flock Precision Cut Fibers.  
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CHROME PLATING SERVICE 29 years of experience that matters! www.chrometechusa.com Chrome-Tech U.S.A. $7.00 ea. $10.50 ea. $15.00 ea. 2314 RAVENSWOOD RD., MADISON, WI 53711 $22.99 ea. (608) 274-9811 Black Gold 2707 S. Great Southwest Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 Hours: T-F 10-5:30, Sat 10-2 972-352-2848

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To advertise, call 888-558-1544, ext. 625 ext. call 888-558-1544, advertise, To Full line :LQJV  and order Hobby Shop :KHHOV form send -    $1 and a Advertise Here! (330) 830-7755 NEW ‘65 442 LSASE to: :DYHV  To place your ad in Scale Auto, MCW Resin Replicas mcwfi[email protected] Call Today! Box 518 Burlington, NC 27216-0518 www.mcwfinishes.com www.mcwautomotivefinishes.com 888-558-1544 ext. 625

B-N-L Resins ...... 56 Model Car Mountain ...... 6 Advertisers Index Black Gold ...... 56 Model Roundup ...... 7

We believe that our readers are as important as our Chrome-Tech U.S.A...... 56 Models By Tony ...... 56 advertisers. If you do not receive your merchandise Contest Cars 2018 ...... 35 Parts by Parks ...... 56 or a reply from an advertiser within a reasonable Dean’s Hobby Stop...... 7 Replicarz ...... 7 period, please contact us. Provide details about what you ordered and the amount you paid. If no action Flock It!...... 56 Replicas & Miniatures Co. of MD ...... 56 is obtained after we forward your complaint to the Fred’s Model World ...... 56 Round 2 LLC ...... 2 advertiser, we will not accept further advertising from Galaxie Ltd...... 56 Salvinos J R Models ...... 5 them. Scale Auto magazine, 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187. Gofer Racing Decals ...... 5 Scale Equipment Ltd...... 56 MCW Resin Replicas ...... 56 Southern Lakes Auto Modelers ...... 15 The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to Scale MegaHobby.com ...... 56 Spotlight Hobbies ...... 6 Auto magazine readers. The magazine is not responsible for omissions or for typographical errors in names or Micro-Mark...... 7 Tamiya America, Inc...... 60 page numbers. Model Car Garage ...... 56 Wings, Wheels & Waves ...... 56

56 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 Classified Ads

Coming Events Rates: $35 per issue (55 word maximum). Ads will contain the following information about the event: state, city, sponsoring organization and name of event, meet, auction or show, dates, location, times, admission fee, name and/or telephone number and/or email of person to contact for information. Name, daytime telephone number and street address of the person providing the information is also required but need not be included in the ad. Unless otherwise requested, ads will be published in the issue month that the event occurs in. Additional months are available at the $35 per issue fee. Please specify issue date(s). Word Ad Rates: 51¢ per word, $15.00 minimum per issue. Payment must accompany ad. No agency commission. Send to: “ Classified Ads,” 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612 Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Or call toll-free 1-888-558-1544, ext. 815 for more information. E-mail: [email protected]

COMING EVENTS PLASTIC WANTED LARGE COLLECTION OF DIE CAST FIRE MODELS: and unbuilt fire apparatus kits. Also unbuilt stock car kits. [email protected] AL, HUNTSVILLE: Huntsville Plastic Modelers’ Society 42nd IMMEDIATE PAYMENT for your unbuilt or built model Annual Model Show. August 25, 2018, 8:00am-5:00pm. Jaycees kits. Any size collection. DEAN SILLS, 116 N. Washington WWW.ATLANTISTOYANDHOBBY.COM Covering all Building 2180 Airport Road. Free admission. Model Registration: St. Owosso, MI 48867. 989-720-2137, Fax 989-720-0937, hobby Categories! Featuring Amazing closeout Section, New Kits, $10 for the first 5, $1 each additional. Vendor tables: $25 each. [email protected] Discontinued & Old kits from Collections. Brand new website, Vendor info: 256-714-1745, [email protected] General info: Laser fast speed, CPI compliant. Shipping worldwide! Inventory MODEL CAR/TRUCK KITS WANTED. Unbuilt, started, or http//www.hpmsonline.org. updated Daily. Place your order online or call 631-499-6733. All built. Promos, slot cars, old model magazines/catalogs also. Any orders shipped from Deer Park, NY with care & common sense! IL, WHEATON: September 30th, 2018 72nd ILLINOIS PLASTIC size collections. Good prices paid. FRED STERNS, 48 Standish Atlantis the Hobby Experts! KIT & TOY SHOW, 150 show tables available, BUY/SELL/TRADE/ Rd., Buffalo, NY 14216. 716-838-6797. Fax 716-836-6057. or just browse. Come out and have a great time! Cars, Trucks, [email protected] Airplanes, Trains/Military and more. DuPage County Fairgrounds TOYS WANTED 2015 W. Manchester Road, Time: 9:00am-2:00pm. Admission: Adults $5.00, 12 and under $2.00. INFORMATION: Past-Time DIECAST WANTED ALL SLOT CARS WANTED. Any kind, any condition. Top Hobbies, Inc. 630-969-1847. FRANKLIN AND DANBURY MINT DIECAST CAR dollar paid for slot cars regardless of condition. Contact PAUL at VA, ROANOKE: 2018 Virginia Shoot-Out sponsored by COLLECTIONS Pocher, Aurora, Revell, Monogram model kit 586-752-3675. E-mail: [email protected] Roanoke Valley IPMS, Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Blvd., collections. JIM CRANE, 15 Clemson Ct., Newark, DE 19711. Salem, VA. August 11, 2018, 9:00am-6:00pm. Over 70 contest 302-738-6031. [email protected] categories, “Best-Ofs”, Mega-Raffle, vendors galore. Contact Rocky Sink at 540-580-2023 or [email protected] or Greg Clower at 540-650-1552 or [email protected] or www.rvipms.com MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE for information. FOR SALE: PAINT BOOTHS. The finest and most When contacting affordable. Four models to choose from. www.pacepaintbooths.com PLASTIC FOR SALE 877-872-4780 advertisers, mention HUNDREDS OF CAR KITS. Call or e-mail for free list. Please FREE MODEL KIT REVIEWS and tips on current and vintage mention Scale Auto. DEAN SILLS, 116 N. Washington St. Owos- scale model kits. On YouTube, search for RIGHT ON REPLICAS you saw their ad so, MI 48867. Phone: 989-720-2137, Fax: 989-720-0937, E-Mail: and Click on the playlists tab to browse the reviews. [email protected] in Scale Auto HUGE MODEL COLLECTION: Over 300 built cars, trucks, MCW RESIN REPLICAS SELLING PERSONAL classics, drags, hot rods @ 1/25 many show winners. Plus model COLLECTION. Hundreds of GM ‘50’s - ‘70’s promos and rare building supplies tools, air brushes and custom made dioramas!! magazine! kits. Send for list to Dave Dodge at our Marketplace ad address or Downsizing MUST SELL. Photos by email available. Dennis see our website, www.mcwautomotivefinishes.com 513-607-6700 or [email protected]

MICHIGAN • Grand Rapids OREGON • Beaverton Full line hobby shop specializing in auto-motive plastic & die cast, kits & built-up, detail and Complete full line hobby shop. Hobby Shop Directory after market accessories, full line of paints, Large collection of plastic, diecast and tools and scratch building supplies. accessory detail parts. Open Mon - Fri 10-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5 Open Mon - Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5. Hobby Shop Directory listings are available for the next six issues for $141 (payable RIDER’S HOBBY SHOP TAMMIES HOBBIES in advance) or at $28 per issue (billed to established accounts for a minimum of 2055 28th Street SE 616-247-9933 12024 SW Canyon Rd. 503-644-4535 six insertions). Ads will be set in standard listing typography. All insertions must be MICHIGAN • Ypsilanti-Metro Detroit CANADA–ON • Toronto Your single stop model building shop. Come see our new, spacious location. consecutive and may be invoiced if you have credit established with us. No mention of Michigan’s largest selection of new and vin-tage Large selection of new & out-of-production mail order business permitted. For information call 1-888-558-1544, ext 815. kits in all genres plus everything needed to build kits. Accessories &  nishing products. them. Wed - Sat 11-8, Sun 12-5 Servicing the hobbies since 1986. We buy kit CLOSING DATES: June 2018 closes March 12, August closes May 10, October closes Visit us on Facebook. www.modelcave.com collections. www.wheelswingshobbies.com MODELCAVE WHEELS AND WINGS July 11, December closes September 11. 103 W. Michigan Avenue 734-316-2281 1880 Danforth Ave. 416-752-0071 ALASKA • Anchorage CONNECTICUT • Milford NEVADA • Las Vegas www.anchoragehouseofhobbies.com Alaska’s best hobby supplier since 1964. Large selection of car models and accessories. While in Las Vegas, come see our wide Two stories, 6,300sf, 1st l oor all R/C, Military, aircraft models and accessories. selection of models and detail accessories. Run your Hobby Shop 2nd l oor general hobbies, plastics, trains, Extensive selection of paints. www.HQHobbies. Less than 5 miles off the Las Vegas strip. Hours: slot cars, telescopes & more! com Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun noon-5. Directory ad in the next ANCHORAGE HOUSE OF HOBBIES HQ HOBBIES HOBBYTOWN USA 2803 Spenard Rd. 907-277-7778 394 New Haven Ave., Unit 1 203-882-1979 4590 W Sahara Ave., Ste. 103 702-889-9554 issue of Scale Auto! CALIFORNIA • Burbank ILLINOIS • Freeport NEW YORK • ASTORIA Large inventory of plastic kits and Plastic & resin kits: old and new, detail diecast cars, airplanes, and more. parts,glues, paints, Altered States Resin, Big Car, Plane, Military, Models, Trains, Paints, Visit us in person or online Donkey Resin, Plastic Performance Products, Tools, Diecast. Art Supplies, Wood & Wood www.houseofhobbies.com Scale Repros Plus and more. Models. Open Wed., Thur., Fri., Sat. 11:00 to Secure online ordering. www.tdtoyhobby.com E: [email protected] 6:30. Call 888-558-1544, BURBANK’S HOUSE OF HOBBIES T AND D TOY & HOBBY RUDY’S HOBBY & ART 911 S. Victory Blvd. 818-848-3674 116 S. Chicago Ave. 815-232-1419 3516 30TH AVE 718-545-8280 ext. 440 for more information. CONNECTICUT • Manchester MASSACHUSETTS • Norton OKLAHOMA • Owasso Largest hobby shop in the NE. Cars, trucks, 6,000 model kits, old & new: Autos, armor, Oklahoma’s largest plastic kit, paint & after- plastic models & die-cast cars. Planes, RC planes & sci- . Reference books & supplies. market inventory. Planes, cars, trucks, armor, planes, cars, military, slot cars, rockets, Open T-Th 11-7, F 11-8, Sa 10-5. Rt. 495 to ships, trains & sci- . Special orders welcome! Breyer. Detailing supplies, games, more! Rt. 123E, behind Dunkin’ Donuts www. Tue - Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-4:30 Mon-Wed 10-6, Thur-Fri 10-9, Sat-Sun 10-6 mymummy.com E: [email protected] Web site: www.topshelfmodelsllc.com TIME MACHINE HOBBY HARRY’S HOBBIES & COLLECTABLES TOP SHELF MODELS 71 Hilliard St. 860-646-0610 250 E. Main St., Rt 123 508-285-8080 119 South Main St. 918-274-0433

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AUGUST 2018 • www.ScaleAutoMag.com 57 MUSEUMPIECES BY MARK S. GUSTAVSON

The International Model Car Builders Museum collects historic and contemporary examples of leading-edge modeling. This occasional column looks at a variety of historic models, plus current builders’ great works. John Estlow III: “Mercury in a TV”

he history of the model car hobby is peppered with great builders who Tset new standards for technical achievement, but who often aren’t well known. These builders didn’t receive major media coverage so their great achieve- ments often have been lost to history. One such builder is John Estlow III. He won the top award in the 1964 International Modelers Guild John Estlow’s “Mercury in a TV” display won In an era before solid-state electronics, Modelrama Championship with his the top award in the 1964 International Estlow’s uncle designed the complicated “Mercury in a TV.” Modeler’s Guild contest. The Mercury featured electrical system seen in the back of a vintage The Guild competitions, which were dozens of operating lights (high and low beam, TV. His work remains untouched since 1964, featured at selected International Show turn lights), plus a spinning fan belt, smoking and all 10 switches on the side of the TV still Car Association shows, competed with exhaust, and other functions. Angled mirrors operate the working individual systems that the Revell-Pactra/Revell-Testor contest show off the entire unique model. John built. series that ran from 1962 through 1965. But the Guild contests were less well known. To beat a strong field of competitors, John knew he had to build something spectacular and unexpected. He settled on creating a relatively run- of-the-mill chopped and customized AMT 1949 Mercury, but one with a spectacular array of features, including quad headlights, a Corvette grille, opened and hinged doors, rolled pans, Frenched lights and the like, but with one enormous (and winning) difference. The Merc was fixed insider a hollowed- out TV and wired with a wide array of functioning lights. The display featured 23 bulbs, each 1.5 volts. They were used as trunk and interior courtesy lights, trunk TV (with Estlow’s Mercury, which to this day still works From left: AMT’s Budd “The Kat” Anderson; sound), door courtesy lights, back-up perfectly, is on display at the International contest director Ron Elkhorn; and John and brake lights, front and rear turn Model Car Builders’ Museum in Utah. The Estlow, as John wins the 1964 Guild contest. signals, tachometer, and high- and low- model, its engineering drawings, and dozens The model sits untouched and unrestored beam headlights. Even a close look at the of associated details are part of the museum’s since winning the top IMG trophy. model doesn’t reveal any of the vintage extensive Estlow collection. wiring running up inside the model! Related features include a working red lacquer finish laid over a bright gold that permitted John to build the systems. horn, a spinning engine fan (Atlas base. Allen presented the Merc to the motor), and smoking exhaust. Each John died in early 2009, but his museum at GSL- XXII in 2009. However, feature was created before computer nephew, Allen Taylor, and John’s family since few in the audience knew about it, chips and without a transistor in sight. donated the “TV Merc,” all of the or John, you can imagine the collective Even though the model/backdrop isn’t electrical drawings and wiring diagrams, gasp, and thunderous applause when it left plugged in at the museum, we and an incredible collection of John’s was unveiled. discovered that all of the lights and other award-winning models to the museum. functions still worked when the family Additionally, the family donated boxes For more info on this model, the Guild, donated the display to the museum. of historic memorabilia, including a and other historic references, visit When the lights are ablaze they written account of how the “TV Merc” GSLChampionship.com and click the John illuminate the car’s still brilliant candy was made and the electronic schematic Estlow link on the home page.

58 Scale Auto • AUGUST 2018 FINISHLINE BY ROBBY DEGRAFF

emember the Isuzu VehiCROSS? RYou know, the obscure two-door 4x4 that looks like the Rancor that lurched around in the shadows of Jabba the Hut’s palace from Star Wars? Isuzu made the tiny SUV from 1999 until 2001, and while it may not have been the most mechanically sound or attractive vehicle to scavenge the roads, it’s since developed quite the cult following. While some may laugh, others, like myself, admire its unusual and bizarre genetics. I’ve always thought this intergalactic design from Isuzu has aged quite well, even today in a sea of bland, boring crossovers that pollute the roads. That admiration also made its way down to scale modelers like Paul Nolte from Okemos, Mich. Paul ordered the kit from Hobby Link Japan nearly 10 years ago, and began building it. But after a frustrating go with painting, he shelved it and forgot about the Isuzu. Recently he stumbled across a Facebook group dedicated to fans of the 1:1 VehiCROSS and picked up the inspiration to finish it in a month. cladding Tamiya Bright Gunmetal. someday, as would I. We think this is a That late 1990s/early millennium Detailing continued as he went on to perfect first step to making that happen flair of the VehiCROSSS triumphed, as add lights and a push bar from an for him. Paul chopped its roof, and painted the Aoshima truck kit. Are you working on a model of an body Testors Green Metal Flake and the Paul has always liked the real 1:1 obscure, rad 1990s or 2000s ride? Send actual car’s unique lower plastic VehiCROSS and would love to own one us an email and share your story!

www.ScaleAutoMag.com 59 Tamiya America, Inc. 36 Discovery, Ste 200, Irvine, CA 92618 (800) 826-4922 www.tamiyausa.com