Ok…so it’s not a full-size Studebaker Avanti, but it was affordable. This is a 1960’s model kit which I picked up on the Internet.
This was partly complete.
This is a motorized model, which is unique. It was a complete kit and was partly assembled when I purchased it.
The bottom half of the car (rocker panels, etc.) was glued on and the electric motor was installed by a previous owner.
A little motorized action – just add a fresh AA battery.
I decided to paint the body and top first before continuing with the build. These are being sprayed painted.
I masked off the chrome (way harder than on a full size car) and any excess paint will come of with an exacto knife. I masked off the interior opening as that will get hand painted.
After looking at the second coat, I can see there’s going to be the need for a bit more sanding and another coat of paint applied.
I’ve said it before; the Doof Wagon does it for me; I’m a music maniac, and I am a sucker for the repurposed 8 x 8 MAN Missile-Carrier packing heavy Watts cabinets. As if that wasn’t pure madness already, they also had a musician from Hell playing a …
As the debate over the Charlestown shooter spirals into a tangent on displaying the Confederate flag, private companies are beginning to stop selling it. A few days ago, Walmart and other retailers announced they would stop selling Confederate flags.
A few years back I pick up a 1984 Corvette…my first Corvette ever and it was my daily driver. I did a lot of work on it and it brought home two trophies best in class.
While looking for display items for a car show set up (brochures and the like) I ran across what the dealer ships called “Promo Cars” These were basically scale model (1/24 or smaller scale) cars given out to promote the car that year. They were plastic and normally no movable parts (doors, hoods, trunks didn’t open), most had rubber tires that turned and a detailed interior. So I picked up a couple for my ’84 Vette along with the boxes, in fact two of them were ‘red’ that matched my car color. Eventually I sold the C4 and purchased the my C6.
1984 C4
2007 C6
Just recently I ran a cross a batch of promo cars and realized that there were a lot of car manufacturers that produced these back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I thought they’d make a good addition to my current collection.
They all varied in quality and detail especially when a 1960 model is compared to a 1980’s model. I recently ran across a promo car for the 1961 Thunderbird and I purchased it for $10.00.
1961 Thunder Bird
Some Nice Detail
Door don’t open but detailed interior
Rubber tires with White Walls
Nice detail there
Not great quality looking at the front scoop
The really interesting view is of the bottom of the model.
Pretty Good Detail of the undercarriage.
What’s up with all the text? They promote the options for this model year!!!! Very cool! Let’s take a closer look.
On Tank it states “Thunderbird…unique in all the world” Hey…”Triple Life Aluminized” Mufflers
unmistakably New – Not a Hair Wider unmistakably Thunder Bird – not 1/10 longer
Notice that is has “Special Three-Phase Rust Prevention Treatment”. Sports a “Cruise-o-Matic Drive, Power Steering and Self Adjusting Brakes – All Standard Equipment”
“Welded, Integral Body and Frame for Quietness and Strength” “New Wing-Away Steering Wheel (Optional)” (BTW that actually function on the promo model – you can push the steering wheel to the side.
“Wider Tread” on the axle
Gas tanks reads “New 12,000 or 1 Year Warranty
“New Thunderbird 390 Special V8”
Oil pan says “4000 Miles Oil Service Changes”
The seats are two-tone and the steering wheel swings to the side.
You can notice that the tires are rubber, the wheels are plastic and they are on metal rods.
Update: It seems that the story isn’t actually true…here is the site:
http://www.sandyscancars.com
That’s to Steve Sears for researching that.
Tim
I can’t recall which reader sent me these images (they were in an attachment that I saved but deleted the email apparently) and I don’t know if the story that went with it was true but the skill it took to make these can cars is impressive and they look so cool! Here’s the story:
Supposedly there was an elder man that was thought to be homeless and was often seen rummaging through dumpster and pick-up cans in the street. He was often ridiculed by some of the local kids and made fun of because he always appeared dirty and disheveled. According to the story he never reacted to the taunts, but went about his business. At some point the man’s body was found on the street and the police traced him to an apartment nearby. Upon entering the small flat, they found these cars made out of some of the cans the man had collected.
True? I don’t know. What I do know and I think you would agree these are very cool!!!
Coke Hot Rod
Coke Hot Rod
A CJ
F1 Car
Check out this one:
Thanks for reading.
Tim
http://t.co/PReN3pITSH Paper Cars: Print And Cut Out The Patterns Of This E-book To Build Your Own Paper Model Cars! http://t.co/2HQRyAhljA
Stuff, has been working on its RealFX Racing system for model cars for six years. Originally the firm, based on Wolverhampton Science Park, was going to use a single ‘roll out’ racing track, but chief executive Richard North said research had found …
I happen to live where the weather is nice nearly year round. You could almost always work on your car. But even here in Southern Arizona, we get a cold spells….HEY…36 degree (morning temperature) is cold!!!!
Ok…enough whining. There are many of you that live a bit North of here and driveing much less working on your project car is more like Man vs. Wild in the Antarctic – I know I’ve lived in Nebraska and up-state (way up) New York.
So one cool way to spend the winter it collecting model cars (actually you can do that any time). I wrote a piece about 3 years ago (Yikes I’ve been writing this blog for that long!!!) about collecting model cars. Here a link: When You Just have to have that Classic/Muscle Car?…Think Small!!!! http://wp.me/p2YxYx-1rV
As you can see (compared to 3 years ago) my collection has grown a bit.
The Mustangs
The Vettes
Few others
More of the collection.
These are only a few that I have room to display. Of course these were all purchased and unless you are big in to dusting, this isn’t really going to help those winter months speed by.
But building your own can be rewarding. Here are a couple I have on deck for building.
This is a 1963 model kit of a Stutz Bearcat and a Model T
The Stutz model pieces are not there, but yes I’m gong to but the Model T together.
After that I have this one coming up:
1930 Packard. This is a 1960’s model – the original box is long gone
What am I working on now?
How about an Edsel? Yup love those cars.
Here’s the body in the first stage of painting:
Edsel in paint
This is an experiment. It’s the first model car I’ve painted by spraying on the paint. This is the first coat and it will be sanded and re-sprayed. I want this two toned with the rear quarter panel inserts will be black or white. So I experimented with some liquid masking that my wife uses when she is doing her rendering.
Art Masking Liquid
This actually worked very well. After it’s applied it rubberizes and protects the area from paint spray. It comes right off when you are done. I used a pencil eraser (exactly what my wife uses on her hand rendered drawings and I used a tooth pick to get around the lettering.
So spend you winter building a classic, or a hot rod, or a muscle car!
This is a repeat – it got lost in the move to the new domain – I had to add it back to the archives so I could refer to it in my up and coming post on Model Cars.
I should throw “collecting” in the title of this blog (but it’s really long enough), because, although it’s about 2.5 months old, I have mentioned collecting a bunch of times. But really that is part of hobby as well.
Of course if I were to list all the cars I’d love collect, it would be fairly long and in reality (my reality) unaffordable..unless you are Jay Leno… I hate that guy. Ok..I don’t hate him…not really..the green-eyed monster made me say that.
Since I’m not as funny as Jay and I have to work for a living….what?…..ok..ok….I’m sure Jay works very hard…I guess…it’s tough reading funny newpaper clips….ok…Sorry Jay, I have “substituted” this alternative method of obtaining the cars I’d love to own.
You all figured it out yet? I’m talking about models, scale diecast replicas. There is an entire industry out there that produces, imports and markets these items. Some of them are extremely well done.
Here are some shots of my collection. I’m concentrating on the Mustangs and Corvettes in the sizes 1/18 or 1/24 scale.
These are a few of Mustangs
And these are a few of the Corvettes.
A Few of the Vettes
Most of these are Danbury Mint and GMP pieces, I do like what they produce, lots of details and they are affordable (around $100.00 each).
Here is a few shots of the 1967 GT 350.
GMP 1967 GT350 Interior
GMP Mustang GT350 Engine compartment
The Franklin mint produces cars, Greenleaf, Motormint, just to name a few.
It’s fun and affordable and they do increase in value. It’s gotten so popular that even the mainstream car magazines like Hemmings (they normally have at least one article in every Motor News edition), Mustang Monthly and Corvette magazine have articles that discuss this portion of the hobby and even rate the quality of individual brands and their offerings.
If you collect already or want to get started drop a comment to this post. Toss in some pic as well.
