AutoModelling Blog

2009-03-20T22:58:00.003Z

2008-12-27T14:32:00.001Z

Plymouth Flopper

2008-11-02T08:49:00.002Z

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

JB

Is it possible to have too much detail?

2008-10-27T14:25:00.002Z

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

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

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

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

JB

Tumbler

2008-09-23T23:33:00.002+01:00

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

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

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

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

JB

Note To Self

2008-09-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Brown Primer and Louvrers

2008-09-16T15:17:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Rod AND Kustom

2008-09-16T14:16:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Speaking of The Odd Rod...

2008-09-16T13:13:00.000+01:00

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

JB

The Odd Rod

2008-09-16T12:08:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Snoopy And His Bugatti

2008-09-16T11:54:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

Watch out for the Red Baron!

JB

Deucerrari?

2008-09-16T10:52:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Little Indy

2008-09-16T09:10:00.000+01:00

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

JB

Cross My Palm

2008-09-16T09:00:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

JB

Not Your Father's Oldsmobile

2008-09-15T22:32:00.001+01:00

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

JB

Canary

2008-09-15T22:22:00.002+01:00

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

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

JB

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

Beautiful Brake

2008-09-14T14:08:00.002+01:00

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

JB

Sepia Styrene

2008-09-14T13:59:00.002+01:00

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

JB

2008-09-14T12:00:00.002+01:00

Tank Girl

2008-09-13T15:17:00.002+01:00

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

JB

Nothing like a good blog...

2008-08-31T18:41:00.002+01:00

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

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

JB

Kudos / Kudos

2008-08-31T15:12:00.002+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

JB

Amazing Aleks

2008-08-29T17:27:00.004+01:00

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

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

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

Check it out

JB

Caddy

2008-08-17T17:28:00.002+01:00

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

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

JB

Beer Wagon Mania

2008-07-23T19:38:00.003+01:00

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

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

JB