Maxx’s Tribute Project
Car modeling has been around since the late 1950s, and has been going strong ever since. Companies like Revell, Monogram, Aurora, AMT, MPC, and JoHan produced some of the best car model kits in 1/25th and 1/24th scales.
Many of these offerings are still available today, as reissued kits. Original model kits can still be found on eBay for almost an arm and a leg, or at swap meets for next to nothing. High-dollar kits include the never-before-reissued Monogram Uncertain-T, which was first issued in 1966, and reissued in 1968. The original tooling for this holy grail model kit are believed to have been destroyed sometime in the 1970s. Other holy grails include many of the offerings from Jo-Han, and many of the AMT and MPC annuals, which were available one year only.
Back then, simulated ignition wire was used with sewing thread, which at the time; was to scale. In the last 25 to 30 years, there have been a tremendous amount of companies that make detail parts for model cars, like Detail Master, ProTech, Model Car Garage, and Parts by Parks. Other companies like Drag City Casting, Fireball Modelworks, and Speed City Resin offer aftermarket parts like wheels, tires, carburetors, and even rear ends.
My current build focuses around a very special race car that spent most of its life here in Southern California. A 1964 Taska Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 R, serial #5R1001, the tenth of the 36 specifically built for racing. Owned by famed concours judge and race announcer “The Voice of Willow” Alan Bolte. I had the opportunity to shoot photos of this car with a couple of different pinup models.
When building a model like this of a specific car there is a great group of people to get tips and ideas in the customizing of a standard model kit. The International Plastic Modelers’ Society also in 1964, chartered the U.S. branch. Today they have local regional and national events, contests and conventions. They also offer courses in model building from beginner to more experienced modelers. The group also supplies kits, tools, supplies and reference materials to our servicemen and women deployed in combat zones. Visit IPMSUAS.org for more information.
Fellow modeler, John Teresi shares that the culture has changed a lot with 3D printing. You can CAD Draw or scan and re-create parts, a cottage industry of custom low-run model part printers have a niche in the market. Many old-school builders prefer to scratch build their own parts. He added that he wished kids were more interested in model building. I can’t help but hope that there are some out there that are getting tired of the screens, OR they can share what they are building online like Maxx does.
If you are interested in model building no matter the skill level, join me at the Kit Collectors Show happening 3 times a year, or the Model Car Show and Contest at the Grand National Roadster Show at the Fariplex in Pomona every January.
