Mat Irvine : Car Models

THE CAR PAGE

Car modelling has always been a special interest and I have probably amassed one of the largest collections in Britain. I haven't actually counted them recently, but the number built must be approaching 3000, with many more yet to be made.

Many were featured over the years in my columns in Scale Models International, variously termed Off The Road, then Freewheelin'

They also featured in three model car books, the latest of which is above, is in the same series as my Scale Spacecraft Modelling, published by Crowood Press.

It has 10 chapters on all aspects of building model cars, from straight out of the box, to conversions, customs, dealing with resin kits, building a Rat Rod and renovating a 'junker'!

The Guest Introduction is by long-time model car builder - and musician - Dean Milano. The image below shows us both outside the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac, Illinois.

Mat-n-Dean

New one-off reviews also appear regularly in Scale Model News.

	Previous books were The Car Modeller's Handbook, and Auto Modelling Masterclass

These two books are now long out of print, but check Amazon, as it seems to be able to unearth any book you wish!

MODEL CAR DISPLAYS

	The 2010 Scale Model World, the UK IPMS Nationals at Telford
	The 2009 Scale Model World, the UK IPMS Nationals at Telford
	Toymania - originally Modelmania - set up by the Collectormania team, ran for three sessions at Milton Keynes Middleton Hall. You never know it may return!
	The Model Engineer Exhibition, that later developed into the International Model Show, ran for many decades, though now a 'national' show as such is not done, though local ones still take place. This is at the 2003 show held at Sandown Park

Further to the mention of Scale Models International (published originally by MAP, then Argus, then Nexus, and finally, Highland) my model car column started initially as Off The Road in 1984, the title later being changed to Freewheelin'.

Unfortunately, after 367 issues, the magazine - in its original form - ceased publication in early 2001. However the cover of the July 1991 issue did feature one particular model.....

Back to the Future diorama SMI-Back to the Future cover

One of the most popular dioramas at any model show has always been the Back to the Future scene I built initially for an article in Scale Models International, in July 1991, and which was also used on the cover. It was based on the scene in the third movie where the wood-burning locomotive had to push the ailing DeLorean Time Machine up to its 'time travelling' speed.

The 1:24 scale DeLorean models were available from several sources around the world. They originated in Japan from Aoshima, that made all four types. The one from BTTF I, complete with the 'trolley bus' pick-up; the flying version from BTTF II, and two versions from BTTF III. Of the last, one came with the fifties-style wheels, the other with the rail-road wheels, as depicted in this scene. All four models were available in the UK under the Halcyon name, while AMT issued the 'flying' version only for the American market. However AMT's parent company, Ertl, also issued three versions as one of its special Blueprinter Exclusives.

Aoshima has reissued the original kits, included 'limited edition' versions with the bodies plated to represent the stainless steel finish, on and off over the years. Consequently they are still around, and of course there is always those on-line auction 'sites!

Also try Comet Miniatures , Hobby Link Japan, or Models For Sale. Also check out Back To The Future - The Fan Club.

Polar Lights also issued its own, simpler, kit of the Back to the Future DeLorean, with a 'metalised' body. Polar Lights is now owned by Round-2

The 1:25 scale wood-burning locomotive 'The General' was initially made by MPC (and available in the UK from Airfix). It was last available as an AMT kit. Some conversion was done, although the major incorrect feature - the number of driving wheels - was left. The kit is an 4-4-0 where the movie version was an 4-6-0. The idea of the diorama was, after all, to recreate the spirit of the scene!

SOME MORE OF THE MODELS

I admit to a fondness for American machinery - mainly as these were the first model cars to be be made in the larger scales - and also have a particular interest in 'Star Cars' - transportation as used in film and television programmes. These were compiled into a six-part series for the short-lived magazine, Collecting Scale Models, in 1990.

Barnabas Vampire Van

One of the strangest 'Star Cars', the Vampire Van, supposedly from the gothic series Dark Shadows - but in effect it just 'borrowed' the name. The kit was from MPC, that adapted its existing 1932 Chevy Panel Van - much to the annoyance of the purists.

Munster Koach and Drag-U-La - with builder and owners..

Perhaps more famous examples - AMT's Munster Koach and the Drag-U-La - with their builder and owners

Inspector Morse - Jaguar Mk II Dick Tracy cars

(left) Transportation for a certain - late - Chief Inspector based in Oxford.
Morse's Mk II Jaguar, 248 RPA, was built from the Small Wheels 1:24 scale white metal kit, that was available before the Tamiya kit, and has the correct steel wheels. (The car was - briefly - glimpsed in the prequel, Endeavour)

(right) Two cars as from the Dick Tracy movie. Dick Tracy's own car - the 1936 Ford from AMT and Breathless Mahoney's Auburn, modified from the reissued Lindberg (ex-Pyro) kit, with Monogram 1934 Mercedes running lamps, wheels and tyres.

Revell 1959 Ford Skyliner AMT 1955 and 1957 Chevy Cameo pick-ups

(left) The amazing 1959 Ford Skyliner, the car that had the whole hardtop retract into the trunk (it didn't leave any room for anything else - but who cares?) The kit is the old Revell multi-piece body kit - and it all works.

(right) Two Chevy Cameo pickups from AMT - background is the '55, foreground the '57. The Wurlitzer is a Jimmy Flintstone product, and the diner is one of Revell-Monogram's Highway Scenes.

Peugeot 206 WRCs from Tamiya 1:24 and Heller 1:43 Richard Petty's #43

(left) 'Little and Large' - two sizes of the Peugeot 206 in WRC guise. 'Large' is the 1:24 scale Tamiya; 'Little', the 1:43 Heller.

(right) Racing in earlier days, Lindberg's kit of the Plymouth of Richard Petty in his #43 colours (colors?) The background comes from Tyresmoke Products - unfortunately no longer available.

AMT's AMTRONIC

(left) The Forty-Ones - AMT's 1941 Ford Woody and Revell-Monogram's 1941 Chevy pickup.

(right) AMT' "Visitor from the 21st Century" - the AMTronic. Basically two cars in one, the front section splits away and becomes a 'City Runabout'. The combined car is an 'Interstate Cruiser' and the completed model sits on the supplied card diorama backdrop.

The Addams Family transport? ZZ Top

(left) Combining two types of models to create a scene with a difference. Using the Polar Light's re-tooled Aurora Addam's Family House with an original Aurora Carl Casper 'The Undertaker' show dragster (also available as a re-tooled kit from Polar Lights).

(right) Not a unique idea I know. The ZZ Top Shuttle uses the Monogram '33 Ford (seen separately) with the 1:100 scale Tamiya Shuttle Orbiter - sitting on an Airfix Shuttle stand.

'57 Chevy diorama IMC's Dodge A100

(Left) A diorama using Nick's Drive In, one of the Revell-Monogram card Highway Scenes, as designed by Dean Milano.
Foreground is a conversion to the new AMT '57 Chevy - making it into a convertible to match the car seen in the pilot episode of Dark Skies. Also seen are the Hasegawa VW Van (back), the Testor's Smoothster (just visible left) and the AMT '41 Plymouth (ditto right)

(right) IMC issued two versions of its Dodge A100 pickup. One was the famous Little Red Wagon, the other the Touch Tone Terror - which could also be built as the Frisco Sleeper, with card cut-outs for the back.

A selection of Jaguars Revell Ford Thames Van dragster

(left) A selection of the various Jaguars that have been available over the years, assembled for an article for Scale Models International on all the Jaguar kits ever issued.

(right) Another British-originated vehicle, with a touch of the US, Revell's Thames Panel dragster

Testors Frankenwoodiac
(left)The Airfix trio of James Bond 'cars' - Aston Martin DB-5, Toyota 2000 Convertible (though not a version Toyota actually sold, two were specially made for the movie). Finally the Autogiro 'Little Nellie', included here as it is deemed a 'car' by default - as its the same scale.

(right) Wild resin slammer kit from Testors HSO range - the Frankenwoodiac. 'Slammers' are car kits without an interior - hence the dark windows! The design is slightly based on a fifties Studebaker, and wood veneer has been added to the side panels.

A tribute to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth

Surfite Ed Roth Beatnik Bandits - 1 and 2

Ed Roth was the creator of the wildest of all custom cars, although he was actually an artist first and foremost and built the cars initially to show off his handiwork. He's also the creator of the famous rodent, Rat Fink. Many of his car designs were made as kits by Revell, including the Beatnik Bandit (right) in the sixties and the Beatnik Bandit 2, (right, right), in the nineties.

He also built the Surfite, (left), which has an odd British connection - it was built on the running gear of a very early Austin Mini.
The Surfite has oft been rumoured to have appeared in the surfing movie Beach Blanket Bingo. Actually it does - but only if you view the original widescreen version. This is because it is almost off the screen, in an all too brief appearance in the distance on the far left, as part of the scene at the airfield.

Ed Roth himself, (centre), photographed on the Revell-Monogram stand at the 1996 National Model and Hobby Show in Chicago, behind the full-size Beatnik Bandit 2.

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