The model car thread! :-)

[J. Robinson]

34-40 - I don't know if you're familiar with any of these kits, but the headers on the yellow '40 are actually the top part of the headers from the AMT '32 Ford coupe, cut off just under the junction and some Evergreen styrene 1/4-inch tubing shaped and added for the long collectors. They are actually a little longer than I intended, but I already had them made, painted, and glued on the engine when I installed the tilt front end, so I just left them as they are.

Stovens - I have never tried a ship model, but I have seen some that really pique my interest. My mom's cousin was doing a model of the Cutty Sark years ago and I was really enthralled by its detail. I was waiting to see it finished, but they moved away and then I heard he had died. I have no idea if it was finished or where it is now.
The Corsair and the P-51D Mustang - the two wickedest looking planes of WW2.

Roger - Those are all AMT 1/25th scale models. Apparently, the perspective angle of the camera makes them look like different scales. You are right, the two cars in the foreground do look bigger.

Yes, the windshield is clear, the rear windows are all tinted red. It was common back in the "gasser days" to remove the "heavy" glass and replace it with "lighter" tinted plexiglass. This was my attempt to make it look like back then. I sprayed the rear windows with candy red before installing them.

I used to just set my models on a shelf somewhere, but when my son was little most of them "bit the dust". Later on, I was given a plastic jewelry display case that held about 9 cars. That helped for a while, but eventually the clear plastic yellowed and started looking bad, so it went away. At one point, I took my few remaining models to the school where I taught and put them in a display window in my office. They resided there for 20 years until I retired (12 years ago), and I had to bring them home. I had them wrapped in multiple layers of paper towels and stored in a box for a while. Finally, I bought a used bookcase at a local thrift store, added some extra shelves, and painted it black. I added a sheet of clear acrylic to the front and that keeps 95% of the dust out. I clean and dust in there about once a year. I have attached a couple of pics of the display case I took before I finished the "rustbucket" '40. The clear acrylic is removed so it wouldn't cause glare in the photos. I couldn't get it all in one pic, so the top couple of shelves are in a second shot. In addition to my models I have some 1/24, 1/12 and 1/18 diecast collectables.