Models of old race cars

[Jon Mello]

Here's a photo of a model of the Gagnon Spring '68 Chevy II/Nova. The model was built by
Rob Mepham and the decals are by Trevor Taylor. Both Rob and Trevor are Canadians and they
get a lot of enjoyment of of replicating some of their favorite Canadian race cars.

Mike Scott photo


Here's a photo of the actual Chevy II/Nova in the paddock during the weekend of the '68 St. Jovite Trans-Am race.

Mike Scott photo

[Jon Mello]

Here are two photos of Mo Carter's '69 Camaro with truck and trailer from the 1970 season.
The models and photos are by Rob Mepham.







Here's Mo Carter's Camaro at Mosport in 1970.


Adam Papp photo

[MO]

Nice work!

[ZBM 100]

Very cool do they seel them?

[group/7]

at the moment they only build for their own collections

  mike in canada

[Swede70]

Beautifully done - they each look very nice,

For so long there simply wasn't a good 1:24th or 1:25th '69 Camaro unassembled kit out there to meld to pent-up desire to create many a historic race car.  The arrival of the Revell tool several years ago altered this circumstance for the better, whereas how apt. that a group of Canadian enthusiasts would step up to the challenge.  Thanks for sharing - they look great!

Mike K.

[tom]

Are you aware of anyone making a decal version of the 69 dx1 stripe? I plan to put one on my 69, and would like to build a matching model. I have both the revel 1:12 and 1:24 kits partially completed. Would also love to find a source for some 69 firebird parts: the front fender cold air extractors, and the spoiler.

tom

[Swede70]

Greetings Tom,

In short, likely the answer is 'yes' in 1:24th, and probably 'no' regarding the fine but less commonly tackled (by builders then) 1:12th tool.  I suspect someone the likes of Keith Marks has produced the same in the smaller scale, whereas First Gen. Camaro popularity translates into tangible demand for aftermarket/cottage industry hobby firms to step up to such challenges.  


See:

http://www.internetmodeler.com/2008/june/new-releases/decal_keithmarks.php

http://public.fotki.com/mofobow/contact-information/

...ah, finally:

http://public.fotki.com/mofobow/chevy/camaro/69_camaro_ss_dx1/


A nicely rendered photoetch kit for the 1:12th Revell '69 Camaro was available (think 'Camaro' scripts and such), but now seems extinct, whereas what tiny run of Randy Derr Minilite wheels and Penske/Sunoco graphics that were purportedly sold by Mach Image are mostly the stuff of legend.  I've never seen examples for sale either at shows or online, although mention of the same with an address is spied within the '69 season installment of the '95/'96 Vintage Motorsports Magazine SCCA Trans Am retrospective.  Tucked in back of the aforementioned '69 season treatment may be found a nice two-page color article highlighting Derr's fine efforts to convert the standard 1:12th Revell release into a proper '69 Riverside Mission Bell 250 Penske Donohue racer.  Years later, I still pause and am rendered temporarily speechless for what Randy Derr achieved here.    

In relation to the '69 Firebird Trans Am, MPC did an annual kit in 1:25th that in one form or other never really left the market.  Likely badged as an AMT in it's most recently iteration, the fender air extractors ('69 style, nonfunctional and decorative then), hood and specific rear spoiler would be available thus.  Demanding the same in 1:12th would require scratchbuilding of the same assemblies, guiding you towards the scale model speculative realm.  In relation to my own projects, sometimes I register relief simply to know that I'll have to create what I need premised upon a sound understanding of my own specifications, techniques and materials.   Not always - but sometimes!  

Mike K.

[Swede70]

Perhaps another thing to add,

There exists a resin kit based on the Revell tool of a Penske Donohue '69 Camaro in 1:24th scale marketed by Perry's Resin in Canada.  I understand that Randy Derr did the master; i.e. in all likelihood the flares are quite faithfully replicated.  I suspect the Mo Carter model seen above features the same, but in truth I've never handled the revised resin shell and hence can comment no further.  Appreciate that delivery from some select cottage industry businesses can be very slow indeed, but this said, click on the link and scroll down if you might be remotely (or virtually in this instance) interested:

http://www.perrysresin.com/catalog.htm

Mike K.

[tom]

Thanks! They look better than anything I could produce. I expect to place an order for the set when I am not using my phone for a browser.

[wolfmin]

Very nice kit...and yes be prepared to wait. I think I waited 8 or 9 months.

[Swede70]

...a French enthusiast tackles a 1:24th Monogram-based '70 Jerry Titus T/G Racing Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.  Quite a solid effort.  See link and scroll down:

http://koolestkruzers.smileyforum.net/t7380p90-pontiac-70-trans-am-jerry-titus-terminee

Mike K.

[group/7]

has any one on this forum had experience with ghost models out of the atlanta area ? they do offer a number of trans-am cars in 1/43 scale.

  mike

[SMKZ28]

has any one on this forum had experience with ghost models out of the atlanta area ? they do offer a number of trans-am cars in 1/43 scale.

  mik

I haven't purchased any of these but they look pretty cool!  Here is a link to the Trans Am race cars they offer: http://www.ghostmodels.com/?category;item=11

[Swede70]

Greetings,

I haven't ordered materials online from them, although the website is clean and their 1:43rd footprint within the scene a longstanding one.  If there were issues in relation to poor reputation, I suspect such would have surfaced long ago.  The models I've seen displayed at shows impress, with brief notes of such to follow. 

Many of the Trans Am tools employed are now quite old, although for many years indeed such constituted the only game in town but for larger unassembled plastic kits and independently pursued kit mods.  The finish quality of the models is high, whereas odd to note in a sense that 1:43rd hand-built factory releases are commonly produced to a standard that well exceeds what is seen in 1:18th.  I would recommend that modest caution be displayed in relation to the secondhand market for I'm not sure how sensitive the decals and artwork is to sunlight, etc., although recent builds based upon the old tools shouldn't worry you.  Some fine photo-etch work won't respond well to handling, hence wise it is to keep the model within the display case and atop the factory plinth the item is delivered upon. 

Kits exist of the same range, but personally I'd recommend spending the money for a high-quality factory build and simply honor the expense required to afford what is on offer ready-made.  These are jewel-like, and hardly the stuff of mindless mass production absent sensitivity to the topic.  One word of caution though!  I have vague memories of the '70 Penske Donohue Javelin coming through factory finished sporting the wrong shade of blue (too dark I believe - and a metallic finish too!), so in this discreet albeit important respect one is forced to consider the building of 1:43rd kit so that this detail might be attended to.   

I suspect as the new-tool Chinese-manufactured 1:43rd SCCA Trans Am topics continue to emerge on the market that the demand for the older tools will slacken still further, but also know that these earlier tools are in the main not hateful even as they are (and always were) a bit pricey.  Some topics likely will not be revisited, hence for some items, perhaps best it is to celebrate that a firm has decided to replicate the topic and spend the money if so-moved.  Kind regards...
 

Mike K.