Uptown Automotive Hobby Shop
The Biggest Little New and Used Car Showroom in Central New York
The Biggest Little New and Used Car Showroom in Central New York
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Uptown Automotive Hobby Shop The Biggest Little New and Used Car Showroom in Central New York |
| Opinions: > TKM Models > Black Widow? Which One? > Give 'em A Chance, Will Ya'? > Nova |
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TKM Models For too many years I've heard too many "complaints" about TKM Models. I began carrying TKM models in my shop almost thirty years ago. They, along with the late Sam Miller's models, were among - if not the - earliest resin car models available, and they depicted subject matter no one else offered at the time. Were they crude? Certainly, when compared to a mass produced, injection molded plastic kit, which had chrome plated parts, rubber tires, clear glass, and to which most of us were accustomed. It cost the major model companies millions of dollars to produce a model kit of the caliber which we had become accustomed to. For the most part, they produced models which they felt would give them a good return for their investment, which meant there were and are many others which we may like to see, but which they deem economically unfeasible. The early resin kits were different. Perhaps out of our comfort zone. But where else could we find models of the cars they represented? I used to purchase two or three at a time for resale in my shop, because I wanted to offer potential buyers a greater selection of models which I knew existed, than those which the major model companies produced. Not surprisingly, interesting a customer in one of these models, even though it was the only replica of the vehicle which they had asked about, was a challenge. So I built some for display. I didn't know about Bare Metal Foil back then, so silver paint was what I used for the models "chrome trim". Here are some examples of long ago built TKM models. Neither contest winning, nor museum quality, but in the hands of a more talented, or more patient builder, using more modern techniques, they could be.
Now a word about Tom Mills himself. I met him many years ago, after I had been purchasing his models, at an Old Town Escorts model show in Chicago. He's an interesting gentleman, and in my opinion, an artist. In the course of the show, he was converting an MPC plastic Chevrolet Monte Carlo into a Pontiac Grand Prix. Admittedly, his slush casting is not state of the art, but I have to say that I, and I doubt that I'm the only one, am glad to have TKM models available to us. We all know that in recent years there have been some better models of some of Tom's offerings, but they came twenty or thirty years later! Let's stop bashing TKM Models, and give the man the credit he is due; he's been an important part of our hobby, offering a variety of models otherwise unavailable. If a modeler is not up to the challenge of a TKM model, so be it. But there are those of us who remain grateful to Mr Mills for his products, and his efforts. -Jim Amado > Back to Top
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Black Widow? Which One? We modelers now have two model car kits with a similar name, which may be confusing. The first "Black Widow" was actually the second. That is, the "original" Monogram 1/24 scale model of a modified Model T Ford hot rod (we call them street rods now), which was made in the early '60s, predated the Revell 1/25 scale model of the '57 Chevy 150 Utility Sedan, which was released in 2009. The real 1957 Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan, made, not surprisingly, in 1957, was the entry level, or least expensive model in the Chevrolet line up. It was a type of vehicle descended from the business coupe, which, with no rear seat, was, as the name implied, intended for businessmen or salesmen to transport sample cases, or whatever tools and/or work related items they needed in their craft. In my youth, a great uncle, who was a building contractor, had a 150 Utility Sedan with an economical six cylinder engine under the hood, and his tools behind the front seat. Chevy also offered optional engines up to and including the fuel injected Corvette 283 V8. A 150 so equipped would likely have been intended for racing and could include other competition options such as six lug Chevy truck wheels on beefed up axles. Some of the racing '57 150s were painted black and white, and thus were referred to as "Black Widows", due to their lethal nature. These could have been said to have been equipped "strictly for business" of another kind. The Monogram Black Widow replicated an actual vehicle which was constructed in the late '50s or early '60s The kit was one of a few "hot rods" Monogram offered in the same era. The Black Widow was a replica of a '27 Ford "T" pickup, done in black (no surprise there), the "Green Hornet" was another "T", this time a drag strip contender, done in green (imagine that), and there was a '32 Ford "Deuce" coupe done in red. Now, in 2010, the Monogram Black Widow (rod) has once again been released, by Revell (they and Monogram having become one company several years ago). See Model Cars (magazine), #155, December 2010, for an in depth article on both the actual vehicle, and the new scale model. -Jim Amado > Back to Top
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Give 'em A Chance, Will Ya'? People are badmouthing the soon to be new Trumpeter Ford Falcon models before they are even made! Model cars have been my hobby for more than fifty years, and my business for more than thirty years. I have seen many models come and go. I have built many. I have "attempted" to build, and/or have "contemplated" building many. Permit me to clarify, or at least expound upon, that last statement. In the 1960s and '70s Revell made models of some really neat cars! Yet Revell kits were among my least favorite. The subject matter intrigued me. Sometimes, even the working features were tempting. I purchased models of the vehicles I liked, but often put off beginning the assembly process. They often had lots of small pieces, too many "chrome" parts which shouldn't have been "chrome", and no bracing to align the bodies which had opening everything. All of this didn't mean they were bad models, just, perhaps, beyond my capabilities, or my comfort level. To their credit, Revell has not only survived, but has become arguably the best "American" model company, offering not only the largest variety, but also the newest models of desirable cars. Some new tooling of previously offered models, and some new, never before offered. I, too, have survived and continue to purchase, and build, Revell kits. IMC was another company to offer what, at the time, were incredibly detailed models. Again the subject matter shot arrows into my heart, but their complexity pained my brain, with a multitude of parts, excessive chrome, etc. More recently Gunze Sangyo, and others, including some "cottage industry" or "aftermarket" model companies have offered excessively detailed, multi-media kits. Many of these kits are desirable in their subject matter, but require substantial investments of both time and capital. Most recently, Galaxie LTD. offered the '48 Chevies ("Must haves" in my book!), and Testors released the new Chargers in variations, all with much more detail than I personally require to float my boat, but attempting to appeal to modelers who desire such intricacies. The Chevies were about $26.00 each, and the Chargers $30.00 each. Not, in my opinion, out of line for what they offer. AND, they are accurately replicated. Having admitted previously to not being a high tech modeler, and not enjoying assembling "130 pieces for one shock absorber, which no one will see when the model is finished", I would conclude that any difficulty in assembling the aforementioned models is a problem with me, and not the model companies involved. I will further admit that I was, and would be, perfectly satisfied with simplified construction such as the 1958 - 1964 "annual" kits exhibited. In fact, recently took a first place award in a slammer class with a fifty year old model, which I built about thirty years ago. There are however some who seek, and claim to enjoy, more complex models. It seems to me, at least some of these individuals are more often "looking for something to do", as they recuperate from an injury or surgery, rather than being "model builders" per se. Knowing the history I have just related, it probably comes as no surprise that I have not built either of the Trumpeter '60 Pontiacs, either of their '63 Novas, nor their '78 Monte Carlo. In addition to their complexity or level of detail, depending upon an individual's viewpoint, as an old timer in the hobby I have those models in my collection from their respective years. I have, however, built one Trumpeter car kit: The Chinese limousine. Regarding their price, however, I believe we should put the facts into perspective. Until recently, an original 1960s issued kit, supposedly had substantial value far exceeding the price of the Trumpeter kits. Further, the Trumpeter kits allegedly offered features not found in models made forty years previously. Accuracy, however, was an issue in some areas. (Those Pontiac 8 lug aluminum wheels were horrible!) Yet the fact remains that Trumpeter offered modelers an opportunity to acquire, if one so desired, models of cars which previously had been obscure, expensive, and difficult to obtain. I know for a fact that the Nova was a model often requested by people we met both here at the shop, and at shows we have attended. On that basis, I would have thought that the Trumpeter model would have sold better than it did. Price, at the time of its release, being thirty-five dollars, vs. a then current domestic kit @ around $12.00 - $15.00, certainly was an issue, despite its ready availability and desirable subject matter. The "logic" apparently did not support the price. Now, however, with current Revell kits dancing all over the price board, would a Trumpeter kit fare any better? How much would a modeler comfortably play for a given replica of a vehicle he or she admires? Revel models are, for reasons unknown, priced at $16.00, $19.00, $23.00, and $25.00. The '62 Chevy is $25.00, while the '66 Chevy is $20.00. Both were released in 2010. The '62 has some optional parts. Apparently the '66 does not. Point being, prices are now not that far away from the Trumpeter kits...if the future releases are priced like their predecessors. I, for one, am excited about the two proposed Falcons. It's been forty-six years since the Falcon Sprint has been offered. Sure, we old-timers, if we wanted one, probably already have it...and paid $2.00 or less for it back in the day. Isn't it possible someone who may not have acquired one back then, or who may have acquired an affinity for the car since then, may want one? The Ranchero, depending upon the price, I may purchase and build myself. Yes, it has been offered in resin, but I never got one, and it was never done before in a plastic kit, so it may find some buyers among others besides myself. However, that "never offered in a kit before" argument didn't seem to do much for Trumpeter's '78 Monte Carlo kit, so we'll see. Who knows? Trumpeter may do them right! Let's give them a chance! -Jim Amado > Back to Top
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NOVA One Nova knows what a new model kit will be like until the box is opened and the kit inspected firsthand. Fortunately, model magazines review new kits so we can get an idea of what to expect, and with this information decide if we want to purchase the particular model. The buzz surrounding the Nova models recently released by Revell is not surprising, given the popularity of the actual vehicle. The reviews have been many, and the kits are certainly welcome and desirable. Comparisons with the old AMT issued Nova SS kit are not surprising as they, the old AMT kit, and the new Revell kit, are the only two 1/25 scale models of the '68 through '72 Nova body style. Reviewers and purchasers of the new Revell kit should keep in mind several factors before issuing a blanket statement of how superior the Revell kit is over the AMT kit. Among these factors are the following:
The tires in the new Nova kit are "generic no names", as I believe the esteemed Bill Coulter called them. As he noted, this makes it easier for modelers to put their choice of tire brand on them. Thankfully, they're not the same incorrect tires which had been included in the Revellogram '67 Corvette kits. Those tires, at first glance, appear to be no names, but on closer inspection they are seen to be Michelin TRX tires, which were a special "metric" tire and wheel option for '80s Mustangs; back in the day, the real TRX tires only fit TRX wheels. There was a third scale model of the '68 - '72 era Nova, and an excellent model it was, but I'd gamble several modelers passed it by because of its size. Years ago Monogram offered a series, in 1/32 scale, which included a '70 Mustang Mach 1, '70-'71 Trans Am, and that wonderful '69-'70 Nova SS. The Trans Am and the Nova each had separate exhaust and rear suspension/differential, opening hood, detailed engines and engine bays, among other features. Great kits for their size!
-Jim Amado > Back to Top |
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WE DEAL IN CARS ON A SMALL SCALE Jim Amado: The plastic surgeon, builder, collector, writer. |
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updated7/29/2011
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