[dataway]

I've had a strange urge lately to again build some of those crazy Monogram models that came out in the late 60's early 70's.

Example would be like the Red Baron, and I think there was one like the "Chuck Wagon" or something. They were great quality, had numerous colored parts, lots of quality chrome, great tires.

Anyone remember these or have any pictures of your own?

[sdbob]

Yes I remember them. A older guy locally has a model shop ,he seems to have alot if those older models from different mfgs. He takes in models from people cleaning out attics from deceased.

[Held for Ransom]

I remember a Paddy Wagon.
Found this on eBay. Funny how the Overtaker looks like The Munsters Dragula.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/188151403646

[Bill Hanlon]

Don't forget all the Big Daddy Roth cars.

[400 4spd.]

In the late 70's I loaded my old models into a couple of large boxes, and they have followed me through life untouched since then. I should see what I have.
Our Woolworth store stocked mostly AMT, so most of mine were that brand. I think I also have a 1/16 Revell Snowman Dodge Charger in my stuff.

[jhein]

Building models was great fun as a kid. I was mainly into WWII era aircraft, ships and tanks. I've thought about doing it again but I don't think I have the time for it. As a kid I had to accept the limitations I had as far as painting and finishing them to a certain level with the limited tools and skills I had. If I did it now, I'd want to make them perfect. The shop I used to buy them from was a hobby shop that had a display with very nicely done examples. Things like finishes that were aged to show wear, etc. If I did it now that's what I would want to do. But I have too many hobbies and chores already.

[b-man]

I built a number of those Monogram models as a pre-teen mostly.

In the 5th grade I won a spelling bee and I asked my parents to buy me the 1/8 scale Big Red Baron kit, I built the 1/24 scale one as well. Paddy Wagon, Tarantula dragster, Rommel’s Rod, Snake Barracuda funny car, S’cool Bus funny car, Badman ‘55 Chevy gasser, Bad News ‘60 Chevy Panel Delivery and bunch of others. Great fun that taught you how to build things.

I used to build them straight out of the box, later started painting and detailing them.

After that most of them ended up as parts for custom creations. The Revell kits were usually not the custom freaky style like Monogram was putting out.

I used to get inspired by cars I saw in magazines and would try to duplicate the ones that I liked. I would buy a 1/25 scale Revell kit and use the 1/24 scale engines along with wheels and tires on them. Monogram kits had much nicer detailed wheels and tires that Revell kits lacked for the most part, and being a slightly larger scale helped too.

I still have all of the model cars I built 55 years ago.

[Goatracer1]

One of the guys I know got permission years ago to build a full size copy of the "Beer Truck" complete with graphics. It came out excellent .

[433lemans]

I'll jump in here with my collection of model parts that I accrued in my early to mid teen years. I was a teen in the 60's. The bodies were thrown out by my wife quite a while ago (yes, we're still married). Mostly AMT with various other makes thrown in, with parts of the large scale six cylinder "visible" motor that shows how an engine works. The bucket is actually a 6 gallon one and is full to the top.
I have wondered what I should do with these before my wife makes another "decision" lol.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by b-man

I built a number of those Monogram models as a pre-teen mostly.

In the 5th grade I won a spelling bee and I asked my parents to buy me the 1/8 scale Big Red Baron kit, I built the 1/24 scale one as well. Paddy Wagon, Tarantula dragster, Rommel’s Rod, Snake Barracuda funny car, S’cool Bus funny car, Badman ‘55 Chevy gasser, Bad News ‘60 Chevy Panel Delivery and bunch of others. Great fun that taught you how to build things.

I used to build them straight out of the box, later started painting and detailing them.

After that most of them ended up as parts for custom creations. The Revell kits were usually not the custom freaky style like Monogram was putting out.

I used to get inspired by cars I saw in magazines and would try to duplicate the ones that I liked. I would buy a 1/25 scale Revell kit and use the 1/24 scale engines along with wheels and tires on them. Monogram kits had much nicer detailed wheels and tires that Revell kits lacked for the most part, and being a slightly larger scale helped too.

I still have all of the model cars I built 55 years ago.

That's really cool that you still have those things from your youth. Although for me, maybe it's better that I just have the memory rather than the reality.

[dataway]

That collection of parts reminds me of our weekly "trading session" I think we called it, we'd all gather under the amber porch light on "Jimbo's" porch with our boxes full of model parts to swap for the stuff we needed to create our "custom" cars.

The "Beer Wagon" was one of my favorites, it had tannish-brown parts that was supposed to look like wood, it seemed exceptional quality, I think maybe the designers at Monogram took special pains with that model, thinking of their weekend off

Great memories, every week I'd go grocery shopping with my Mom at Corondelet in East Memphis, they had a great hobby department and I'd drool over the new releases each week.

Funny how when you get older those childhood memories seem to come back so sharply.

[sdbob]

Yes times you/I thought were forgotten. Brings good feelings ,a smile.

[thepontiacman]

It used to be a common thing to build models. Some have gotten back into it and helped younger people get into it.

A lot of modellers buy extra parts online. I still have shoe boxes of parts. also many models, some still sealed, some built.

Lots of good memories of building models.

[poncho-mike]

I built models until I was in my early 20s. I was partial to the Monogram Museum Pieces kits. These contained cars like the Duesenburg SJ roadster, Rolls Royces, and Mercedes Benz of the 1920s and 1930s. I had a lot built, but they didn't survive the move when I got relocated in 1992. I bought replacements for what I could find, but never got around to building them. I also have 1/16 models of a couple of different Corvettes and a late 1970s Trans Am.

[roger1]

I built this one twice. Didn't like the way I painted the first one.

[dataway]

Good times. I remember my Dad building a few of the Monogram Museum models, to my childhood eyes they seemed impossibly well assembled. Like most boys back then I had airplane models that he built and painted hanging from the ceiling of my room.

[jhein]

As a result of this thread I did a search and the hobby store that we used was Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami, FL. They did all kinds of hobbies, lots of high end RC planes and cars. But they also did model kits and Estes rockets. The Estes rockets is what really brought us there. You could get lots of model kits at the local toy store, but not Estes rockets. Those were a blast too. Pun intended.

[KS circutguy]

Models were cool, but slot cars ruled the day.
We put Model car bodies on drag race slot cars, called Hard-bodies.
Had a scale 1/4 mile track, 55ft long if I remember correctly.


Road course Vancouver WA I ran.


GT - Group 12 Class cars.

[WQ59B]

As a teen, I built some stockers; I have the boxes left from a '31 Chrysler and a '40 Ford, but I really liked the customs I also built: Red Baron, Tijuana Taxi & the S'Cool Bus.

I just sold original-issue, unbuilt Stone Woods & Cook '41 Willys, and the Thames Panel gasser kits, plus a large box of '60s parts to a collector.

[dataway]

I still remember the local slot car emporium, it was where the older boys hung out. They wouldn't let us in and we had to watch through the window. It was the big time, next level stuff to us 12 year olds