CarTech, Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
Phone: 651-277-1200 or 800-551-4754
Fax: 651-277-1203
© 2015 by Scotty Gosson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission from the Publisher. All text, photographs, and artwork are the property of the Author unless otherwise noted or credited.
The information in this work is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. However, all information is presented without any guarantee on the part of the Author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of the information and any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Readers are responsible for taking suitable and appropriate safety measures when performing any of the operations or activities described in this work.
All trademarks, trade names, model names and numbers, and other product designations referred to herein are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification purposes. This work is a publication of CarTech, Inc., and has not been licensed, approved, sponsored, or endorsed by any other person or entity. The Publisher is not associated with any product, service, or vendor mentioned in this book, and does not endorse the products or services of any vendor mentioned in this book.
Edit by Bob Wilson
Layout by Monica Seiberlich
ISBN 978-1-61325-239-0
Item No. CT559
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gosson, Scotty
Show rod model kits / by Scotty Gosson.
pages cm
1. Hot rods--Models--United States. 2. Hot rods--Models--Collectors and collecting--United States. 3. Automobiles--Customizing--United States. 4. Automobiles--United States--History. I. Title.
TL237.G665 2015
629.22’1860973--dc23
2014017594
Written, edited, and designed in the U.S.A.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Front Cover: The best-selling show rod kit of all time (# PC-205) was released in January 1968. That August, kit # PC-212 came out; it included a 1/87-scale Fokker tri-plane (Roger Harney handmade the patterns for that jewel-like copy of von Richtoven’s ride, according to Tom Daniel). Mattel owned Monogram at the time and included the Hot Wheels Red Baron in Kit # 6050. Big Red Baron (1/12 scale), released in January 1969, included the tiny Fokker tri-plane, and, as Daniel notes, “A small skull with the more fancy German World War I helmet mit der pointy spike.” (Photos Courtesy Dave Shuten and Luca Roveda)
Front Flap: Like any kit, Dream Rod looks even better when surrounded by appropriate paraphernalia. Mark Moriarity owns a lot of that nowadays, and he built the kit, too. (Photo Courtesy Mark Moriarity)
Back Flap: Here I am in 2014, researching at Al’s Hobby Shop in Medford, Oregon. (Photo Courtesy Mary Wilkins-Kelly)
Frontispiece: Howard Cohen built his Uncertain-T on the day Monogram released it in 1966. Howard’s local hobby shop in Westmount Hobbies in Montreal, Canada, encouraged him to enter a Monogram-sponsored contest just for Uncertain-T builders, and Howard took first place. The model underwent a much needed restoration in 1986 and remains in Cohen’s possession today (along with the trophy), despite more than one four-figure offer. (Photo Courtesy Howard Cohen)
Title Page: Photographer Scott Parkhurst was merely seeking shelter from a typical Minnesota winter storm when he ducked into Mark Moriarity’s house. But you know how it goes: Within minutes, models were pulled from boxes and Parkhurst captured the action for your lucky eyes. These original-edition kits were bought and built by Moriarity. (Photo Courtesy Scott Parkhurst)
Table of Contents: Many elderly models were unearthed In the course of this project. Jamie Ford’s generic roadster is admittedly more toy than kit, but it is the earliest example found of the rod and custom culture that ultimately spawned the show rod. Handcarved from a solid block of wood, the Model A–inspired rod features soft-rubber model airplane tires on aluminum disc wheels, along with functional steel springs and wishbones. Several parts have obviously wandered off over time, yet it remains a restorable piece. Ford paid $5 for it at a forgotten swap meet 30 years ago.
Back Cover Photos:
Top Left: With Uncertain-T, Steve Scott ushered in a fresh style of box design at Monogram. Because the company inexplicably scrapped the kit molds, complete kits currently sell in the $400 to $500 range. (Photo Courtesy Steve Scott)
Top Right: Chuck Darnell’s Uncertain-T was stuffed with goodies for the 2013 Kustom Kemps in Miniature show. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Darnell)
Bottom Right (top to bottom): Deora (Photo Courtesy Dave’s Show Rally), Beer Wagon (Photo Courtesy Dave’s Show Rally), T’rantula (Photo Courtesy Dave’s Show Rally).
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Phone: 2 9695 7055 • Fax: 2 9695 7355
Contents
Introduction: Scaled-Down Show Rods for a Scaled-Down Economy
Chapter One: An Illustrated History of Show Rod Modeling