CC In Scale: 2023 – A Retrospective

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– Posted on December 21, 2023

As we approach the end of the year and slip into holiday mode, I thought I’d take things easy and look back at some of the models I’ve built this past year. Some of them I’ve shown before, so I’ll concentrate on the others that will be new to you. Due to the lead time involved in getting this up on CC, there will be some others I’ll finish up by the end of the year that are still in pieces on the bench as I write (8th December, in case you were wondering.)

Here’s the bench this morning. Those two 1956 Fords will be two-toned; unfortunately, we’ve had a humid start to summer here – which is not good for spraying paint. The tan one will get white; for the green one I’m considering a darker green. The sedan at the back left is a Toyota Chaser, which needs window and side molding trim detailed. That’s comparatively easy, but fiddly. Back right is a Toyoda AA, which needs some complicated pinstriping to finish up. And the front bumper glued back on.

And, as often seems to happen around here, some will probably remain unfinished for a bit longer. I start each model I build with the best of intentions, but sometimes an assembly challenge will sideline it. That may be a serious matter (how can this part possibly fit there?) or something fairly innocuous (some of those small details are just SO fiddly, and these fingers aren’t getting any younger). I have a few models sidelined like this.

Anyway, on to 2023’s completions. Here’s a Nissan Skyline sedan from the early nineties R32 generation, my personal favourite. Using my artistic licence I painted it in a sixties Chevy metallic blue, and added some chrome around the windows, because I felt it needed it. The kit came with a clear hood to show off the engine.

I painted this one to match the iris flowering outside my kitchen window at the time. Inspiration is where you find it. Sometimes I have to hunt; other times it’s in plain sight.

This one will be unfamiliar to most. It’s an early nineties Nissan Cima, in Impul 731 form, with a turbo V6. The next model Cima became the second-gen Infiniti Q45.

Not everything I’ve built this year has been Japanese, but you’ve seen my other Japanese subjects already (see Turning Japanese). There was that Ferrari California at the top. Ferraris are all about the engine, so here it is. The kit was a present from my son about five years ago.

When we’re talking supercars, we have to have a Lambo too, so here’s the Diablo.

And an Audi R8. I was going to do the side panels in carbon fibre, but liked the brooding menace of the single-colour dark red.

Oldies got a look-in too. This 1940 Ford Standard coupe is a brighter green than Ford offered.

And there’s this “Blue Bandito”. A re-release of a sixties Monogram kit of a 1929 Ford-based hot rod. With a name like that, it had to be blue.

Also in a non-factory colour, this pearl green 1951 Chevy Fleetline. Standard apart from the colour. Pastels were common then, but not like this.

Bruce seems proud of the injected small-block in this ’55 Nomad. I based this on a magazine car, but went my own way on some details.

At the start of the year, I finished up this red ’61 Chevy. I came across the box in the shed and had forgotten I’d started it! The paint’s a bit rough but it was done years ago. A few parts had got lost along the way (like the tail lights) so I improvised.

I built this 1967 Thunderbird for a Facebook group Thunderbird challenge last month. I liked the prestigious look of the metallic maroon, but went my own way with the gold interior.

Another FB challenge ‘victim’ was this ’76 Matador. “Build an AMC,” they said. Okay. I think they were expecting something along the lines of my orange ’76 Gremlin (see Independents Day), but what they got was this. This is as finished; though I think I need to lower it even more.

Also done for an FB group challenge, but this time a 24-hour build, this “Tijuana Taxi” is pure whimsy. Monogram had a lot of wacky-looking cars designed by Tom Daniel; this one always tickled my fancy, so I finally built it. Some guys in the 24-hour challenge literally build nonstop; with my health I can’t do that, but they’re understanding. I just stop the clock, rest, and restart when I can, keeping the total under 24. No stress.

My favourite build for the year? Possibly this dirty old T, built from the AMT 1925 Ford roadster kit. Most guys would use all the vintage hot rod parts, but I took it in a different direction.

All the best for a Merry Christmas, and a safe new year. See you in 2024!