Post on 09-Sep-2020
Multa paucis qui coeperit finiatur
Chevrolet did not create the station wagon. They were not the first company to build a 2 door wagon either. They did,
however, manage to be the first in making a wagon look cool! The 1955-1957 Nomads were just that, cool. What started
out as a concept based on the slow selling Corvette, the design found its way to the bread and butter car line thanks to
the interest of the public, and of course, Harley Earl, who was GM’s chief of design.
During the planning stages of the 1955 Chevrolet, there had always been a wagon as part of the line-up. Harley Earl
realized that the station wagon would be a hot segment and the popularity of that Corvette dream car showed that a
sporty wagon could sell too. The typical wagon generally
had four doors and was generally utilitarian in nature. The
Nomad was a two door, had the ‘B’ pillar canted forward, a
sloped rear hatch, and was lower by over an inch in height.
The roof panel was unique to the Nomad as well. Chevrolet
offered five different styles of wagons in 1955, and the
Nomad was also the top of the line through 1957. Sales
were a bit limited (22,375 in three years) due the high price,
but it shared all of the amenities associated with the Bel-Air.
Pontiac offered the Safari (much to Chevrolet’s chagrin)
which was based on the same design, it was not a big seller
either.
JUNE 2015
The Nomad would continue in 1958 as a four door, then in 1959 as part of the Impala line-up. The name would disappear
after the1961 model year, only to be resurrected as part of the Chevelle line in 1964 -1965 as a two door, and again as a
four door in 1968-1972 models. Finally it was used as one the offerings in Chevrolet’s popular vans in 1978.
Model kits are not limited for the Nomad. There is the AMT 1955 model, Monogram’s 1956, and Revell and Monogram
each did the 1957. The Revell kit is notorious as difficult to impossible to build, and the Monogram one has very
questionable body dimensions. Gunze did a ‘55 as a curbside in 1/32 scale, and AMT offered the ’55 and ’57 in 1/16
scale.
CLUB BUSINESS SECTION JUNE 2015
FROM THE PRESIDENT by Rockne Riddlebarger
Greetings Model Citizens! Lately I’ve been working on the first three models that will make up a multi-model “heavy haul”
diorama. Highly detailed models build rather slowly and to relive the stress of those builds I like to assemble simpler
models on the side. While watching the pre-race Indy 500 stuff on TV I saw some film clips of old racers thru history. The
images of the teens and twenty’s race cars reminded me that I had a couple of 1/16 scale Lindberg racers that I had
bought several years ago. While the race was on I looked at the kits during commercials. They are simplistic models that
would build very fast with painting taking the most time. After the race was over I built sub-assemblies for both cars and
primed them all the next day. Today I will paint them. I take inspiration wherever I find it even if it’s only to build a couple
of shelf models. This hobby is the best!
FROM THE EDITOR by Mike Jinkens
The whole 1955-1957 line-up has proved to be one of the most popular collected cars of all time, and the Nomad, being
made in limited numbers, is definitely the hottest one. Those simple styling details which separated it from the other
wagons totally change the cars’ personality from humdrum to wow! The Pontiac Safari, which was essentially the same
car, I find kind of ugly. The front bumper seems too heavy handed for my tastes, and being that the Pontiac is a lot rarer
than the Nomad, perhaps the buying public of the 1950’s thought the same thing. Of course, these cars were really
expensive at the time, which didn’t help sell them one bit either.
I have to apologize for not having the Cincinnati challenge results in last month’s newsletter. Pure oversight on my part.
May’s meeting brought 25 members and guests. I didn’t get the tally of models, though turnout was low.
WINNER’S CIRCLE by Curtis Epperson
Hey guys, its June and the theme is Ragtops & Long tops. It is also a Swap Meet & Gravity Drag night. So Buy -Sale -
Trade & race them if you got them. See Y’all Monday.
May 2015 Contest Results and Meeting Photos
Factory Stock 1st Dennis Tull 55 Chrysler 300 2nd Bill Owen Sun Bean Tiger 3rd Bill Schneider 57 T-Bird.
Customs 1st Paul Snodgrss 48 Ford P/U 2nd Rockne Rat-illac 3rd Paul Snodgrass 49 Merc P/U.
Straight Line 1st Bill Bench 40 Willys 2nd Jim Wilkins 37 Chevy.
Curbside Street 1st Jeff Sprawl 08 Dodge Challenger 2nd Bill Bench Luma coupe 3rd Mike Jinkens 2012 Camaro.
Pre-Decorated 1st Paul Schneider 08 Orange red Challenger 2nd Randy Wilson 2014 Mustang
3rd Jeff Sprawl 2010 Challenger
Miscellaneous 1st Rockne Battle Wagon 2nd Rockne Backhoe 3rd Liam ‘05 500cc Honda.
Collectors Die Cast 1st Jim Wilkens 37 Ford 2nd Derek 2010 Camaro
3rd Robert Rudney 1960 Sun Star Plymouth Fury.
Out of Box 1st Bill Schneider 03 Jeep Rubicon 2nd Derek 2012 Mustang 3rd Derek 2010 Challenger.
Theme Award Jeff Sprawl Scat-pack 08 Callenger.
Model of the Month Rockne Battle Wagon.
MODEL OF THE MONTH
ROCKNE RIDDLEBARGER’S ‘BATTLE WAGON’
JEFF SPRAUL
THEME AWARD
LIAM MCCREARY
RANDY WILSON
ROCKNE RIDDLEBARGER
BILL OWEN JIM WILKENS
JIM WILKENS
DEREK GRAU
TRICKS & TIPS by Rockne Riddlebarger
This will be a new column aimed at helping us all become better model builders. I want to encourage the membership to
share their tips and techniques. Between us we have several hundred years of experience, let’s spread that knowledge
around so that we can all benefit. To include your tips and advice, email me at themodelcitizen46@gmail.com or write them
down and give them to me at meetings. I thought I would start with the very basics of modeling; we have several new
young members so these first articles will be written with them in mind.
There are some basic tools that we all need to help with better modeling. These include knives, files, sanding sticks, a pin
vise, tweezers, sprue cutter and a measuring device. These do not have to be terribly expensive yet of high enough quality
to do the job and be safe to use, especially knives. Hobby knives need to be sturdy enough to hold the blade securely and
rigidly. It is a good idea to find one that has hexagonal shaft so that it will not roll off the work bench. I have caught knives
equipped with #11 blades with my thigh and the top of my foot after they rolled off the bench, it’s bloody and it hurts. If your
knife shaft is round tape a 1 inch piece of sprue to it to prevent it from rolling.
For most of us the #11 blade is the most common for modeling
use. I have a heavier handled knife with a #16 blade for cutting
through thicker pieces. Lay the plastic down on a cutting
surface then press down with the knife. We’ve all been told a
thousand times to never cut toward yourself with a knife but
when using the #11 to trim the very small pieces in a model
kit there is just no other way of holding the part. Just be as
careful as possible and apply as little force as necessary to do
the trimming.
Sets of “jeweler’s files” can be of great help to the modeler.
The variety of shapes in the set accommodates all manner of
part clean up and trims. I could not work without them. Sanding
sticks of various grits are also an essential tool. I buy the ones at
drug stores and groceries that are intended for fingernails, they are
considerably less expensive that the ones sold at hobby shops,
and you can use that #16 knife blade to cut them into narrower sticks for smaller parts. Small side cutting nippers (aka:
sprue cutters) make the removal of small parts from the sprue tree much cleaner and therefor reduces the cleanup of parts.
Pin vises are small handles that allow you to chuck in very small
drill bits that will drill small holes in plastic parts at slow speed.
No high speed drill works well with styrene plastic; it melts its
way through rather than drilling. The hand turned pin vise is
perfect.
Tweezers and other pickup tools are other items you can’t do
without. They allow you to place very small parts into and onto
assemblies although it’s very easy to have the part shoot off
just as you’re placing it until you learn how to use the right
pressure to grip it with. Even then I spend a lot of time hunting
down air born parts but fingers are just too large to attach some
of the small parts in a model kit.
Miniature clamps of some sort also help with the assemblage
of model parts while glue is setting. The primary ones I use are
clothes pins and alligator clamps.
Note that I have cut off part of the larger pins to have a wider jaw. The small clothes pins are available at Hobby Lobby,
alligator clamps can be found at electronic stores and departments.
Harbor Freight is a good source of many of these tools at less cost that hobby stores. Next month: glues and other tips.
CINCINNATI CHALLENGE 20 CONTEST RESULTS
BEST OF SHOW: BILL SANSONE – ’54 CHEVY DELIVERY SEDAN
BEST ANY HUE AS LONG AS IT’S BLUE (THEME): BILL SANSONE – ’51 ANGLIA DRAG RACER
BEST OUT OF BOX STREET: ROY VAUGHN – ’51 ANGLIA
BEST OUT OF BOX COMPETITION: ED POWELL – ’67 INDY CAR
BEST FACTORY STOCK: ROY VAUGHN – ’70 ROAD RUNNER
BEST CUSTOM: MATT GEDERT – ’49 MERCURY
BEST STREET ROD: ED POWELL – ’32 FORD ROADSTER
BEST STREET MACHINE/PICKUP: BILL SANSONE – ’54 CHEVY DELIVERY SEDAN
BEST LOWRIDER: DARRELL PURVIS – ’86 EL CAMINO
BEST STRAIGHTLINE COMPETITION: BILL SANSONE – ’51 ANGLIA DRAG RACER
BEST COMPETITION CLOSED WHEEL: ROGER WARD – ’52 HUDSON
BEST COMPETITION OPEN WHEEL: ED POWELL – PINTO MODIFIED
BEST COMMERCIAL LIGHT: MATT GEDERT – ’40 FORD PICKUP
BEST COMMERCIAL HEAVY: TYLER ELLIOT – KENWORTH w/TRAILER
BEST DIORAMA: ROGER WARD – JUNKYARD
BEST CURBSIDE ALL: KEN BICKELL – ’51 CHEVY
BEST TUNER: MICHAEL NEWPORT – BMW
BEST BEGINNER: MEGAN ELLIS – ’30 FORD PICKUP
BEST JUNIOR: JOHN LUEKE – ’68 DODGE CHARGER
BEST ODD SCALE: RICHARD GEIS – ’36 FORD COUPE
Cincinnati Challenge 21
The club has April 9, 2016 reserved at the Clermont County Fairgrounds for the next Challenge. We
need to make a few adjustments to the classes and decide on a theme in the next few months. Any
suggestions are welcomed and can be discussed at the next meeting.
The 26th Annual Presented by the Louisville Model Car Club
DERBY CITY SHOOTOUT MODEL CAR CONTEST AND SWAP MEET Saturday July 25, 2015 9:00 am-4:00 pm
******* EVENT SITE******* Holy Family Parish Church Saffin Center
3938 Poplar Level Road Louisville Kentucky 40213
EVENT AGENDA Vendor Setup 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Contest Registration 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Contest Judging 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm
Awards Presentation 3:00 to 4:00 pm
ADMISSION-CONTEST ENTRY-VENDORS General Admission $2.00
Contest Entry $5.00 (first entry), $1.00 (each entry thereafter), $1.00 Youth Entry Vendor Swap Meet Tables $25.00 each 8’ long table with 2 chairs -Table reservations no later than July 18, 2015
Vendor no show notice: Due to table demand, reserved tables are held until 10 am day of show $30.00/each day of show (please call in advance for availability)
Electrical service is not available.
CONTACTS Contest Info Gene Renfro 502.239.1761/Russ Fischer 502.491.1204 (email: russmelinda@aol.com)
Swap Meet Tables Michael Ray 502.231.3292/Mike Parker 502.744.7390 Phone calls between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm EST only PLEASE!
DIRECTIONS TO EVENT SITE
From I-65 (N or S) to I-264 East (Watterson Expressway) Exit Poplar Level Rd North (exit 14)
From Poplar Level Rd North (approx. 3/4 mile) Turn left on Mercer St. (2nd Stop Light-Across from K-Mart)
To parking lot entrance in fence on right Visit us on Facebook
Louisville Model Car Club PO Box 19637 Louisville KY 40259-0637
C.A.R 2015 THEMES:
JAN.12 VANS & TRUCKS - CONTEST NIGHT
FEB.9 UNFINISHED
MAR.9 4X4’S - CONTEST NIGHT
APR. 6 BLUE VEHICLES
MAY 11 NEW PONY CARS -CONTEST NIGHT
JUNE 8 RAG TOPS & LONG TOPS
JULY 13 EL CAMINO’S & RANCHERO’S - CONTEST NIGHT
AUG. 10 PINK VEHICLES
SEPT. 14 HEAVY HAUL - CONTEST NIGHT
OCT.12 SAME KIT NIGHT- REVELL ’67 CAMARO
NOV.9 END OF YEAR CONTEST
DEC. 14 AWARDS AND PIZZA PARTY
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY 25 2015 DERBY CITY SHOOTOUT MODEL CAR CONTEST/SWAP MEET
HOLY FAMILY PARISH CHURCH SAFFIN CENTER
3938 POPLAR LEVEL ROAD LOUISVILLE, KY 40213
CONTACT: GENE RENFRO (502) 239-1761
RUSS FISCHER (502) 491-1204 RUSSMELINDA@AOL.COM
MIKE PARKER (502) 744-7390
PLEASE CALL BETWEEN 5:00PM AND 9:00PM EST
Newsletter: CARTIMESEDITOR@AOL.COM
Club info: CINCINNATIAUTOREPLICAS.ORG