This writer really misses the nice weather required for working on Checkers. There is nothing like a sunny day on the driveway, playing music and smoking a cigar while working on the old “Iron Bastard”. That said, it’s Winter, it’s about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and it’s way too cold to work outside. So what do you do if you want a Checker “fix” but you can’t go outside? Several options exist: you could go on the internet and view the Facebook ICTA group posts, or maybe you could click through the archive while looking at vintage brochures, all fun, but this writer likes to work with his hands.
Scale modeling presents a great way of having fun with Checkers, without working on actual Checkers. Many Checker models are available on the market today, in all scales and all eras. However, one large gapping hole exists: vintage Checkers. Checkers made between 1922 and 1950. If you want something older than an A4, the you are out of luck. What can you do when you can build a vintage Checker model, when none are available? One option is to fabricate one from scratch.
That’s exactly what this writer did! The combination of the quest to stay active with Checkers and the desire to have a vintage Checker model, drove me to fabricate two vintage models: a Model Y and a Model A. Both models are cast in resin. Note the header picture, the models are pictured along with a standard Model A11 all in 1/32 scale.
The primary challenge was the process of making a master model. Many modelers use a techniques call “kitbashings”. Kitbashing or model bashing is a practice whereby a new scale model is created by taking pieces out of commercial kits. These pieces may be added to a custom project or to another kit. For professional modelmakers, kitbashing is popular to create concept models for detailing movie special effects.
In the case of the recently made Model Y, two kits were kitbashed to make the Model Y. The two source models were produced by the Pyro Model Company of New York back in 1965. The models used were models of: 31 Cadillac Towne Sedan and a 33 Lincoln roadster.
Donor kit Pyro Cadillac
By combining the two models, a new master was created. The Cadillac body below the rear window was actually was cut and turned upside down to create the sloping rear end. The squared back roof was also slanted forward all in an effort to create the graceful lines of the Model Y.
It took several weeks to fabricate the master, once completed latex was used to create two part molds so resin copies could be made. Not quite complete, the interior still need to be fabricated.
The photographed example is the first model produced, not perfect, the resulting model is a pretty good example. More refinement to the masters will be performed, perhaps I’ll be able to make more copies for those interested in building one for their own collection
