AirDave's Kool Wheelz Collection

[michael dazzo]

ok airdave regerstered! now to wait piecefully

[airdave]

BUMP...KOOLWHEELZ...BUMP!

So, as I hinted, there are some new KoolWheelz models coming!
I have been working feverishly on some new ones,
trying to clear out my to-do folder of some older ideas.

I think I've got about 7 new models to release...maybe more...

so, I think we'll have another Release Party! ...in October!!!!
We can all vote on favorites again!
Yay!!!
Why? I don't know...its something to do, isn't it?

In the meantime....put a new blade in your Knife.
Crack a new bottle of Glue.
Warm up that printer.
And if you're really anxious to start building, go buy a model to keep you busy...
I could use the extra sales.

Stay tuned!

[gotham]

Brand new box of 100 scalpel blades from Amazon ready and waiting.😁😁😁

[airdave]

Voting has completed and the results are in!
Here is the first October model to be released...

Its the Spy Car from TVs The Man From Uncle.
Built by Gene Winfield using a modified AMT Piranha Sports Car.

I was never a Man From UNCLE fan...I really only ever saw one or two episodes.
At that time, I was only about 5 years old...I lived in England...and I preferred Thunderbirds.
I was aware of the show, since there were many toys available including Corgi Toy cars,
but I didn't own any of those toys as far as I can remember.

I did build plastic models and I had seen the AMT Piranha Drag Car from AMT plastic models.
I think me or my Dad owned it, because I remember it being put together.
However, I did not know the Drag Car was a modified street car...it just looks like a custom thing.

It was only recently, when a discussion on the forum, lead me to learn more about the AMT Piranha fiberglass
sports car of the 1960s and its use as Drag Car...and, as the Man from UNCLE Spy Car.

The gadget laden "spy car" from the TV series was built by the famous Gene Winfield.
One of my favorite builders, Winfield built many TV and Movie vehicles (Blade Runner, Star Trek, Last Starfighter).
Gene lengthened and heavily modified the body of the Piranha car to create the UNCLE spycar
which (according to the series Stars) was problematic and unbearable to drive.

My KoolWheelz version is a small and difficult model to build.
Its smaller scale size means there are some small parts, and small details.
The curves were challenging to design on such a simple level, so its not what I would call "super accurate".
But I think it captures the basic look of the car.

You can find the SpyCar model in the Star Carz section at my website!

[Scott K]

Interesting first release this month. I just saw a large pile of the latest version of the AMT kit at a local "Ollie's Bargain Outlet", but couldn't afford to buy one (I'm VERY low budget these days). It doesn't say "Man From U.N.C.L.E." on it any more though, due to licensing issues, just "Piranha Spy Car".

[gotham]

Not aware of this TV car, looks good.

[airdave]

As usual, I will be adding some Assembly Diagram sheets for some of the upcoming KoolWheelz models.
Not all...just those that I think need a little extra help.

If there is any KoolWheelz model that you wish to request an Instruction sheet for,
just let me know.

I do my best to add notes and instructions to the model sheets.
Most of the assemblies are fairly straightforward (I think).
This is why I also add photos of the completed models to the model sheets.
They serve as good build reference.

But if there is a model that you just cannot wrap your head around...
and you are completely stuck...
let me know, and I'll do up an Assembly sheet for it.

You can find all the available Assembly sheets at my forum:
www.papermodelforum.com

You'll need to register to get access to the Member's Forums...and the dedicated KoolWheelz area.

[Vermin_King]

I was looking at the template on the Spy Car, and it actually looks fairly straight forward. I plan on making a separate file with just a square of the blue to print on the back of the printed copy to take care of the white inside of the rear pillar/overhang. Do you see any problems with that way of handling it?

[airdave]

I found the model to be small enough and the visibility into that area to be so limited
that I wasn't worried about colouring the insides of the rear window overhang.

Reverse side colouring with markers is problematic because of bleedthrough.

Adding a second layer of card may cause you a fit issue with the rear window.
(I don't know...the window doesn't fit exactly perfectly, I just eyeballed the shape,
so you might have room for double thickness...you might not)

Printing on the reverse side of the sheet is the easiest and safest method of adding some inside colour.
Once you get the reverse sheet template sorted out.
Go for it!!

[Vermin_King]

Got it sorted, but wasn't sure on the color. Since it was under the overhang, I thought of going with the darker blue under the black side molding, but since it would have some reflection off the rear deck, maybe the lighter blue. I think I'll just go with the primary body color