Crossing the finish line….
Well, here she is, Monogram's classic "Lil Coffin". The original was designed by Dave Stuckey, and was an award winner at the 1963 Oakland custom car show. According to Thomas Graham's history of the company, Monogram's Roger Harney was admiring the car at the show when Monogram's president Jack Besser explained he had just bought the car! They shipped it back to Monogram headquarters and was made into the model. The biggest problem with the kit was it was wayyyy to complex for the target audience. I have to agree 100% had I tried this as a 10 year old I would have failed. As it is only one door opens, the front steering moves, but the wheels don't turn! Monogram's Ken Merker is quoted as saying "Anybody who could put that together was good-real good" Well since I left out the roll bar and some of the features don't work, I guess I am only a little good! The paint is decanted Tamiya TS-18 sprayed over a base coat of Tamiya Gold TS-21, with a final clear coat of very thin Tamiya clear red thinned with Mr Leveling thinner. I did the interior off white and TS-21. I did my best to build it straight out of the box, no extras, but I did have to replace the front windshield with clear acetate when it cracked coming off the sprue. I enjoyed the kit, but it was difficult!
Very cool, Rob, and that finish is beautiful, a real custom job.
A "difficult" build or not, Rob...it sure turned out nicely. I like it. 🙂
Love those early Hemi's. It looks like it has a Chrysler "Firedome" in it. Beautiful work ! I really like it ... The paint looks fantastic.
I did that kit when I was around 10 or 11 and yes it was an epic fail. I am glad some one built it. Very nice, Rob.
Nice! a real beauty. I remember doing a Dodge Charger III concept car, I think it was MPC, when I was about 10, It had all those moving parts too. Never came out the way it should have.
Bob, this is a nicely done build on an old, & memorable classic kit. I too built this rig a long time ago. I remember the model of the car disappeared quickly, but the skeleton hung around years. is that's kind of weird ?
Very nice - great job on the paint work. I only build a few of these classic funny cars as a kid, and never got around to this one, but I remember admiring it.
Nice finish Rob.
Thanks for all the kind words!