Curbside models?

[DoktorDuke]

Folks, just what is a "curbside model"?

[Harry P.]

Usually refers to a model with no engine and no opening hood.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

The idea is that it is judged on it's "curb appeal". If it were being judged at a contest for example, no one is looking for a motor, or chassis, or even interior in some cases. I have seen windows that have been painted black from the inside and in some cases, they may not have any chassis detail at all, and I mean none, just wheels glued up under the body. I have not seen one like that in a while tho.

At a contest, you may see a box stock build entered into a curbside catagory, or an old rebuilt promo for example. it allows people that want something quicker than a full detail, or maybe just something to stick on the shelf to get them out of a building slump.

[StevenGuthmiller]

All model kits & promos prior to 1961 were curbside kits with a few exceptions. I've been building a lot of curbside kits lately. Unless you're comfortable cutting up a rare vintage kit from '58 '59 or '60, (Johan kits were curbside until 1962) to add an engine or other details, you'll probably be building curbside. Personally, I don't think it's worth the effort or the sacrifice of an, (in some cases), unreplaceable kit, just to add engine detail, unless the kit is in rough shape to start with. With a little love, these vintage kits can build into a very respectable model just as they came from the factory. Steve

[AC Norton]

yes, that ever so lingering building slump. maybe a quick curbside is the order of the day to break me out of for mine......good idea.....may try one...the ace.....

[Ramfins59]

Yes, Curbside models are usually quicker and easier to finish up because you don't have to worry about engine or chassis details. Just do up the interior and finish the paint and trim on the body and you're done. A Slammer will usually have the blacked out windows with no interior but paint and trim on the body.

[High octane]

Exactly Richard, a "slammer" means no engine and no interior.

[disabled modeler]

Curbside kits are great to me I love them just as much as the full detail ones. The guys are right about them there quick and easy and still make into a great looking model or replica of the real thing with very little work most of the time. Johan made snap or promo like kits,AMT had their Snapfast plus kits...all were good....me I cant get enough of them...

[johnbuzzed]

Our club has a curbside class for our contest. The entries will be judged as though they were parked at the curb. No engine, chassis or interior detail (unless it's an open convertible, and that can get hairy) is included. That can eliminate the use of an actual kit chassis by substituting some other raw material to hold the wheels in place. I've seen it done.

In my opinion, a "slammer" is a model that was slammed together, just to get something built.

[Zarana-X]

I've built quite a few. I don't mind the lack of engine detail, because once my models are built, I generally don't go looking in the engine bay anyway.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I've built quite a few. I don't mind the lack of engine detail, because once my models are built, I generally don't go looking in the engine bay anyway.

I agree Jason. I have quite a few builds that are detailed under the hood that have had the hood removed once....to photograph them. I have some builds that I literally could not tell you as I sit here, whether I detailed under the hood or not. I absolutely don't remember. I don't do contests or shows as a rule so I'm generally the only one who ever sees my builds. I mostly build them as a shelf model so I focus 90% of my attention on the body & interior. I personally would never be able to maintain my interest or focus on a build that took a year or more to do. This way I can figure on about 1 per month. Keeps me interested. Steve

[niteowl7710]

By contest standards a curbside is a kit with no opening panels (eg. doors, hood or trunk), judged at "curbside level of paint/body work and interior. It's now become a catch-all term for any kits - mostly Japanese, promo based annuals, and/or Snap-Tite kits that don't have any engine detail. BUT you could leave the engine out of a full detail kit and glue the hood shut and wind up with a curbside entry. Although some contests WILL judge the chassis work as for a good majority of RECENTLY tooled (last 10-15 years) import kits they have very detailed, multi-part chassis details that end up making the bulk of the kit's parts.

Slammers usually have no interiors, and plausibly no chassis pans, with all windows blacked out, and judged strictly on the visual impact of the body, paint, and wheel choice.

Edited September 4, 2014 by niteowl7710

[Snake45]

Put me down as another fan of curbsides. I love 'em. I also like to rehabilitate damaged or "distressed" old promos, too, which is usually the only kind I can afford.

Before:

After:

[VW93]

I plan on doing a few curbsides down the road to improve on my basic skills.

[Tom Geiger]

I used to build everything full detail... engine wiring..even opening doors and trunk. Then in my old age I decided I had climbed enough mountains. Half of what I build today is curbside. See the above Chevette built from a promo. I really enjoyed working on all the detailing I did, without having to spend an equal amount of time under the hood. Looking at the Chevette four, and reference pictures that show a ton of wiring and other plumbing, I decided it just wasn't worth the effort! So here's where I ended up.

[Snake45]

I used to build everything full detail... engine wiring..even opening doors and trunk. Then in my old age I decided I had climbed enough mountains. Half of what I build today is curbside. See the above Chevette built from a promo. I really enjoyed working on all the detailing I did, without having to spend an equal amount of time under the hood. Looking at the Chevette four, and reference pictures that show a ton of wiring and other plumbing, I decided it just wasn't worth the effort! So here's where I ended up.

Preach It, Brother Tom!

[rmvw guy]

Now I want to build a curbside!!!! Thanks guys!

[disabled modeler]

Put me down as another fan of curbsides. I love 'em. I also like to rehabilitate damaged or "distressed" old promos, too, which is usually the only kind I can afford.

Before:

After:

Cool....Me though I restore the promos to the condition they were like new and rarely ever add any detailing to mine...when they are too far gone to restore I make models from them.

[Snake45]

Cool....Me though I restore the promos to the condition they were like new and rarely ever add any detailing to mine...when they are too far gone to restore I make models from them.

I don't think I have any that could be restored to original condition. If they were, I wouldn't have been able to afford them in the first place. The only exception to this was a mint, original, boxed 1970 GTO promo that I detail-painted...in 1970, when it wasn't worth hardly anything. I still have it and touched it up a couple years ago

[Tom Geiger]

And there are promos of cars that never made it to kit. For instance there are Rambler wagons and 4 door sedans all the way up to the mid 1960s. As you can see above, I managed to find a few in restorable condition, ideal to resurrect as models! And I didn't give any collector a heart attack or pay top dollar for a minty one!

[jagxjr15]

My definition of a "curbside" model would be a model with an interior but without any opening body panels (including doors, trunk, hood).

A "styling" model, on the other hand would be a model without any opening body panels and without an interior, with the windows painted over (opaque).

[peteski]

4 hours ago, jagxjr15 said:

A "styling" model, on the other hand would be a model without any opening body panels and without an interior, with the windows painted over (opaque).

. . . and without any details on the underside (a piece of flat plastic with wheels glued to it is ok).  I never heard it being described as a "styling  model". In this part of the country we call these models "slammers".

[stavanzer]

I think the term "Styling Model" dates back to the Fischer Body Guild Contests from the 1950s-1960s.

 

[peteski]

22 hours ago, stavanzer said:

I think the term "Styling Model" dates back to the Fischer Body Guild Contests from the 1950s-1960s.

 

That was a bit before my modeling years.   But what's old is new again.

[stavanzer]

My Dad had a Fischer Body Guild Rulebook from the 1950's.I guess he was interested in building cars, before I was Born. (in 1963)

It was really Neat. Wish I still had it.

Anyway, that is where I first saw the term.