This kit was originally issued in 1974 or 1975, with a reissue in 1979. I built this kit from the 1979 boxing. This is part of Monogram's "Museum Pieces", which featured cars from "Harrah's Automobile Collection". The actual 1930 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout (what a name!) from Harrah's collection is (was?) a study in browns and beiges. These cars featured a 384 cu. in. eight cylinder inline (flathead) engine and a four speed manual transmission. I decided to have a go at building this because of the passenger seat being set back as compared to the driver's. Presumably, this was to enable the driver to focus on driving this sporty beauty.
For this kit, I used Testor's enamel for the brown interior and covers on the fender-mounted tires, highlights and shadows were added using various black, tan, and brown washes and thinned paints. The body and frame were painted using Tamiya Lacquer (TS15) Blue and (TS14); with the bits of the frame being picked out various colors. I removed the chrome from the radiator and headlights, and I used Alclad II for these parts, as well as for the chrome beltline. (In reality, I'm not sure this should be represented as a separate piece - and it's molded to the body in the kit.) At any rate, I liked it. Side note - I cheated on the hood side vents. The kit includes eight small, chrome-plated, rectangles for these pieces. I lost one, and then another. In frustration, I cut a piece of card stock, applied Bare Metal Foil, and glued this to the inside of the hood. Somewhat non-prototypical, but I felt it turned out ok. It's an interesting kit. Unlike many more modern kits, the frame is made of individual pieces. Getting these square is critical to getting all four wheels to sit evenly. However, it is nicely detailed for a kit of this vintage. Anyway, on to the subpar photos.... |