Tabletop Gassers and the Mystery of Skipper’s Critter

Why did Revell replicate the Shores and Hess “Skipper’s Critter” 1951 Anglia Gasser in minute detail - then ignore the car owner’s name? Plus a look at the equally amazing Revell Thames “Simple Simon Pie Wagon” and “Stone, Woods and Cook” Willys gasser models car kits.

[@randyauer7303]

Steve I haven't put a model car together in about 55 years watching you giving me the bug to buy a couple thank you sir

[@lewis730]

The original issue Skippers Critter had awesome rubber pie crust slicks, pirelli fronts and bitchin’ Ansen mags, these coveted items aren’t in later reissues. Revell also made a killer Henry J and Austin! Neat stuff!

[@chrismarusic4277]

Massachusetts,,,wow I met you in Riverside Ca at a small swap meet. At least 10 years ago . I can say I shook hand with greatness. A Real gentleman thnx Steve..

[@moparmenace59]

skippers critter was the first model car my grandma bought me in '66, first model i ever built and as you can imagine it looked like a mess. today, i have a reissue built properly on my shelf and an unopened original just to remind me of how good life was back then.

[@seanh2390]

really enjoying your model car videos ... they bring back a lot of good childhood memories

[@garyslentzii2796]

Ive been burning thru your model building videos again. I love them so much, Gasser rock. Get well Mags. 😊

[@craig4004]

Hey Steve, I want to thank you for posting all your work on line. Your junk yard crawls remind me of the good old days. Hunting for hidden treasures. Although where I grew up, you brought a hammer and chisel or a hot knife to get your parts off. Everything from the door handles down was rust. But I do recall, when the snow got so deep you couldn't tell what kind of vehicle you were looking at. I too used to continue building, in plastic. I'll even cop to cranking out some Mahogany Rush while creating scale masterpieces. Rust, plastic and vinyl ahhhh the memories. Keep doing what your doing Steve! And again thanks for sharing.

[@chilee6994]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Steve..

[@thomasdemink2473]

We need a model junkyard crawl

[@672egalaxie6]

Congrats on 40k Steve!

[@machinist5828]

Back in the mid 70s one of the big indoor car shows had a model contest in which I entered a Thames panel. It was a diarama complete with workbench, vice, torch, arc welder, a-frame with chain fall, jack and jack stands. I had two workers that came from another kit that a friend "americanized" for me. He did big ships in big bottles so it wasn't any worry for him. The point is I had looked at all that beautiful detail and thought it was a shame to hide it so I put the engine on a stand and the rest of the parts on the workbench. I won best in show which at 19 was a feat but I had surgeons hands and the patience of a saint. It also helped that I worked in an automotive machine shop at the time. I have no idea where the diarama went. Many of the details came from other kits that I bought just for the garage details. None of the parts save the people, who always wanted to take a nap and the engine which was glued to the engine stand were attached. Everything on that kit worked, my friend turned me on to a liquid cement that welded almost instantly. It was industrial product that had not association with plastic models. I suspect it was something like MEK but you could control it extremely well but if you left it open it would evaporate overnight. Girls and life came along so models took a side line for along time. I build some now but it is a challenge. Between nerve damage from carpal tunnel, arthritis and neropathy I have no feeling in my hands but I still do it but much slower. Anyhow your review dusted off a memory that was long forgotten from a much more pleasant time. Thanks for the great videos! Cheers Terry

[@SteveMagnante]

Hell Terry, THANKS for watching! Its interesting that the Thames panel van model you built was an American replica of a British vehicle! So in a sense your model enjoyed a connection with it's own past no American build ever could. Sorry to hear your hands aren't what they were but You Keep Going Sir! I recall spending a semester at the University of Stirling in Scotland and skipping plenty of classes to build an Airfix 1985-ish Toyota Supra model with - get this - a Tamiya Porsche 956 engine. I was using Humbrol spray paint that came in small, thin cans - like modern travel-size shaving cream. I never did complete that model BUT somehow still have it. Please watch for a video of it soon. Thanks again, Steve Magnante

[@judgegixxer]

The Revell 41" Willys was the 1st model kit I ever built. That would have been around 1980. I remember it being molded in a dark green.

[@jgraham8248]

Thanks for sharing some additional knowledge on these kits. I built the Thames Panel Truck in the early 70s. As an older collector I have 2 of the original models. FYI, Skip Hess went on the create Mongoose bicycles and was a wheel designer for, I think, Cragar and created the cast Mongoose Motomag BMX wheel in 1975. I have a vast early Mongoose BMX collection including the original 1976 Mongoose I got for Christmas that year. Skip got the Mongoose BMX name from his buddies who raced the Snake and Mongoose dragsters! Keep up your informative work.

[@johndymowski8939]

This show is close to my heart. After 40 yesrs we just closed the last Hobby Shop on the Island of Manhattan. JAN's... at 64 I still have my Original Thames Panel! And created A Tom Daniels Jewel series Example: everything on his beer wagon that's wood is wood with metal chains. A K&S full working suspension on the Pie Wagon everything rolls and turns... I DO have a real 70' LT1 Vette Built in 11/69 and is factory painted Le Mans Blue and has Free Floating wrist pins internally...

[@timcarson8146]

As always...big or small...very informative stuff. I bought the Thames panel van on eBay and am excited to build it up.

[@robertsimmons1716]

Another great video Steve. I hope with your unfortunate recent developments you are at least able to keep the models.

[@dew2667]

It was great growing up in the Detroit metro area, even as a kid knowing that Jo Han, MPC and AMT were local companies with close ties to the ACTUAL auto industry....thanks for the great memories Steve!

[@rickynelson3222]

My favorite Gasser was the bad man 55

[@malcolmdyer6090]

I built the double kits back in the sixties, Sanitary Bucket/Mooneyes dragster. The fully detailed motors were chrome plated and to get the glue to work they told you, scrape the chrome off surfaces to be glued. As you point out the excellent illustrations, a job I pursued in the real world of auto manufacturing, GM UK. The illustrations, parts description manuals, were identical to those included in those kits.

[@aceadman]

I love this channel. He’s so great. 😊👍😘

[@daviddennison4201]

I had most of these gasser kits loved them as a kid thanks for videos

[@lkporter1989]

Morning Steve! Hope you have a good Sunday. Take care man!

[@jhuntosgarage]

Great content Steve. Thanks for sharing!

[@jamesblair9614]

If you love a Gasser! Who in the world doesn’t love a Gasser! That was the peak for those type cars, and those cars were the best of the best, what you often saw at your local track was something a bit cruder, but all fun to watch.

[@VictorySpeedway]

I received a Revell '56 Ford pickup truck for my 10th or 11th birthday. Like the Willys / Thames gassers, it was too fiddly for a kid. And you're spot on regarding the adhesives available at the time. This was the origin of "Glue Bombs." I was happy to return to AMT / Monogram products, and no opening doors or working steering. Now that I'm retired, I'm slowly getting back into building. Over the years, I've accumulated about 300 unbuilts, and I'm working on three or four at a time, waiting to hook up the vent system for my paint booth (it's cold here, too, and I need a basement window to route the fumes). If all goes well, I'll have three or four models to display at the 2022 NNL show in Wayne, NJ in April. We'll see...

[@kgarage2664]

Steve big big fan never miss a video. I would love to see the whole collection

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

Gotta love the 1/25th scale kits 🙂👍

[@davidm3302]

I still have a Henry-j I built many years ago

[@GeorgesMiniatureCars]

Excellent kits! Love 'em!!!

[@hensleyshobbies-doug7761]

Yeah buddy Steve, real cool vehicles!

[@bobpratt8224]

Yes definitely had the Thames model good stuff man!

[@Anthony-qj7qe]

Great stuff Steve...I still remember building my first car model kit, a 1970 Monte Carlo SS 454 by AMT.....great memories 🙂

[@Toad1973.]

Wish I had all the models I did when I was a kid. 49 now And just got back into them. Doing a 65 c10 from Revell.

[@Etherdave]

Shores and Hess used their name on this Anglia, but also changed it out to the moniker 'Skipper's Critter', which also manifested as a lion graphic displayed on the vehicle front. Sponsor Meguiar's also contributed to the building and maintenance of the vehicle, and their graphic is also displayed prominently on the side, in combination with, and in alternation to, the previously described graphics. So all appeared at one time or another, and the disappearing name of the driving team is simply part of the ever-changing appearance of this race car. Originally sporting a Hilborn-injected small block Chevy engine, the transmission was changed, and ultimately the engine was changed to a big block Chevy with a supercharger, resulting in the through-the-hood intake scoop with the script 'Rat Motor' emblazoned on the side. This seems to be the most widely photographed version, which was shortly sold to another driver, who then shortly thereafter crashed and wrecked the vehicle. Alas, the Critter does not exist today. Revell, eager to expand their line of gasser kits, had tooled up an Anglia even before Hess had contacted them (so claims Hess). The kit (first released in 1966, well into the gasser era) appears to feature common parts in Anglia gassers of the period, but does not specifically resemble any one vehicle, least of all the Skipper's Critter. The kit lacks the built-in hood scoop, which can be seen even in very early photos of this vehicle, and the kit lacks the innovative disk brakes at all corners, which likewise seem to be an early feature of the car. Novelty features like oversized exhaust cans, novelty bumper equipment, and chromed interior features, are a part of the exhibition circuit, not the racing circuit; no photo seems to exist showing the Critter with a giant key sticking out its back end. The kit actually most closely resembles the Kohler Brothers' 'King Kong', which was extensively featured in car magazines, and exists today as a museum piece. Revell's kit is much like predecessor gasser kits with opening doors and hoods, poseable steering, and extremely intricate parts and assemblies. For what it's worth, I like the Critter and its cousin the Thames Panel, but my favorite, for overall accuracy as well as engineering and execution, is the Swindler II, as driven by Stone, Woods, and Cook. That said, I have collected all of Revell's gasser kits and am mightily pleased with them. Thanks for posting.

[@mikebondon8494]

As always, another great video. On another note, I have a couch with that exact fabric.

[@patrickmoran8790]

I had my hands on the early SWC Willys gasser that my uncle bought. I have a few parts left over, and one modified built and one leftover to be built reissues that didn’t have the same tires as the originals. The originals had great skinny Pirelli fronts, and M&H pie crust slicks.

[@garysgarage.2841]

When I was a kid models were easy to find large stores had whole isles dedicated to models with all the paint and tools needed. Even small neighborhood stores had a small selection. Now you don't see them kids aren't interested in building things anymore I guess.

[@chipper442]

I know I speak for many others, when I ask to see your 1/25 scale version of a “boneyard” Steve. Thanks for the content, can’t get enough.

[@dougwilson6966]

Great review....

[@bobp5356]

I love your inside crawls, Steve. Keep them going.

[@danieljohnson9351]

I am building each one of those great Revell gasser kits for the second time (they turn out better the second time around-50 years later).

[@Etherdave]

True true. The suspension on these kits was never designed to be built by the hands of a child.

[@jonathangehman4005]

Skip Hess went on to change my world as a kid when he started B.M.X Products and created Motomags and Mongoose bikes. His buddy Tom McEwen even let him use the image of the attacking 'Goose from the side of his racecar. Cool dude

[@SkipShooter]

Good stuff brother. I’m almost finished the fairmont.

[@timrayburn2461]

Great video

[@ChicagoDonny922]

I'm so proud of myself that I've ALWAYS HAVE BEEN & CONTINUALLY STILL am just as cool as ever!!!! I still have a few of the older issues (released within the last 40+years) & a respectable am out of the newer released issues!!!! My Main Man Magazine Magnante

[@chrismarusic4277]

One of my favorite cars is Steve's white Plymouth valiant featured in hot rod along time ago.

[@bigeddie1231]

hope when the weather warms up you still stick in a model video once in a while very cool video sir

[@goratgo1970]

Placed both unbuilt kits into the panel kit box, mounted Skipper's box on wall with others.

[@gramus51]

Steve, those were great kits, never forget the hidden once built detailing. outstanding engine details, and you didn't have to paint them!! Thanks for sharing!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I love those too! I had a few of them before, but like you said! They where so fragile that they easily came apart when you handled them! Many of my models got destroyed by my little nieces and nephews that came over the house when they visited, they thought they where playing toys! And when I wasn’t paying attention! Disaster struck! Lol 😂 so many of my models ended up in a pile of parts box! That I still have.👌😎👍great video!

[@smithgroove945]

Good choice Steve! A grail kit for me. I don't remember if i had made it with opening doors though.

[@peterpowder8546]

With all the health and political crap flooding the internet Steve brings me back into the simple joys of my youth. Reminds me that in my retirement years there is A-LOT more to focus on besides all the crises of this world. ☺️

[@OGRocker1]

Get well soon Stevo! more models to build bro 👍👍👍👍🙏🙏

[@papawoody9597]

When I was a kid I hated opening doors. The old Testors glue was awful (the Pactra lemon smelling crap was even worse) and I always ended up just gluing them shut. "Glass" parts were the worst, if the glue oozed onto a windshield when you put it in, that part was trash. You'd end up with a fogged spot and I didn't know you could fix it. When you're buying old kits, you find a lot of windshields ruined by tire burn. A big nasty crescent shaped spot where a tire sat on the glass for 20 years. Then I learned to sand out the minor ones, and cut new pieces out of clear styrene sheet. The best glue, hands down, is Tamiya extra thin. I've never had it screw up a part, and it seems to have a capillary action and it sucks itself into the seam between parts.

[@88SC]

The Anglia model was obviously based on the Shores and Hess car, but had an Olds engine. Shores and Hess Anglia was Chevy powered (small block and later, big block). Weird to me, since Revell had excellent examples of all the V8s in scale back then.

[@goratgo1970]

Good to know, I will add the note in my kit box - Thx!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Skipper’s Critter story very interesting Steve! Looking forward to the '62 Police car rebuild!

[@raythackston1960]

The company I worked for in the early 2000's leased a building next door to the driver of those Willys Stone, Woods, and Cook. I forget (due to the drugs I have to take for my disease) which one it was. But he had pictures and trophys and all kinds of stuff framed on the wall. I talked to him a few times, he loved to talk about those good ole days. He told me that they never saw a dollar from the 30 plus years of model car sales. They gave the rights to Revell for a percentage of the kits sold...plus a small lump sum up front. He said that they had talked about suing Revell...but in the end their lawyers told them they would spend a ton of money and may get a small award in their favor, but they would loose out in the long run. He was a great guy.

[@mcnamarasgarage]

Awesome video. Good luck at BJ this week. Can we get a tour of your house sometime?

[@killingitwitholdkill4583]

Another Great Episode !

[@MaxtheFinger]

Show us the junkyard!!! 😁

[@substandardabuse6028]

I’m loving your channel more and more with every upload. Being from Australia we only experienced American cars through ones that owners imported themselves so they we’re limited in numbers but it was model kits that started my love for American iron as a kid growing up in the 70’s and 80’s.

[@MH-rb7lp]

Steve - love your channel, I would like to see some close ups of some of your models. I'd really like to see you build a model using some of those tips and tricks you have spoken about. I am just getting back into models after many years and am on a quest to build some of my favorite cars that I have still do own (all Mopar...).

[@ImTheJoker4u]

If you search Steve's channel, he has a few videos showcasing his collection.

[@MH-rb7lp]

@@ImTheJoker4u Thanks

[@MLFranklin]

I remember the Pete and Jakes-assisted project in Hot Rod, "New Angle Anglia." It came out around the time of the "Malaise Era."

[@wheeled11]

Love model car kits. Wish they didn’t cost so much these days.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Love these model videos Steve! Brings back great boy hood memories! I had many Revell models, the only thing I never liked about them was the 2 piece tires alot of them had. I loved the Testors glue, I really hated that non toxic glue with the lemon smell it just wouldn't hold. I never used super glue, I don't think it had even came out yet back then, at least not in my area. Thanks for sharing the memories!

[@kevinsnyder4425]

Cool video Steve ! I love the old kits, and have quite a few from the 60's & some my brother built also. Used to buy some Johan kits ,seems like they did more Mopars than the rest. Have 2 or 3 of the early 60's dodge darts & chrysler cars from them. The Badman yellow 55 chevy is still one of my favourites, and I saw it behind you on the video. I don't know what happened to mine... a bunch of my old kits got stolen when we moved, I think the 2 moving guys made off with them.! I know they would be worth a few bucks by now !

[@timsacco6g694]

I have that 41 Willys, I had the original one when I was like 5 years old?, I bought it again in the early eighties except it does not have the Stone, Woods and Cook decals, I, prepped the body and started to paint the trunk, but that was it, it is still in the closet, one day maybe, I'll dig it out of there and try to build it, my patience is not what it used to be!

[@charlie225]

Hey Steve we would love to see ur model car junkyard and crawl through it!

[@jamesthompson8008]

Great video! Two things here- 1- Instructions : I agree with you regarding Revells instructions for their time. The only manufacturer that had better was Ertl back in 70s with their kits- very clear, precise & linear with the steps/procedures. 2- The actual content thing would explain why MPC then started printing the actual picture on the side of the box mid 70s as well. Yes they all did eventually, but I seem to remember MPC being first.

[@popeyeman69]

Another awesome video Steve. I've been itching to build one of those

[@brianyoung9014]

My favorite as a kid was the orange crate.

[@derockshun]

Must. See. Your Model Car Junkyards!!!!

[@frankmilavec3063]

Just out of curiosity did the real Skippers Critter have that big, funky looking steering wheel?

[@moparnut6286]

I want a tour of the model car junkyard! Please

[@genebarnes3918]

Hi Steve. AMT had some pretty decent gassers back in the day as well. "Ohio" George Montogomery 33 Willys with a cammer and Mustang Malco gasses as well as the Multi Maverick. Kinda quirky but cool anyway. Various 40-41 Willys pick-ups and coupes. They also had variations on the 33 Willys including a panel van with a Ford cammer. It was a fun time.

[@artjones2498]

i loved revell kits....in the late seventies i built a 57 chevy kit...it was molded in pink but every thing opened and the front wheels turned i think i spent a month on it but every thing worked....i had to paint it black....the engineering and detail that went in to it was outstanding

[@jasonrackawack9369]

When re released these were my 2 favorite kits as a kid in the 90s

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

Awesome video Steve!

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

Steve I never had a lot of patience building these kits.

[@carmudgeon7478]

Of course we want to see the 1:24th junkyard crawl! With Steve's famous facts about the real and scale cars.🙏

[@smiddlyrabone8900]

I love those model oreo's cookies HA just kidding Great Video.

[@harrysatin5110]

I built the “Street Demons” series of the Revell 41Willys Knight, twice! this is definitely up there in my favorite all time builds. Always thought this was a Olds 455. Great videos keep up the great work!

[@RC-cc4rv]

Get well Steve!!!!!

[@rogergoodman8665]

I like plastic model kits & built many car & plane kits & even 2 battleships but in my early 20's I found large scale highly detailed die cast models to add to my hot wheels, matchbox & plastic model collection & have been hooked on those ever since. My display fills a nice size bedroom I'm a little embarrassed to say!

[@TahoeRealm]

WONDERFUL video-great info! I’d love to see the box art on that tilt-cab Dodge IMC model and the Jungle Jim over your right shoulder if you can fit them in. 🙏 PS - if I ever see the Badman at the store, I’m building it - walked by that too many times!

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

thanks 4 sharing been wanting an anglia for soo long didnt know the thames panel came w/ opening doors got both in the the mail 😁🤩😋🤪diggin the channel scooter out😎

[@tomlappin9657]

Great kits

[@randysinger2673]

Love to see a Video of your Model Car Junk Yard

[@dh190852]

The original 63 issue SWC was a different shade of blue. I have several of each of those kits. Early tires melted the wheels.

[@coolgoldtiger1]

Love it. Keep it coming!

[@davez3838]

Awesome love the kits have one of each some were? Thanks for letting us see them.

[@urbanadamsson5903]

Cool stuff ,

[@charlesdalton985]

It’s a small point, but it’s pronounced “will-eez”. Here’s a link to an ad from the company, skip to 2:20 and you’ll hear it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZqXamulhLeVfpI. “Willis” is how the man pronounced his name, but the company was always referred to as “will-eez” by everyone who worked there. Thanks for sharing your passion, greatly appreciated and enjoyed!

[@bottomshot4546]

as you describe it, either pronunciation would be appropriate.

[@charlesdalton985]

@@moosejawventure That’s interesting to me. If I may ask, rough location in the country? I’m wondering if this is a regional thing. In Toledo, where the plant was, it was always will-eez

[@goratgo1970]

Great, as long as your Will-eez does Wheeleez!

[@Dabber422]

I liked slot car drag racing with a revell model body...

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

Awesome!!!!

[@jeffhyde7934]

Dude, I wanna see your stash! There has to be thousands of dollars in Jo-han kits all around you!!!!!

[@davem6685]

I was a member of the Revell master modeling club. Got a pin to prove it. Wonder how much brain damage I have from smelling that testers glue for years.

[@roberthill2219]

Don't feel so bad for Skip Hess getting cheated out of his royalties.... his son was a active participant in the early days of BMX racing... he got tired of ever-increasing pile of broken Stingray parts and decided to do something about it, he started a company called BMX Products and around 1975 produced a complete bicycle BMX racing called the Mongoose with a tie-in to his good friend, Tom McEwen. Even was an associate sponsor on McEwen's funny cars for many years. Needless to say Skip Hess has led a very comfortable life ever since...

[@briccc4why518]

I see the very rare Oreo's Cookies model kit behind him.

[@robertclark4509]

Hey Steve here's a bit of drag racing history that you won't find but my dad was Jerry Ruths mechanic in the sixty's before he went pro. My fathers name was Bill Clark.There was a picture of my brother when he was 7 or 8 sitting in his dragster in Edmonton I believe.