Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a 1/4-scale R/C big rig sleigh]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/11/nothing-says-merry-christmas-like-a-1-4-scale-r-c-big-rig-slei/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/11/nothing-says-merry-christmas-like-a-1-4-scale-r-c-big-rig-slei/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/11/nothing-says-merry-christmas-like-a-1-4-scale-r-c-big-rig-slei/#commentsFiled under: , ,



That there's a Santa Claus and an "elf" riding some sort of contraption behind a miniature big rig is intriguing enough. In reality, the downsized big rig is the story. Built by model maker Luca Bordin, the 1/4-scale Peterbilt 359 isn't a kit, it's made from scratch.

As best we can tell from Google Translate, Bordin found detailed plans of the 359, then fabricated the body out of fiberglass, including the cabin, and attached it via springs to a twin-rail frame made of iron. The differential steering mechanism was lifted from go-karts, the diesel tanks are plumbing pipe, a nightclub smoke machine blows white clouds from chrome stacks, a 12v compressor powers two truck-sounding horns, and the engine is from an electric jack "with lots of torque."

What's more: when Santa's not riding out back, Bordin fabricated a fiberglass trailer to go with the tractor. It's impressive, and we're hoping Santa drives it straight under our tree. There's video of it after the jump.

Continue reading Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a 1/4-scale R/C big rig sleigh

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a 1/4-scale R/C big rig sleigh originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>luca bordinmodelspeterbiltpeterbilt 359rc modelrc peterbiltrc truckscale modelyoutubeSun, 11 Dec 2011 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20125148/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/11/nothing-says-merry-christmas-like-a-1-4-scale-r-c-big-rig-slei/20125148/article-detail.xml 20125148 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/peterbiltsleigh_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/peterbiltsleigh.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Thieves derail James May's bid for toy train record]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/report-thieves-derail-james-mays-bid-for-toy-train-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/report-thieves-derail-james-mays-bid-for-toy-train-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/report-thieves-derail-james-mays-bid-for-toy-train-record/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Railroad enthusiasts are a pretty passionate bunch. They're not auto enthusiast crazy, but they're close. Top Gear presenter James May fed off that steam-powered energy by working with 400 volunteers to build the longest ever toy train track for his new BBC series James May's Toy Stories. The track was to travel 10 miles from Barnstaple to Bideford, North Devon in the UK, and the Guinness book of World Records was on hand to record the feat for prosperity in the event that it succeeded.

As the Telegraph tells it, the ambitious toy track likely would have been a record setting effort were it not for some vandals who decided to sabotage the attempt. Sections of the track - which were laid with assistance from the British version of the Boy Scouts - were stolen, and two pence coins were dropped on the track to disrupt power and blow the train's battery. The cowardly acts of a few idiots ultimately resulted in James May and his gang of volunteers missing the opportunity to be added to the Guinness Book of World Records, but organizers decided to stay positive and call the event a success due to the fact that all 10 miles of the track were linked at one point.

We're guessing May will get another shot at Guinness with planned stunts like building a life-size Lego house or a life-size Meccano bridge, but it would have been nice if a few jerks didn't ruin the fun of hundreds of toy train geeks aficionados.

[Source: Telegraph | Image: Dave Hogan/Getty]

REPORT: Thieves derail James May's bid for toy train record originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BBCjames mayjames mays toy storiesJamesMayJamesMaysToyStoriesscale modelscale trainScaleModelScaleTrainthieftop gearTopGeartoy trainToyTraintrain tracktrainsTrainTrackThu, 27 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19140208/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/27/report-thieves-derail-james-mays-bid-for-toy-train-record/19140208/article-detail.xml 19140208 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/disheveled-james-may-vertical-getty-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/disheveled-james-may-vertical-getty-250.jpg <![CDATA[A Ferrari motorcycle? Only in our 1:12 scale dreams]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/a-ferrari-motorcycle-only-in-our-1-12-scale-dreams/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/a-ferrari-motorcycle-only-in-our-1-12-scale-dreams/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/a-ferrari-motorcycle-only-in-our-1-12-scale-dreams/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click on the image above for more high-res shots of the Ferrari Motorcycle model

There are plenty of awe-inspiring Italian motorcycles for us to dream about, but still, a Ferrari motorcycle would surely be a welcome addition to the sportbike ranks. Just what might a superbike designed by Ferrari look like? We can imagine a carbon fiber frame for starters, and surely there would need to be plenty of red bodywork. As a matter of fact, we think that a Ferrari motorcycle would look quite a bit like the scale model you see above. Scale Auto Magazine member andybmw7272 started of his project with a Yamaha kit from Tamiya, but everything has been modified to suit the project. We're sure you'll agree that it was extremely well done, and it gives us something to think about should Maranello ever decide to venture into the two-wheeled market.

Gallery: 1:12 Scale Ferrari Motorcycle


[Source: Scale Auto Magazine via Hell for Leather Magazine]

A Ferrari motorcycle? Only in our 1:12 scale dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrar motorcycleferrariferrari-motorcycleFerrarMotorcyclemotorcyclescale modelscale-modelScaleModelTue, 25 Mar 2008 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1148172/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/03/25/a-ferrari-motorcycle-only-in-our-1-12-scale-dreams/1148172/article-detail.xml 1148172 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/ferrari_bike_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/ferrari_bike.jpg <![CDATA[All we want for Christmas is a Ford GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/27/a-ford-gt-for-the-masses/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/27/a-ford-gt-for-the-masses/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/27/a-ford-gt-for-the-masses/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Ford GT has always been badass. When it went into production in 2003, all of those kit cars from back in the day suddenly paled in comparison to a genuine GT40-inspired supercar. It was a relative bargain, too. Of course, when we say relative bargain, we mean expensive. Always willing to settle, we've found a way to claim with a straight face that we own a GT. It's still not cheap, but it's hundreds, not hundreds of thousands. Winding Road has pointed us to the 1:6 scale remote control Ford GT over at wowzzers.com. Equipped with a 23cc engine, this three-plus foot long vehicle can buzz around at a maximum speed around 60 mph. Christmas is coming, and it's only $650.

[Source: Winding Road]

All we want for Christmas is a Ford GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controlfordford gtford gt 40FordGtFordGt40gtgt 40Gt40remoteremote controlRemoteControlscale modelScaleModeltoysSat, 27 Oct 2007 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1022856/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/10/27/a-ford-gt-for-the-masses/1022856/article-detail.xml 1022856 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/remote_gt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/remote_gt.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Volvo's RC mini-XC90]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/11/video-volvos-rc-mini-xc90/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/11/video-volvos-rc-mini-xc90/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/11/video-volvos-rc-mini-xc90/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click image above to play video

Volvo has created four 1:5 scale mini XC90 SUVs for a very specific task. These true baby utes were built for the European Athletics Championship in Gothemnburg and will be used to transport javelins, hammers and discusses from wherever they land on the field back to the throwers. Each one was hand built by Volvo and feautres an open roof through which discusses and hammers can be placed inside and a special javelin rack up top that is unlikely to see produciton on full-scale XC90s. The radio-controlled Volvos are powered by 2 hp electric motors and can ferry four discusses, three javelins or two hammers back to competitors. Though Volvo has no plans to produce them, we're sure some Volvo engineers will have some fun lunch hours after these RC XC90s finish their tour of duty.

[Source: Volvo]

VIDEO: Volvo's RC mini-XC90 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mini volvoMiniVolvoradio controlledRadioControlledRCRC carsRcCarsscale modelscale modelsScaleModelScaleModelsFri, 11 Aug 2006 15:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/653509/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/08/11/video-volvos-rc-mini-xc90/653509/article-detail.xml 653509 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/minivolvo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/minivolvo.jpg -1 2