If you’re a fan of iconic movie vehicles and high-level craftsmanship, the latest video from Building on a Budget Models is an absolute treat! This detailed guide takes us through the process of recreating a recognizable "villain" vehicle: the 1986 Dodge Ram Van used by Harry and Marv (the Wet Bandits) in the holiday classic Home Alone.
The Base Build
Starting with a 1982 Dodge van kit from MPC in 1/25 scale, the builder meticulously bridges the gap between the kit and the screen-accurate '86 model. The review of the base kit is honest, noting that while the general shape is perfect, some sanding of old badging and mold seams is required to get that smooth, authentic look. As they pointed out these vans remained unchanged throughout the model run.
Attention to Screen Accuracy
We're very impressed with the dedication to the small details:
Custom Decals: The builder created and applied custom "OH-KAY Plumbing & Heating" decals, even noting that the logos differ slightly on each side of the van—a detail only a true fan would catch!.
The "Easter Eggs": In a brilliant nod to the film’s plot, the builder added tiny snow globes to the dashboard, just like the ones Marv steals throughout the movie.
Resourceful Engineering: True to the channel’s name, the builder uses everyday items like coffee stirrers for wooden planks and hair ties as bungee cords to secure the roof rack gear.
Finishing Touches
The weathering process is where this model truly comes to life. By masking the windshield to create a "wiper pattern" and applying sand and mud effects, the builder perfectly captures the shabby, salt-stained look of a Chicago winter.
Final Verdict
Whether you’re a modeler or just a lover of TV and movie cars, this video is a masterclass in how to turn a standard kit into a piece of cinematic history. It’s a nostalgic, technical, and highly satisfying watch that perfectly captures the spirit of the film.
This week we came across a very interesting piece of fan created art. fabio.becce23 over on Maker World has created some 3D printed keychain hangers of the rear ends of cars from movies. So far they have created the BTTF DeLorean, Batmobile and Lightning McQueen. I think any of these would make a great addition to an office or rec room. I always enjoy seeing folks put stuff like this together. Be sure to give them a boost or like over on Maker World. Till next time.. The future is what you make it. So make it a good one.
What's up, gearheads and gamers? Every time you boot up an old classic like Need for Speed Underground 2, you probably spend a moment wishing you could port that glorious, neon-tinged aesthetic right into your actual ride. Ok, when was the last time you played NFS:U2? If you're a retro gamer like me, not long ago. But that custom UI, the slick neon glow... and of course, the iconic mini-map. Is still burned into our minds.
Well, one dedicated creator on YouTube, Garage Tinkering, just made that fantasy a real-world mod. In his latest video, "I Built a Real Mini Map from Need for Speed," he tackles a challenge everyone told him was impossible: building a functional, real-time mini-map styled exactly like NFS:U2's on a low-power ESP32 microcontroller with a screen. Unit sits on his dashboard like a in game GPS. And spoilers: it worked. Check it out below!
David Freiburger is one of our heroes. If you haven't heard of him. He has an amazing career. Including working for Hot Rod Magazine, co-host of several success series on YouTube and the former MotorTrend TV. Lately he's been giving us a glimpse of the car culture he grew up with in the 1980s on his YouTube channel. If you're a fan of car stories and hot rod pictures from the 80's then you're in for a treat! Not to spoil anything, but one of his friends had a movie car! Watch the video to see what it was! See ya!
Have you ever wondered what certain movie car mash ups would look like? Now you can with the power of AI! The image above was generated using Google Gemini with a simple prompt (see below). I shared this image with friends and we've already been coming up with fun dialog for a Smokey and the Bandit/Back to the Future mashup. All in good fun of course. So what's a prompt you may ask? A prompt is a set of instructions to give the AI for which movies to use and what cars to mash up. I've only tested the following prompt with Google Gemini but it may work for other AI models. Enjoy!
Prompt: Draw a picture mashing up two cars from the movie Back the Future and Smokey and the Bandit. Use the DeLorean from Back to the Future and the black Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit.
* Generated using Google Gemini