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43rd and More - Kit reviews by Wayne Moyer |
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43rd and More - Kit reviews by Wayne Moyer |
Showcase Review: 1936 Stout Scarab by Brooklin by Wayne E. Moyer
Picture this; a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle with seats for seven people, aircraft-style semi-monocoque construction, plenty of space to walk from the front to the rear seats and a fold-down table for food or fun. No, not a Volkswagen Bus, a 1936 Stout Scarab! Unfortunately, only a test "mule", one all-steel prototype, and a pair of "pre-production" Scarabs were built before work on William "Bill" Stout's "living room on wheels" ceased but, engine location aside, the Stout Scarab was what we all know as the Minivan, just 50 years ahead of its time.
The first Scarab (the "mule") was built from aluminum and there were significant differences between the second prototype and the pair that followed it. Brooklin Models' latest factory-built white-metal model is an exact miniature of that second prototype. Its big but highly detailed body has lots of relief detail, but no mold lines or blemishes of any other kind and the smooth, glossy metallic blue finish matches the color photo of the real Scarab that's on the cover of Special Interest Autos June 1991 issue.
The bumpers, hubcaps, lights, rocker panel moldings, and big art-deco rear trim casting are all brightly chrome plated and the taillight lenses have neatly been painted with translucent red. Of all the remaining relief-cast detail, only the lower body "spear" and the strips on the fender skirts should be "plated" with Bare-Metal. Everything else, including he window surrounds and the stylized Scarab "mustache" on the nose (actually air intake louvers) was painted on the full-scale vehicle.
Inside, the dashboard is painted semi-gloss light gray while the "upholstery" is a matte medium blue. The layout of the relief-cast gauges and switches is correct; faces should be white for those wanting to add additional detail. The driver's seat and rear bench were fixed but the other two seats could be positioned anyplace in the interior so Brooklin's arrangement with one beside the folded-down table is quite correct.
Other authentic details include the single door up front on the left side and larger single door at the right rear, the "reversed" engine with the transmission up front (power was taken back to the rear axle by a pair of chains) and the a-arm front and trailing-arm rear suspension. Brooklin put a lot of research into this model and it really shows. Both the overall lines and all those details match photos and the scale drawing in SIA very well (I think I know one of Brooklin's references!) and every dimension is within 0.05 inches (usually less) of perfect 1/43 scale.
This is a model of a very unusual American car and it's an excellent one. Brooklin's Stout Scarab (BRK-78) retails for about $73.00; contact Brasilia Press. P.O. Box 2023, Elkhart, IN 46515 (FAX: 219/262-8799) for the location of shops near you that stock this gem.
Contact Wayne at mailto:wmoyer@infinet.com
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