SPA Modeler

After some long marathon sessions as shown in the Maddog Manufacturing thread; I was able to finally complete a model I've wanted since I was nine years old. It's not perfect, but it's mine and it's done! I present to you this model of the Budweiser Clydesdale Eight Horse Hitch:





Closeup of the wagon itself:



The base of this model is close to 32" long, it is a very long model. I have it on temporary display at my Church's Christmas Festival in their Tavern; after all, a tavern needs a beer wagon doesn't it? Later it might take up permanent residence at the Knights of Columbus hall where we hold our Hobby Days behind their bar since I don't really have room for it at home unfortunately.


Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome.

GODAMMIT, DUKE!!! I’ve been looking for years for that kit.

Here’s the back story why….

I was around 10, 11, or 12 years old at the time when I built it. Got it for Christmas or my birthday (can’t remember which). Spent a good two weeks building it. Anyway, I finally got it done and there was a shelving space in the DR/LR (open concept space in a bungalow home back then) and that’s where it sat on display until…..

One day, I returned home from school one day, I found it on my bed, broken. Naturally, I was upset and asked what the hell happened. My mom was a housewife and a stay at home mom - a normal thing during the 70s - and did housework everyday. She decided that shelf where the Clydesdale Budweiser wagon train kit sat needed dusting. Yup…. you know where is is going. She dropped it…. on the hardwood floor, broken in pieces.

I was so upset, I wouldn’t speak to mom for two weeks. Even my dad noticed I was mad at mom. Nothing could could save it. I fixed what I could but it wasn’t the same at all. Eventually, I ended up ditching it. How I loved that kit.

Fast forward as the years gone by and by then, I had been married a few years and I had rekindled the flames of this great hobby again. I’ve been searching for the same kit. I did find one at an antique thrift store and inspected the contents inside a bad condition box. Everything was there, except for a couple of key gold chrome parts - sides for the mouth bits to the Clydesdale horses. Seller was asking $40, offered me $30. Turned it down because it was missing a couple parts and noticed there were a couple broken parts in the box upon further inspection. Seller even dropped the offer down to $20. I still turned it down. I thanked the seller and walked out.

Yes, I am still looking for another, but I won’t pay stupid money for it on eBay. I’ll keep searching and hopefully one day, I’ll find it again. Heck… I’m still hunting for some key vintage kits of my youth to this day. I’ve acquired a few but there are some really desirable ones I really love to get my hands on them again…. Smokey the Convoy Chaser, Force 440, Jacque Cousteau Reseach boat, Dodge 4x4 Camper with dirt bike and a few others. All are hard to find or expensive today.


Duke, you’ve done good on that Clydesdale Budweiser Beer Wagon Train kit. It does bring back fond memories of my youth building that kit despite what had happened. Well done, Mark!!

Wow! That's really impressive!

Beautiful work Mark! That is a true classic that you finished here, and you did it true justice! Do they make one in 1:72?

Thank you Bruce! I'm so thrilled that it is done!

Wow Tom, that's quite the story and a sad one at that! I'm so sorry that your mom did that. This kit for me came in a badly beat up box as well. As I recall, it was sold by a vendor at one of our model shows and contests. I can't remember if it was Orangecon or San Diego Model Expo. Guy sold it to me for $20.00, and even though some parts were loose, they were all sealed in the bags. After seeing all the vinyl parts,k it took me quiet some time to get the courage up to build it. Seeing the real thing at the Rose Bowl Parade that my nephew was marching in sparked the desire to get this done. And now I'm going to give you another reason to hate me: I built the Jacques Cousteau Research boat about a decade ago, and it's been sitting on my shelf for all that time. He was another one I followed religiously; I watched all his shows. Thank you for the compliments on this and I'm glad I could renew some good childhood memories!

Thank you Mike!

Thank you Carlos! That means a lot to me coming from you! No they don't make this in 1/72 scale. In a way I'm glad; I don't know how I would add the reins and chains to a 1/72 scale kit!

LOL @ Duke. No reason for me to be mad that you've done the Jacque Cousteau Research ship. Calypso boat is very hard to find and if found, they want stupid money for them. $20 for the Budweiser kit is a steal. At least yours had parts in plastic baggies. Im hoping by sheer luck I'll find one at one of two antique stores I usually frequent at 2 or 3 times a year. Will head out to my favorite Oneida antique mall in January 2026.

Thank you Bruce!

Thank you Tom! I highly encourage you to keep looking. As I tend to go to a number of model shows and contests here, I have more access to some of these rare kits. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you.