Mr.Gasser was the very first Roth "Fink" ever released. He is and has always been one of my personal favorites. There are two models in the Fink line that are just "right." The first is  Rat Fink, the other model that just "has it" is this guy, Mr Gasser. The unbridled joy in this fellas'  face tells you what rodding is all about.   Mr Gasser was released in Mexico as "Mr Smog ".  He was also released in Japan as "Ge Ge."   In 1970 he  was  stripped of all his Roth connections  and sold by Revell as "Heavy Head."

MR GASSER   Builtup, Original 1963 release (top) , 1990 release (right) new 2001 re-release (left)

"Drag Nut" was released in 1963. In part the name was a take-off on a TV show of the day called "Dragnet" , a really, really dopey cop show that was wildly popular. If you think TV sucks now, you shoulda... oh, there I go reminiscing again !.    While Drag Nut isnt one of my favorites, it comes with the coolest little 2 inch Rat Fink. This little guy is awesome and you can use him in lotsa other car and diorama building projects.   He was released as "Ga Ga" in Japan, and in the 70's he was de-Rothed and released as "Korporal Amerika".. If this wasn't bad enough, they had the bal....er.. nerve to rename the little Rat Fink and call him "road freak"

The second Fink Relase was "Mother's Worry." Back in the days when my allowance was $2.00 a week,  I could buy a monster model and some jars of Testors paint, a tube of glue, and still have a little bit left over to give to the soda jerk at Bernies Drug for a cherry coke. Man , Those were the days !!   Huh? You dont remember when drugstores sold model cars?   Mothers worry is a fun fella to build.. and he comes with a "Bulletproof Fly" - a very accurately scaled housefly . Ed always had this thing about flies.   Roth was really rakin' it in back in 63, and it seemed like he and Revell could do no wrong.   In 1970 , Mothers Worry was released in Japan as "Zu Zu" and sold here in the US as "Shift Kicker" without any mention of Ed. Eventually, Ed and Revell patched up their differences, and Mothers Worry was re-released in 1996 with enhanced Roth boxart.

RAT FINK The picture shows a builtup, an original release   (lower left- 70 cents ). A 1990 release with new boxart (upper right) a 1999 release (lower right) and the 2001 release with commemorative patch (upper left)

DRAG NUT The photo shows a builtup,  an original 1963 release on the left and a 1995 re-issue on the right

MOTHERS WORRY The photo shows a builtup, the 1963 release (left) and the 1996 release (right) .

.. This is Brother Rat Fink on a Bike.. Ed Roth wasn't real fond of this model, but every biker I know wants to buy, beg,  or steal this guy from me..   This model has never been re-released, and many speculate that Revell no longer has the mold. I've asked several folks over there if thats the case, and never get a real answer.   In the Dec/Jan 2002 Modelers Resource Magazine there is an excellent article by a fellow that modified and restored one of these - lotsa photos, etc..AWESOME !   Brother Rat Fink was released in 1964... Oh yeah, This bad boys'  arms and hands are articulated.. Brother Rat Fink was released in Japan as "Gi Gi" and released stateside in 1970 without Roth markings as "Sleazy Rider".

BROTHER RAT FINK ON A BIKE Builtup and the 1964 release

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

">

TAKE ME TO THE NEXT PAGE

Most folks think that the Rat Fink model was the very first Fink released by Revell. The Rat Fink model was however the fourth release . I was 14 then and Rat Fink was a BIG DEAL !!!   There are as many stories about the origin of Ratfink as there are storywriters. The one by Ed Newton ( In the 2002 Dec /Jan Modelers Resource Magazine) is the most correct one I have seen.   The term RF was used on the Tonight Show repeatedly by its host. ( For you young uns, there was even a host before Johnny Carson) There was a movie called  RAT FINK , and the term had a specific meaning before Roth painted it on Finky's coveralls. Wearing a RF t-shirt in the 60's was the equivalent of the "Big Johnson" shirts today. Everyone knew it had a double meaning, but if pressed on the subject you could just say "Waddaya mean? what does it stand for?, and the person asking the question was now on the spot. .  But ya know what? Today the letters RF stand for "Rat Fink" in most everyones mind. Heres a case where Ed's little character outlived the original and long forgotten meaning.

MR GASSER

MOTHERS WORRY

DRAG NUT

RAT FINK

BROTHER RAT FINK