Revell- TV Tommy Ivo "Showboat" Four-Engine Dragster (Completed 12/29)

[Terminator-Fox]

I love reading build threads whether it be about real car builds or models but I never make build threads. I did a search on here for this car and didn't see much so I thought I would share my build. Just started last night when I couldn't sleep and two on going builds weren't enough haha.

I love anything vintage drag racing and this car is just outlandish. Should be a nice addition.

This is the Revell re-issue Tommy Ivo Four Engine "Showboat" Dragster. The kit is circa '95. I haven't seen a kit that needed so much clean up before. Casting flash everywhere but easy enough to take care of.

In the middle of the night I got all four shortblocks assembled. Intake manifolds painted and started painting the engines today. Will get more pics of my progress as I go.

Thanks for reading.

Edited December 29, 2013 by Terminator-Fox

[Jordan 191]

Building four of the same engine will be an experience!

[Terminator-Fox]

32 injector stacks

[southpier]

i imagine the flash is because the original molds are being used. i remember this kit from the mid - late 60s.

[gtx6970]

I'm in.

I've got this kit on my 'short list' ,,,,,Which is much shorter the 'someday' list .

[Shardik]

If you need reference material, let me know. I've got a Hot Rod magazine with a full feature article on this car and I can scan the relevant pages.

[Terminator-Fox]

That would be great Johann. The directions suck at saying what color should be what. I've been just going off images on the web.

[ChrisBcritter]

Don't forget to check out the movie Bikini Beach for some terrific footage of the Showboat - and crank your speakers when it runs at Pomona; the sound it makes is glorious.

Edited November 17, 2013 by ChrisBcritter

[Terminator-Fox]

Haha, the only clip I could find online. If you know German it helps. But man that car is so bad-ass!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B07ByoCKGso

[Ace-Garageguy]

Cool build. This and Thompson's Challenger are the two kits primarily responsible for me thinking, early on, that Revell was the best model car company on the planet. I'm really looking forward to watching your build of this iconic masterpiece.

[ToyLvr]

Steve:

I have a copy of Ivo's biography, and there's a fair amount of info about the original fabrication of the Showboat.

Feel free to send me a PM if you need any reference info....

Mike

[Terminator-Fox]

Any and all info would be awesome guys! When I was building the short blocks I got overzealous, the oil pans were barely hanging on the sprue so I just took them all off and installed on the engines. Well I didn't pay attention at first and they are all different numbers and they need to be installed on a certain engine for each bank thought I was screwed so I sent Bill (gtx6970) a PM asking if he had the kit and could reference the pans for me and he did. I can't thank him enough. Thanks Bill!!

I really wish all models came molded in white. Would make painting so much easier. Orange always seems like a pain for coverage and getting this lighter orange to cover the darker molded orange is taking quite a few coats but I'll get it done soon enough haha.

I'm working on a 93 Mustang Cobra too at the moment. I have model ADD it seems

[Crazy Ed]

That Monster showed up at San Fernando Drag Strip a couple of times. Lyons wouldn't let him run it there in fear it'd damage the Strip!

[Tanker D]

I saw it later with the Riviera wagon body at OCIR and probably elsewhere. I have this kit, so I'll have to follow your build for when I take a crack at it.

[Terminator-Fox]

Making some progress with the Buicks.

[thebronze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_TDSTNPGzU

[Terminator-Fox]

I've made a lot of progress this week on the car and will get some pics but since the instructions suck and don't specify what color the firewall should be. Does anyone know or have pics? My guess is it's either gonna be black, silver or orange haha

[crazyrichard]

i really wondered how this kit looked inside , almost bought this online .. so gonna follow this one

for the price i could buy it .. hmm is worth the money just for the engines ..

awsome movie btw that this is insane

[Terminator-Fox]

I've got everything painted now except for the body panels. Will be doing that tomorrow. It's nice they include jigs to assemble the headers. All eight are built as well. Here's some not so great progress pics. The engines do look killer though. Did I mention how crappy the instructions are? They just have exploded views and do not specify where a lot of parts go exactly. I guess I'll figure it out I hope.

[jrherald420]

Super cool!!

[Terminator-Fox]

Got the engines coupled together. I'd love to wire them but I don't think that's in my realm of model building at the moment. I did just get back into it. Headers are all built, wheels and tires are assembled. I sanded the tires for a more "used" look. I've started painting the body panels today "Competition Orange"

Thanks for the comments.

[Terminator-Fox]

[John Teresi]

Steve…….Looking good…….your doing a great job ……..this kit is really hard to build.

Edited December 16, 2013 by John Teresi

[Terminator-Fox]

Thanks John, I'm trying. It has been kind of difficult to build but it's getting there. And it's nowhere near the magnitude of awesomeness of your builds!

[cartpix]

Quite an undertaking, to build THIS kit, when you're just getting back "in the game". It took several attempts,for me, until I just did a simple out of the box build. Mine was the Revell chopped Merc. Yours looks great, btw.

Jeff