Junkman Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'm talking about this kit: Which I assume is the ex-MPC tool, correct? When exactly did it lose the correct front wheels? The front wheels in the kit are these: The correct ones are still shown in the instructions: Any idea which other readily available kit could be bashed for those? Or is there a resin caster who makes them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabrux Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 The recently reissued AMT 1969 GTO funny car has those wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Between the first Buyers' Choice reissue of the Winged Express (with original MPC box art) and the second (pictured) one, the Bantam Blast fuel altered (which shares many parts with the Express) was reissued. Besides the body, another difference was the front wheels. Apparently, someone at Racing Champions didn't put the correct wheel inserts back into the tool for the second Express reissue. When the second Express reissue was a currently available kit, some dealers selling them would provide the correct wheels separately. One other thing: the first Winged Express reissue was authorized by Al Marcellus (Willie Borsch's partner in the 1:1 car) while the second was not. That's why their names aren't on the decal sheet in the second reissue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 13, 2014 Author Share Posted November 13, 2014 You guys are incredible! Thank you so much for this info! I shall track down the first reissue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) There are some other accuracy problems with that kit if you want to do a true model of the (second) M&B car. I forget exactly what they are at the moment but I do recall making some mental notes about some things that will have to be fixed. Edited November 13, 2014 by Snake45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Apparently, someone at Racing Champions didn't put the correct wheel inserts back into the tool for the second Express reissue. What an absolute tosspot. Now I feel better... There are some other accuracy problems with that kit if you want to do a true model of the (second) M&B car. I forget exactly what they are at the moment but I do recall making some mental notes about some things that will have to be fixed. I noticed that, too. In typical MPC fashion, the kit depicts a car that never existed. However, if you want to build a model of the Winged Express, it's the only game in town. Unless you have a better suggestion, that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro norman Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Slixx just rereleased their decals for this kit. Both releases of the kit had " Winged Express " in yellow. On the real car, this lettering was gold leaf. The Slixx decals are gold leaf. The slixx decals also include the white pin striping. Also on this sheet are decals for Borsch's Charger funny car. I have included pics of my favorite version of this car. At one time it did have the spoked front wheels, although they are different from the ones in the kit you spoke of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) So what are the accuracy problems with this kit? I built one already and really did not notice anything really off with it. Edited November 14, 2014 by Daddyfink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro norman Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 This is a great kit. I wish Round 2 would rerelease it. The best thing , to me , is the chassis. You could build a fleet of fuel altered using this chassis under Fiat, Bantams, etc.. I just started a model of the Psycho mustang which used a fuel altered chassis, and I'm using a modified Wild Willy chassis. With some added details, this kit can be a real showstopper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 It all depends on which incarnaton of the car you want to model. It morphed quite a lot during its lifetime. However, the frame is wrong for all manifestations. The first thing I noticed (before I noticed the wheel issue) in the kit, is that the tubes protruding forward are tapered. On the real car, they are parallel. The real car its quite level with the ground, although with coniderable clearance, and the engine was installed with a rake. The model does the opposite. The scoop is wrong for each and every incarnation of the real car. The seat is far from accurate. There are countless other inaccuracies I can make out, too many to list, and maybe even too many to bother. Slixx just rereleased their decals for this kit. Both releases of the kit had " Winged Express " in yellow. On the real car, this lettering was gold leaf. The Slixx decals are gold leaf. The slixx decals also include the white pin striping. Also on this sheet are decals for Borsch's Charger funny car. I have included pics of my favorite version of this car. At one time it did have the spoked front wheels, although they are different from the ones in the kit you spoke of. I could not find the decals on their website today. Could you please give me the link? The wheels supplied with the kit I have are decidedly different from the spoked wheels used temporarily on the real car. They lack the inner row of spokes. Also, the car is much more remembered with what I think were Magnesium front wheels, hence I would prefer to model it with them. I think they are on the current version of the real car as well. I'm a huge fan of the car, and am privileged enough to have met Wild Willie. Contrary to his reputation, he was one of the most soft spoken gentlemen I've ever encountered. What I was most impressed with, is the amount of personal time he was willing to spend with someone just walking up to him and pestering him with questions. If you'd have met him outside the drag racing scene, you would have rather associated him with the SoCal intellectual philosphers and artsy bunch. Mousie was just stoned, in a Tijuana sort of way. The two were just made for each other. They both were really working class, and neither was associated in any way with the automotive trade. They still managed to give the entire professional crowd a bloody good run for their money. I like that. Also, few people know, that Mr Borsch suffered from the rare disease of narcolepsia. On several occasions, this proved life threatening in drag racing, but it couldn't keep him away from the sport. Anyway, I have countless reference pictures of the real car, and the GMP 1/18 scale diecast. I want to build that kit into a model just to prove to myself, what level of a modeller I really am. Also as a hommage to the real car and the men who campaingned it. I will never be able to make a truly accurate replica, my modelling skills are way too mediocre for that. But I'll give my best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagedragcrazy Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Slid offers the replacement wheels on their website I bought several sets last year at nonlinear east the we're like .50 a set and were chrome and some of the best people to deal with ! Vince Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro norman Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 The decals are on the Slixx Home Page. Scroll down and you will see them on the right side of the page, between The Wild Willie 1/16 FC decals and some Bill Grumpy Jenkin's decals. They are listed with the new releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagedragcrazy Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I just checked on slixx for the wheels they are under comp. resins wheels they are the last one on page 2 and they are $1.00 a pair. Vince Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Slid offers the replacement wheels on their website I bought several sets last year at nonlinear east the we're like .50 a set and were chrome and some of the best people to deal with ! Vince Do you have a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 It all depends on which incarnaton of the car you want to model. It morphed quite a lot during its lifetime. However, the frame is wrong for all manifestations. The first thing I noticed (before I noticed the wheel issue) in the kit, is that the tubes protruding forward are tapered. On the real car, they are parallel. The real car its quite level with the ground, although with coniderable clearance, and the engine was installed with a rake. The model does the opposite. The scoop is wrong for each and every incarnation of the real car. The seat is far from accurate. There are countless other inaccuracies I can make out, too many to list, and maybe even too many to bother. I could not find the decals on their website today. Could you please give me the link? The wheels supplied with the kit I have are decidedly different from the spoked wheels used temporarily on the real car. They lack the inner row of spokes. Also, the car is much more remembered with what I think were Magnesium front wheels, hence I would prefer to model it with them. I think they are on the current version of the real car as well. I'm a huge fan of the car, and am privileged enough to have met Wild Willie. Contrary to his reputation, he was one of the most soft spoken gentlemen I've ever encountered. What I was most impressed with, is the amount of personal time he was willing to spend with someone just walking up to him and pestering him with questions. If you'd have met him outside the drag racing scene, you would have rather associated him with the SoCal intellectual philosphers and artsy bunch. Mousie was just stoned, in a Tijuana sort of way. The two were just made for each other. They both were really working class, and neither was associated in any way with the automotive trade. They still managed to give the entire professional crowd a bloody good run for their money. I like that. Also, few people know, that Mr Borsch suffered from the rare disease of narcolepsia. On several occasions, this proved life threatening in drag racing, but it couldn't keep him away from the sport. Anyway, I have countless reference pictures of the real car, and the GMP 1/18 scale diecast. I want to build that kit into a model just to prove to myself, what level of a modeller I really am. Also as a hommage to the real car and the men who campaingned it. I will never be able to make a truly accurate replica, my modelling skills are way too mediocre for that. But I'll give my best. I am assuming you are talking about the Logghe Chassis car and not the first one that ended up in the Bakersfield land fill, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I just started a model of the Psycho mustang which used a fuel altered chassis, and I'm using a modified Wild Willy chassis. With some added details, this kit can be a real showstopper. Yeah, but the Wild Willy Chassis is one, maybe two or three generations down the line from the one under the Psycho. I think I have an old R&C magazine that has a feature on the original Fiat Altered that the Psycho was based on. I'll see if I can find it if you're interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I am assuming you are talking about the Logghe Chassis car and not the first one that ended up in the Bakersfield land fill, right? You mean this one? (I scratchbuilt this around 1969 or 1970). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Never mind, I just made Slixx rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 I am assuming you are talking about the Logghe Chassis car and not the first one that ended up in the Bakersfield land fill, right? I'd prefer the one that ended up in the Bakersfield land fill. Alas, I might manage not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Sikora II Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 You mean this one? (I scratchbuilt this around 1969 or 1970). Cool build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro norman Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Yea, that would be great . Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) The original car is probably the most documented car of the two. This was the original chassis that was run to its limits until the last crash that knocked it out of action. The second car, the Logghe Chassis car, was put together after they wrecked the first car, is the one the model is based on and is a totally different animal. But, there was only one Willie Borsch Edited November 14, 2014 by Daddyfink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 That scratchbuilt one is flippin' ace, Mr Mesner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Other than the wing, how much different is this kit to the Fiat in the Double Dragster kit using a Part Pack "T" body? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil55 Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 was the driver figure released in those kits ? or is it an aftermarket item? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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