57 replies to this topic

[Ace-Garageguy]

Starting a new, semi-box-stock build of Mickey Thompson's Challenger One, but in the original, non-supercharged version, without the hood scoops. I think it's a prettier car, and I'll probably be doing it in bare aluminum, as it was first presented to the press, before paint.

I'll be back-dating the body, removing and filling the scoops, replacing the blowers with Hilborn injection, and changing the nose to the earlier configuration.

The real one.....



...and the chassis, so far.



This is a particularly 'challenging' build, keeping everything square and aligned right. I built one when I was a kid and made a horrible mess. Let's see if I can do a little better now.......

Edited by Ace-Garageguy, 22 April 2013 - 01:10 PM.

[cobraman]

Looking forward to watching this on. I built or should I say "tried" to build this many , many years ago. It wasn't pretty. : )

[doggie427]

Great start Bill. This will look fabulous smoothed out and in bare aluminum.
Good luck with a kit that's bound to be challenging.

Add me to the list of kids that attempted this kit and was found lacking in the skills or patience to get it done right. I'll be watching with great interest.

[Lunajammer]

I'm going to guess you've learned a thing or two along the way ( ) so I know you'll do a sweet job. It already looks pretty nice.

[crazyrichard]

ooh yes cool and i can imagine that construction being a challenge
really cool build , something i love to do myself in the future (cars like that)

Edited by crazyrichard, 04 November 2012 - 12:01 AM.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Thanks for the interest. There's a lot to this model. The one I'm building is the re-release before the current re-release, it has some old-tool issues, but I still love this kit.

Got some black SEM self-etching primer on fhe frame. It's a little fragile to take the usual scrub with Comet, but I got lucky and the super hot SEM primer bites this particular plastic just enough for good adhesion, but doesn't craze it. There's some re-work necessary to get the roll-hoop entirely accurate, so that end isn't fully primered.

Edited by Ace-Garageguy, 04 November 2012 - 02:45 AM.

[gtx6970]

I will follow along with this one as well.
I have one in the stash for that sometime in the future build.

[BKcustoms]

I'll be following this one! I have a glue bomb of this kit that's waiting to be restored, maybe this will be the inspiration I need to get it done!

[Dr. Cranky]

Can't wait to see more indeed.

[MachinistMark]

One of my favorite things ever.

[Ira]

GREAT START ON A TUFF KIT!!!

I'll be watching this build...

[doggie427]

A few pics of the '59 car,

Attached Files

•  Mickey-thompson-challenger-bonneville-1959.jpg   91K   108 downloads
•  Mickey-Thompson-Challenger-build-pontiac.jpg   110.88K   128 downloads
•  chall06.jpg   25.5K   120 downloads
•  1254942142_9e97c1b61b.jpg   57.64K   122 downloads
•  DR-1101-MT-02-1.jpg   245.23K   132 downloads
•  Image5small.img_assist_custom.jpg   36.04K   138 downloads
•  hppp_0905_05_z+1959_pontiac_challenger_i+front_view.jpg   134.36K   113 downloads

Edited by doggie427, 04 November 2012 - 10:53 PM.

[doggie427]

And a few more in the bare aluminum finish.

Attached Files

•  chall08.jpg   58.21K   58 downloads
•  chall02.jpg   36.81K   75 downloads
•  chall04.jpg   64.31K   84 downloads
•  chall05.jpg   34.8K   59 downloads

Edited by doggie427, 04 November 2012 - 11:10 PM.

[doggie427]

Bill, do you have a '59 Pontiac push car to finish off the diorama ??

 chall12.jpg   37.79K   32 downloads

Attached Files

•  lastImagesmall.img_assist_custom.jpg   20.48K   30 downloads

Edited by doggie427, 04 November 2012 - 11:14 PM.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Thanks for the pix, Wayne. There are a couple I didn't have and I appreciate it. That mocked-up chain-drive transfer arrangement didn't make it to the running version of the car if I remember correctly. Power went from each engine into a conventional clutch, then into a side-shifter LaSalle gearbox, and from there into a Cyclone quick-change with one axle blanked off (4 clutches, 4 gearboxes and 4 quick-change rear ends). Engine synchronization was by very careful adjustment of hydraulic throttle linkage. And no, I don't have a '59 Pontiac, but I've kinda been watching the glue-bome listings for a starting place.

Edited by Ace-Garageguy, 05 November 2012 - 06:50 AM.

[pharr7226]

Nice start to the project. I didn't know that you could use self-etching primer on plastic without crazing it. Did you use any special application methods to prevent it from crazing?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nice start to the project. I didn't know that you could use self-etching primer on plastic without crazing it. Did you use any special application methods to prevent it from crazing?

I got lucky on this one. I've had some really bad crazing on some plastics, none on others. Two that crazed horribly were the light-gray 38110 AMT '53 Studebaker, a fairly recent Revell '70 Chevelle and a Corvette C5-R. This older Revell Challenger H-1281:200 kit is molded in metallic blue plastic. I sprayed some test sprues VERY wet first with no reaction, and the frame came out just like I wanted it to.

All I can say is be sure to experiment on sprue from the kit you're doing, first.

[doggie427]

Great job as always Bill.
Would this shot be from winter '59/'60 between the two Bonneville sessions ?
Still injected but extra cooling/intake holes around the front wheelhouse.


 hppp_0905_02_z+1959_pontiac_challenger_i+front_view.jpg   110.03K   52 downloads

And maybe you'll have to kitbash a wagon ?

 MICKEY+THOMPSON+DRAGMASTER+copy.jpg   90.34K   47 downloads

Edited by doggie427, 05 November 2012 - 10:44 AM.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I think you're right about those dates. I've also got a shot of Challenger on the cover of Hot Rod (on the salt and still injected) showing it in the very light baby-blue that's on the dragster in your wagon shot. It would have been pretty fine to have lived on that street growing up.

[doggie427]

It would have been pretty fine to have lived on that street growing up.

I think growing up almost anywhere in So.Cal in that period would have been heaven.

Edited by doggie427, 05 November 2012 - 11:10 AM.