TooOld Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I'm sure some of you have seen this test shot from Atlantis but for those that haven't . . . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 That's kinda cool! Put me down for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 They say they are working on the box art and decals for a couple different versions including the "American" dragster which is what Monogram based the original kit on . It will be molded in white and release is scheduled for September 2021 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 It's been so long since I've seen that style of dragster that I'd almost forgotten they existed. Thanks for sharing this, I'll have to keep an eye out for this one. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Atlantis is doing such good work with these old kits - its so cool to see this stuff come around again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 1/24 or 1/32? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64Comet404 Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 5 hours ago, alexis said: 1/24 or 1/32? 1:24 scale. The majority of the Monogram Forty Niners were in 1:32 scale, but the dragster was one of two kits that were produced in a larger scale (the Austin-Healey Sprite scaled out closer to 1:26, IIRC). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Thanks, Ken. Other than the Filled Blower Scoop, a nifty car. And that Blower Scoop is 5 minutes with an X-acto knife from being open! I can wait to see if Atlantis does more than re-pop the original decal sheet. If not, you can always use the extras from the Revell Slingster or AMT Double Drag kit. Both have huge decal sheets with lots of extras. Added. It will look great next to a Slingster kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarryR Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 5 hours ago, alexis said: I can wait to see if Atlantis does more than re-pop the original decal sheet. If not, you can always use the extras from the Revell Slingster or AMT Double Drag kit. Both have huge decal sheets with lots of extras. According to an email from Atlantis: "Below is a test shot shot of the Monogram 1/24 Dragster. It went together great as most Monogram kits do. We are working on some artwork and decals for at least 2 versions. One will be the Californian which the kit was originally based on. The kit will be molded in white!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 It was mentioned in another thread that it scales closer to 1/25, so the Mooneyes kit might be just the thing for upgrading the detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Marischal Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Would love to get hold of one but doubt it will ever appear in UK outlets. Ordering from the US is possible but shipping would be costly. steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Some years back, I used parts from this kit to scratch-bash a '50s style "slingshot" dragster... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 (edited) Here are the instruction sheet and an original(?) Monogram release, both of which should provide a good idea of the parts breakdown: https://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/247/monogram-p411-dragster Edited July 16, 2021 by Casey 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldscool Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 After seeing the parts breakdown it's just too toylike for me but i am digging that blue plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Marischal Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Each to their own, but that is just the sort of kit I like to build. steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 (edited) Atlantis refers to the dragster that Monogram originally patterned this kit, "The Californian", owned by Manuel Gonzalez and built for him by a virtual who's who of SoCal race car and hot rod craftsmen in 1959. Allen "Lefty" Mudersbach, a legendary dragster driver and mechanic of the front-engine era, did the chassis, Bob Sorrell, known for his Indy car and dragster tin work, fashioned the aluminum body and Dean Jeffries did the sharp Pearl White and Candy Red paint. It was definitely state of the art at the time. From the test shot it's apparent that Monogram actually did a fine job of capturing the original, even if it breaks all the rules of modern kit design (two-piece motor from pan to blower, plastic two-piece whells, free-floating roll cage, etc.). It should respond well to modern modeling techniques and kit-bashing. I'm curious to know what made them decide to do a "historical" version in addition to a re-issue. If they capture that Jeffries paint job with their box art and decals it should definitely help sales. Here are some pics of The Californian: Edited July 16, 2021 by Bernard Kron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Eh? Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Bernard, thank you very much for your post. I appreciate the history provided and the pictures. This will probably convince me to get two kits. One as straight from the box build, and one with some additions to make it resemble the Californian. I really appreciate what Atlantis is doing both with this kit and the Mooneyes kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 On 7/13/2021 at 5:10 PM, alexis said: Thanks, Ken. Other than the Filled Blower Scoop, a nifty car. And that Blower Scoop is 5 minutes with an X-acto knife from being open! I can wait to see if Atlantis does more than re-pop the original decal sheet. If not, you can always use the extras from the Revell Slingster or AMT Double Drag kit. Both have huge decal sheets with lots of extras. Added. It will look great next to a Slingster kit. Atlantis said on Twitter that it will be in white plastic and decals will be multi versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Eh? Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 2 minutes ago, Dave Van said: Atlantis said on Twitter that it will be in white plastic and decals will be multi versions. "...multi version." That is great news. I'm wondering if one of those versions might be the Californian. Or would that be going into copyright territory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Yeah I remember these old dragsters from back in the day. They would smoke the tires half way down the track. Nice looking kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Yeah, I look forward to this kit. There is a certain 'Jaunty Attitude' to these old Monogram kits. Revell may have had better details, but somehow the Monogram kits captured the "Animal Spirit" better in many cases. The embody what the Late Sir Thomas Sopwith (yes 'that' Sopwith, of Camel fame) said about Airplane Design. "If it looks Right, it Flies Right". Monogram kits often captured the essence or 'soul' of a particular subject, better than other companies. Part of their early success, I have no doubt. Even 50/60 years ago there were two kinds of modelers. The AMS Detail Builders and the It Just Looks Right to Me Builders. Revell and Monogram appealed to similar but sometimes different tastes. This kit will appeal more to the IJLRtM guys, I think. It and the new (Okay, Semi-new) R/M Slingster should look about perfect displayed Side by Side........... I cannot wait to see some of these kits built. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ambrose Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 These are great kits for people new to the hobby. Low parts count lets them focus on painting and all the other stuff that's now embedded itself into our lizard-brains and never enters our consciousness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 I was looking at the parts in the blue plastic original issue kit trying to figure out what made the Atlantis test shot look as good as it did. Monogram got the chassis details of the Californian pretty right, especially the side rails, hairpins and tie rod. The upper half of the motor is pretty good too. In uniform gray plastic and and photographed at an angle where the rudimentary front axle doesn't show so much, it all looks pretty darn good. The bodywork is "incorrect" compared to The Californian, with the weird vertically extended rear section and the roll over bar brace mounted outside the body shell. Despite this I think if you wanted to make a full detail, accurate replica of The Californian this kit gives you plenty to work with. The chassis could be extended and completed using the supplied frame rails without too much trouble, and even reshaping the body, since it mainly involves tucking it under, is quite doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldscool Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 It would be a good base for a more detailed build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 On 7/16/2021 at 5:15 PM, Bernard Kron said: Atlantis refers to the dragster that Monogram originally patterned this kit, "The Californian", owned by Manuel Gonzalez and built for him by a virtual who's who of SoCal race car and hot rod craftsmen in 1959. Allen "Lefty" Mudersbach, a legendary dragster driver and mechanic of the front-engine era, did the chassis, Bob Sorrell, known for his Indy car and dragster tin work, fashioned the aluminum body and Dean Jeffries did the sharp Pearl White and Candy Red paint. It was definitely state of the art at the time. From the test shot it's apparent that Monogram actually did a fine job of capturing the original, even if it breaks all the rules of modern kit design (two-piece motor from pan to blower, plastic two-piece whells, free-floating roll cage, etc.). It should respond well to modern modeling techniques and kit-bashing. I'm curious to know what made them decide to do a "historical" version in addition to a re-issue. If they capture that Jeffries paint job with their box art and decals it should definitely help sales. Here are some pics of The Californian: Thanks for the history on this, Bernard. You have to know that one of these will find its way to my display case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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