ScaleDale

This from that match race with one of the Johnsons? Warren, I think. Dale (Nice pics)

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I had my eye "procedure" yesterday and should be back in the shop tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can dig up the odds and ends I need to finish the engine like the oil system and radiator. I have headers ready but I need to test fit them. You know how that can go... The good news is that the drive shaft fits! Dale

I've been tied up in the details of this project so I thought I should get an update posted. The chassis is in the clean up and detail stage and I finished the suspension and got it all installed. The front end is from Future Attraction as is the 4 Link and 9 Inch Ford rear end. The front wheels I am using are flat on the inside and I had to pop the outside half of the calipers off to get them to fit. The back fit with everything intact. The pins sticking out of the front struts will be trimmed off when the time comes for that. They hold things together. I decided to make my own rack and pinion steering from styrene rod and steel tubing from RB Motion. It turned out OK. The interior is a mish mash of stuff from the parts box. It needs to be touched up but is in pretty good shape. I decided to leave the pedals and Lenco shifter factory chrome because they are so small that they tend to get lost in the chrome stripping and painting process, The body is still in the sand, fill and repeat stage. Every time I think I can paint I find another flaw that needs two days work or more. I found the hood lines distracting and filled them with epoxy putty. Here are the updated chassis pics. I have another eye appointment tomorrow but shouldn't be out of the loop for more than a day. See you all soon and thanks for tuning in. Dale

I got frustrated with on-line calculators and just learned the mm to inch formula. mm x 0.03937 = inches. inches / 0.03937 = mm. I remember it with the memory device "The magic number is 3937". Dale

What scale is this? That's a lot of interior detail to do in 1:24 or 1:25 scale. Amazing build. Send pics to Jegs. No kidding. They'd dig it. competition resins body? Dale

Mike: Thanks. The Chevy II entries were older than 69. The Novas I found on other entry lists were 69. Now it makes sense. Some guys just say "69 Chevy" on race entries. No class. dale

Based on this Wiki article the Chevy II and Nova are essentially the same body, correct? I see them at the track and they look the same then the PA guy calls them one or the other. The entry list for the NHRA race in Pennsylvania in October is filled for the Stock and Super Stock categories where you would find these cars. The Chevy IIs entered all run 327 motors. One of the great things about drag racing is how it is a rolling museum of muscle cars. Fully functional ones, too. Dale

Every gas station I pull into has a No Smoking Turn Off Your Engine sign. I've never seen either of these activities blow up a gas station outside of the movies but I have no interest in pressing the issue. It's common sense. Dale

I really do appreciate this. I'd like to see Pro Stock as Super Stock with no engine limits. The modern version is getting too far from what drives down the street. Kind of like the WWF or whatever it is today of drag racing. The door cars that run in Competition Eliminator and the Top Sportsman cars are way more fun to watch than PS. Dale

Nice job! I love those Pro Sportsman chassis. I hack the &^%$*&^^ out of them all the time! Nice motors and oiling systems, too. Dale

I do something similar to this but I epoxy the straw to the nozzle. It's more foolproof. I empty the whole can into a glass jar and it keeps just fine. Dale

Just to keep things clear here, I'm not trying to be a spoiler. I know what is required to build an accurate modern chassis for these Pro stock / Pro Mod builds and it isn't a small task. I'd like to see this project become a commercial success for Scott, and for that to happen it would need to expand it's audience beyond us scratch builders. Threads like this draw a lot attention from builders who would love a kit like this but just can't get past the chassis and that bugs me. It's all on the model industry to bring some of their stock up to date. A single modern Pro Stock Dodge Avenger and Chevy Camaro casting could be marketed by Revell as a dozen different kits and the chassis would fit this body to a T. The same goes for Pro Mod and rear engine dragsters. I just had to get that off my chest. Carry on... Dale

In 2000 I bought a camera body (film) off Ebay. That was the first and only thing I bought from them. I just prefer stores I can walk in. Dale

Competition Resins has a bunch of nice valve covers. I like their Late Model Pro Stock set. They are like the ones on BB Chevy motors and are blank. They have a link over in the resin and aftermarket forum. Dale

Excellent work on body styling. Is this going to be cast one piece or two with the front clip removed? If one piece, how would I go about cutting it in resin? What's your plan for the signature hood scoop? On the 1:1 the scoop is a hat that seals to the top of the carbs and the front clip has a notch that slides over it. That's the only remaining piece of the puzzle that I can see at this point. It's $85,000 if you're interested... The Glidden chassis sounds OK and the Chevy and Ford Top Sportsman kits have nice frames, but there isn't anything on the market that has a contemporary Bickel or Alston style chassis like you find in these Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Top Sportsman cars out at the strip. Dale

I've prepared a PM reply several times with an attachment and every time I preview it I mess something up and close the window, trashing the post. The poor guy must think I'm a jerk. Dale

Don't try Cranky Welds with anything more powerful than a battery operated soldering tool. take this from experience. The Milliput idea sounds great! Another use for that stuff. Thanks! Dale

Back in the art section of Michaels you will find sheet Duck Tape. - That isn't a typo or joke - Ask if you can't find it. It comes in colors and patterns and you might be able to replicate that rubberized stuff they put on garage floors. Dale

Is that what the big tiff between John and Tony was in the Indy video they showed last weekend? It was during an interview with Courtney. John and Tony were really going at each other. By the way, Tony Pedregon never gets the credit he deserves. He's quite an artist and even did the helmet art for JF. Dale

Scott: Is this a casting master only or are you going to move to a completed model? If so, what are you going to base it off of chassis and motor wise? It will sell best if you can recommend a donor kit for the chassis. EDIT: Will your 4 link and 9 inch Ford fit in there? Dale

Another vote for the Iwata Eclipse. If you're going to airbrush, put the money into a good one. You won't regret it. The Harder and Steenbeck mentioned includes a 0.15 needle that you could probably pin stripe a 1:25 with if you wanted to. Dale

They don't get a lot of press, but Al Anabi runs an Alcohol Funny Car. Frank Manzo won at Brainard in Minnesota. EDIT: Add the Indy Nationals to that list. Dale

Clear as a bell. You should append this to the reference thread that Moodeyes started since a/n is mentioned with fitting sizes. Dale

I looked at all of the Mohegan Sun cars and the orange 49 was my favorite. It's the inspiration for this build and the paint scheme. The Willys is an awesome car. Paul is a lucky guy to drive such a wild car. There are photos online of the crew doing the starting line routine in Native headdresses and garb. Was that a regular thing? Dale

This is where the body stands as we speak. I opened the front like the Mustang and got some scratches for my effort. That required more filler and sanding that isn't finished yet. I changed my mind in mid stream while cutting the front, actually the Merc did it for me. When I got to the hood line I intended to cut above the window line and remove the entire front but the hood line that I had puttied over magically reappeared so I decided to follow it instead. It worked OK but left me with the half cut marks in front of the window post that keep coming back after priming. More putty needed here. I may do this area in front of the window in a flat black to mask it off it it won't go away. This is the chassis fit. With the engine in place and the front end removed it looks like this. Enjoy your holiday weekend! Dale