Straightliner59

I am assuming that you are looking to replicate the look of this classic style steering wheel cover. If that assumption is correct, I would begin with a thin strip cut from a black plastic trash bag, that is long enough to completely encircle the outer diameter of the rim, and wide enough to "encase" the wheel rim (as you can see, if it is a little narrow, no big deal, because the inner edges, weren't always completely closed up, on the inner diameter of the rim--a touch that I think would add an element of realism to the project. Also, the inner edges didn't always remain uniform, as they traversed the rim, due to the torque applied by hands, through use, causing the cover to slip--I've used more than one of these things!). I'd use some small diameter armature wire, for the lacing, because I've seen some of that as small as about .005", which is 1/8" in 1/25th scale, which isn't much out of scale, at all. Begin applying the wrap by gluing the bag plastic flat, along the entire outer diameter of the wheel, then roll the edges "down" and around the entire wheel. Finally, wrap the armature wire, to replicate the lacing. As someone else mentioned, ignore the perforation, as it would be negligible in 1/25th scale. If I can find a bit of black trash bag plastic, I'll show you what I'm thinking.

I've attempted to build a bellypanned A-bone a couple of times, and so far haven't been happy enough with the results to continue. Next try, I'll employ your technique. Looking good, Bernard!

Hahaha! Nice one, Jesse! How ya' been?

Thanks, Rob.

Nice work, Rob! Where are the tires and wheels from?

It may not look like much, but, this scoop is the culmination of years of study and practice, and hours of cutting, annealing, forming over a hand carved wood buck, re-annealing, forming, hammering, filing the tong on my miniature anvil to a custom shape to form the end of the scoop, and filing, sanding and polishing, until I achieved this little gem! It's just about an inch long, and I am damned proud of it!grin

I'm way into dragster history! Definitely my favorite subjects to model.

Yes, Glenn, mine was too! Thanks for the kind words! Love the shot of the Magicar in your avatar.

This is an old Monogram kit I built about 30 years ago, I think. The color scheme is based on a hot rod in one of Henry Gregor Felsen's books (Hot Rod, Street Rod--not sure which, now.). The book's car was a pink coupe with copper colored wire wheels. The paint is a layered combination of Gunze acrylics and some pearl powder that a group of us shared from an auto paint supply store. I displayed it at GSL, back in the '80s, at some point. Mark Gustavson told me that, had I entered it, I'd have won Best Paint, that year. Live and learn, I reckon!

A couple more shots of the tach. I need to remember how to make the "Macro" setting work on this camera, again!

The interior with rollbar installed.

A small update...I made a scoop from .005" aluminum flashing it still needs a bit of tweaking, to achieve a perfect fit. The interior is slowly coming along, but nearing completion. I also turned a tach on the lathe, and discovered that there isn't enough room to install it on the dash, so I won't be using it. I'll find a place for it, some day!

Hank Borger was probably my biggest early influence. All the guys you mentioned are very important to the history of our hobby, for sure!

He's also quite a character! If you've ever had a chance to "hang" with him for a while, you know just how entertaining he can be. Keeler and Tom West were the men behind the Aurora Racing Scenes kits, as well. Jim Keeler is truly an icon, in our hobby!

I hope this is cool with the Moderators! It shouldn't be a problem, since the publication it's from is the long, long defunct Car Model Magazine. For those of you interested in building Revell's Hawaiian FC, these resources should help you, tremendously. I used to have it available through a website, but, since it's no longer online, I thought I'd share it, here. Hope some of you can use it! Obviously, some of this stuff applies to dragsters and altereds, as well. There is obviously the color scan, but, also beneath that is the PDF file of Jim Keeler's entire article. SnakePit.pdf

Of course, they do, Walt! You're ready to match race the Cox Pinto. I've always liked Gremlins. Nice build, sir!

Excellent, Bernard! Love the rolling stock! The headlight location is great, too!

Thanks, Glenn! I like the stance of yours, as well. LOVE the tire/wheel combo! Here's one I built years, when I had a crappy camera! It would be fun to see how many ways this little gem of a kit could be interpreted!

Time for an update on the '34. The seat is covered and painted. The rollbar is assembled--it needs a bit of cleanup, then is ready for paint. Once the interior is buttoned up, I can paint the ceiling and install acetate windows, before closing up the body/floor pan unit. After that, I can finish making, and install the shocks, pittman arm and drag link and the radius rods, which will put this project very close to finished.

I love those old R&D Unique plugs! I still have a few left, but, probably not enough to do more than one eight cylinder engine, if that. Wish I'd bought more of them!

I am really enjoying this thread. Very nice work on a very interesting subject (old mechanical stuff!).

Here are a few shots of the interior, as it progresses. The seat has been padded with the last I had of those old, foam dryer sheets. Guess I;ll have to find something else to use, going forward! Also visible is the HydroStick shifter unit, and the holes drilled in the spokes of the steering wheel. Next, I'll cover the seat with kitchen parchment dipped in diluted white glue...

"Chassis" is the only way to describe this assembly, even though the majority of the chassis is molded to the floor section.grin I've always loved things that are utilitarian. That's probably why I gravitate so much toward dragsters--especially earlier ones. I much prefer paint to chrome. Given a choice between the "California Charger", and, "The Bug"...well, I built a replica of the latter! I actually raised this one, a couple of inches.

The finished wheels and tires are now permanently mounted to the "chassis" Just a few minor details left, on this, then, I can finish the interior.

Thanks, Bernard! I'm an admirer of your work, as well. I am just referring to this as a "slumpbuster". The Thursday before last, I went to a hobby shop, specifically seeking this kit, because it does lend itself, so well, to exercises like this one. It's the same with those very early Monogram kits. I've always enjoyed building curbside models. It's fun to create enough items of visual interest to make a simple model interesting. Modeling is truly an artform, and what is art without interest?grin I should be able to post a couple more photos, later, once the completed tires and wheels are mounted to the "chassis".