Straightliner59

Like Bill said, the more tools (and supplies) the better! I have a dozen different pin vises, about a thousand carbide PC board bits of various sizes, and a couple of drill bit sets and the iconic #61-#80 dome and a bunch of backups, for those. I hate needing something, and discovering that I don't have it!?

I think it was much more interesting, back then. Some great stories came out of those shady dealings. Crooked promoters--Jet Car Bob Smith backing the car up to a tower at a track the promoter was trying not to pay him, and asking, "So, are you gonna' pay me, or am I gonna' light this match?" Pyramid schemes funded Soapy Sales, among others. Broadway Freddie DeName, Gordon Tatum (I think-the guy who bought the Surfers II car), there's a long list of ne'er do wells in drag racing history.

I got a box of 50 .6mm carbide drills. Can't pass those up for $30, shipped! Apparently, I don't feel like I can ever have enough of them. I think I have over 1000 carbide bits, in a lot of sizes. I buy re-sharpened ones, and have bought lots (not "a lot")of approximately 150 for about $30. I love them, in my machines, especially.

Dang it! Busted! ? Thanks, Ace. I am in the process of finding a starter that's small enough!

I milled the face of this timing cover. The openings are lined with tubing, and the flange is flashing. I'm trying to decide if I am going to start a WIP thread, on this.

Thank you, Niko! I knew from day one that, if I wanted one, I was going to have to build it, myself!? Interestingly, if I was going to attempt building a NTF car from a kit, I would start with one of Revell's "modern" top fuelers. I was messing around with one, because somebody asked if it could be done!? I appreciate your kind words, and for taking the time to share them!

I should have mentioned that I use a disc cutter/hole punch to make the reflector, then use the doming block to form it. I have been digging through a box of clear parts for the lenses, but they could easily be filled with resin, to make a lens. I got the doming block at Harbor Freight. I use Maid-O-Metal tooling aluminum for the reflectors.

I use a doming block to make reflectors. You can take it from there, for the lenses!?

That's not surprising. If I'd had the extra $1200, I would have, even given all the stuff I already have. Earlier this afternoon, I saw a Sherline lathe for $200. There were no accessories with it, though.

I remember when the world looked just like that! I was 15, in 1974, and had just been into drag racing for a couple of years--since I went to my first drag race! Cool stuff! There was a guy that ran at the strip I first went to who had a gas T altered, that looked similar to yours. It was called "Pre-War Funny Car" which I always thought was a great name!

Forget that. His luck's used up!?

You could do a tank. They're really freaking easy! Glue, paint, weather, done!?

I just saw an amazing deal on Ebay. If you're in the market for Sherline equipment, and have the means, this is a steal!: https://www.ebay.com/itm/176224810339

These motors make things so much easier! Treadles were so annoying! They got the job done, but, just saying!?

I noticed the box "complete tap set". I can only imagine how tiny some of those must be. Those guys do most of that work with a graver on a rest. It's pretty mind-blowing, when you consider the accuracy they achieve.

Thank you, Rick! For any of us, it's most important that we are satisfied with the work we've accomplished. I am very pleased with this effort! The response of others has been overwhelming! I am truly honored that my peers appreciate it, too. That has made this project a bit more special, to me. Thanks for that, as well!

I have no experience with them, but, I have read good things. Most complaints I've heard could be attributed to overworking the machine. I think they'd probably be quite useful, for a modeler.

That kind of stuff will happen!? Seriously, though--it's super-cool!

I want to do the un-chopped, lavender version of Walt's Puffer. You're right--there's a ton of stuff available again, that hasn't been in a very long time!

This just goes to show that, with some time, some thought, and some effort, we can pretty much re-create anything we need to! These kinds of challenges are one of the things that make this such an interesting pursuit! Keep up the great work, sir!

Thanks so kindly, Claude! The names on the cowl: Fahrni (Don, who was my best friend and mentor, and certainly a well-known builder!), Brown (Mark. A good friend whose modeling philosophies were very similar to my own.) and Himmel (Conrad, my Dad, of Conrad's Engine Service fame). It's a fictional business I made up, as a tribute to him, and is present on all my race cars, since he died. All three influenced my building, and I wanted to pay tribute, in their absence from this world. I appreciate you taking the time to comment, sir!

Nice job, re-creating that side!

Nice job, re-creating that side!

I saw him, here, at a contest/show, in October. That's when we spoke. I tried to buy a set of Chaparral wheels from him, but, he wouldn't let me pay for them.

Thank you, Dan! Well, it's certainly the finest one I have ever built--and I'm a little surprised by how happy I am with it. There's only one thing I'm disappointed by, and it's something that happened late in its construction, and I didn't catch it until there wasn't anything feasible I could have done about it. I dropped the car, from just above the level of the bench. I thought I had repaired what little damage I found--the blower manifold and the puke tank came loose (at least I know the blower restraints work!?). Later, when I put the cowl on the car, I discovered that the motor plate had moved forward, ever so slightly, out from under the cowl. Oh, well. It's not a huge distraction! Thanks again, sir!