RancheroSteve

OK, a few quick photos. The edition I have is the first Model King re-issue - a lot of us got pretty excited at the time to see this kit come back. Instructions are from the "Street Freak" series, and decals are minimal (get the Slixx ones): Not a huge number of parts (remember what Art said: this is a kit from the 60s): So there you have it - hope that helps.

Ooh, looks like someone's doing a build over in the drag racing section: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=93701

Ahh, thanks - I looked there and didn't find them - I think I was looking under "AMT Plymouth".

A good suggestion, actually. If I can find a few minutes in the next week, I'll pull my kit off the shelf and take some photos or at least scan the instructions.

If I can figure out the flames, I'd like to tackle this some day:

Here are a couple more pages from that Rod & Custom article: As you can see, it's mechanically closer to what's in the HUG kit, but of course the body is a different year. Also, in case it hasn't been mentioned - Slixx did the decals for the McEwen car. I'm not sure if they're still available?

Thanks for the kind words, guys! Pretty decent quality kit - not Modelhaus (of course), but very workable. The casting on some the smaller bits wasn't great, but the body and major parts were clean and straight. Also comes with a flat hood and wheel covers if you want to build a stock version. Very basic interior tub with the seats molded in. Bumpers and grille aren't plated, so I sent them out to be chromed (front bumper is painted fiberglass on the real car). Decals are are homemade (ALPS printed?) and have half-tone dots, but they lay down well and get the job done. I may have gotten the last set of decals, so email if you want to do this version and you're thinking of ordering. I've always had great service from MCW, by the way.

Yes, there was one. Built by Dearborn Steel Tubing and campaigned by Tasca Ford as an A/FX car during the '63 season, it briefly held the class record and served as a test bed for the better known '64 Thunderbolts. Resin kit, decals and paint by MCW. Chassis and engine from the Revell '64 Thunderbolt kit. Thanks for looking - questions, comments, etc. welcome.

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to this one - a "must have" for me. Worth waiting for to get it right.

Do you have a giant size penny (or quarter)? Seriously though - some of the best detail work I've seen!

Here it is: on the block, just behind the fuel pump, angled down about 45 degrees. (The orange thing)

Bill, I hate to be the one to break this news to you, but you have the spark plug holes in the wrong place on the driver's side of the engine. Keep in mind that the heads are identical (not mirror images), so the plug holes on the left are behind the exhaust ports and angled back. Otherwise, great work as always!

I'm diggin' this a lot! Great concept. I built the Messerschmitt basically stock, but I've got another one that I want to do as a hot rod/racer/tuner - maybe with a modern motorcycle engine.

As usual, Art's comments are informative and spot on. I'll admit I'm an over 45 builder with more than enough kits on the shelf to keep me busy for the rest of this lifetime and a few more, but - in the case of the Manta Ray and the Cheetah especially - it's nice to dream, right?

Yes to the Mantaray! More: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/cars_cars_cars/mantaray/ If you want to get technical about it, the Cheetah has been done - Cox made a static version of their slot car. But yeah, it would be cool to see a proper contemporary kit.

Yes, building this kit is unlike anything else! One thing I did when I built mine was to carefully separate the hood from the body. Even though it doesn't have an engine, it made it a lot easier to get the finished chassis up into the body.

These might be what you need: http://www.stradasportsstore.com/shop-bin/sc/productsearch.cgi?search_field=SPD-58+Vintage+Tire+markings+&storeid=*1cfc54f591ad8ed1916b462a9bad60f3&%2Fbuttons%2Fgradient1_dark_blue%2Fsearch-button.gif.x=0&%2Fbuttons%2Fgradient1_dark_blue%2Fsearch-button.gif.y=0

Alan - thanks for the history and detailed write-up. I haven't quite figured out the paint stand thing for this build yet - I'll get there soon. Yes, I've realized that a lot of the chassis won't show when the model is finished (a shame really), but my thought is to do a moderate level detail job on it and at least take some reasonable photos of it before final assembly. Then at least I can prove it's under there! I've noticed that the kit windshield isn't very accurate to begin with, so my idea is to make a new one from scratch - from a thinner gauge plastic and without the side wraparound - with the trim as a separate piece which could be foiled or painted with Alclad.

I don't think there's anything I can add to what's already been said - some of the finest model building I've ever seen! All of them!

Thanks, Dave - that engine shot is particularly useful, as I'm trying to replicate the stuff under the cowl somewhat better than the kit does. Also remembered that I had started an "on the workbench" thread about my build: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=81884 You'll see that I split the body in much the same way as you did, Tim ("great minds think alike"?, haha) I've had to put this build on the back burner for a while to get some other deadline projects done (more about those sooner or later), but I'm hoping to pick up the XR-6 again in a bit.

Thanks, Tim - enjoyed your build in the latest issue. I'm currently working on an XR-6 myself; trying to be as faithful to the original as possible. I have the Hot Rod article, as well as some photos of the car I took at the Petersen Museum. A few more here: http://public.fotki.com/Roullier/cars_cars_cars/xr-6/

Thanks for the history, review and pics (can we see more please?) I'm a big fan and collector of Ed Roth kits etc, so I guess I'll have to make up my mind about buying this one.

I've got one of these kits sitting on the shelf, but I have no idea how to wire a Mazda Rotary Wankel - what references are you using?

Unlike the Cobra, for various reasons the Cheetah was never produced in sufficient quantities to allow it to be homologated, therefore it had to run in the modified category in the SCCA's new USRRC series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Road_Racing_Championship The rules of the Can-Am series (FIA Group 7) were pretty loose - almost a "run what you brung" series - with no requirements of minimum production numbers. Keep in mind that the Can-Am series started three years after the debut of the Cheetah, by which time it was pretty obsolete in terms of racing car design anyway. So you could have entered a Cheetah in the Can-Am series, but it wouldn't have been competitive.

It's been on display off and on over the years at The Petersen, but I've never seen it opened up. I'll have to get over there and check out that Mustang show.