RancheroSteve

Another cool build, Phil! I've got a partially built one in a box that I hope to tackle one day.

William - I just saw this thread - that's my build in the first post up there. Glad I could provide some inspiration! Like you, I immediately began noticing the deficiencies of the kit as well as the differences between the original car and the replica, and also noticed that the first car went through a lot of changes in a very short time. If you look closely at the photos in the Hot Rod Magazine article, you can tell that the car isn't even quite finished yet. Later photos show some pretty obvious changes - wheels & tires, and mounting of the gas tank, for example. No model (none of mine anyway) is perfect, but my objective - as it looks like yours is - was to make a more accurate version of the original Mooneyes Dragster. I used the chassis from a partial Mooneyes double kit and modified it with extra bars, etc. The engine in mine is the Revell parts item, the front axle is from the Tony Nancy double kit, and a few parts came from the Attempt 1 kit. There's also a few scratchbuilt and aftermarket items in there. It looks like this build is coming along very nicely! Happy to see someone taking to the next level - I'll be watching and enjoying your progress.

Actually from what I read, the Kurtis 500S wasn't too common either - only about 25 - 30 built. I saw one driving around Ojai once.

I've seen photos of a few of the later Kurtis' that had vent windows, but I'm thinking in this case the whole windshield frame is going away and will be replaced.

Excellent detailing work -those braided lines and fittings look really good.

I've made a little more progress since the last time: the body height has been lowered and the front wheel opening is getting close. And I've started cutting out the hood (yes, this one will have an engine).

Nicely done - I built one when it was new and I've always liked that kit. For those of you that might have missed it, I did a little review of this kit sometime back: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70865&hl=

That squirrel must put out a lot of torque to require that Ford 9" differential!

Nicely done! Those sprint car kits are really fun to build - they go together well and just about everything you put into them shows.

Despite inflation and changing economic times, my arbitrary limit has been $100 for about 20 years now. I've come close, but I've never spent more than that. Now that I've come to the realization that I've got more models than I can build in this lifetime, it's hard to imagine breaking that barrier. I can remember passing on a '68 Gurney Indy Eagle (that I really wanted) for $110, only to see it re-issued a couple of years later for $15.

That's a good size eucalyptus tree (native to Australia, but we have a lot of 'em here in California) and I'm guessing more than 50 years old. Somebody must have hauled the car up there. And I'm not sure how much of a restoration candidate that Falcon is really . . .

Great - unusual subject, very well done!

Thanks guys - I appreciate the kind words. I don't mean to be falsely modest or sound like I'm fishing for compliments, just saying that the photos confirmed for me that there are a couple of small things that I wish had come out just a tiny bit better. I'm always trying to improve my building skills, and as we know there are some builders here that set a high standard. Having said all that, I'm pleased with how this one turned out, especially considering what I started with and the challenges it presented. It looks good on the shelf along with my other Roth builds.

Me too - my thought is to do one all opened up with full detail, and another all buttoned up and only detail what shows.

Body glued back together and a line made where the bottom will be cut off. Front wheel opening sketched in. It's starting to look a little more like it should.

Somehow, that wagon doesn't look "factory stock", Mike . . . Pretty cool looking, though!

Great story, Art! I picked up that book not long ago on EBay - not exactly cheap, but very well worth it, and I was also able to check out a Kurtis biography from the L.A. Public Library. Kurtis had quite the interesting life! Several of his shop locations are not far from me, which really brought some of the history alive for me.

OK - I made some cuts and filled in the front wheel openings. Next, I'll glue it back together. The proportions still look way off, but the overall height of the body still needs to be shortened and the wheel openings moved forward.

Excellent details - this model is going to be amazing!

Art - it's a Muntz Jet, which is essentially a stretched Kurtis. Some history here: http://www.americansportscars.com/muntz.html Whew, this thing isn't exactly the best piece of resin! Worth a try though . . .

Very different & cool - the driver figure really gives a sense of scale.

Thanks guys. I'm still kicking around ideas for a chassis. From what I've read, the Kurtis used a fabricated perimeter frame with mostly '49 Ford components, along with a variety of engines.

For my next (ahem . . .) challenging project, I will attempt to turn this piece of resin: Into a scale replica of this (Frank Kurtis's 1949 Sports Car): Fortunately, I was able to find a good profile shot, and knowing that the wheelbase of the Kurtis is 100", make a 1/25 version, which I was then able to take a bunch of critical dimensions from: I've got the body all marked up - gonna take a deep breath and start slicing. This may take a while . . .

Just got mine in the mail yesterday - great GSL coverage, including a big feature on Greg Nichols' "Backdraft" Best of Show winning entry. That model never ceases to amaze me, especially considering it's 1/24 scale! A bunch of other good stuff too: how-tos and reviews - but the real surprise for me was seeing my Mooneyes Dragster included in the GSL section among such excellent company. I didn't even know it had been photographed, but Darryl caught it from its best angle. And I can forgive him for misspelling my last name - I'll blame it on my bad handwriting.

Agreed - haven't watched SPEED in ages after they dropped WRC and then F1.