Lizard Racing

Just keep calm, don't hoard and don't listen to unfounded rumors.

Good paint! Sometimes the metalflake looks out of scale. But this is just right.

Just finished the Revell Corvette C-7R. Instead of making it a replica of the all-conquering Corvette, I decided to do a fantasy car. This is a C-7R that might have been purchased from Corvette Racing and used as a backup entry in the IMSA races. Painted in Lizard Racing colors of white/blue, it shared most of the sponsorship the factory team had. Doing a non-replica model allows a bit more artistic license with colors; factory interior was all black. The car carries number 14 (traditional Lizard Racing number) and Coca Cola sponsorship. The number rectangle is put together from homemade decal and cut sections of the kit decal. Here's a comparison of C-7R and C-5R Daytona winner. Other Lizard Racing fantasies: Corvette C-7R; McLaren/Offy Indy car from mid-70s; L88 Corvette from the early 70s; Austin Mini D Sedan from 70s. Building models is like writing science fiction. You can make things how ever you want; it's your universe.

Thank you all for your kind concern. Our quake wasn't such a big deal, compared with others to the west. Yes, there is the Wasatch fault that runs north-south through the state. It's so popular they built the I-15 freeway on top of it! We get warnings about quakes, since this is a geologically active area. When I took CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training, a bit of time was spent responding to quake damage. On a more important note, my collection was not damaged. Most of the cars do not roll, so that probably helped.

Well, something finally knocked Corona Virus off the headlines, at least locally. Utah was hit with a 5.7 earthquake at 0710 this morning. We've been having aftershocks of 4.5 or so all day. Experts say that they may go on for up to two weeks. I was awakened by the blinds and the china cabinet rattling. At first I thought a truck hit our building, then it didn't diminish. Then I remembered my bed is next to two tall bookcases with 75 models on them, not secured to the wall (we are apartment dwellers). That woke me up fast! There doesn't seem to be much damage and no reports of serious injury. Secure your cases to the wall if possible!!!

The NBA game between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City was cancelled, even after everyone got there. What a bummer that must have been. Now NASCAR and Indy Car races are participants and essential personnel only: no spectators. Other stick-and-ball sports are not allowing spectators. How wierd that must be for players/racers to do their thing with nobody watching. I know these measures are for the best, but I sure hope things get restored soon (by Summer maybe?).

Utah legislature just passed a bill leaving year-round DST. Just waiting for the Feds to authorize such a move. How many other states have similar measures?

Wonderful cabinet and an interesting collection start. You must have varied interests. You will be surprised how fast that cabinet will fill up.

Look at the post for the Flying Dutchman in this this forum. Its chassis looks a lot like this one, but longer. With altereds and funny cars, the possibilities are endless. Thanks for the comments Mr. Snake45 and Mr. Court.

Just finished the AMT Vega Funny Car kit. I haven't done a drag racer in quite some time and I couldn't leave this one alone (typical for me). I didn't like the roll cage, so I made my own. Not exactly correct, but looks OK with the body. I also didn't like the front wheels and tires, so a raid was made on the parts bag. I did like the tilt-body. I opted for the panel delivery version: a bit more unique. The door lines are not molded in the body, as it should be, but the hood lines were. So they had to be filled. The body rests on the protruding portion of the rear tires, so the rear openings had to be radiused. There are extensive decals with the kit. Care must be taken not to have competing contingency sponsors. I needed something to fill blank space on the hood, so I used the soap bubbles decals. Couldn't find a primary sponsor decal, so that area is blank. IMO, this car looks more like an altered rather than a 1976 funny car. Thanks for your attention!

I recently started the AMT Vega Funny Car. The chassis is nearly complete and body work has begun. It seems I can't leave anything alone sometimes. I didn't like the kit roll cage, so I made my own. I also didn't like the front wheels and tires, so I raided the parts bin. The body sits directly on the rear tires, so the openings were radiused. The door lines are gone (as should be on a one-piece fiberglass body) but the hood line remains. That was filled in. The kit comes with clear aft quarter windows for the wagon version and fillers to make it a panel delivery. I am still undecided as to which version to use. The chassis fits together well, but there is moderate flash on the trees. More later.

Are the patterns decals or painted. They are fantastic!

Wonderful work! Tribute cars are always special.

Wilbur Shaw's Gentlemen Start Your Engines was unofficial required reading when I was in Jr. High. A good insight book is the Unfair Advantage by the late great Mark Donohue. Many of the above titles sound familiar. I enjoyed the Black Tiger series. Great memories.

We bought a 1/1 of this SUV last year. Today I see a review of the Academy kit on the Finescsle Models website. Went right to Mega Hobby and ordered one. The only other of our daily drivers I have done is a '74 AMC Gremlin-our first new car. Will let everyone know how it comes out.

Now THAT'S a '60s custom! I really like the lace paint job on the roof. Do you get to punch people in the arm when they see a 4-hole Buick?

I just finished the Blower Bentley (shown in separate thread). I grouped this with other models I have of cars that had run in the 24 Hours. Some are not in the livery used at Le Mans, but gained fame elsewhere. When you have a large collection, you start grouping them by similar types, like where they ran or engine type. The #8 Bentley ran in 1930 and fell out after 144 laps with engine trouble. The #722 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR is in its Mille Migla winning livery with Stirling Moss. It was withdrawn at Le Mans after the horrific accident. C2 Corvette #8 won the GT class at Sebring 1967 (livery) and Daytona 1968. It lasted 167 laps at Le Mans 1967 . C5R Corvette #2 is in the livery it won overall at Daytona 2000. It completed 327 laps at Le Mans, finishing 2nd in class.

I've been wanting to something a bit different in the racecar area. I saw this Heller Blower Bentley on Amazon, so I gave it a try, I had not done a Heller kit before. Things went together well, but the hood halves do not fit tight. So unless you glue them on and make a curbside out of the car, be prepared for the hood to fall off. I'm not a big fan of wire wheels, but these come out pretty good. Detail is decent. The decals do not look like they will stick very well. Bentleys had won at Le Mans for some years when in 1930 a supercharged model appeared, against W. O. Bentley's better judgement. It lasted 144 laps when the engine failed. Blower Bentleys were fast for a while, but they always seemed to break. But they get all the publicity. Have fun looking!

I bought two from Amazon today. I had been thinking about the Chevy Vega for a while, building something that doesn't have to follow a rulebook. I got the Lockheed Vega so I could have something in the aircraft collection that is not military. I may get some aftermarket decals and do Amelia Airhart's Vega.

Thank you for the kind words. I have heard good things about the Great Wall kit. I bought my Revell kit about 10 years ago. I followed the MAAM project doing my research for the build. What a monumental project! Anyone interested in warbird restoration should check the link.

I built one back in the day and one recently. I agree the suspensions sit a bit high and I had a fit problem with the exhaust.

This is the first aircraft I have built in a long while. The kit has been on the shelf for a number of years. The P-61 has always been an interesting design for me, which is why I finally bought the kit. P-61 does not receive enough credit for its contribution to the war effort. It was the first aircraft designed specifically for night fighting with radar assist. It was not deployed until 1944 and by that time there were not many enemy aircraft to shoot at. However, the radar proved useful in night interdiction missions. The PSP base is from Verlinden, as are three of the figures. The others came with the kit. Look closely and you will see that I am not done with the display. I need to scratch-build work stands for the engine man and the radar tech. I built the kit with all options: 4 external tanks and all hatches and doors open. This version was flown by Col. Carrol Smith, the top scoring P-61 ace of the war. One of the Verlinden figures is wearing a flight jacket, so I placed him in the cockpit. Thanks for looking.

excellent build of a little-known model!

In my poorest phase I had a '64 Rambler. A normal brake job ended up with three trips to the parts store (modified shoes) and catching the car on fire. It went to the salvage yard.

During one of my previous-life jobs, I did some research and found that the X-Acto knife was statistically the most dangerous tool in the tool box. They were just thrown in the box with no protection. The plastic end from a ball point pen over the knife blade stopped the injuries. As long as the guys used them.