Rocking Rodney Rat

Man, o man, I love that paint job!!! This is gonna be sweet! That body is a perfect choice for a slammer/curbside build. Bring it on home!!!! -RRR

We don't see enough custom builds here. Keep working it! Gonna french the headlights? -RRR

Nice cutting! Looks great!!! -RRR

Very nice looking builds. I wish I could BMF and paint like that! -RRR

Excellent idea and nicely implemented. I love to see creative cutting!!! -RRR

I haven't done much actual work on this thing, a lot of thinking, measuring, cogitating and whatnot during the holidays.... I did decide where I'm going to make cuts on the body. I'm going to cut off the back section (over the drive compartment) and open up the driver compartment cover. This will allow me to attached the body underside before painting and will get it all smoothed over. I can then insert the frame into that section in final assembly. The axle/differential will be glued to the frame prior to paint and the axle ends that protrude beyond the edge of the frame will be sheared off (thus allowing the frame to be slipped into the body) and the remaining pieces of the axles will be attached to the wheel hubs and glued in once the frame is settled in the body. There are some positive attach points on the bottom of the frame to mate to the body. Will work out nicely. This is the seat I will be using (out of some other dragster kit) which mimics the 1:1 pretty well with the upholstery surround over the body. Obviously,the body panel behind will be filled in. The body will also be receiving a new swooped up valance around the front of the engine and the windshield will be cut down and a clear windshield will be added. The body will also be shortened and pinched in the front. More on that later.... This is roughly how the seat will fit in the frame.The upper horizontal bar on the frame will be shortened. One section of the frame rails will also be removed, the real car is pretty short! An additional frame support will be added that will be from the roll bar all the way down the front edge of the seat....now If I can just get some bench since the holidaze are over. It's 2018, y'alll!!!! -RRR

That came out great, B!!! -RRR

I may have missed it, but I don't think anyone posted up the Revell Parts Pack 'T' bucket body.... -RRR

No problem, I'm loving these pix!! I haven't really started building yet...-RRR

Awesome pics!!!! -RRR

I love vintage drag. I love building vintage drag car models. It takes me back to my youth, going to New England Dragway in Epping, NH and smelling the burning nitro and burning rubber. I don't usually try to build replicas but I'm making an exception here. I think the GBP dragster is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. To that end, here's the beginnings of my attempt to replicate that car in 1/25th scale. The basis for the build will be the 'HemiSphere' issue of the venerable AMT Don Garlits Wynnsjammer car. The 392 Hemi is from the Revell Miss Deal Studebaker kit, rear wheels and tires from the Revell Tony Nancy 22 Jr. kit. The decals are from Fremont Racing while the distinctive scoop is from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland. The body will need some modifications, adding the scoops on the ear sides as well as fabricating the 'snake head' front end. This won't be 100% accurate, but close enough for racing....and yes I know I could buy a diecast of this car for $100.00 but where's the fun in that???? Here's the pile o parts.... -RRR

Thanks, guys...planning '18 now. I have a few that need to be finished ('65 nova pro touring, et al....) before I dive into another build...stay tuned.... -RRR

Good looking roadster!!! -RRR

I wonder how many of the molds are still around? I know some of them were cut up and integrated into other kits. The parts pack Hemi was folded into the Miss Deal Studebaker kit so I would assume the parts pack version of that engine is no longer available... -RRR

I'm not really much of a collector, I'm more of a builder. I do have a few rare kits but I generally build, not collect. With that being said, I did start to collect the vintage issue Revell Parts Packs. I've always loved these little things and they fascinate me as to their collective potential. One can frequently find them on eBay so a few years ago I started a quest to acquire the whole set. There was one pack that allude me and was thinking I may never find it. I scour eBay almost daily and lo and behold, the "missing link" Pontiac engine one showed up a few weeks ago. I had to have it and paid dearly for it but now have them all. Revell did reissue the engines (Ford, Chevy, Pontiac and Cadillac) several years ago, but none of the others. I met Ed Sexton of Revell a couple of years ago at the Atlanta NNL and asked him if the others could be reissued. He assured me that since the reissued engines didn't sell well, the rest would never (never say never?) see the light of day again. Apparently, the parts packs didn't sell all that well when they were originally issued due to the fact that a complete kit cost +/-$2.00 in the early '60s and each parts pack was about $.79 or so. You'd need several packs to make a whole car!!! I have posted them up on fotki somewhat in numerical order if you care to look through them: http://public.fotki.com/jferren/revell-parts-packs/ It's pretty beat up, but it's about 55 years old!!! The Roadster Chassis Speed Equipment is my favorite one. I have purchased several of these over the years in various conditions and use the parts on my builds. maybe if we collectively beg Revell, they'll have a change of heart and bring at least some of them back out? Probably not.... -RRR

I didn't get as much done this year as in years previous. The belly tanker took a lot of time.... Happy Holidays, y'all....-RRR

'52 Chevy Fleetline... -RRR

RIP Bob Glidden. My "what if he ran A/FX back in the day?" build -RRR

Thanks for all of the compliments, guys. The back part of the body is from some variant of the AlaKart? Here's a pic of it before slicing began. Can anyone identify the kit this came from? I can't remember now (getting olde...). -RRR

Alright, alright, alright....this build has been languishing in a box for some time. I started it a year or so ago, got to final assembly and realized the hood and sides weren't going to fit as planned (poor engineering on my part), got frustrated and tossed it back in the box. My good friend from SoCal, ADL, suggested that I really should finish it (thanks for the kick in the keester, ADL). So, here it is, minus hood and sides... It's based on the Revell Model A roadster with the body modified into a 'T' bucket style. The SBC engine is from the Revell Rat Roaster with the 3x2 intake from the Revell '30 Model A...the wheels are resin items I acquired from somewhere several years ago, I forget where now, probably picked them up on FleaBay???? They fit the Model A tires perfectly. Paint is Testors Titanium Metalizer. More pix here: http://public.fotki.com/jferren/a-modified-track-st/ -RRR

A couple of my Phantom (never really existed except in my cranium) Show Rods.... -RRR

ADL knows of what he speaks... -RRR

Awesome, you got this, B!!! -RRR

Thanks for all of the kind words gents. You can view build-up and additional finished pix here: http://public.fotki.com/jferren/29-are-pee-you-road/ -RRR

Go, Man, go!!! -RRR