Ian McLaren

Although I just officially started this post yesterday, I have been chipping away at the body around finishing a 1/25 Beretta Promod for a friend. The first photo is of the Flashpoint T/A body before the changes started next to a 1/25th Comp Resins body that wasn't much closer. The modifications done to this point are, remove the front ProMod style air dam and replace it with a more stock style front spoiler that is also much narrower, the front fenders ahead of the wheel wells were also narrowed and also tucked under to visually narrow the nose of the car. The side window openings have also been modified to be closer to the real car. the blower hole in the hood area has been roughly extended as the motor will sit out further forward than was allowed for in the body, and the hood profile in that area was flattened as well. Blisters were also added above the front wheels to allow for a reduce ride height and also to provide move clearance at speed when the front of the body presses down due to the airflow (this was actually the primary reason the were installed on the cars back then). The front wheel openings were move foward and up to better match the real cars 125 inch wheel base ( the Flashpoint body was built to fit the Revell chassis which measure 120 inch between the wheels). Finally I trimmed the body sides of the car starting with1/16th inch shorter at the front wheel wells to 5/16th at the rear wheel wells to back date the look of the original body. The body now looks much better but I am probably going to have to trim a little more for the correct look, but that will have to wait till the body can be set on the chassis at the correct ride height

This is my latest project and perhaps most ambitious. I have wanted to build this car in 1/16th literally for decades but it always got put off of for one thing or another. The major hurdle was finding a 1/16th Trams Am body that was suitable and also gathering enough reference material to allow me to do justice to a car I saw run on numerous occaisions and also one that I was familiar with most of the people involved. The car was run primarily out of the Edmonton Alberta just less than 200 miles from my home and we ran at the same tracks several times. The car itself was alway one of my favorites and Gordie was one of the most personable people I have ever had the pleasure to know. Close friends, no, but we did talk during the race weekend more often than not. Late last year Nick Bradshaw of Flashpoint Resins solve the body issue with a very nice resin cast 77-78 Trans Am. It was going to need some substancial alterations to back date it to resemble the car above but at least I now had a starting point. The other stumbeling block was the Swindahl chassis which as far as I know has never been represented in kit form. I also have never seen anyone model one (but there may very well be some out there) and finding photos of the correct version of the chassis has been difficult. Swindahl was primarily a Top Fuel chassis builder who eventually revolutionized how Top Fuel Chassis were designed and built. This particular chassis was as far as I can tell only used in this form for a handfull of Trans Am and Corvette funnycars over a two or three year span. I have studdied many photos over the last few months and have come up with what I think is a fairly close approximation of that chassis but I am still researching, as there are a few minor areas that have not shown up in any of the photos I have seen. I chose the car as it was campained in 1978 because it to me has the most personality. It is truly a weapons grade competition car, not much chrome, simplified graphics, non polished mag blower, natural cast injector and barely polished hat as well as a very unique front suspension and steering system. I hope that you will like where this build is going, and I will also include how and why some of the details and finishes were accomplished. At anytime please feel free to comment on what you see and if something I'm doing that is not correct let me know as I do not know everything about this car or its history.

No words?

Thank you so much Edgar, your comments are much appreciated!

All I can do is shake my head in amazement, how you can machine a complex piece like the carrier in this scale, when in full size, casting it is the most convenient and practicle way it can be produced by the manufacturer, is beyond me. So much fun to watch though!

Thank you Tim, I'm glad you liked it. Sorry fot the tease but I am realy excited about this next funnycar build. I saw the real car run in 78 and knew most of the people involved. The past three years have been spent researching the car and primarily the chassis as well as locating suitable parts. Finally finding a body that while being different from the original, can be modified to a suitable replica, is allowing me to move from research to a workable build plan. I have a 1/25 scale ProMod Nitrous Beretta I have to finish for a friend and owner of the real car first (another two to three weeks I hope) and then I can start to concentrate on the Firebird. By the way welcome back, we missed you.

Good morning Tim, I'm so glad to see that you are returning to the bench, you were missed my friend and welcome back!

I'm just going to echo what Daniel said, simply amazing!

Thank you very much Mike! Having seen the kind of work you turn out your words mean a lot! The next car is more up you alley, full brass 1978 Swindahl chassis, funny car, it's also a (been thinking about this one for years kind of deal) project and is going to be my most ambitious. model yet

Thank you Mark, yes doing this in 1/16th pretty much guaranteed that practicaly everything had to be either scratch built or custom printed, the dual barrel vavle fuel system also complicated the proceedure as well. Glad you liked it!

Francis thank you so much for the kind words, when they come from you they really mean a lot. As per usual with my projects this one took on a life of its own. When I first started it three years ago it was a test piece with a view to building one of these with a brass chassis. Then it sat for two year, eventually ending up in a box when we moved. When I rediscovered it last year it occured to me that the generic chassis could with a few changes pass for Hills 4:99 car. And we're off! LOL This has now been added to Finished drag race models.

My tribute to Eddie Hills "First in the Fours" 1988 dragster. For as famous as this car is, there is not a lot of detailed information. I talked to many people about specific information on the car, including some of the crew members from that year, gathered as many photos as I could find and came up with what I believe is a reasonable overall representation of the car. Areas which I could not document, I used era appropriate systems or parts from similar cars from that year. The engine with its dual barrel valve fuel system is quite close to the original. The model is almost totally scratch built, chassis, body, differential, rear wing assy,drivers seat (aluminum), exhaust headers (brass), fuel tank and many of the accessories. Parts 3D printed by me include, slicks, rear wheels, bellhousing,reverser, 14-71 blower, ignition coils and mags,and so on. The decals were drawn on GIMP and printed by myself., After market parts were from RB Motion, Future Attractions, Perfect Parts and Ron Olsen.

There are a couple of small items that I will address in the next few days but they won't affect the photos, so for all intents and purposes here is the finished project. Posting to finished models as well.

Thank you Randy for the kind words, wrapping this one up very shortly.

Thanks Daniel, this is going to wrap up pretty quickly from here.

Drive train is installed in the chassis, wires and hoses plus some subassemblies to install and it's photo time.

Daniel it has been a pleasure and absolute honor to watch you resurect and then complete this model, the amount of time effort and detail you have managed to incorperate into this project is truly staggering. This has certianly become a bench mark model that has set a standard that will difficult to achieve by any modeler, but will also serve as a goal to strive for. Your dedication and willingness to not settle for good enough, going back and redoing so many different parts of the model shows through in the photos (and yes the camera is the toughest critic of all. I would be remiss in not mentioning that your entire project with your excellent "how I did this tips" has also made better modelers out of anyone who followed along on your journey. You have enrichened the modeling community here and for that I thank you. With nothing in the photos to suggest this is anything but a fuel size functiong vehicle I would say, mission accomplished! Very very well done my friend!

Plumbing basically done on the engine, a few sensor wires and the coil wires will be added during installation. Pretty much ready to mount in the chassis

Moving on from the chassis, starting on the hardware for the two barrel valves and injector hat

Replaced the fuel control lever and cables to both the reverser handle and fuel control lever. Also added switch panel to the dash (Made with .125 evergreen channel, .050 detail nuts from Perfect Parts and .015 plated jewerly aluminum wire for the handles) as well as detailing the steering wheel and its switch , the cable from the wheel switch will be among the last detail items to be added

Dash wiring (front), steering gear, shaft and wheel installed,note button assm on the steering wheel. Next project has been delivered to the shop. Dash is also completed with switch panel added.

Front half of the fuel system, tank, supply pipes and return line installed

Chassis tins, seat and belts are in, as well as the front bulkhead. Assembly is now officially started.

Back in the day when Appliance was a force in the custom wheel industry I sold a bunch of "Appliance Slots" when I worked at JB's Automotive. In fact they were the first set of wheels on my 76 Mustang II until Centerline released their first wheels. You have the look of the wheels dead on and they fit the era of your car perfectly. While Cragar SS's were still very popular the serious racers were running the Appliance wheels as they were slightly lighter than the Cragars and the Chrome didn't fall off the all aluminum Appliances.

Thank you Francis, I have edited my previous post.