tim boyd

Stress Buster: Build Tutorial and Kit Review: Revell Slingster Dragster - WIP: Drag Racing Models - Model Cars Magazine Forum A little (actually, a lot) late, but thought you might be interested anyway.....personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Revell reissue this one, minor warts and all.....TIM

Whoever did the flames on that Willys absolutely nailed it. One of the best flame jobs I have ever seen! TIM

In this album I am showing my box stock buildup of the Revell Slingster kit that was issued just once in 2013. It was a completely new tool, but based almost entirely on the original Revell Sizzler dragster kit from 1961. The original Sizzler kit was a leading-edge effort at the time, but the somewhat odd, larger scale (thought to be around 1/22nd scale) was a liability, and the AMT Double Dragster kit released one year later quickly eclipsed it in terms of accuracy and scale realism. Still, it remained a highly desired kit in the collector world. Building the new Slingster kit was an interesting experience. The 30+ page instruction manual covers six different building versions, but many more are possible based on how the builder chooses the frame configuration, engine and induction options, front tires, various body options, and decal treatments. I mostly built version "D" with its Bantam Competition Coupe body, but substituted the blown Chevy small block engine in the kit for the Hemi called out in version D. Everything shown here was in the kit box - no additions or kitbashing this time. The kit, to be honest, did not fully meet current Revell quality expectations. The large number of prominent knockout pin (ejection point) marks was very notable, and the parting lines were very visible on many parts. The decals did not fit the body properly. The body alignment pins on the cockpit inner paneling were off by about 1/16". And there were some shortcomings in the kit content too, most notably the lack of brakes on the rear axle and the omission of an idler pulley on the blower drive belt (which carried over from the original Sizzler kit). The overall effort strikes me as more of an "extra credit" project for the company, rather than the fully comprehensive efforts found in most Revell kits of the last 15 years. Still, it was a fun project, comprising less than than a week of casual building effort and yielding a fine looking model when completed. Bottom line, if you like building drag racing kit topics, you might want to grab kit or two of the Revell Slingster, both as a kit topic of its own and as a supply for future kitbashing projects. ***** The box art of Revell's Slingster kit was heavily patterned after the original Monogram Sizzler kit from 1961. I chose to build "The Coupe" pictured at the upper left of the box top, except I substituted the kit's blown small block Chevy engine in place of the early Chrysler Hemi depicted in the coupe illustration. The kit frame is relatively simple but includes several build options: a full width or narrowed front end, and two different styles of roll cages and back frame configurations. I used a jig/plate to insure the frame pieces went together in an aligned manner (the frame here is shown painted after assembly). Other than the valve covers, the engine parts are not plated, which is actually a plus for period-accurate appearance. The blower assembly was brush painted with four different colors of paint. The jars marked with a "C" on the top are custom mixes with various amounts of Tamiya Gold, Silver, Copper, and Flat Black paint colors. The vertex magneto top is brush painted with decanted Tamiya "Hull Red" paint, a perfect match to the rare and desirable 1/1 scale counterpart. The kit assembly process has you assemble the quick change before the frame halves are joined, which comprises authenticity. Instead, I assembled and paint the frame as a unit without the quick change. I then glued the four-part quick change differential and axle together, painted it, and then cut off the axle ends as shown, which let me easily fit the center section of the quick change into the frame locators as shown. The axle ends were later glued in place, using the kit's styrene axle to align them properly. The completed engine shows what can be achieved with paint detailing only. If you have the time and the inclination, ignition wiring and fuel plumbing would only add to the authenticity. I also toned down the plated valve covers with Testors DullCote after detailing the ribs with thinned Flat Black paint. The brightly painted front axle components would have looked out of place with the character of the completed model if they were used as they appeared out of the box. So I sprayed them with a light coat of Tamiya Semi-Gloss clear prior to assembly. At this point the front suspension, wheels and tires, and fuel tank have been added. Although the instructions call for the engine plate to be painted to match the interior cockpit paneling, I painted mine to match the frame as the engine plate was often configured as a structural member of the frame assembly on many of these early dragster era projects. Again note the use of various colors of my custom mix Tamiya bottle paints on the simulated magnesium wheels. Assembly continues with the addition of the completed engine. The steering wheel is located to complete the frame assembly. This view has another look at the paint finishes of the simulated magnesium wheels. They were topcoated with Testors DullCote before assembly. The diminutive Bantam Coupe body is a nice single piece component. I finished it with MCW Automotive Finishes 1957 Chrysler 300 Gaugin Red. The decals are from the kit, though the layout I used was different than the assembly instructions. Note that the center scallop on the rooftop extended beyond the opening and had to be cut and relocated past the opening. This was further indicative of a certain lack of attention to detail that I found on several elements of this Revell kit. Next comes the interior paneling. The molded in alignment pins of the upper cowl do not properly align with the lower cowl and were removed before gluing the components in place. Had the upper and lower paneling shown here in silver been painted body color instead, the assembly as shown would represent one of the other completed versions of the Slingster kit. It certainly has an era-correct configuration and appearance. The two biggest additions - not shown below - for those who are motivated to do so would be (in priority order) 1) rear brake drums and 2) an idler pulley for the blower drive belt. The next level of detail would be to add ignition and fuel plumbing, and perhaps a hydraulic throttle line. Adding the Bantam Coupe body shell completes the project. The next several images shown the finished model from several different angles. For those who are interested, there are several more images of the completed model beyond what is shown below at this link.... Revell's Slingster kit, despite some relatively minor issues, is a fun project and a great modeling "StressBuster" between your more ambitious and detailed tabletop projects. It can be built in a myriad of different configurations with zero kitbashing required, and can be assembled from start to finish with a few evening's worth of work even with the extensive paint detailing shown here. It is a kit well worth searching out for those interested and captivated by the early rail dragster era and the model kits that replicate the same. I'll do my best to answer any questions or respond to any comments you have. Thanks for looking! TIM

....yep....and there it is (far left).... Thx...TIM

Good point, Richard. Of course, those very exact fenders needed for a class legal SR (cycle fenders in front, cut down factory fenders in the rear) are in Revell's '32 Ford "Rat Roaster" kit and are an easy swap for kitbashers....

Just a reminder for those of you who already own the book "Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits", that at the end of most chapters there is a sidebar listing the most blatantly missing model car kits of notable topics covered in that chapter. Some of the posts above capture some of the same ones listed in the book. For those that do not have the book, here's an example. This is the "Missing in Action" sidebar from the chapter that covers all the Pony Car model kits other than the Mustang and Camaro (which are covered in their own separate chapter)... MISSING IN ACTION “Other Ponycars that are yet to appear in a 1/24th-1/25th scale kit * 1967 ½ Firebird Convertible * 1967-69 Barracuda Hardtop and Convertible * 1969 (w/CJ-428); 1971 (w/429); & 1972 (w Cleveland 351 HO) Cougar Convertibles * 1970 ’cuda Convertible w/426 Hemi or 440 3+2 Wedge * 1973-73 Pontiac Firebird Formula or Trans-Am with correct 455 Super Duty V8 Other Ponycars that need a new/modern kit offering * 1964 ½ - 1966 Barracuda * 1967-68 Barracuda Formula S Fastback * 1967-68 Cougar XR-7 and/or GT-E (1968 only) * 1968-70 Javelin w/390 V8 and Go Package * 1970 ½ Firebird Formula or Trans-Am with correct 400 R/A IV V8 * 1971 (R/T), 1972-73 (Rallye) Challenger Hardtop with 340 V8; 1974 Challenger Rallye with E58 HO 360 V8 * 1971 Firebird Formula or Trans-Am with correct 455 HO V8 * 1971-72 Cougar Hardtop w/ GT Appearance Package * 1971-74 Javelin AMX with correct 401 V8 Don't know about you guys, but I would sure like to see some of these make a new appearance in 1/25th... By the way, for those that don't already have it, the book is still available from the usual suspects including CarTechBooks.com and Amazon.com, along with Kalmbach.com, AutoWorldStore.com, Model Roundup, and your local bookseller (probably by advance order).... Cheers TIM

This version of the Deora kit actually included the entire AMT Chrysler Hemi/Corvair engine Pack Hemi. Both which are pretty cool engines. And a very neat writeup on model car builder/journalist Don Emmons as well....TIM

Not to worry....see top center of image below.... Cheers....TIM

Stuart.....great to see you pick this as a modeling subject. These drag racing "Street Roadsters" were actually pretty popular in 1960's drag racing, but didn't get a lot of magazine coverage back then and are thus pretty much unknown topics today. Which makes them all the more interesting as model car subjects. Looks like you are off to a great start; will be watching for your progress. TIM

Great start on a great modeling subject, Travis. And needless to say, I'm totally in favor of your Y-block swap in place of the Luzader SBC. I've got a picture of a '30A Five Window on my board with the same design cues as the Luzader Deuce; considering a build inspired by that if/when the Revell '30A Hot Rod kit gets reissued. Good luck on your project....TIM

Great stuff, Dennis! TIM

Hah! That is, everyone except you, Tim (thank goodness!) and Alan Cozby,. Cheers...TB

Curtis....very cool project and result. Neat that you chose that color; truth is that most Dusters back then were colors other than Black and Red! A '73 Duster 340 has long been on my build list as well, as my first new 1/1 scale car was a Silver Frost 1973 Duster 340! TIM

Phil....great project and one that is near and dear to my heart (I built a chopped full custom '49 Merc for the MPC Contest series in the mid 1970's and no one knew what to think about it; it eventually won 2nd nationwide in the finals that year). It is very interesting to me that you based yours on the Revell kit, as even though I thought it was a well done effort overall, seems many trashed it for various reasons. Excellent progress so far and keep up the good work! TIM

Really, really cool idea and a great start to your project. Stance is everything in this type of car/model, and looks like you are really nailing that. Good Luck and will be watching the progress! TIM

Kit,,,,really well illustrated and explained. Thanks to you, more people will be tempted to do their own Chop Jobs, which is great for all of us...TIM

Just a clarification here, folks. This is a Kalmbach Publication project, not a publication of mine. I developed and contributed several stories for the special issue, and they've asked me to write a brief introduction for the issue, but that's the extent of my direct involvement. To those who are interested or who have already bought an advance copy, I think you will be pleased; to others I suggest you check it out when it is finally printed and make a purchase (or no- purchase) decision at that time...TIM

Charlie...yes...that was the car. Cheers, tim

Thanks everyone for your comments and thoughts. Just realized I left out one other completion....so that image is now added to the end of my original post at the beginning of this thread....TIM

Sorry...can't help on this one. Dennis Doty probably knows this most assuredly, or perhaps Mark B? TIM

Thanks for the clarification, Mark. Knew about the Paddy Wagon link to King T, but did not think the fender unit was revised at that time. And I thought the Night Crawler was reissued with the others, and that I bought several when that happened. Will go back to the stash and see if my memory is correct or not (although I wouldn't bet against yours!). Cheers....TIM

I was a local Michigan rocker (Seger went to my high school, albeit ten years before me) who followed him on his second scale up the rock world after the "Ramblin' Gamblin'" Capital Records breakout in 1968 didn't work out so well. At this point (early to mid 1970's) Seger and the Silver Bullet Band were playing the local bar circuit (Chances Are/Second Chance in Ann Arbor) and hockey arenas in Detroit, when they announced a show at the Cobo Hall arena. At that time, only the Stones were big enough to sellout that arena. Unbelievably (to us), the Seger concert sold out in a day. They promptly announced a second show for the night before the first, and I was there. This was the two-day event where they recorded the "Live Bullet" album. It was incredible - watching a local rock act transforming into a national/international superstar group, right before our eyes those two nights. Just electric. And yes, Alto Reed was a big part of those shows that 1975 weekend. GoodSpeed, Alto, you will be missed by millions I am sure. TIM

David...you are correct about Revell's AAR decals. The kit decals are "soft" and do not conform properly to the proportions of the rear fender. I used a set from an overseas decal provider - RAY'S DECALS (domiciled in Belgium, IIRC) - that was recommended by a Forum member over in the aftermarket suppliers section. They were not cheap (especially given overseas shipping) but they were part of a very complete decal set, executed with precision and accuracy to the 1/1, and the supplier was very good about keeping me informed on the progress of the order. Highly recommended for someone who is pulling out all the stops on a scale AAR replica...TIM

Hi Greg....I've built this boat and my impression is that it was more a long distance racing boat - like the 1940's and 1950's "crackerbox" racing boats, rather than a quarter mile racing boat like the others here could be used. (Of course, variations of that AMT Rayson Craft were also used for distance racing so the distinction is not quite as clear as it might be). Anyway, being a sidebar I was very limited in space (photos and words) as to what I could cover, and the ones pictured were those I thought fit closest to the drag racing theme of the book. Years ago (c. 2005 or so) I did a "kit history" article in Model Cars Magazine on 1/25th scale drag, racing, and ski boat kits, and that AMT 3 in 1 kit was for sure included there. Thx for the comment/question....TIM

Scott....thanks. I grabbed the wrong photo from my Fotki album (it was just placed just ahead of the one I wanted to used. Photo now corrected! Cheers...TIM