USMC_LB

Just joined the site and wanting to declare my entry is this years Cannonball. This magazine article captured my attention when I was a kid/teenager and I was instantly hooked on the beautiful lines of the body. Plus all the late 70s/early 80s technology all wired in. Kinda cheesy by today's standard but I am going to have a blast attempting to re-create this legend. Going to improve upon the powerplant by modding with some "Shelbyesque" power adders. But stay as true as I can to the original look of the cannonball racer. I will be using the AMT GT-350 kit which I have read does have issues. To see more pictures of the inspiration please see my build thread: 67 Shelby GT500 "Super Secret Snake" Cannonball racer LB

I am starting this thread to provide updates on my entry in the 2022 Cannonball. I will be using the AMT 67 GT-350 kit. I know this kit has known issues. If anyone can offer any tips or point me to the proper threads to deal with known issues I would appreciate it. The build will be based on my childhood dream car I read about in a magazine when i was in my teens. A metallic Nightmist Blue '67 Shelby GT 500 owned by a mysterious man, only referred to in the article as RPM (later I found out it is his real initials!), that built the car up specifically for Cannonball. It was adorned with adjustable aircraft landing lights, radar absorption materials under the body panels, dual radar detectors and a radar "communicator" that would cause the Troopers radar to read "55 mph" no matter what speed the Shelby was actually travelling. The carbs could be electronically controlled, there was a switch that could turn all the lights out at once, even the brake lights. The driver would have to wear night vision goggles to drive blacked out. Everything was electronically monitored, fuel temps at the carbs, transmission temps, oil pressure, oil temps, rear end temps, etc. The range of the vehicle was extended by replacing the backseat with a 42 gallon tank to complement the stock 15 gallon tank. The article refers to it as "FIREFOX" but I am going to christen my creation "SSS" aka "Super Secret Snake" for its ability to avoid detection and allude the authorites. I will post excerpts from the article when I can. Below is a montage of pictures I created and also a picture of the car at the finish line parking lot after a Cannonball event. It was one of the few that made it all the way without getting pulled over.

I have not built a model since I was a kid and have been looking to get back at it. Been lurking here a few weeks and just discovered the 2022 Cannonball thread. Looks like a LOT of fun and I have decided to declare an entry and just wanted to post here first since I have neglected to do so. Also looking to REbuilding some kits I did as a kid with a new focus on more detail and better paint jobs. Unfortunately all my old models are long gone along with my HUGE box of parts (HOT ROD three Ford classics kit) full of many discarded models and many many parts, bits rims and tires. Ahhh the good ol' days of sitting around and swapping model parts with your friends... We never built models the way they were intended. We always modded them. Sometimes too much... but we had fun! The detail some put into their work here is so impressive. Mr Obsessive blew my mind with his roll up windows!! Awesome work! Many amazing modelers here and I hope to learn many tips and tricks. Keep up the great work I enjoy looking at all the incredible builds! Thanks! TimD aka "LB"