Ramcharger

Great Job! I just got the kit to do this same build.

I've been working on my Gremlin kit for the Ohio Challenge at BSAC's Buckeye Classic on March 24th. It's not exactly class legal for anything (or even track legal) but I'm having fun with it. The motor is set back way too far, it has a scratchbuilt straight axle, It's jacked to the sky in front and slammin' on the slicks for that "cowboy" rake. It has a blown fuel injected Hemi and a 9' rear. The interior is being turned into the motor housing and the driver is hanging out in the breeze a la the old fuel coupes. He does get a funny car cage to protect him in the event of a rollover. This is still in the mockup stage, so there are still a few issues to work out. As always, comments welcome!

Here's a sneak peek at part of the traveling trophy for the Ohio Challenge Gremlin build off. BTW, a little birdie told me that the winner of this year's build off picks the kit (from four choices) for next year's build.

What do you mean if the weather is good? This is sunny Ohio, the weather is always wonderful!! You know between the blazing hot summers and the psychotic bi-polar winters, it's like Hawaii down here. We hope to see you here in March!

Bump for this Sunday!

Next weekend; bump!

Tom, Kevin and Donn got me motivated to put up the entry forms and vendor forms on our website. Just click the link in my sig line and follow the link on our site. See y'all then!

By the way, I hear the '75 Gremlin goes together easier. I thought they were the same kit(?), so I don't think anyone will be picking nit if a '75 shows up instead of the '76. Just a thought for all of the would be competitors out there!

Oh NOOO!! I had one I had to do that to, the AMT 70 1/2 Camaro, some of those old kits are, uh, challenging! My Gremlin is getting some MAJOR surgery, and I hear others are also. Maybe you could bring the the pieces and we could have a funeral, or maybe it will win fist prize! Either way, we'll be happy to have you there!

The BSAC is having a little show in Columbus on January 27th at the Hobbyland store on East Broad st. We're handing out a trophy for 1st place in Junior, Bantam, and Adult class, and ribbons for 2nd & 3rd in each class. Judging will be either popular vote or the owner will judge depending on turnout. So if you're in the Columbus area on the 27th of this month, stop by 6919 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43213, with a few kits and join the fun!

We're getting geared up for our third annual show, including the Buckeye Challenge build of the Gremlin. Come see the best of Ohio build a Gremlin for all the marbles! We have a really cool super secret bonzai monster unique trophy for the winning club to display for a year. You will also see the best the Buckeye state and surrounding states have to offer as far as model cars. Vendor spaces are available and as always, plenty of room for more model cars! So throw the kids in the back of the car, phone the neighbors to join you, and head to central Ohio for the Buckeye Classic!

Thanks guys! I wanted it to look like a driver, not so much a rat rod. I've been working on weathering my builds a little to make them look more realistic and like they have been driven. As for the PBR shifter, it's the rodder's choice! Lots of us old hillbillies still drink it, Bud Light is a little to wimpy for us. To each his own I guess.

This is the old Revell Rat Rod T-Bucket Kit (now reissued as the original Roth Tweedy Pie), I scratchbuilt the gas tank on the back, added a Detail Master aluminum gas cap, the throttle linkage was made out of a soda can and beading wire, the ruby red fuel lines (like back in the day) are fishing line colored with Sharpie, the fuel log is a section of octagonal rod, some soda can was used for the hold downs. The draglink and tie rod is made from stainless steel tubing and the kit ends. There's an aluminum Detail Master magneto hidden in there also. The motor is from the 53 Ford with resin Dodge "Red Ram" valve covers, the exhaust manifolds are from an unknown kit with aluminum turnouts and flanges made from a soda can. I used the Dragmaster manifold with the 8 Strombergs that I drilled out and added venturis to. I cut down the stock windshield frame, added a PBR logo to the tap handle shifter, and flocked the interior. The wheels and whitewalls are weathered as are the headers. The hardest part of this kit is getting all of the sink marks and ejector pin marks out of the chassis. All of the chrome is Alclad aircraft aluminum and the paint is Wal~mart flat black. Overall, I'd say it was a fun build, I think it came out O.K. Comments and criticisms welcome. Here's the photos: Thanks for looking!

Red Pegasus is really good. He has a website I can't recall the address, so you'll have to Google him. He did my 61 & 62 Ramchargers decals.

It was good to see you, Todd, & Greg up there yesterday. A really good show, but they seem to drag it out a little long. Oh well, I had a good time no matter what.

Nitro Neil, I am jealous! That is waaay cool, I really want one, but not enough to build one. Al, you did notice some NASCARs in that photo. I'm a huge Bill Elliott fan so I'm working on building most of his cars. Early in his career he had lots of different sponsors, so I'm just picking and choosing. Late in his career they started the different paint scheme for each track so I'm passing on a bunch of those too. I'm mainly interested on the "Coors" era.

Roger (caine440) - no plans for the 'Cuda, I thought about it, but then I'd have to build the Challenger they ran in one race in about 1970, and the last funny car, the Dart Sport from about 1976 or so. In reality the 67 Dart was the last car the "real" Ramchargers were involved with, after that it was hired drivers and crew, more or less. I am doing the 61 car but not the '49 Plymouth. Niko(W-409) - The dragster in slated for later next year. It will be the first front engine dragster I've built since I was a kid, We'll see how that goes. Thanks to everyone for the kind comments.

Al (Tubbs) Matheny requested photos of all my Ramchargers cars so here you go! Remember, some of these were built over a period of several years about 10 or so years ago. Don't judge too harshly, my skills have improved and some of them have done the show circuit and are showing their age. You can definitely tell which ones were built or rebuilt recently. Enjoy, and thanks for looking! BTW, comments welcome! More at the link: Rons Stuff

John, the original chassis is loooong gone, sorry. These are some smokin' lookin' Mopars and they were (are) screamers on the track. Niko, here's a shot of the front:

On Nov 1st, 2012 at 7:30 PM at the Panera Bread in Westerville, Ohio an event of epic proportions will happen. That's when the greatest minds in modeling will converge to show off their best and baddest. Be prepared to be mesmerized by the awsomeness of their building prowess. Oh, and the return of... (dramatic pause) ... THE GIANT FINGER OF DOOM!!! Bring your best builds to share in the awsomeness!!!

It was easier than I thought to foil the car, the 64 Marauder is worse! The hood is open at the rear on purpose for the reason you mention, good eye! I guess everybody ran them that way back in the day. I have 1 more set i got for a back up, shoot me a PM and we'll work a deal.

Thanks, guys! John, your input means a lot. I have admired your builds for a while now.

Thanks, fellas! The 66 was away cool car although not as popular as Charlie Allen's, Gene Snow's, or Dick Landy's cars.

I'll see what I can do tonight when I get home. The 67 is at the local hobby shop, so I'll substitute my 65 AWB, my 70 Chalenger F/C, and my 73 Demon F/C instead. BTW, thanks for the kind reviews, they are not my best effort. Caine440, you're right, the R&R stuff is a little rough but with enough work they come out OK.

Alright, last one for now! I started with a resin body of unknown origin several years ago, added a funny car chassis (Polar Lights, I think) modified it a but and added a Hemi and fuel injection. I had to do some serious modifications to the front end area to get it to open. Apparently, the Ramchargers had some issues with the flip front also, because I found pictures with the ends of the bumper cut off. I also found some pictures and magazine articles on this car when I was almost done and it is not correct. Needless to say, these are built for my own pleasure, not as contest winners. Thanks for looking!