mvadrag

Inspired by Speedpro's over the top build of this Monogram oldie, I dug out my build version (late eighties) and took some new pictures. In retrospect, I see that I did not work on the fit up of the removable front as much as I should have. In fact, I kept that part of the kit even though I put it on the Monogram 1970 Malibu SS 454 chassis. I did not use the hood scoop because I wanted the carbs and blower sticking out of the hood. Wheels and tires are from a set by Arii, featuring rubber tires and a satin aluminum finish.

Another tiny update. Got the rear end repaired, painted and installed. I scanned the instruction sheet and cutout the Match Car Set-up picture for your reference. Comments always welcome. I have pieces of the driver, but not the whole guy.

Wow! A lot of nice work going on here. This is going to look great when finished.

I like it! Restoring old build drag cars is one of my favorite activities. Trying to find all the right parts is part of the fun. I have an old build El Toro and a couple of Mopower kits that can use your style of rebuild.

Small update. Installed the seat and steering gear. Forgot all about the driveshaft and rear end assembly again. I stashed it in my closet and have not repaired or painted it yet.

AMT Fiat with fenders added. AMT Fiat extended version.

In the mean time, I started some chassis assembly. I haven't repaired the rear end assembly yet and I haven't painted the seat, so those are still to come. I will add the steering parts once the seat is painted/installed.

Well Steve, I got no responses to my question. I just pried the pieces apart best I could. No big failures. Does anyone know what that stuff is? Product or chemical??

The new scoop is a definite improvement. The spoon test color looks really good, but maybe a little lighter would match the '67 photo better. I will keep watching.

It is fun to see progress on this build. All these miniature detail parts are amazing! The top portion with the curved plenums look to be hose clamped onto a fuel injection manifold. Are you planning the same thing for your big block? Will your little hose clamps work? Keep it up!

If you look closely at the first picture I posted of the gold painted GTO body, you can see that the shadow line was removed when the door handle was removed by the previous builder. I decided to try to add that detail back to the body rather than sanding it all away. Not sure that what I am calling the shadow line is correct for a real car, but I decided to try and restore it. I took some 3M 1/8th inch wide vinyl tape and laid it along the line on the body. Then I took some "Mr. White Putty" and smeared it over the top edge of the tape. I sanded it to match the surrounding contour with some 180, then 320 sand paper. When I removed the tape, voila, the edge was back. Close enough for me, anyway. Still undecided about doing it to the other side, as it sorta looks okay.

Here is a little bit of craziness. If you look closely, you can see that the MPC Hurst mags included in this kit have a "H" molded in the center. Here is a photo of the 1:1 wheel off the internet. And here is some crazy detailing with a toothpick and some Testors acrylic paint. Not perfect, but you get the idea...

I have been cleaning up and painting various bits from the model. Spent some time putting flat black where it needed it, and touching up the chrome with a Molotow pen.

Nice pictures of a cool GTO drag car. Is that an Olympia beer logo? This car is from the northwest? I might be painting my version gold as a link to the original build of the model. Hopefully my paint job is a little nicer!

Nice work. I am sure that gasser chassis is going to be swapped into many Chevy II's. With big blocks, for sure.

Once I had the edges cleaned up, I glued the roll bar back in. Once it was set, I thinned some Testors Flat Gun Metal and sprayed the all the chassis nook and crannies. I had to also paint brush touch up some areas where the airbrush could not reach. It seems monochromatic right now, but I plan to detail paint a few areas. You can see the trans is aluminum and the starter is steel. Kind of tough getting in the tight spots with a brush and my shaky hands. ? Trying to make it look way better than before and get it on the shelf.

I changed the title to 1966 Pontiac GTO as looking closer, the tail panel is for a '66. Also, I only have the custom front and back valances.

Aurora 1934 Ford body from the old double kit.

Nice work. I like your attention to detail on all your builds.

I had better luck with the body, but It was a struggle to remove the gold paint. I tried soaking in "Purple Power" that I get at Walmart, but it did nothing to the gold paint. It usually takes care of hobby enamel with an over night soak, not so with this gold. I had to resort to Easy Off, but the fumes are terrible. Please use that stuff outside! It cut thru to the plastic, but all the edges and crevasses were thick with paint. Next came a rag and mineral spirits. That took the remaining gold away. This is what I have to work with. Pretty clean, but the previous builder sanded off the door handles, GTO script, and emblem off the sides. Notice the ridge down the side of the body was damaged when the door handles were removed. This shot is after I cleaned up the sides with some 320. I have to decide whether to build back the ridge or sand it all off.

The next step was to see how far I could take this thing apart without destroying anything. I used to have a liquid that dissolved old cement (anyone know what that stuff is?) but it ran out and my source didn't have anymore, so I went with the pry and pray route. Most of the parts came loose, except the engine to chassis joint. It would not budge. The roll bar broke loose while I was prying on the seat, they both came off at the same time! Kind of a nasty mess, but a good start with most parts useable. The rear axle broke loose from the trailing arm on one side, and I then broke the other side while sanding the part smooth. I cleaned up all the cutouts with a file and sanding sticks.

Some months back I was cruising thru eBay checking some of my favorite sellers and one of them, reese_models, was selling " MPC 1967 GTO FUNNY CAR VERSION WITH ORIGINAL HARD TO FIND DRAG PARTS 1/25! ". I was surprised he got a good chunk of change for this sale. It reminded me that I have one of those already built up in my model closet that I got from a friend of mine. Why not try and restore the one I have. You can see, not the best build up and most of it not painted. The worst part was the chassis painted a glossy orange...

I was gong to take a guess at the front axle source, but mine was the Black Jack T. Looks like at least these two kits shared the same street rod chassis from MPC.

WOW! I just saw this thread last night while checking wips on the forum during commercial breaks on Street Outlaws. Today I went through the whole build sequence. Unbelievable! I love the paint job... on top of all the great fabrication...

I have been following this build on my phone (during long commercial breaks on Street Outlaws !! ) and am greatly impressed by your dedication to "correct" all the flaws in one of my favorite Monogram kits. Fantastic! I have the red one and the black one still in my stash. I used this body on a Monogram 1970 Chevelle SS chassis to make a street cruiser. Can't wait to see yours completed.