Phildaupho

Thanks everyone for your comments. For more photos of the real car go to my fotki album SYDICATE SCUDERIA DRAGSTER album | Phildaupho | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy. This is how the Syndicate Scuderia compared to a typical A/D back in the day.

I first became aware of the Syndicate Scuderia Dragster when it appeared in the Vancouver Sun newspaper February 1963. The police had closed a road to permit the dragster to make a test run before heading to the Winternationals in Pomona California where it won the best appearing car. I finally saw the Syndicate Scuderia dragster in person later that spring at the Vancouver Rod & Custom show. It was the most beautiful vehicle I had ever seen and what an interesting sounding name. At the time I didn’t even know what the words meant. The A-Gas dragster was constructed by master engine builder and bodyman Jack Williams. When first built, the HEMI engine had a front mounted Potvin blower which was out of sight under a raised section of the forward bodywork with a scoop on one side and the induction pipes wrapping to the top of the engine from the other side. I really liked the look of Potvin blowers as was used on the Mooneyes dragster. I had built the AMT double dragster kit directly from the box with no paint with side-by-side Potvin blown Chevies after getting it for Christmas 1961. The next time I saw the Syndicate Scuderia was maybe in 1964 at the Arlington Washington Dragstrip. From an esthetics point of view, I was kind of disappointed to see the Syndicate had been converted to a top mounted blower but I eventually learned the revised configuration could produce more boost and therefore power. Decades passed between seeing the Syndicate a couple more times before the BC Hot Rod Reunion this summer where I was not only able to closely examine it but to also hear the engine run and see the dragster make a couple of slow passes down the strip. Although I had thought of it many times before, this recent experience finally gave me the inspiration to try and build a tribute model to my favourite dragster. My objective was to create a model that at least resembles the Syndicate Scuderia and captures its spirit. I did not have a big supply of dragster stuff in my stash – only the remaining parts from the most recent reissue of the AMT Double Dragster kit and the Tony Nancy 2x22JR kit – but I figured that would be enough. BODY – The streamlined cockpit area of the body came from the AMT Double Dragster kit. I have probably never made as many modifications to a body as this one. It was narrowed, shortened, sectioned and molded with Tamiya Epoxy Putty. A new windscreen area was cut open and covered blue clear from a French carbonated water bottle. The forward part of the body work was formed by thin Evergreen styrene shaped and glued over the Tony Nancy kit bodywork. The raised section ahead of the engine uses part of the Tony Nancy rear bodywork which was cut away. FRAME – The frame is pretty much box-stock from the Tony Nancy kit FRONT SUSPENSION – Combines a modified axle and steering link from the Revell ’32 Ford combined with Tony Nancy components. ENGINE – The latest Revell Willys Gasser supplied the blown HEMI. The weed-eater headers are aluminum tubing. I also fabed up a separate Potvin supercharged HEMI with parts from the AMT Double Dragster and block from a ’32 5W to show the original engine configuration. WHEELS & TIRES – The slicks and rear Torque-Thrusts are from the Tony Nancy kit while the front wheels are Replicas & Miniatures with the narrowest tires, I could find that fit. PAINT – Tamiya Pearl Blue on the outside and aluminum on the side DECALS – From photos I took of car recently re-coloured in Photoshop and ink-jet printed on white decal paper with blue background for application over the dark blue paint. The edges of the decals showed white so were trimmed using a dark ink pen from an art supply store.

Have any Canadian subscribers received their Rodder's Journal yet.

Very well done outside and in

I am agreeing with everyone else - great looking Deuce Hot Rod.

Thanks guys - I have a small update. At the front of the model, you will see the Maple Leaf Modelworks 3-D printed 51 Meteor grill. It did require a fair amount of trimming for it to fit the opening. Also visible are the frenched headlights, smoothed bumper and rounded hood corners. The Buick side trim is from Replicas & Miniatures. At the rear of the model, I have opened up the taillight mounting area so the lenses can be frenched. The rear bumper has also been smoothed and will have a custom over-rider with openings for the exhaust.

Thanks Barry

215 arrived in Victoria BC Canada today October 12

You are a fortunate fellow building one of my most desired kits. I am going to have to make do with the sows ear AMT kit.

I am building a tribute model to what is considered the first full custom car in Vancouver BC Canada. In 1951 Jack Williams customized a two-year-old '49 Ford 4-door. To create a 4-door I used two AMT '49 Ford Coupe bodies. I cut out the side windows and removed the back portion of the roof from both bodies. The front window frames from one of the bodies would become the back window frames on the 4-door. Both front and rear windows needed to be shortened to the lengths of the re-scribed side doors. The roof was lengthened using the second roof section. The A and C pillars were chopped a scale 3-inches, but I was surprised when the side window heights remained almost stock I guess this was due to the material removed when the window frames were cut from the bodies. The back side window shape is a long way from being accurately stock but was the closest I could get without cutting up another body like maybe a '57 Chev 2-Door Post. I used the running gear from a previously built shoebox for the mock-up. Another unique feature of the car was that it was powered by a Cadillac V-12. I am going to try to fabricate something representative by mating parts from two AMT '51 Chev 6-cylinder engines. This car still exists locally, and I hope to see it again soon.

Outstanding collection of scale Chaparrals. I only have two Chaparral based models in my collection - a self-converted to 2D to final specs and the 70 Camaro Trans-Am. Next on my want to build Chaparral raced cars is the Gransport.

Thanks again Scott - Great information. Very interesting. I have moved on to a couple of new projects so likely my Old Yeller will stay as is.

Here is a link to the photos I took at Monterey when Chaparral was the featured marque. They may be helpful restoring those survivors. Chaparral album | Phildaupho | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

Thanks, Scott, for the photos. I didn't think I had had that issue of Vintage Motorsport but I had to check none the less. It was before I became a subscriber.

Thanks, Scott, for your great reply. I always like it when I have an inter- personal connection to a model build. I have been very fortunate over the years that there have been quite a few such connections.

Looks great in the Sunoco livery. Kirk F White was certainly associated with some great Ferraris including this one and the Gurney/Yates Cannonball Ferrari Daytona

Very well-done replica. I have always had a soft spot for these Toyotas since I did a race school in one very similar and which will be a future build as I have the kits I need in my stash.

Really enjoyed seeing all these Chaparral builds. Always been a fan.

Thanks JC. I did not do a WIP post because I was not sure I would be able to take this build to completion but here are a couple of early build phtos.

I sent photos of the model to Ernie Nagamatsu the longtime owner of Old Yeller II. He sent me an envelope with some Old Yeller memorabilia inside and this amazing hand painted version of Old Yeller II on the front of the envelope. He also posted photos of the model on his personal Facebook page. Thanks Ernie !!

What a pleasant surprise when I opened up your post expecting to see a sow's ear but found a yellow silk purse. Looks very nice in the photos and I am sure in the display case. I was just checking out what I hope will be my next project - a 1/24 GT40 MKI

Great model car show with many truly outstanding models.

Absolutely outstanding. I am reminded of being in Sienna in 2011 when a classic rally passed through.

All I can say is WOW!!