Revell's "Hot Rod Hydro" - What's New and Different with this reissue?

[spike morelli]

One more note, about the box stated engine size of 341. The original box art shows the "Varooom" boat with "SK"  ( Ski-Kilometer )designation on it's flanks. SK boats are a class of circle boat, loosely based on a ski boat, NOT a drag boat. One races in circles and ovals, the other is a straight-line only racer. In the early SK class rulebooks, engine cubic inches was limited to 400 cu in or less. Up to 1965 the 354/392 Chrysler was super popular, so you could use a 341, but it would not be competitive. In 1965, 396 Chevys and de-stroked 427 Fords were gaining popularity, but still limited to 400 inches. This rule was relaxed sometime around 1967.

Also, the APBA rulebooks stated that there must be seating for two in SK, usually not a bench seat but rather two bucket seats. In a dragboat, naturally,  only the driver's seat is required. SK class engines were limited to carburetion, no blowers or injection, unlike dragboats . The Revell kit models  what was likely seen in California in the earliest sixties, being an all wooden hull with a wood deck. Around this time, fiberglass hulls became in vogue as well, but many still liked the wood deck look, and 'glass hulls could be so ordered with a cool wood deck. The two-toned "Monkeypod" deck decal that Jarius designed is appropriate, as was the original Mahogany insert,...but the straight board straked wood decal is totally wrong for anything of this type. More appropriate on a Chriss-Craft, or a Gar-Wood type inboard.

Here's what a hot inboard looked like in '63, this, being a Stevens hull.

[wrenchr]

Social distancing  from the water................?

Never had one of those revell kits, might need to grab one. 

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by wrenchr

[Mr. Metallic]

On 3/29/2020 at 4:32 PM, spike morelli said:

One more note, about the box stated engine size of 341. The original box art shows the "Varooom" boat with "SK"  ( Ski-Kilometer )designation on it's flanks. SK boats are a class of circle boat, loosely based on a ski boat, NOT a drag boat. One races in circles and ovals, the other is a straight-line only racer. In the early SK class rulebooks, engine cubic inches was limited to 400 cu in or less. Up to 1965 the 354/392 Chrysler was super popular, so you could use a 341, but it would not be competitive. In 1965, 396 Chevys and de-stroked 427 Fords were gaining popularity, but still limited to 400 inches. This rule was relaxed sometime around 1967.

Also, the APBA rulebooks stated that there must be seating for two in SK, usually not a bench seat but rather two bucket seats. In a dragboat, naturally,  only the driver's seat is required. SK class engines were limited to carburetion, no blowers or injection, unlike dragboats . The Revell kit models  what was likely seen in California in the earliest sixties, being an all wooden hull with a wood deck. Around this time, fiberglass hulls became in vogue as well, but many still liked the wood deck look, and 'glass hulls could be so ordered with a cool wood deck. The two-toned "Monkeypod" deck decal that Jarius designed is appropriate, as was the original Mahogany insert,...but the straight board straked wood decal is totally wrong for anything of this type. More appropriate on a Chriss-Craft, or a Gar-Wood type inboard.

Here's what a hot inboard looked like in '63, this, being a Stevens hull.

 

Since you seem very knowledgeable on boat racing, could you shed some light on the older boats, like the one depicted by the AMT Chris Craft in the thread below? I've been gathering parts to build a race boat version with a flathead, and your insights on the kit would be appreciated. 

If possible, maybe make a post in that thread?