Revell Attempt I Record Car, great for early dragster parts and trailer

[Greg Myers]

 Yeah, it's only got a 4 cylinder ( Half a V-8 at that ) and a salt flats body, but the rest is just right on '60's dragster stuff AND a trailer, worth the price of admittance, check your model show / swap meets. 

Edited November 8, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Howard Cohen]

In 1963 I attended the custom car show in Montreal where there was a 'Revell-Testors' make & take. I chose the Revell Attempt 1 because it had a trailer and a parachute. I was also given some Testors paint, glue and brushes to use to build the model.I sat there for an hour, my Father standing there wondering what was happening (he wasn't a car guy but he enjoyed watching me build). After an hour they told me my time was up but that I could take everything home with me. I was in awe! Part of the 'Revell-Testors' display included built models from the Revell catalog and a display of Testors paints. I didn't finish the model at the show but I did finish it when I got home. Over the years the model was severely damaged (maybe too much glue)  When the kit was re-issued, I bought a new one with the intention of re-building my old one. It is in the stash pile The old kit has disappeared but I still have the trailer  

Yes, the parts in this kit are excellent for building a mid-60s rail or hot rod or Bonneville car  

[Snake45]

I'm planning to build mine as a "generic" early '60s dragster, and I think I might even be able to build a "curbside" or "desk model" of the Attempt I with the leftovers.

[Scott Colmer]

Yep. I picked up a few of Hot Rod issue of those when they were at the clearance center for 4 bucks each - back in the 80s.

[slantasaurus]

Be aware that the Hot Rod issue of the Attempt 1 does not have the trailer included.

[unclescott58]

Another one I wish Revell would consider bring back. I've never had one in the past. But, from what I'm seeing, and knowing it had the Pontiac Tempest 4 as an engine. I want one.

[Greg Myers]

Be aware that the Hot Rod issue of the Attempt 1 does not have the trailer included.

Yes,  http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/revell-instructions/straightline-competition/revell-attempt-1-/attemptboxtop.html#media

[Bernard Kron]

I did one a few years back. Here's a great site for Dragmaster lore. It hasn't been active in a while but it's full og good info to build a digger from this kit: http://1962dragmaster.blogspot.com/ . I pinched the Dragmaster logo on the site to make my own for my build.

If you do a proper V8 powered quarter miler, as opposed to an LSR car like the Attempt 1, you'll need to use a somewhat wider front axle. IIRC I used a Tony Nancy Double Dragster setup. Natutally mine had to be Pontiac powered, although to build a replica the ultimate subject would be Pete Robinson's '62 Nationals winning ultra-light Chevy Small Block powered machine. It went through tech inspection at just over 800 lbs.!

Pete Robinson's giant killer:

 

My meager Attempt (ha ha):

 

Edited November 9, 2015 by Bernard Kron

[RancheroSteve]

Like most of the Revell kits of that era, it's very well detailed with a lot of tiny parts - tough for a kid to build, but fun and challenging for an adult. I believe only the first issue has the trailer and parachute.

The chassis is almost identical to the Mooneyes dragster chassis. If you want to build a more correct Attempt 1, you'll need to add an extra hoop to the roll cage. Like a lot of kits, the body isn't split in a prototypically correct manner (for practical reasons I assume), but it can be made so with a little work.

A few years ago, I got to handle the carved body buck for the Revell kit. It's now at the Model Car Builders Museum in Salt Lake City. I'll dig some photos of that out when I can.

 

[vintagercr]

In 1963 I attended the custom car show in Montreal where there was a 'Revell-Testors' make & take. I chose the Revell Attempt 1 because it had a trailer and a parachute. I was also given some Testors paint, glue and brushes to use to build the model.I sat there for an hour, my Father standing there wondering what was happening (he wasn't a car guy but he enjoyed watching me build). After an hour they told me my time was up but that I could take everything home with me. I was in awe! Part of the 'Revell-Testors' display included built models from the Revell catalog and a display of Testors paints. I didn't finish the model at the show but I did finish it when I got home. Over the years the model was severely damaged (maybe too much glue)  When the kit was re-issued, I bought a new one with the intention of re-building my old one. It is in the stash pile The old kit has disappeared but I still have the trailer  

Yes, the parts in this kit are excellent for building a mid-60s rail or hot rod or Bonneville car  

That's a great story Howard.  I wish Revell would re-issue with the trailer.

[Mr. Metallic]

Like most of the Revell kits of that era, it's very well detailed with a lot of tiny parts - tough for a kid to build, but fun and challenging for an adult. I believe only the first issue has the trailer and parachute.

The chassis is almost identical to the Mooneyes dragster chassis. If you want to build a more correct Attempt 1, you'll need to add an extra hoop to the roll cage. Like a lot of kits, the body isn't split in a prototypically correct manner (for practical reasons I assume), but it can be made so with a little work.

A few years ago, I got to handle the carved body buck for the Revell kit. It's now at the Model Car Builders Museum in Salt Lake City. I'll dig some photos of that out when I can.

 

This build is awesome. I built one when I was a kid and would like to build something similar to this level someday. I even went as far to get an unbuilt original issue so I would have the trailer and the issue of Hot Rod that featured this car. I wonder if the real car exists somewhere.

[DrKerry]

I built this kit about two years ago as the Attempt 1 car and it builds up pretty nice!!!! I have it displayed without the clam shell body but the body is painted and  sitting next to it...

[Howard Cohen]

Sidebar...many years ago I read a book about Mickey and his early runs at Bonneville. He had trouble with the front suspension bending or breaking when he hit a small crease in the salt. Apparently at 200MPH when the tire comes off the ground a half inch or so, it takes almost 300 feet before the suspension can work and stabilize the car and when it lands, ouch . Mickey decided to try a block of wood firmly attached in place of the shocks so there would be no give. The next run the car stayed planted on the salt when he hit the crease and there was no damage. From there he worked on a new front suspension. Another home grown genius  

[dodgefever]

I wonder if the real car exists somewhere.

It does.  http://www.tachrev.com/NHRA_Museumpg4.htm

[Mr. Metallic]

It does.  http://www.tachrev.com/NHRA_Museumpg4.htm

Awesome. Thanks!

[RancheroSteve]

This build is awesome. I built one when I was a kid and would like to build something similar to this level someday.

Thanks for the kind words, Craig. There are a few things I think I could do a little better now, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The kit is mostly accurate out of the box, but responds well to a little extra detailing, and there's good amount of reference material out there to help.

As promised, here are a few shots of the Revell Attempt 1 buck. It gives me an appreciation of what goes into creating a model kit, especially back then.

It's hard to get a sense of scale in these photos, but as I remember it the buck is about 16" long.

I didn't realize it at first, but it's in two pieces:

 

[Daddyfink]

Thanks for the kind words, Craig. There are a few things I think I could do a little better now, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The kit is mostly accurate out of the box, but responds well to a little extra detailing, and there's good amount of reference material out there to help.

As promised, here are a few shots of the Revell Attempt 1 buck. It gives me an appreciation of what goes into creating a model kit, especially back then.

It's hard to get a sense of scale in these photos, but as I remember it the buck is about 16" long.

I didn't realize it at first, but it's in two pieces:

 

I think Tom West owns this buck

[RancheroSteve]

I think Tom West owns this buck

He did - he donated it (along with a whole bunch of historic catalogs and literature) to the Model Car Builder's Museum a few years back.

[Greg Myers]

[Scott Colmer]

That's a great pic! Looks like they are missing some of the induction system. 

[oldnslow]

Some assembly required! 

[DrKerry]

That's a great pic! Looks like they are missing some of the induction system.

Could still be att ached to the blower, it's a crank driven system so it mounts on the front of the engine.

[High octane]

It does.  http://www.tachrev.com/NHRA_Museumpg4.htm

Maybe I'll be able to visit the N.H.R.A. Museum next year as I'll be out that way. We'll see?

[Scott Colmer]

Could still be att ached to the blower, it's a crank driven system so it mounts on the front of the engine.

They may be out of sight, but I am looking for the two tubes that run from the blower manifold to the engine manifold. Also I can't spot the blower manifold.

[Greg Myers]

 Also I can't Just spot the blower manifold.

Just above the yellow clutch  

Edited November 12, 2015 by Greg Myers