1/25 AMT George Barris' Fireball 500

[Joe Handley]

I built one for the first Scale Cannonball Run Community Build (back then it was held on the Scale Auto Forum) using an AMT '71 Duster chassis.

Dustball 500 29-11-08 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Dustball 500 29-11-08 07 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

 

I like that paint job alot more than the Barris movie car paint.  Was there any special trimming needed to get the Duster chassis to fit?

Edited October 29, 2017 by Joe Handley

[BuilderX]

Here's a version I did a few years ago using parts box grill.

[zenrat]

I like that paint job alot more than the Barris movie car paint.  Was there any special trimming needed to get the Duster chassis to fit?

I can't remember Joe.  It was a long time ago.
Looking at the underside photo though there appears to be a transverse cut under the seats and the front subframe also looks to be slid forwards slightly.
I'd therefore conclude I shortened it by cutting out a slice and then when it would fit into the body I fine tuned the wheelbase by moving the subframe forwards (i'm of the "judge by eye, cut once, adjust to fit" school of thought).
The rear of the chassis may have had to be trimmed into a V shape to fit the rear valance.
Engine is base on the 340 in the Duster kit and at the back is a scratchbuilt IRS.

[Mike999]

Here's the Fireball 500 car I'd like to see somebody release!  That blue 1960 Dodge Seneca 2-door sedan.  It was a guest star in "Fireball 500" in 1966, and also appeared in "Thunder Alley" in 1967.  (I have all the American-International beach/teen movies saved on my WD-TV box.  No, I don't know why...)

[randyc]

Sweet choice.  Yep that would be a great kit.  Not a lot of sales though...

 

[Casey]

On 10/6/2017 at 9:53 PM, gtx6970 said:

Wonder what the decals look like this issue ?

http://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/4078-coming-off-the-shelf-a-commemorative-classic/#sthash.3ndI9wfW.dpbs

[unclescott58]

On 10/30/2017 at 2:32 PM, Mike999 said:

 (I have all the American-International beach/teen movies saved on my WD-TV box.  No, I don't know why...)

Why? Because they're great movies. They're no Citizen Kane. But, they are a heck of a lot fun. 

[ChrisBcritter]

Seriously, again with the wrong font on the CA plates? Here you go.

Save, reduce and print.

[keyser]

OK, I'm convinced. The plate font is CLEARLY the worst error. Scale stop leak should fix the hole in the block. Bwahahahahahahaha...breathe...Bwahahahahahahahaha

[unclescott58]

The last one I built, I painted it black and gave it Gotham City license plates. 

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, unclescott58 said:

The last one I built, I painted it black and gave it Gotham City license plates. 

 

 

Amazing! I once gave serious thought to building one as the Robinmobile, but decided there was no possible tasteful or attractive way to paint it red, green, and yellow. 

In black as you've done it, it could be Green Hornet's Sunday fun car. 

[1972coronet]

On ‎11‎/‎29‎/‎2017 at 2:47 PM, ChrisBcritter said:

Seriously, again with the wrong font on the CA plates? Here you go.

Save, reduce and print.

Not only the incorrect-for-that-series-font , but a 'Vanity' plate (e.g. , the "FB 500") prior to the blue / gold of 1970 is just plain incorrect .

[Snake45]

48 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Not only the incorrect-for-that-series-font , but a 'Vanity' plate (e.g. , the "FB 500") prior to the blue / gold of 1970 is just plain incorrect .

You and Chris B are in the wrong hobby. You should be in Model Airplane World, where you would gain high status as Rivet Counters. 

[ChrisBcritter]

Don't get me started... I save that for real aircraft, as anyone on the Warbird Information Exchange and Aero Vintage boards would know. I spent ten years trying to verify the serial on ONE B-17... but I got it.

"FB 500" would be usable now that CA is reissuing vintage style black plates.

Edited December 2, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[unclescott58]

1 hour ago, 1972coronet said:

Not only the incorrect-for-that-series-font , but a 'Vanity' plate (e.g. , the "FB 500") prior to the blue / gold of 1970 is just plain incorrect .

What was on the car in the movie? 

[gtx6970]

14 hours ago, unclescott58 said:

The last one I built, I painted it black and gave it Gotham City license plates. 

Now there' an idea I never would have thought of. 

I may have to borrow your idea.

 

 

Sorry guys but if I worried about the wrong  font on  license plate  decal on a model car would take ALL the fun out of it for me. 

 

Edited December 2, 2017 by gtx6970

[Snake45]

9 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Don't get me started... I save that for real aircraft, as anyone on the Warbird Information Exchange and Aero Vintage boards would know. I spent ten years trying to verify the serial on ONE B-17... but I got it.

I can relate. I've spent that long or longer trying to find out exactly what color gray was used on the VNAF A-1 Skyraiders. To this day all I know for sure is that MOST of them were NOT the "standard USN gull gray and white" scheme that nearly all books mention (although a few were). 

Do you use the same name on WIX? I do. 

[unclescott58]

2 hours ago, gtx6970 said:

Now there' an idea I never would have thought of. 

I may have to borrow your idea.

 

Your more than welcome to "borrow" the idea. I always thought that the Fireball 500 would make a great Batmobile. 

[Atmobil]

Anyone got a piture of the trailer in this kit?

[ChrisBcritter]

2 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Do you use the same name on WIX? I do. 

Full name. You, me and Jesse C. from San Diego - the three WIXketeers here. Look up "Paducah B-17" on the search box and you'll say "Oh, that guy." 

Edited December 2, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[Casey]

32 minutes ago, Atmobil said:

Anyone got a piture of the trailer in this kit?

[1972coronet]

13 hours ago, unclescott58 said:

What was on the car in the movie? 

I honestly couldn't answer to that , as I've never watched the film . Oftentimes , movie / television vehicles are adorned with fictitious plates --- the licence plate on the red 1971 / 1972 Valiant in Duel , for instance , was "149 PCE" . This is an incorrect plate for a "real" / "civilian" car , as blue & gold plates didn't receive a "P" prefix until 1976 --- 4-5 years after the movie .

It's easy to spot and differentiate a 1963-1969 black / gold plate from the new , retro plates : the fonts are different ; the "63" is ostensibly missing from the right-side impression (where the registration sticker is to be placed) ; and , the finish is markedly different (reflective properties on retro plates , with a subtle red pearl) .

[1972coronet]

14 hours ago, Snake45 said:

You and Chris B are in the wrong hobby. You should be in Model Airplane World, where you would gain high status as Rivet Counters. 

As a life-long California native and resident , and  as a purveyor of esoteric knowledge , I take that as a compliment . Things such as incorrect licence plates drive me crazy ! Certainly , I never point the inaccurate plate out to the builder of the model , as it's a moot point ; no need to come across as a ball buster . Besides , I have some builds that are going to receive 'Michigan '76' plates ... and I'll likely put the wrong-year-of-vehicle-to-plate . I'm going to research the correct plates (e.g. , commercial versus  passenger) before I arbitrarily add a plate to one of my kits .

[stavanzer]

There was a photo in SAE a long,long time ago, of a Fireball 500 done as Robin's car next to a Batmobile. It was done in the Red,Yellow, and Green. I think it even had a big R on it.

[Atmobil]

7 hours ago, Casey said:

Thank you for that one, looks like a simple trailer that one