60's Bare Bones Digger - Done

[Bernard Kron]

This is my take on the no-nonsense stripped down diggers that made up the numbers every weekend

during drag racing’s Golden Age at strips like Lions Association Drag Strip, Fremont, Fontana and Pomona.

(More pics below)

Before diving into the details, I want to give a special thanks to Don Banes for his generosity in supplying me with a replacement chassis for this build, my slowly evolving modeling skills not being up to saving the original one. Also to CalSurplus (Raul Perez) who made the lovely chute pack hanging on the back of this rail. “Cal†sent it to me so I could learn how to build them myself. Thanx Don! Thanx Cal!

The build is based on the AMT/Stevens International HemiSphere blown Hemi AA fuel rail kit which I understand was originally the Garlits Wynn’s Jammer from 1964. The frame is the kit frame with the nose pinched but otherwise stock. Because of the narrow nose I scratch built a fuel tank that fits between the rails with a rectangular bottom hanging parallel to the ground below them.

I took the kit body, which is a full covering design, and removed the rear section enclosing the driver and also cut off the nose piece. The side panels under the motor and the main body shell have had some p/e Dzus fasteners added. I fabricated the aluminum panels in the cockpit area from a pie tin and finished the “shorty†body in Testors Metallizer Plate Aluminum. The “S&S Machining†decals are home made. S&S is a fictitious name to evoke the small local sponsors that ran these cars back in the day

The motor is an injected Nailhead Buick from the Revell Tommy Ivo Showboat kit. I made a new oil pan because the Showboat pans are angled items to allow for the slanted installation of the 4 Nailheads in that car. The headers are the outside pieces from the Showboat.

This was a very quick build for me, taking only about 3 weeks. It was fun trying to capture the vibe of an earlier time with this very simple little digger. This period of approx. 140†wheelbase front engined rails are among the most perfectly proportioned and purposeful race cars ever built. I tried hard to keep the look as bare, clean and uncluttered as possible. For this reason I chose the simple symmetry of the injected Nailhead. Towards the end I almost left off the decals, but I wanted to achieve a degree of realism that required them.

Thanx for lookin’!

B.

Edited August 11, 2008 by gbk1

[Raul_Perez]

Bernard,

I can almost smell the fuel and the tires burnin' from here!!

Excuse the pun, but you "nailed" this one with that hot little Buick engine sitting perfectly poised in the back of that rail!!

The thing I always liked most about those old dragsters was just how dangerous they looked, even when they were parked!!

Keep up the GREAT work, my friend!!

Later,

Edited August 11, 2008 by Raul_Perez

[Raul_Perez]

Oh, and next time you can build a parachute pack for me!

Later,

[george 53]

Came out great Bern, It certainly does got the look to it! Your right about the dangerous look to it, I wouldn't drive one. The Buick really does set it off too,gives it a no-nonsense look! Great build!

[1320wayne]

Super build. Excellent detail.

[Raul_Perez]

Bernard,

The updated pics look GREAT!!

Later,

[Krazy Rick]

Very,Very Nice !!!! - I Dig It

[bobcrozier]

Super cool - I can just picture the flagman up front!....... Getting outta the way!!

Great looking rail

Bob

Edited August 19, 2008 by bobcrozier

[Don Banes]

This is my take on the no-nonsense stripped down diggers that made up the numbers every weekend

during drag racing’s Golden Age at strips like Lions Association Drag Strip, Fremont, Fontana and Pomona.

(More pics below)

Before diving into the details, I want to give a special thanks to Don Banes for his generosity in supplying me with a replacement chassis for this build, my slowly evolving modeling skills not being up to saving the original one. Also to CalSurplus (Raul Perez) who made the lovely chute pack hanging on the back of this rail. “Cal†sent it to me so I could learn how to build them myself. Thanx Don! Thanx Cal!

The build is based on the AMT/Stevens International HemiSphere blown Hemi AA fuel rail kit which I understand was originally the Garlits Wynn’s Jammer from 1964. The frame is the kit frame with the nose pinched but otherwise stock. Because of the narrow nose I scratch built a fuel tank that fits between the rails with a rectangular bottom hanging parallel to the ground below them.

I took the kit body, which is a full covering design, and removed the rear section enclosing the driver and also cut off the nose piece. The side panels under the motor and the main body shell have had some p/e Dzus fasteners added. I fabricated the aluminum panels in the cockpit area from a pie tin and finished the “shorty†body in Testors Metallizer Plate Aluminum. The “S&S Machining†decals are home made. S&S is a fictitious name to evoke the small local sponsors that ran these cars back in the day

The motor is an injected Nailhead Buick from the Revell Tommy Ivo Showboat kit. I made a new oil pan because the Showboat pans are angled items to allow for the slanted installation of the 4 Nailheads in that car. The headers are the outside pieces from the Showboat.

This was a very quick build for me, taking only about 3 weeks. It was fun trying to capture the vibe of an earlier time with this very simple little digger. This period of approx. 140†wheelbase front engined rails are among the most perfectly proportioned and purposeful race cars ever built. I tried hard to keep the look as bare, clean and uncluttered as possible. For this reason I chose the simple symmetry of the injected Nailhead. Towards the end I almost left off the decals, but I wanted to achieve a degree of realism that required them.

Thanx for lookin’!

B.

NICE! I'm glad the extra parts came in handy for you!