The Old Master, 1966, 1:25 brass model

[Mike Williams]

Here a replica of a Top Fuel car from 1966.  This is a scratch build, using original Don Long plans, and built to exact 1:25 scale. This is the 165" version from 1966.

All metal, brass chassis and body panels, complete motor and Olds rearend, as well as rear wheels are cast nickel alloy parts.  Fronts are laced, silver plated copper wire soldered to copper rims.  Front axle is 2mm steel piano wire (wire is actually used for spring coils, but our hobby calls it piano wire).

Paint is a mix of pink, white and dark flesh fingernail polish, with a top coat of clear gel fingernail paint.  The body was primed using fingernail ridge filler....excellent for smoothing out micro scratches and dents!!  Paint was applied with the brush from the bottle.

 

First off, a series of WIP photos from the chassis build;

 

Here with the motor block in proper scale and getting things situated in the chassis.  Important here, the 8° dump (tilt of the motor), and the exact 23" from axle to firewall;

 

Here a few photos of the body build and panels;

 

Here a few motor related photos;

 

Next, further assembly and finished car;

 

Just finished the car today. Total of only 4 months bench time;

 

That's it.

Mike..

 

 

 

 

 

[drag racer 15]

I love this build it looks great

[Snake45]

Absolutely magnificent! One of the very nicest model rails I've seen in the last 50+ years! Well done and model on! 

[bytownshaker]

This FED is absolutely beautiful. may ask where dd you get the wire wheels?

Edgar

[Alan]

KILLER replica Mike!!!!!!!!!

Alan

[Mike Williams]

5 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Absolutely magnificent! One of the very nicest model rails I've seen in the last 50+ years! Well done and model on! 

Well Snake,  this is a humbling comment and I'm proud that you see it as such.  I like it too.

PS: Great avatar.

[Mike Williams]

@drag racer 15, thank you for commenting.  The real car is just sensational, my opinion.  The pink, the toe blisters, the wing, the motor details....all in all, an absolute favorite of mine.

@Alan,  I appreciate your enthusiasm.  I'm quite proud of the model, this was a fun build without mishaps.  I like it.

Edited November 9, 2019 by Mike Williams

[Mike Williams]

4 hours ago, bytownshaker said:

This FED is absolutely beautiful. may ask where dd you get the wire wheels?

Edgar

Hi Edgar.  I appreciate your comment.  I made the wire wheels. The rims are thin strips cut off from copper 18.5 mm tubing, and the spokes are bought material, silver-plated copper wire, all soldered together.

If you wish, I have a sequence of photos showing the procedure for lacing wire wheels.  But just for soldering.  Nylon fishing line and other rims work too, but I have no experience with gluing these. The procedure though would be the same.

[cobraman]

Dang, that is one fine dragster.

[doggie427]

Absolutely stunning replica of one of my favourite dragsters of the sixties!
Where, may I ask, did you find the chassis plans ?

p.s. Yes I would appreciate photos of the wire wheel construction.

[Force]

A great replica.
I saw this car at the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield last year.

[Deuces]

The guys on the H.A.M.B. would love to see these pictures.... 

Very nice build by the way.... ??

[Mike Williams]

6 hours ago, doggie427 said:

Absolutely stunning replica of one of my favourite dragsters of the sixties!
Where, may I ask, did you find the chassis plans ?

p.s. Yes I would appreciate photos of the wire wheel construction.

Thank you.  I agree, one of my absolute favorite Top Fuel cars. Plus, it's so well documented, everything is there to be seen, so it makes for an exceptional project.

The plan, and a complete documentation of the original build by Don Long, was published 1967 by Hot Rod Magazine.  The paperback book was called Hot Rod Chassis Plans. It's still out there for around $35 nowadays.

I can add a series of photos for the lacing, let me gather them together.  Second thought, I'll just make a new tutorial topic, a How-To.  Other members are also interested.  Coming soon.

Mike..

[Mike Williams]

@cobraman, thanks for commenting, much appreciated.

@Force, I remember you posting a couple of photos of the car, excellent. Thanks for looking, much appreciated.

@Deuces, thanks for commenting. The H.A.M.B., great idea. I'm a member there but have not posted any pics of model cars.  What a great website, an absolute treasure of info there.

Mike..

[ChrisR]

Awesome!

[PappyD340]

WOW, absolutely amazing, well done!!

[Old Coyote]

One of the most gorgeous builds I have ever seen. Your talents are simply off the scale.

[oldnslow]

Fabulous build of a great example of the 60s dragster . Love it .

[Mike Williams]

@ChrisR, I appreciate your comment, thank you.

@PappyD340, many thanks for this, greatly appreciated.

[Mike Williams]

6 hours ago, Old Coyote said:

One of the most gorgeous builds I have ever seen. Your talents are simply off the scale.

Hello John, I'm grateful for your support and enthusiasm.  As you know yourself,  compliments from a seasoned and experienced modeler are especially sweet. Thank you for viewing and commenting...also during the bench project times.

Mike..

[Mike Williams]

5 hours ago, oldnslow said:

Fabulous build of a great example of the 60s dragster . Love it .

Thanks for your praise. I'm just nuts too about these cars from this era.

I'm thinking about a Don Garlits car for the next project, I think the two would look great side by side on the shelf together.

[Hmann68]

Artwork and craftsmanship, that’s the only way to describe it. Simply stunning!!! 

[MAGIC MUFFLER]

From the Pomona 2013 show.  My friend Derek restored the car.

 

 

[Karl Sheffer]

Absolutely gorgeous build!    Great brass work!  This car is on my "to do someday" model building list, but in styrene.

[Karl Sheffer]

9 hours ago, MAGIC MUFFLER said:

From the Pomona 2013 show.  My friend Derek restored the car.

 

 

Great reference pics!  Thank you for sharing!