Stardust....Digger Cuda

[RatRod]

After getting my Digger Cudas, and opening one, I noticed that the body was slightly warped, and the length was slightly off between the top, and bottom body halves. Hmmmm, what to do? Well here's what I came up with.

I first cut the bottom out of the lower body.

Then installed the rest of the lower body panels to the top.

Then added strips of sheet styrene around the bottom edge of the body, to mate the two sections together.

After getting a little further along, I realized that another problem had arose, the radius rods would be wider than the lower section. I mounted the batwings inside the torsion bars, and made new rods using polished aluminum. This put everything back inside the lower body piece.

The only other thing I changed was to cut the rear axle down 1/4", and cut the stem of the rear inner wheel flush with the rim, this narrowed the track down 3/16" on each side tucking the rear slicks closer to the frame. I also had some old Herb Deeks Models white metal, and photo-etched front rims, and the kit tires fit great, so the were added. Next post.....

Edited December 4, 2008 by RatRod

[RatRod]

After a week of thrashing, here it is!!! Enjoy....

[randx0]

nice work I can't wait to build mine I am Putting a note in the box so I remember to approach the body in the same manner. the P E front wheels look great I think that is probably the single biggest improvement on those early dragsters. now if I could just find them somewhere.

[S. Svendsen]

Awesome job. It looks very cool with those decals on it.

[RatRod]

nice work I can't wait to build mine I am Putting a note in the box so I remember to approach the body in the same manner. the P E front wheels look great I think that is probably the single biggest improvement on those early dragsters. now if I could just find them somewhere.

Randy, The wheels I used here I don't think are being made any longer, but MAS does some really fantastic aluminum, and PE dragster wheels!!!

http://www.mas-parts.com/

Edited December 4, 2008 by RatRod

[Daniel Peterson]

As I mentioned in my message to you earlier, this is fantastic work. The kit itself is a bit of an oddball, but your attention to construction and some key details...like those insane wire wheels...really bring the kit to life.

Take a bow!

[E St. Kruiser50]

After a week of thrashing, here it is!!! Enjoy....

Been "Eyeballin' this kit on the shelves since it came out.

I didn't realize this was such a great kit 'till I saw this thread, and how well your's came out.

Beautiful build . I think I'm goin to the hobbyshop tomorrow and get me one.

Thanks again - dave

[Zoom Zoom]

Nice work! The upgrades really work well!

[RatRod]

Thanks everyone, for such great comments!!! This one was a slight challenge, but everything fell into place in the end.....Man, I love it when that happens.....

[surfjunke]

Beautiful build! Great work on a really cool kit.

MAS still has the photo etch/turned aluminum front wheels available & they are great. I have a couple of sets.

[Dr. Cranky]

Absolute beauty. Great build, and thank you for sharing it.

[Kustom Rodder]

Great looking build those PE front wheels are so sweet.

[cobraman]

The one I built had the same body problem. Nice job !

[kruleworld]

i'm not much into drag racing, but that model is sweet. Your beautiful execution deserves A+.

[samdiego]

I'm in the finishing stages with mine, wish I had seen this post first. I built mine like an airplane kit. Everything inside was finished and the body halves sealed around it. I Masked the windows and openings and shot the body. It came out pretty well but would really benefit from the Deeks cycle wheels. Does this car have any basis in realty?

 

Edited November 10, 2015 by samdiego

[High octane]

Very nice build John. I "passed" on one of those kits at our club auction the other night, only because I already have enough to build. I really do like the subject matter though.

[slusher]

Very Nice...