Ian McLaren Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 New project, Canadian record holding Front engine Top Fuel Dragster, Being built for the owner as close to museum scale as my talents will allow. This is my first brass chassis car and will require custom body panels and a sizeable amount of scratch built parts. 215" Don Long Chassis, 392 Chrysler Hemi based engine, being modeled as it was raced as opposed to it's current configuration as a cackle car / nostalgia fuel car. I will be posting pictures of the build as well as pictures of the real car and it's restoration for reference. I hope you enjoy watching the progress and if there are any questions or comments please feel free to respond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoatGuy Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Enjoying this already. I'm looking forward to more. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 11 minutes ago, GoatGuy said: Enjoying this already. I'm looking forward to more. Dave Thanks Dave This is the next step from the Vega Panel New skills and materials and hopefully informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Awesome start Ian, looking forward to see this project, i need to learn a little bit about those chassis, i have a project coming up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 2 hours ago, Tortuga Kustomz said: Awesome start Ian, looking forward to see this project, i need to learn a little bit about those chassis, i have a project coming up... Thanks for the kind words. Roger Lee is one of the more knowledgeable people we know, Bryan Hodges the owner of this car also has a lot of knowledge. My experience is more in the engine and drivetrain of these things and mostly with funny cars. That being said if I can be of assistance............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majel Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Your skills will definitely produce a museum quality model. This will be fun to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 18 minutes ago, majel said: Your skills will definitely produce a museum quality model. This will be fun to watch. Thanks for the vote of confidence Jim, I hope it's justified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 22 hours ago, Ian McLaren said: Thanks for the kind words. Roger Lee is one of the more knowledgeable people we know, Bryan Hodges the owner of this car also has a lot of knowledge. My experience is more in the engine and drivetrain of these things and mostly with funny cars. That being said if I can be of assistance............ thanks man, definitely will contact you when the time comes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 Sides have the main tubes and cross braces installed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Woodruff Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Looking forward to see more progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 looks mean... i like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 (edited) Torsion bar tube and rear upper and lower hoops in, chassis is square and straight thanks to the jig I built this morning. All measurements checked from measurement taken from the real car, conversations with the owner , and close to 500 pictures from in period, current restored condition and during the restoration at Don Longs shop and others. The plan in the background I received from Roger Lee of a Woody RCE chassis from around the same time. I'm using it as a reference only confirm I'm on the right track. And the advantages of a large (30 INCH) monitor, I can take a photo and if I know the actual size of any one item IE upper frame rail, I can enlarge the image until that item is full size.. I can then measure most things that are in the picture as though the car was in my workroom to a reasonable amount of accuracy. Edited May 30, 2021 by Ian McLaren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 This is the chassis basically set out, only missing a couple of top cross braces but I need to start planning where the brackets and parts are going to go and when additional details have to be mounted 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 WOW!!! This is a very interesting project Ian, you have already proven yourself to be a very talented builder so I have no doubt you will succeed with this one. The pictures you have posted so far speak for themselves! 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Yeah, love how this FED is turning Ian, amazing work my friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 NAILED IT!! That's gorgeous Ian. Can't wait to see the rest, I've no doubt it will be sweet. I was not familiar with the 1:1 car but from the pics you've shared, it is one handsome ride. cheers, tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted June 5, 2021 Author Share Posted June 5, 2021 Rough mockup at 4 inch ride height to establish rear axle vertical positioning on uprights, motor plate fitted with the major details in place, fuel tank rough blank sitting on installed lower tank straps and secured with front corner hold down tabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Looking real good Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Williams Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Beautiful brass works going on here, Ian! Mike.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasser59 Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Stunning work Ian. Loving this build and all the brass work. I sense a 1/16th scale build or two in my future and this is very inspirational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Epp Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Ian; What a fantastic project you have in the works. Your workmanship is amazing! I actually saw the Royal Canadian FED back in the day at Cayuga Dragway on Ontario Canada. QUESTION: where did you get those awesome Halibrand and Bearclaw rear wheels? I have a huge collection of Revell 1/16th funny cars and dragsters that I've collected over the past 50 years. The main turnoff for me in building them are the unsatifactory rear wheels and the aweful dragster zoomie headers. Thanks for your help. Keep up the great work!!! Dale Epp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 11 hours ago, Dale Epp said: Ian; What a fantastic project you have in the works. Your workmanship is amazing! I actually saw the Royal Canadian FED back in the day at Cayuga Dragway on Ontario Canada. QUESTION: where did you get those awesome Halibrand and Bearclaw rear wheels? I have a huge collection of Revell 1/16th funny cars and dragsters that I've collected over the past 50 years. The main turnoff for me in building them are the unsatifactory rear wheels and the aweful dragster zoomie headers. Thanks for your help. Keep up the great work!!! Dale Epp Thanks for the kind words Dale. You probably saw if the year it went east and ended up winning the Canadian Nationals. The rear wheels and tires were custom built out of aluminum with 3D printed centers and also included the plates for the two largest bolt patterns specifically for this project along the the nicest set of machined aluminum Donovan valve covers I have ever seen. The man responsible for this magic is Jeff Ferris out of Washington. They were not inexpensive as it was a one off deal, down to the correct back spacing on the wheels for this car. If your really interested message me and I get you his information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McLaren Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 Structurally the chassis is complete, less the roll bar which has to go on last brackets and mounting points have to be added, but other than that virtually every thing bolts on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Beautiful, what else can I say... maybe great craftsmanship!!! 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Cooper Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 This is such a cool project. Your mad skills are wonderful to watch. Enjoying your build immensely and lots to learn from. Thank you for taking the time to share your craftsmanship and knowledge. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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