Stupidbird--or--The Great Wide Shock

[Snake45]

This was built as my entrant in this year's Cannonball group build. The theme was “full-race cars in disguise.” The rules were stretched a bit to allow as a base any kit that had featured a race car option of any kind on the box art.

It started life as an eBay JoHan Superbird junkyard in a Sox & Martin issue box, which turned out to contain enough reasonably good parts to rebuild one fairly nice factory stock model, and just enough leftovers to get another model of some kind together. Stupidbird was built out of the leftovers, which included the NASCAR dashboard and roll cage. The junkyard was missing one engine, and one set of taillights, and the second Superbird wing. As it turned out, the second chassis was from some other JoHan Mopar kit, and the wheelbase was too long. I had to shorten the chassis about 1/8 inch. The glass was a bit of a mess. I was able to sand and polish it out except for one booger spot in the backlight. The body required a certain amount of repair work just to get it back to out-of-the-box usability.

Gary (Gramps 46) generously donated a set of wide open wheels. The front tires are common AMT L60s, and the rears are the large tires from the reissued MPC '75 Corvette. I ended up having to make taillights with sheet styrene and a red Sharpie. (Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!) The NASCAR roll cage, instrument panel, and everything else came out of the eBay Superbird junkyard box.

I started the project with much enthusiasm as soon as the “race” began, but, as so often happens, my workbench soon became infected with shinier squirrels and it got set aside until almost the literal last minute. Along the way I got semi-inspired by Scott8950's post “Worlds most affordable superbird” up in the General section.

I decided the story of Stupidbird would be that a crew of hot-rod trash discovered the barn-find remains of a 1970 Road Runner that had been bracket raced, and decided to rebuild it as a restomod Superbird. About the time they got it safely (more or less) running and the body together (more or less), they thought it would be a hoot to run it in the Cannonball before finishing it out. An offbeat paint job was suggested, and then the Great Wide Shock name was of course a natural.

Paint is airbrushed Model Master FS36118 Gunship Gray, and Touch N Tone flat white primer. Both were vigorously rubbed with a paper napkin to give them a pleasing sheen which will hopefully preclude hard-surface scratches to which pure flat finishes are vulnerable.

So I give you Stupidbird. I know it's not a winner or even a contender, but it is what it uniquely is—The Great Wide Shock. Thank for looking, and as always, comments welcome.

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi Snake!

Well, it is quite a salvage job. Hard to tell from the smooth overall finishing. Bravo!

CT 

[Zippi]

That was rough at the start Snake but what a turn around.  Looking good.

[Gramps46]

I quite frankly was confused by the paint job till I read the fine print.  Now it makes sense.

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

I quite frankly was confused by the paint job till I read the fine print.  Now it makes sense.

I thought of painting eyes and teeth on it, but thought that would be too cartoon-y. Decided to go subtle. "Wait, where have I seen that color scheme before?" 

Thanks again for the wheels. They made the project. 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Snake45

[happy grumpy]

Great save and nice paint scheme. Great job.

[disconovaman]

I think this is the most unique build in the line-up honestly. I don't think there was ever a Superbird in the Cannonball Run? If I'm right, yours is the first one! And if you look at a sea of imports, the The Great Wide Shock would eat 'em all for Lunch. ? I think there was a considerable amount of thought in the build even if it was quick to get it to the starting line and you can say at least you made it! ?

I still say the best paint scheme is this one! I love the effect so much that I plan on doing it on my next build! Thanks for the tip!

[Scott8950]

Somehow I missed this, very cool build.

[Snake45]

18 hours ago, Scott8950 said:

Somehow I missed this, very cool build.

Thanks! You played a small part in the story, you know. 

On 12/16/2021 at 5:24 PM, disconovaman said:

I think this is the most unique build in the line-up honestly. I don't think there was ever a Superbird in the Cannonball Run? If I'm right, yours is the first one! And if you look at a sea of imports, the The Great Wide Shock would eat 'em all for Lunch. ? I think there was a considerable amount of thought in the build even if it was quick to get it to the starting line and you can say at least you made it! ?

I still say the best paint scheme is this one! I love the effect so much that I plan on doing it on my next build! Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the kind words! Your enthusiasm for The Great Wide Shock paint job is much appreciated. I'm giving VERY serious thought to doing the same thing on the new "custom" '68 Vette when I get one, but in glossy pearls this time. Model on! 

[Oldcarfan27]

Needs to have a license plate that says "JAWS"

[Snake45]

4 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Needs to have a license plate that says "JAWS"

Or maybe "BGR BOT."   

[Spex84]

I clicked on this purely because of the brilliant moniker

It looks very functional! Would be awesome if the name was included somewhere, as a punchline people will discover if they look closely. It could be printed on a banner, or an event poster, or a photo-reduced magazine cover, or...I don't know.

[Geno]

Wow, I really like this Snake, a nice subtle but killer racer.

[rightrudder]

Great story behind the build, and well done! Inspiration is where you find it...everywhere!

[Snake45]

On 2/16/2022 at 12:59 AM, Spex84 said:

I clicked on this purely because of the brilliant moniker

It looks very functional! Would be awesome if the name was included somewhere, as a punchline people will discover if they look closely. It could be printed on a banner, or an event poster, or a photo-reduced magazine cover, or...I don't know.

Great idea! I'll have to see what I can come up with. Maybe paint the name across the back of the trunk lid, or something. Thanks! 

On 2/16/2022 at 11:06 AM, Geno said:

Wow, I really like this Snake, a nice subtle but killer racer.

Thanks Geno! High praise coming from you! Much appreciated! 

On 2/16/2022 at 2:22 PM, rightrudder said:

Great story behind the build, and well done! Inspiration is where you find it...everywhere!

Indeed it is. Thanks for the kind words and model on! 

[Geno]

You're welcome Buddy.?☺️

[customline]

May I suggest the addition of a satellite radio antenna? ?