RancheroSteve Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Starting up a new one - MPC's iconic Winged Express altered. Here's a mock-up of the basics as provided by the kit: Which - after reading up a little on the history of the car - I came to realize represents the second chassis, built after the first one was crashed and wrecked. I decided the first one is the one I want to build, but without going completely overboard (I want to finish it this decade) and scratchbuilding the entire chassis. So after some modifications, I'm at this stage: Not necessarily a 100% accurate early Winged Express - the chassis is probably closer to the later recreation - but something that I hope will capture the look of the car. Front section of the frame is from the Attempt 1 kit, front leaf spring, steering arm, and rear end are from the Miss Deal kit, spring perch is scratchbuilt; aluminum tubing used for the new roll bar and braces. I'll be raiding some parts kits and using some aftermarket items as I go along. Thanks for looking. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylexgore Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Looks good so far Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted August 15, 2023 Author Share Posted August 15, 2023 A little more progress. Shortened the chassis another 4mm, replaced the rear frame bars behind the driver, added side panels, wing mounts, engine mounts, and a fuel tank mount: With the engine block and grille shell in place: Grille shell is from the Revell Tweedy Pie 2 kit. Almost time to get some primer on this and see what it looks like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Good looking project Steve, I'll be following. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Promising start. AA/FA is one of my fav classes.... -RRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 A quick spritz of primer to get a better idea of where things are at: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 That’s a great start - one of my favorite altereds! I’ll be following along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ybsluos Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Very nice Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 I’m loving what your doing here! Most of my favorite things, Kit bashing, scratch building , and Fuel Altered’s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vettegasser Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted August 22, 2023 Author Share Posted August 22, 2023 Roughing in some smaller details: 1. Push bar mount. It gets a vertical roller later. 2. Steering box - modified from the kit piece - and the distinctive cut-away steering wheel. I used the wheel from the AMT '57 Ford, which was the closest thing I could find on the shelf here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted August 23, 2023 Share Posted August 23, 2023 You have some really nice work, going on, here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 very cool 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted August 30, 2023 Author Share Posted August 30, 2023 Painted the chassis: I modified the kit wing, making it thicker and added mounts and new end plates (shown upside down) and modified the kit oil pan: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted September 25, 2023 Author Share Posted September 25, 2023 Gettin' some red on: Next, I'll try to tackle all that pinstriping, because I think the car won't look right without it. Wish me luck! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted September 25, 2023 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Paint looks good Steve. I hope the pinstriping is successful for you - not something I would attempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 Setting to work on the pinstriping. I'll be using 1/32" Chartpak tape cut in half, which is probably not quite to scale, but about the thinnest I think I can feasibly work with. First, made a chart of the striping with approximate lengths: I did the striping on top of the cowl first: I think I can pull this off! After I get the striping done I'll lay a good coat of clear on it to stick it all down and even it out a little. Inside of the body will get painted semi-gloss black later. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted October 12, 2023 Author Share Posted October 12, 2023 Applied the pinstriping, some decals (from Slixx) and a few coats of clear. It'll get a few contingency decals later. Brush painted the inside of the body and the rear fender wells semi-gloss black to represent raw fiberglas. Onward! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Looks great! Good job, putting on the contingency decals after the clear coat! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Coming along nicely Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 Hi Steve, This is AMAZING work! I built a model of this car back around 1970. I had to draw my own chassis plans, and scratchbuild or modify everything on it, including the wing. One thing I discovered in doing the research at the time was that the car changed in appearance constantly, so I had to pick a couple of photos to stay with. I also had to hand-paint most of the decals--IIRC, there are only 4 "real" decals on each side. It's pretty crude by today's standards, but I'm still proud of the thing. It was one of the last model cars I built before I went back to model airplanes. I'm sure yours will turn out much better. Model on! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted October 18, 2023 Author Share Posted October 18, 2023 Thanks, Snake! That's a pretty nice replica, especially for one built that far back. At least I have the advantage of being able to start with the MPC kit and the Slixx decals. Like you say, the car changed from race to race - it's a little different in every photo I've found, but at least it's well documented. I'm aiming for kind of an "amalgamation version". I'm getting a bunch of smaller engine and chassis parts ready for painting and then things should start going together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 Thanks Steve! The MPC kit is definitely the second car, and I've never seen a pic of the real one where it had a wing like the kit. I've bought a couple copies of the kit over the years, and hope to eventually build one. But I'll have to scratch up a more accurate wing. Actually, couple years ago, I got the idea of building a simpler, early version of the #1 car, when it was the Harrell-Borsch-Muse car, pre-wing and pre-lettering. I THINK I can do it using an AMT Double Dragster frame and other commonly available (nowadays) parts. I realize it won't be an exact replica, more of a "tribute" kind of thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted October 18, 2023 Author Share Posted October 18, 2023 Here's shot of the second car that pretty much resembles what the kit gives you: It would be fun to build a really early pre-wing version of the car. It's all fairly simple and out there to see, plus there's a good amount of reference available, especially for a car that doesn't exist any more. And who's gonna say you got it wrong? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted October 27, 2023 Author Share Posted October 27, 2023 Getting paint on a batch of parts: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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