Billy the Kid Demon Pro Stock

[dragcarz]

53 minutes ago, Nitro330 said:

Coming along nicely Roger.  Great job on the engine plate!

Thanks Terry, at this point I’ve made several of them. They get easier every time I make one, of course it’s mostly speculation on what the real BTK looked like. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice clean work. Coming alongbnicely.

[iBorg]

On 1/14/2024 at 11:05 AM, BuilderX said:

What does 1920s gangsters have to do with the wild west Billy the Kid?? lol

Billy Stepp was from Dayton, Ohio. He had an interesting reputation. According to an article in the Dayton Daily News upon his passing, "William Elias "Bill" Stepp was the most famous mobster, gangster and notorious hoodlum the Miami Valley has known." See https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/26339861/

[Moparman18064]

Looking great Roger. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get the door handles off like that? Are they still usable? I want to use aluminum sheet for my Demon panels, but my car still used the original door handles. I would like to get them off without killing them. Also, do you plan on using the resin bumper on the grille, or the one from kit? I noticed that the resin one I have is a terrible fit, and the bumper in my new Demon kit looks so much crisper.

[dragcarz]

8 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Nice clean work. Coming alongbnicely.

Thanks Bob!

[dragcarz]

8 hours ago, iBorg said:

Billy Stepp was from Dayton, Ohio. He had an interesting reputation. According to an article in the Dayton Daily News upon his passing, "William Elias "Bill" Stepp was the most famous mobster, gangster and notorious hoodlum the Miami Valley has known." See https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/26339861/

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car. 

[dragcarz]

8 hours ago, iBorg said:

Billy Stepp was from Dayton, Ohio. He had an interesting reputation. According to an article in the Dayton Daily News upon his passing, "William Elias "Bill" Stepp was the most famous mobster, gangster and notorious hoodlum the Miami Valley has known." See https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/26339861/

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car. 

 

7 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Looking great Roger. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get the door handles off like that? Are they still usable? I want to use aluminum sheet for my Demon panels, but my car still used the original door handles. I would like to get them off without killing them. Also, do you plan on using the resin bumper on the grille, or the one from kit? I noticed that the resin one I have is a terrible fit, and the bumper in my new Demon kit looks so much crisper.

Hey Rich, thank you! I shaved th

[dragcarz]

Just now, dragcarz said:

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car. 

 

Hey Rich, thank you! I shaved th

Sorry about that, my IPad glitched. 

[dragcarz]

7 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Looking great Roger. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get the door handles off like that? Are they still usable? I want to use aluminum sheet for my Demon panels, but my car still used the original door handles. I would like to get them off without killing them. Also, do you plan on using the resin bumper on the grille, or the one from kit? I noticed that the resin one I have is a terrible fit, and the bumper in my new Demon kit looks so much crisper.

I used a sharp X-Acto #11 blade and just shaved them off, I could have reused them as the AMT plastic is soft and cut easily. You could also try their chisel blade as I use them a lot also. I like plastic, so I would like to use only the grille, but mounting the bumper will become an issue as there isn’t much gluing surface, so I will probably use the resin as it’s a pretty clean casting. 
I was surprised at the difference in the rear bumpers. The original 1972 is smaller and rounded more than the Duster bumper. I need to do some research here.

[dragcarz]

7 hours ago, Moparman18064 said:

Looking great Roger. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get the door handles off like that? Are they still usable? I want to use aluminum sheet for my Demon panels, but my car still used the original door handles. I would like to get them off without killing them. Also, do you plan on using the resin bumper on the grille, or the one from kit? I noticed that the resin one I have is a terrible fit, and the bumper in my new Demon kit looks so much crisper.

I used a sharp X-Acto #11 blade and just shaved them off, I could have reused them as the AMT plastic is soft and cut easily. You could also try their chisel blade as I use them a lot also. I like plastic, so I would like to use only the grille, but mounting the bumper will become an issue as there isn’t much gluing surface, so I will probably use the resin as it’s a pretty clean casting. 
I was surprised at the difference in the rear bumpers. The original 1972 is smaller and rounded more than the Duster bumper. I need to do some research here.

[David G.]

A good call on the engine swap, this one has nice detail.

David G.

[dragcarz]

Just now, David G. said:

A good call on the engine swap, this one has nice detail.

David G.

Thanks David, it’s nice to have a parts stash…. If I could just remember where I saw it last…. 

[AmericanMuscleFan]

4 hours ago, dragcarz said:

I was surprised at the difference in the rear bumpers. The original 1972 is smaller and rounded more than the Duster bumper. I need to do some research here.

It seems to me that the one marked 1971 in your photo is more precise and looks more like the real one, this is the one I would use.

[Bainford]

This build is really looking the business. It's coming along very nicely. 

[iBorg]

15 hours ago, dragcarz said:

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car. 

Please don't think I was criticizing your build or suggesting you're idolizing Stepp's non racing activities. Stepp and Freddy DeName both had a bit of fun with their reputations. I think I saw this car run. His Challenger is one of my favorite drag cars that I'd love to find decals for.

If we were to start a list of drag racing characters, there were several that spent time with the government for drug running.

You're building a great model to celebrate a great race car. 

[Straightliner59]

20 hours ago, dragcarz said:

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car. 

I think it was much more interesting, back then. Some great stories came out of those shady dealings. Crooked promoters--Jet Car Bob Smith backing the car up to a tower at a track the promoter was trying not to pay him, and asking, "So, are you gonna' pay me, or am I gonna' light this match?" Pyramid schemes funded Soapy Sales, among others. Broadway Freddie DeName, Gordon Tatum (I think-the guy who bought the Surfers II car), there's a long list of ne'er do wells in drag racing history.

[dragcarz]

On 2/11/2024 at 10:37 AM, AmericanMuscleFan said:

It seems to me that the one marked 1971 in your photo is more precise and looks more like the real one, this is the one I would use.

After looking at photos of the rear bumper on 1/1 vehicles,  I’m inclined to agree with you Francis, AMTs Duster bumper is a little too sharp on the ends. 

[dragcarz]

On 2/11/2024 at 10:06 PM, iBorg said:

Please don't think I was criticizing your build or suggesting you're idolizing Stepp's non racing activities. Stepp and Freddy DeName both had a bit of fun with their reputations. I think I saw this car run. His Challenger is one of my favorite drag cars that I'd love to find decals for.

If we were to start a list of drag racing characters, there were several that spent time with the government for drug running.

You're building a great model to celebrate a great race car. 

No criticism intended, I’m a victim of an over sensitive society and I’m trying not to offend anyone. I probably need to relax a little more! 

[dragcarz]

On 2/11/2024 at 8:27 PM, Bainford said:

This build is really looking the business. It's coming along very nicely. 

Thanks Trevor. 

[dragcarz]

 Gonna be away from the bench for a few days, I did get the rear floor pan covered and the chassis primed to see what I’ve missed.

[David G.]

It looks good to me!

David G.

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, dragcarz said:

 Gonna be away from the bench for a few days, I did get the rear floor pan covered and the chassis primed to see what I’ve missed.

That's lookiing Super Roger.  

[Codi]

Great looking build Roger, count me as another one that will be sure to follow along.  Your work is very "crisp" in every way.  cheers, tim

[dragcarz]

I got some bench time and set about the roll cage. There’s no photos of the interior so a lot of this is my best guess from looking from the outside in. I used .080 round Plastruct Rod. I spent a lot of time bending and re-bending tubes to get as close as match as I could. I also fit it over and over to make sure it was tight against the roof and close to the dash without interference.

I worked to get the Hemi as far back as possible as in the photos the hood scoop overlaps the cowl. In 1972, the rules allowed the furthest forward spark plug even with the front spindle, to allow the non V8 cars an engine reference point. Mines not close but it should work.

[Moparman18064]

Looking nice there, Roger, moving right along. Which dash did you end up using?