Revell Henry J Gasser Coupe

[Exotics_Builder]

Gassers are not really in my area of interest.  But my club had a special theme class for our annual show.  Since I had received one as a door prize, I decided to give it a go.

I am not familiar with the Revell Henry J kit but found out quickly it is of a vintage of ill fitting parts and components.  I guess I could have gone for another option but decided to stick with this one.

I won’t go through the grueling detail of the steps to get a semblance of fitment of body parts.  Suffice to say they were many and I still couldn’t get what I would consider a very good hood fit to body.  Got close but not as good as I would like.

Here are the key changes to the model:

• Replaced the engine with a Texas 3D Customs 409 blown engine.  Wired and plumbed it.  The engine came with a separate drive belt and a generator.  This would fit NHRA rules for that generation of gassers.  I chose the Powerglide transmission option as that was common for racers in the day.
• Remolded the firewall to push back part of it to accommodate the new engine.  Had to do it in a way that still allowed the dashboard to fit.
• Assembled and straightened the suspension, including adding a large Panhard bar to stiffen the rear suspension and drilling/pinning the front suspension to give it some added strength.  Finally, I had to modify the transmission mount crossmember to accept the new transmission.  Chassis painted with Splash Paints Dark Gold Metallic.
• Detailed out the engine bay with a fuel filter from Off the Sprue.
• Kitbashed the exhaust system from the Revell 57 Ford Del Ray gasser to attach to the 409 headers.  Again, this was for rules compliance.
• Added a tach, gauge faces, parachute release lever and driver seat belts to the interior.  Interior painted Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black over Tamiya Bare Metal Silver.  Dash painted the body color of Tamiya Coral Blue.
• Added an aftermarket parachute from the parts stash (don’t remember the vendor) mounted on a metal brace. 
• Added additional bracing in the hood to get a better fit.  I also replaced the kit hinges with a crafted hinge set.  The kit hinges in my example did not work at all.  Even though aligned to the body when closing the hood went cockeyed.  The hood still is not where I would like it, but I was reaching my time commitment limit and it was close enough.  If I were to do again (not likely), I would probably build a heftier body brace to flare out the flap ends more.  That is the primary problem for the fit I want.
• Added front fender ribbing to reflect the real car.  Missing from the kit but reference photos show not there in a lot of real cars.  I painted the body Tamiya Coral Blue and cleared with Tamiya TS-13 gloss.  Decals are a combination of Slixx, STS and Decals by Lucas.
• Wheels are from an AMT Gasser Parts Pack with added valve stems.  Front tires are also from the same Parts Pack and the Whitewall Slicks from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland.

Of course, after I finished and presented it at a club meeting, I learned of all the horror stories on this and the Anglia Gasser.  Had I known I may have chosen a different path.  But I know you would all tell me its modeling and a challenge.

Anyway, some photos of the finished result below:

[Tim W. SoCal]

BITCHEN' Henry J, Gerry! I think yours is about the best rendition of this old Revell kit that I've ever seen...

[TarheelRick]

May have been a PITA, but you seem to have conquered it pretty well. 

[Khils]

I bow to you Sir!

.... I have yet to complete mine. Frustrating 'lil piece of _ _ _ _ _ _ _!!!                                                    ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^                                                           *plastic*

 Awesome!  😎 looking "J" Good Sir!!

....... when you get a moment, I'd like to know more about your display stand.

Edited March 19 by Khils
added after 🤔

[Exotics_Builder]

2 hours ago, Khils said:

I bow to you Sir!

.... I have yet to complete mine. Frustrating 'lil piece of _ _ _ _ _ _ _!!!                                                    ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^                                                           *plastic*

 Awesome!  😎 looking "J" Good Sir!!

....... when you get a moment, I'd like to know more about your display stand.

I bought it some years ago at a swap meet.  A fellow made and vended them.  I don't remember his name.  It was when I was still in Chicago area during the job transfer.  The thing to watch out for on it is the gap between the acrylic "rails" (like some car lifts).  

[ChrisR]

Very nice.

[Zippi]

On yeah Gerry.  The ole 51 Henry J. Kaiser.  They made Great little drag cars and I'm diggin your build man.  I built one a while back and they sure will test your patience.                                  

[Silvercreeker]

That kit is awesome when done well but it tries our patience for sure!  Looks amazing

[Ace-Garageguy]

Exceptional job on a genuinely difficult, marginal kit.  

For all its warts, it's always been one of my favorites. 

[papajohn97]

Great job making a silk purse out of pig’s ear kit. Love the wide-white slicks and the giddy-up giddy-up 409, very cool 60’s drag strip look & vibe. Nice!

[TransAmMike]

Wild ride ya got there Gerry.   Outstanding detail and build 👍👍

[rv1963]

Great work this is my favorite Henry J. Gasser build so far.

[1959]

Really great looking build! Eventhough it sounds like a difficult kit to build this nice example makes me want to build a one too.  It might be difficult to find, I assume?

[PappyD340]

Super nice Henry J!

[Exotics_Builder]

4 hours ago, 1959 said:

Really great looking build! Eventhough it sounds like a difficult kit to build this nice example makes me want to build a one too.  It might be difficult to find, I assume?

I just used Google, and they seem to be around in various issues.  Pricing varies too.  

[dragcarz]

Your pretty good at drag cars, maybe you should do more of them.

[slusher]

Outstanding Henley J Gerry!

[Sledsel]

Impressive build