A dragster shed it's skin!

jlucky · March 24

In my ongoing quest to create a dragster collection based on real cars, let me introduce to you my latest effort that in some ways is a “snake shedding its skin.” Checkout the before-and-after photos. My goal was to reuse the existing built dragster kit, which was the first Garlits’ rear-engine car to replicate Don Prudhomme’s first rear engine car when he still had the Hot Wheels sponsorship.

I realized I could probably pry the body panels off the old car, soak them in Purple Super Clean to remove the red and gold paint with the end goal being to repaint them yellow. After an overnight soak the paint came off really easily, but I then realized that the styrene was blue and would need some serious primer coats. In the end the primer paint did it’s job and proceeded to apply two coats of Tamiya Camel Yellow and covered that with Tamiya Pearl yellow and viola.

I purchased the Atlantis Prudhomme white front engine kit for the decals as many of them made the transition to the yellow car. For the most part they are the decals on the side of the dragster. I then made up the Coke logo and the blue stripe with the stars in my computer and printed it on decal film. I forgot the decal film was clear…so I had to lay white decal film underneath so the white came through the clear areas. Turned out not bad, if I do say so myself. As they say…close enough for rock-n-roll!