CHARLIE ALLEN '69 Dart Funny

[Wild Child]

One of my 'Custom' builds (and part of my 1969 Winter Nationals Funny Car display) is this 1969 Charlie Allen '69 Dart Funny Car.  It uses a shortened and modified Polar Lights chassis along with a slightly modified standard kit body.  The hood was molded in, spoiler made, wheelwells modified, blinker lights cut out, etc.  The big Hemi is well detailed with lines, linkage, wires, fittings, and dual fuel tanks.   The silver metallic paint has been finished to a high gloss.

For those interested in attempting a Dart like this, understand that the decals for this kit are a nightmare.  First, the side ones need to be slightly shortened as they are for a longer body. Then there is the cracking issue.  I used three sets to get one car.  These constantly crack and break not only around every curve, but even sliding them off the decal sheet.  Plus, getting them over the hood bulges will drive you to drinkin.  Perhaps these are older printed decals, because old decals I have found do dry out.  Becky at Slixx sent me 2 sets after the first one fell apart....she works with customers very well.  Warm water, lots of decal sol, and a lot of patience will prevail (maybe). Then is the job of clearing and rubbing the body,...always hard with heavy flake paint combined with large panel decals.  I think I got-er though.

[ybsluos]

Bill, this is a fantastic build! Yeah, those decals would be frustrating. I understand that.-Mark

[Wild Child]

  On 5/16/2025 at 10:27 PM, ybsluos said:

Bill, this is a fantastic build! Yeah, those decals would be frustrating. I understand that.-Mark

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Thanks Mark.   I hate big panel decals, always a pain.

Time to get that Nova out.  Woodward will be here before you know it.....and we got plenty of race fuel on tap too!!!

[Dragline]

I have been having the same issue with the light blue decal set for the Mickey Thompson mustang. Those decals are murder. 2 sets and I gave up.

 

I am glad you persevered. It came out quite nice.

[Charger Funny Car]

Fine job on the All American Boy Dart!!!

[gtx6970]

Very nice

 

I have one of the original MPC kits built and in the case

 

One of my all time favorite cars

 

The decals are avail now if you care to do the blue-silver 68 version

Edited May 17 by gtx6970

[PappyD340]

Super nice build!

[Mike 1017]

Great build of a Historic NHRA Funny Car

[Hmann68]

That Dart looks fantastic! Very nicely done! 👍👍

[Mothersworry]

I like it.

[bondo bill]

sharp build

[Wild Child]

  On 5/17/2025 at 2:32 AM, gtx6970 said:

Very nice

 

I have one of the original MPC kits built and in the case

 

One of my all time favorite cars

 

The decals are avail now if you care to do the blue-silver 68 version

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Thanks guys, seems there are a lot of Mopar guys on here....Awesome.

Bill, cool pics of the Darts.  I originally did Charlie's '69 because I did a 1969 Winter Nationals diorama using only cars at that event in Pomona.  His Dart was one of the 10 I did, and it was a pretty hard one to do.  I think the blue and silver Dart was his '68 car...is that correct?

[slusher]

Looks fantastic!

[gtx6970]

  On 5/18/2025 at 10:25 AM, Wild Child said:

Thanks guys, seems there are a lot of Mopar guys on here....Awesome.

  I think the blue and silver Dart was his '68 car...is that correct?

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Correct 

 

Im going to replicate the silver/blue SS car, I also have a resin body and most of an old MPC Charlie Allen '69 to go along with it , SO , I  MIGHT do the AA/FC as well . I have the silver/red '69 AA/FC car done already

Edited May 18 by gtx6970

[Wild Child]

  On 5/18/2025 at 7:35 PM, gtx6970 said:

Correct 

 

Im going to replicate the silver/blue SS car, I have a resin body and most of an old MPC Charlie Allen '69 to go along with it , SO , I  MIGHT do the AA/FC as well . I have the silver/red '69 AA/FC car done already

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Your Darts sound cool.  You should show us the Darts you did, especially the original one.  

[Zippi]

Bang up job on this build Bill.  I like the drag cars so I'm diggin it.

[Mopar2]

Very cool detailed Dodge.Awesome job...

[MAGIC MUFFLER]

Well done..!!!

[ChrisR]

Very nice.

[Hemifever]

 Awesome looking build.

[M W Elky]

Your dart looks fantastic I built one quite a few years back using the revell body with a polar lights chassis. A word to the wise with the slixx decals I  keep the water really hot I like to use my electric tea pot and then adjust the temperature by adding some cold out of the tap with a squirt of dawn dish soap.

[Wild Child]

  On 6/6/2025 at 2:43 AM, M W Elky said:

Your dart looks fantastic I built one quite a few years back using the revell body with a polar lights chassis. A word to the wise with the slixx decals I  keep the water really hot I like to use my electric tea pot and then adjust the temperature by adding some cold out of the tap with a squirt of dawn dish soap.

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Thanks guys.....a lot of Mopar love out there.

Mike, you are right that the decals were a Bear!   Seems like the large panel decals like this Dart are the hardest.  I think that some of the decals on the market are also getting old, and perhaps get more brittle.  I have had a couple other ones give me issues, but again, they are usually the larger, longer ones.  Even with warm water, and a lot of decal sol, these can give a person fits, especially when going over curves or irregular surfaces such as the Darts hood bulges.   Just have to be patient.

Also, I avoid buying decals from second and third parties as these are usually getting very old.  Best to get them right from the maker.  Had I bought the 1st set of Dart decals second hand, I would have never gotten replacements.  Slixx took care of those without me even asking.

[gtx6970]

  On 6/6/2025 at 10:59 AM, Wild Child said:

Thanks guys.....a lot of Mopar love out there.

Mike, you are right that the decals were a Bear!   Seems like the large panel decals like this Dart are the hardest.  I think that some of the decals on the market are also getting old, and perhaps get more brittle.  I have had a couple other ones give me issues, but again, they are usually the larger, longer ones.  Even with warm water, and a lot of decal sol, these can give a person fits, especially when going over curves or irregular surfaces such as the Darts hood bulges.   Just have to be patient.

Also, I avoid buying decals from second and third parties as these are usually getting very old.  Best to get them right from the maker.  Had I bought the 1st set of Dart decals second hand, I would have never gotten replacements.  Slixx took care of those without me even asking.

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Same here. Ive had lots of issues with older decal sheets cracking trying to remove them from the carrier sheet 

Especially Slixx and Fred Cady sheets. That said ,, some of my sheets are maybe 10-15 years old now ( I better get busy me thinks )