My take on the classic Monogram Black Widow T

[OldNYJim]

I’m on a bit of a classic-kit kick lately, and I just recently finished the Monogram Midget kit…

…and wanted to tackle one of their classic hot-rod kits next.  Picked up a set of three built-up originals with kinda enough parts to build a good one (I think…) and here we go again…

Main shortcomings of this as a kit, if viewed in modern terms, is the lack of proper running gear (there’s no transmission, just a bellhousing), no rear axle, and the inner bed is full of lumps and bumps from when this was a motorized toy and the detail is pretty soft to say the least.  To be expected from a kit of this vintage, but the reason it’s interesting is that it’s FULL of character and still looks killer when built up today.  

So, I’ll be trying to retain that character, and just fill in a few details that I’d like this build to have so it can hold its own on the shelf today.  And actually, Hollywood Hot Rods did their own super-detailed version, scaled up to 1:1…they literally scaled up a model kit and built a working driving version - kinda cool: 

https://www.hollywoodhotrods.com/the-black-widdow

First step was to reproduce the kit frame…the stock part is weirdly spindly looking to my eyes (it would be, like 3” by 1” rectangle tube if it were real) so I added some bulk to the inner frame edges but basically just copied it:

And then, because this motorized kit didn’t make any concessions for suspension travel (and why would it, it was a 60s toy for kids…), I zeed the rear end so that it would at least have 3” travel but still have the axle in the same spot:

Now, I could’ve just moved the axle, when I build it, down 3”, but I’m going to work hard to keep that distinctive stance how Monogram intended, so this was a concession to that…

Next up, the engine is pretty visible on this car and the kit part is what you’d expect from something of this era:

3D printing to the rescue…printed a more detailed replacement but matched the kit dimensions as closely as I could to keep the look of the original:

I’ve got a couple of kit valve covers that aren’t gluebombed, so I’ll be using those, and I already had a file for a better 3x1 Offie carb’d intake so it made sense to use that too.  Trans is a GM Saginaw 3-speed…a little late for when the kit was introduced but the dimensions will help me not have to do anything too weird with the interior once I get that far so I can live with it.  

Plus Monogram intended this car to be a stick, evidenced by the third pedal in the interior so I’m going to honor that intent…

And that’s it so far - just a little progress but this week I’ll get axles figured out and start working through it front to back - thanks for looking!

[stavanzer]

Awesome Start!

I'll keep watching.

[bobss396]

Every time I see one of these kits, I get a flashback going back to 1961. I should build another one.

Instead of a Saginaw, why not use a '39-ish Ford 3 speed or a Lasalle? Those were often adapted to the new overhead valve engines of the era.

[NOBLNG]

Nice! I like it when old glue bombs get rejuvenated.👍😎

[slusher]

Those are really cool kits!

[OldNYJim]

On 5/27/2025 at 6:19 AM, bobss396 said:

Instead of a Saginaw, why not use a '39-ish Ford 3 speed or a Lasalle? Those were often adapted to the new overhead valve engines of the era.

Yes, you’re absolutely right - and I did actually print up a ‘toploader’ to see how it would work on this build.  Problem is, the engine sits WAY forward of the body on this kit (which is part of what gives it it’s distinctive look) and there’s a tonne of space between the firewall and the block…there’s a really good example of that on this build here:

https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/monogram-instructions/show-rods/monogram-black-wido/100-5373.html#media

So, with a Lasalle or a Ford 3-speed where they’re so short, the shifter ends up about where the firewall is (or even slightly forward of it), and it makes its own problems.  I guess I would ideally find some kind of ‘long snout’ trans that is early-60s correct…with the Saginaw it’s a little too late of a component, but it fits really well.  Still debating what to do there…

Small update, seeing as I’m replying anyway…

Stripped the one good front axle I have of it’s chrome, and added a tab like the Revell Deuce axles have so I can attach it securely to my homemade frame, and modified some parts box split wishbones to fit:

And a test with those distinctive cycle fenders:

And I’m missing the windshield frame from all of the glue bombs I got (at least, an unbroken one) so drew one of those in CAD this evening so I can print one tomorrow:

And I’ve got good grilles, but the semi-circular headlamp mounts are split or busted on all of them too, so I modeled one of them to print as a test before I start trying to piece together broken ones:

Nothing very exciting, but it’s a LITTLE progress - more soon, soon as I’ve done more!

[Bainford]

Cool project. I'll be following along.

I have a clean Green Hornet original issue re-builder with which I plan to do something similar. I plan to build as originally designed, but add a little detail and some better looking parts for improved shelf-appeal. I think I have a clean Black Widow from the same builder, too.

[OldNYJim]

On 5/29/2025 at 12:23 PM, Bainford said:

Cool project. I'll be following along.

I have a clean Green Hornet original issue re-builder with which I plan to do something similar. I plan to build as originally designed, but add a little detail and some better looking parts for improved shelf-appeal. I think I have a clean Black Widow from the same builder, too.

That sounds awesome!  The Green Hornet is on my to-do list too!

 

A little more sporadic process…printed the radiator surround:

It’s basically the kit part but opened up…I want to use the kit headlamps (not sure why, I just do…) so I had to remove them from the stand-offs, strip the chrome and add some pins and receivers.  Forgot to take a good pic, but you can just see what I did in the next photo…

Started work on a rear axle - haven’t totally decided on rear suspension links yet - I’ll probably go with some kind of split wishbone but that’s a project for later this week…

I want to make the body and bed separate pieces for easier painting and detailing…here’s the worst body of the three that I have:

While I was slicing the body from the bed and thinking about how to best fabricate the missing rear panel, I had the printer running on a windshield:

And here’s those two tangents combined:

Just messing with a bunch of different parts right now to get this to a loose mock-up stage so I can see how it sits and if it still looks how I want, so my approach is kinda scattergun right now, but it makes sense to me…next projects are finishing up that rear suspension, rear panel for the body and probably scratchbuilding a bed (because I suspect it’ll just be easier…)

Thanks for looking - more soon, soon as I’ve done more!

[FoMoCo66]

This is looking amazing, I love your use of 3d printing. The old monogram hot rod kits always captured the feel of the 50s and 60s hot rods. That's the benefit of an old kit, it captures the era because it was made in that era.