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.

[OldNYJim]

On 6/3/2025 at 11:02 AM, FoMoCo66 said:

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.

Agreed!  I’m trying hard to keep that same look, even though there’s a lot I’d change to suit my tastes a little better…I’ve got an idea for a couple more of these…good thing I’ve got a few to play with!

A little more progress this past few days…

Figured out a bed…I was going to scratchbuild one, but the Monogram T bucket that comes with a trailer has an almost perfect, and much better separate bed that matches the Black Widow’s bed dimensions perfectly:

Need to make the filler piece between body and bed still…

While I was playing with the bed, I spun up some ABS bar on my lathe and printed a couple of mounts:

And while I had the printer running, I printed out some replacement wheel backs for the rear wheels…I had one good one, but that’s ALL I had…

And finally for today, working on the firewall…the kit piece only extends a third of the way down for some reason, so I laminated some sheet and started roughing in some extensions:

Still some shaping and sanding and whatnot to add to that, but I’m very much at the “rough sketch” stage on this thing, just trying to get a basic version of it on it’s wheels…

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

[OldNYJim]

Another semi-productive day at the bench…

Got this thing on it’s wheels for the first time, which is always exciting:

Need to do some work on a the roof to get the fit nicer, but the car sits about like I wanted…basically like the Black Widow!

Next major part I needed to tackle was roughing in a floor.  I need a little doghouse over the trans now that I added one…keeping the motor in the same position as Monogram intended means there’s no way around a slightly lumpy floor, but it’s nothing too ridiculous luckily…

Mocked-up the floor shape and size with a little lump of prototyping foam where the doghouse will be:

Fired up the Mattel Vac U Form and loaded up some original period-correct plastic (no, really 😂):

A little heat and vacuum later:

Couple of dimples to fill where I drilled the original piece for suction, but this part will be flocked with embossing powder anyway so no biggie:

And the finished part in place…not super visible, but another piece of the puzzle done

Next things I need to tackle are the dash, steering column, and figuring out how the rear fenders should mount (they’re mounted to the bed sides on the original but I’m wondering if I can do something a little better…)

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

[slusher]

Impressive work!

[NOBLNG]

It’s looking good Jim!👍 That Vac U Form sure looks like a handy gadget.

[OldNYJim]

15 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

It’s looking good Jim!👍 That Vac U Form sure looks like a handy gadget.

Thank you!  I’ve only really just started using it, but it does GREAT for a 60 year old kids toy - ha!

Coupla minor updates this evening….picked out the worst dash of the ones I had, cleaned up the glue-blobs and drilled it so I can add gauges later:

I actually needed to get this handed so I could figure out a steering column…if you ever have to figure out the place to drill a firewall, then a mechanical pencil with the tip clicked way out is a handy tool - makes it easy to see if everything’s straight, and the angle you’re trying to get:

I pulled a spare column from my box of Revell 29/30 Ford parts…it actually fits about perfect:

The driver’s side header needs to clear it, but I think I’ll be ok (and I couldn’t figure out headers under I’d done the steering column, hence the weird order I’m working on things here…)

And finally for this evening because I had a couple of spare minutes left cut a little grooved styrene for a new wooden bed floor…

Might use the same material to make some door cards to match the seat too…

Thanks for looking, more soon!

[OldNYJim]

Tonight’s little bit of progress…

The kit engine looks like it’s running the really early pre-ramhorn-style Small Block manifold, so I needed to recreate those for my printed block.  The 1:1 parts:

And my printed recreation:

Note that the 1:1 parts have generator mounts, but I don’t need that, so that’s been ‘ground off’…

Test fit to the block:

And tonight I started mocking up the exhaust…not following the kit parts exactly here (not least because I don’t have any to reference) but when done I want the tips on the exhaust to line up with the z on the frame, and have them run the same lines as the rails, roughly like this:

Just a small update, and I can’t see how it all looks right side up until the glue dries…but I think it’ll work!

Just a little update…thanks for looking, more soon!