FUNNY VEGA'S

[Wild Child]

One of the most popular Funny Car kits of all time that most everyone who likes Funny Cars has built sometime in their life is the early Jungle Jim Vega.  Years ago I built this car, and liked it so much that I decided to build a couple more.  Using available Slixx decals, below are two other Vega builds ( Jim Green's 'Green Elephant' and Charlie Therwhangers 'Hombre')  along with Jim's car.  I have always thought these early Vega's look awesome as Funny Cars.

All three cars have high detail engines and glossy paint finishes. Greens car has a blower scoop and different wheels added for correctness.  The Hombre Vega needed a bit more work which included a complete motor change to a Big Block Chevy as well as custom made lower side air foils and larger rear spoiler extensions.  Additionally, these cars have molded in rear windows in their box form which used a decal.  Many original cars did have the back window, so these had to be carefully cut out and clear windows installed.  This requires a bit of custom work, but the results look really nice.

As a side note, the Jungle Jim decals in the original issue kits have solid yellow side lettering where the real car had some orange.  Once the decals are applied, this can be fixed by adding a little testors orange and blended in for a more authentic look.  Easy fix, and looks great.  Cool Vega's are the bomb!

 

 

[meechum68]

They look amazing!! Excellent work sir!!  

 

[Wild Child]

Just now, meechum68 said:

They look amazing!! Excellent work sir!!  

 

Thanks Mike.

[meechum68]

Plus I am a huge fan of Jungle Jim and Pam! 

[TonyK]

Probably my favorite style Funny Cars from that era. You did some excellent work on these and the stance is just right. I always have a bit of trouble with that.

[M W Elky]

They look just amazing and great photography 

[Rattlecan Dan]

They look great! Nice job.

[TarheelRick]

Excellent work on these builds. As said earlier this style funny car are my favorites, you could actually compare their looks to a 1:1. Nice paint work on all three.

[Wild Child]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind comments.  It is always fun to hear what fellow enthusiasts think, especially these cars often sit unseen in curio cabinets most of the time.   And yes, I try to take extra care in the paint finishes as this is what most everyone, especially non model builders, always see foremost.

[Wild Child]

6 hours ago, TonyK said:

Probably my favorite style Funny Cars from that era. You did some excellent work on these and the stance is just right. I always have a bit of trouble with that.

Thanks Tony, I love this body style in a Funny Car also.

In regards to the stance and rake of these early cars, often these cars differ from each other in reality.  Some kits stock stance is ok right out of the box.  For those that are a bit lower in the front, try mildly trimming the interior tin work in the firewall area where it rests on the frame.  Little at a time, too much and the blower scoop could touch the windshield.  Also, to raise it a little, add a piece of this plastic on each frame top (or the firewall tin work bottom) in the same area.  I had to do this to my KS Pittman Firebird custom build as his was higher than normal.  View post on Killer Firebird Funny Cars to see this car and the Brutus Firebird and let me know what you think.

Concerning the rear, often these are extra high.  Take the rear tin work, shave a little off the top area that  rests on the body.  This will lower it some.  Too much and you risk the roof hitting the roll bar.  If this occurs, just trim the roll bar mounting spots a little where it sits on the interior tin work.

Just takes a little time to fit, trim, and re-fit....but the end results will make you happy.

 

[gtx6970]

Excellent work 

 

I have the Jungle Jim car I built many many years ago

Also have a Barry Setzer Vega FC done in the case ( MPC kit ) 

 

I also have the Jim Green car started using an old MPC kit ,( had decals issues ) So shelved it . I  Need to get back to that one day here soon