Building the AMT Double Dragster Streamliner (again…)

[OldNYJim]

So, I built one of these last year, slightly modified, but my intention has been for a while to build a basically box-stock version of the gold car on the original box art:

So…here goes!

Started the Labor Day weekend with the morning sun streaming through the blinds and some newly cleaned-up frame-halves ready for assembly:

If anyone’s building one of these, it’s WAY easier to clean up the ejector pin marks on the inside of the frame before assembling it…and the front crossmember has indexed pins on the front, so don’t open up those holes with a drill-bit before you install it or you’ll have to figure out the angle of the suicide mount yourself…

The body of this kit is two pieces, and designed to be installed around the frame after painting, and it’d be a trick to get the big seam hidden along the roof, so I’m tweaking mine…

I did consider cutting out the floor so the body can drop over the frame, but much easier is removing that little cowl piece and making it removable:

If this were a real car (and as best I can tell it’s not a replica of ANY actual 1:1, just in-the-style-of some dragsters in this era…) you’d probably need to actually assemble and disassemble the thing, so this seemded a feasible solution (although it would still suck if you were the crew working on it…)

Got the axles in the frame and the engine mocked up with white glue…the front axle is molded ‘open’ to allow for the standard AMT metal axle, so I made it whole with some half-round styrene:

The kit’s seat is the first part I really needed to put any major effort into - I wanted to remove the molded-in belts but it was pretty tough to do that without ruining the tuck ‘n’ roll pattern.  Cleaned up the back the best I could, and replaced the lower cushion with some styrene sheet with scribed grooves…and then, because I don’t want to have to do that again on the Fiat kit when I build it (same design seat) I made a quick mold so I can cast them.  Original on left, modified in center and molded copy on right:

And a quick mock-up to round out the long weekend…plenty more to come on this one (but I love how fast it is to get almost ANY AMT project on it’s wheels for a sneak peek):

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

[Dennis Lacy]

I think this is the best approach I’ve seen to the streamliner body. Good thinking!

Ya know, as an original Trophy Series kit, this definitely qualifies for the KISS group build and nobody has entered a Double Dragster yet…

[stavanzer]

Wonderful Start.

I'll try to keep that tip about the body, when I build mine.

Thank You!

[TECHMAN]

Probably the "most built kit" for me over the lifetime.....  Have built a basket-load of the different variations since the early 60's, but honestly, don't remember ever doing the "box-art" version that you are.... hummmm......  Got two more of those kits on the shelf, guess one will have to go the direction you are.

Like your idea on the body mods, may have to copy your idea (GREAT idea at that!!!!).  Look forward to your updates.

DJ