1:16 FED, brass, current project

[Mike Holland]

Hello guys, this one is a current WIP. 145" wheelbase, started this past spring, vintage 1965 car.  Nothing fancy, just what I really like about the mid 60s, lack of chrome, down low and dirty with huge motors sitting way back!. No frills. Also shown are the 'studs' at bottom of chassis, thus keeping the ride height set throughout the entire build. These are removed after painting, after completion.

 

 

The bare block sits, drive line established with motor dump, firewall.

The car will show minimum of 3" to pavement.  More soon.  Mike..

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 4 by Mike Holland

[Vettegasser]

Awesome 

[FoMoCo66]

That's just awesome! I love the low set rails looks.

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Great to see you working on another one of these superb FED Mike, it's always a pleasure to see an eternally young man aligning brass rods to make a convincing and perfectly straight frame. 👌

[Mike Holland]

On 12/2/2025 at 12:47 AM, Vettegasser said:

Awesome 

Thanks Jimmy, hoping things work out as planned.

 

On 12/2/2025 at 2:08 AM, FoMoCo66 said:

That's just awesome! I love the low set rails looks.

Hi Elliot, yep, down low with the tilted down motor....they just kill me.  Mike..

 

On 12/2/2025 at 5:57 PM, AmericanMuscleFan said:

Great to see you working on another one of these superb FED Mike, it's always a pleasure to see an eternally young man aligning brass rods to make a convincing and perfectly straight frame. 👌

Very kind of you, Francis. I'm still at it, the best part is taking the time, piece by piece. Do it once is best. After finding out a new method of lacing wheels without solder has made things much easier. More later about this.

[Mike Holland]

UPDATE; some motor works. 

Prepping the heads with brass tubes to accept the brass zoomies coming up, which just slide over these tubes.  3D material is so brittle, needing to beef up the pipe connection. The red material around the tubes is a homemade concoction, using ethyl acetate as a medium to melt red sprue leads to desired thickness to apply with a toothpick. The 'soup' dries quickly. Also getting the manifold detailed for fuel lines. The nozzles are movable so that adjustment later on is easier.

Thanks for your interest.  Mike..

 

 

[Straightliner59]

If I see "Brass" and "FED" in the same subject heading, you know I'll be there! 

[Mike Holland]

5 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

If I see "Brass" and "FED" in the same subject heading, you know I'll be there! 

I hear that!  Daniel, I remember well your superb aluminum FED from a while back. Scratch built. Good that we freely communicate nowadays. I’m the same, just slower these days, but that's OK. My bench is fired up, supplies and parts aren't lacking, let's build an old school FED!  Mike..

[Ian McLaren]

9 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

If I see "Brass" and "FED" in the same subject heading, you know I'll be there! 

MeToo!!!

[Ian McLaren]

Mike, it's great to see you back on the bench.  I'll certainly be watching this one as I too am a fan of the weapons grade, form follows function style of Top Fuel front engine dragsters from this era.  I know you will do a fantastic job given your talents!

[Mike Holland]

10 minutes ago, Ian McLaren said:

MeToo!!!

Hello Ian. You know well yourself about the old school FEDs!  Happy to see you! Mike..

[Mike Holland]

17 minutes ago, Ian McLaren said:

Mike, it's great to see you back on the bench.  I'll certainly be watching this one as I too am a fan of the weapons grade, form follows function style of Top Fuel front engine dragsters from this era.  I know you will do a fantastic job given your talents!

Ian, essentially, there you have it. Form and function, no frills. Nothing else here to offer. Time machines in an era long gone. My opinion, these make for wonderful models and look sensational on the shelf. Kits don't offer the same view. Do it your own way. Am happy you're here.  Mike..

Edited December 4 by Mike Holland

[Lee Yoder]

This got my attention!  More tricks to learn. Looks fantastic!

Later,

Lee

[Straightliner59]

Mike, I was looking at my Surfers' chassis, before work, today. Gotta get the Porsche done! I need a "spoker" in my life!

[Mark W]

Beautiful metalwork Mike. Perfect subject for this type of material.

[Mike Holland]

5 hours ago, Lee Yoder said:

This got my attention!  More tricks to learn. Looks fantastic!

Later,

Lee

Hello Lee, you got my attention, that you build 1:12. I checked out your profile. Rookies don't build 1:12 stuff. More than likely, we'll learn from you. However, soon I'll show a wheel, wire lacing, short tutorial that may be of interest. Thanks for dropping by.... Mike..

4 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Mike, I was looking at my Surfers' chassis, before work, today. Gotta get the Porsche done! I need a "spoker" in my life!

There you go! Get that Porsche done soon. We need some surfers over here on the Drag Racing forum. Honestly, I was thinking about modelling that car, just did not feel to have the momentum to do another replica car so soon. I need a phantom project, just showing the basics.

1 hour ago, Mark W said:

Beautiful metalwork Mike. Perfect subject for this type of material.

Hello Mark, I agree, the FEDs in my opinion just scream out..do it. I like not having to glue in windows and effing up BMF. Give me FAs and FEDs!  Open cars rule!

[Straightliner59]

3 hours ago, Mike Holland said:

I need a phantom project, just showing the basics.

Those are my favorites! You still have to get everything right, as far as equipment and any graphics go, time-wise. You, too build replicas of imaginary race cars.

[Hemifever]

Superb workmanship Mike.

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Another excellent job Mike, you've combined the best of both worlds with 3D printed parts (for their precision) and brass for the pleasure of making in addition to its strength and aesthetic appeal.  I really like the fact that you still make all these pieces by hand; it proves that we can achieve great things when we really want to, and that this wonderful hobby has no age limit! 🎩

[Mike Holland]

On 12/9/2025 at 5:51 PM, AmericanMuscleFan said:

Another excellent job Mike, you've combined the best of both worlds with 3D printed parts (for their precision) and brass for the pleasure of making in addition to its strength and aesthetic appeal.  I really like the fact that you still make all these pieces by hand; it proves that we can achieve great things when we really want to, and that this wonderful hobby has no age limit! 🎩

Thank you Francis. Yes the age limit is biting me once more. Actually, not much left to do with this FED. The front wheels are spoked and ready for paint. The motor is finished, only needing spark leads and fuel lines and paint. Bend a simple brass cowl and sides, and that's about it. Painting is a pleasure, not a chore. Just the silly monkey on my back that laughs at my own laziness. Your words are the best medicine for firing up the bench once more. Greetings. Mike..

[Mike Holland]

On 12/5/2025 at 8:00 AM, Straightliner59 said:

Those are my favorites! You still have to get everything right, as far as equipment and any graphics go, time-wise. You, too build replicas of imaginary race cars.

There you have it. Only chrome will be the rocker covers and front axle. Down low and digging in. 1965.

[Mike Holland]

UPDATE: Motor stuff.

Shown here adding some fuel line hardware and the zoomies. 

Motor will have the old school 4-hole injector hat.

This time, making the 392 motor with the manifold injection lines running to the back, as with the 426 Hemi. Always wondering about this application, until seeing a photo of a 392 having all lines heading to the back.  Interesting. 

 Now, my personal dread!  Zoomies. I'd rather lace wire wheels than do these!  After building 10 of these brass models, finally have gotten wiser and things are so much easier and quicker with this method.....But 1st off,  the old way. 4mm brass tube, thick-walled. Get a glass jar that has the correct, scale radius.  Heat up until glowing red, then bend around the jar, for the radius, chop off as needed. Easy-peasy....lol!  Forget about it.

Here, the revised method. SO much easier and quicker. Slicing the 4mm brass tubes with a thick disc at high RPM, halfway through. About 7 cuts work for FED zoomies. Then, slip a solid brass rod in and bend according to your application. The solid rod prevents the tube from collapsing.

 

Notice the brass rod sticking out. This feeds perfectly into the tubes already sitting in the heads.

Now, after correcting the bends if necessary and chopping off the tube sticking out of the heads close to the flange, solder up or use your favorite putty to close the cut slicing.

In my opinion, the 'slicing method' is easist and the quickest way forward. Why not? Zoomies are in my opinion a real live pita. 8 zoomies this way, 2 hrs. max.  

Here a finished FED from a few years ago, with slicing the zoomies....1:16 brass car....

Thanks for viewing. Mike..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike Holland]

On 12/7/2025 at 3:05 AM, Hemifever said:

Superb workmanship Mike.

Thanks Dennis, I love these old diggers.