My first dragster in 48 years!

[Foxer]

I'm planning a mid 60's dragster for the Lions Dragway build off and am having troubles locating a frame to use. I have a AMT DIGGER PLYMOUTH HEMI CUDA DRAGSTER that has the correct looking frame, other than the rails are only half circles.. they are flat on the insides of the frame.This must be because the frame is fully covered by the body when built. It would have been an easy cut down to a shorter wheelbase, but since the frame will be exposed it's not suitable.

I'm figuring about a 120" front engine dragster. Modifying a longer frame is no problem but it has to be a front engine frame so the rear end looks right. Since I haven't seen any dragster kits in so long, I was hoping to get some suggestions as to what kits I might find a usable frame. It seems the old AMT Double Dragster kit is the one I really need ... and that was the last dragster I actually built... when it was first released! However, the prices I see are much more than I want to spend on this. I am also not up for building a frame from scratch even though that WOULD be an interesting project.

[george 53]

Mike, go to the LHS an get some Evergreen 1/2 round strips of the same size,an glue it on from behind. That'll give you a complete tube. I use it for my pleats in my interiors so it does come in various sizes. Take the framerail with you an just match them rascals up.

[Modelmartin]

There are several kits you could use. The garlits Swamp Rat from AMT which is also available as The Hemi-sphere and Hippie Hemi kits has the wheelbase you want and is a pretty nice kit. The Ramchargers dragster is fair - it has a crappy engine. The Revell Tony Nancy double kit has a pair of really well detailed early 60s dragsters in it.

Most kits with one piece frames have the d-shaped rails. They need to do that for mold draft so they can get the parts out of the molds. I recommend just going in with an X-acto knife and scraping them until they are round. I have done it and it isn't hard and doesn't take long. There really isn't that much material to take off. The only hitch with George's method is that it makes the frame rail a bit wide. Good luck with your project. Dragsters are fun to build.

[Foxer]

That's a nice list to go at .. thanks Andy. Are some of those one piece frames? I never thought of draft as the reason for the flat sides .. DOH! .. of course!

And, George ... I kinda like your idea. I may just try some and maybe a little of Andy's suggestion of scraping them to shape on some of the filler members. For the most part, I don't think the extra thickness will hurt me. The toughest area would have been the back end curves, but that's all covered with the seat and nothing is needed.

[Bernard Kron]

For the 120" wheelbase era I would recommend the HemiSphere as almost ideal. It is more or less generally available in your LHS and on line. 7-8 of them currently on e-bay at around $18.00 By-it-now and similar price at Model Roundup. Very nicely detailed throughout and looks good as a stripped down rail. Nice interior details and decent fuel system. Great blown hemi with separate pulleys and rubber drive belt. Here's a bare-bones Nailhead powered rail I did last year from it:

Bare frame:

(I pinched the nose and made my own fuel tank)

Built up:

(Except for the rear bodywork surroundng the driver's seat, the parachute pack, and the engine, almost all parts are from the kit)

The only gripe I have about it is that it has a Garlits' characteristic roll-hoop and so doesn't look quite right as a West Coast Woody Gilmore style rail circa Lions 1964. For this the Ramchargers kit provides a better frame. But unfortunately it is very hard to find. This Fall AMT/Round2 will issue the Tommy Ivo FED which would also be very fine for your purposes. Most people would probably not notice the difference, maybe...

[Foxer]

For the 120" wheelbase era I would recommend the HemiSphere as almost ideal. Very nicely detailed throughout and looks good as a stripped down rail. Nice interior details and decent fuel system. Great blown hemi with separate pulleys and rubber drive belt. Here's a bare-bones Nailhead powered rail I did last year from it:

Bare frame:

That one sounds pretty good, Bernard. The frame does look very similar to the long Digger one I have, but with nice round rails. I am planning to throw the Chevy front blower engine from the Competition kit in it, but that does sound nice. ))

Is this the same kit as the Hippie Hemi I see all over? I don't see the HemiSphere kit anywhere. It's a rough search with all the other junk that name brings up . eheh

[Bernard Kron]

Is this the same kit as the Hippie Hemi I see all over? I don't see the HemiSphere kit anywhere. It's a rough search with all the other junk that name brings up . eheh

I just looked at the instructions for the Hippie Hemi and I'd say that yes, this is virtually identical except for the body, which you might not need anyway. The one advantage of the Hemi Sphere kit is that you could cut down the kit body to make a "shorty" body which is what I did (the rear portion behind the wheels is scratchbuilt from pie tin aluminum).

Here's a link to the e-bay search for the Hemi Sphere:

http://toys.shop.ebay.com/items/Models-Kit...d=p3286.c0.m282

And here's a link to Model Roundup Online's listing for the Hemi Sphere:

http://www.modelroundup.com/mrcategory1020.htm

[Foxer]

Thanks for the links, Bernard. I can usually find anything but this was evading me.

[Foxer]

Big thanks, Benard!! I found a Hippie Hemi and the frame is perfect for what I want! Length looks ideal as is and the length behind the engine is slightly longer than the long Digger frame, which suits my purpose well. I started cutting up the Vickie body and this frame will fit it much better.

[Bernard Kron]

Big thanks, Benard!! I found a Hippie Hemi and the frame is perfect for what I want! ... I started cutting up the Vickie body and this frame will fit it much better.

Glad I could help. Vickie body, huh? Let's see some pics of this sucker!

[Foxer]

I had posted a pic in the Lion's Drag thread before securing this frame, but very preliminary. Been starting to move on it now that there's a plan. Body has been chopped but need to mock up the frame before doing the lower body cuts. I'll post things in the Lion's thread as it goes.