Tommy Ivo Top Fuel car

[2002p51]

When this kit was first on the market way back in the early '70s I built a lot of them but never straight-out-of-box. So when the re-issue became available I told myself I should do one straight up, and so (drum roll please) . . . here it is:

The first thing to note is the sort of "peachy" color. I mixed this up using Testors Model Master paints. Started with a base of gloss white to which I added a few drops of bright yellow until I got a very pale shade of yellow. Then I added orange, a drop or two at a time, until I got "peach". It's pretty close to the way I remember the car. The only thing that would make it better would be if it was all done in pearls.

The decals are mostly from the kit with some of the lettering from Slixx.

The model's not 100% out-of-the-box as I tossed out the unrealistic, and much too wide, rear wheels and tires that come in the kit and replaced them with parts from my stash of spares.

My main criticism of the finished model is that the body doesn't fit together all that well. Especially at the front. I needed to spend way more time on that than I did to get it right.

The engine is also nearly 100% out-of-the-box. The injector and the magneto are from a Revell early funny car kit and the throttle linkage and barrel valve are scratch built. The exhaust headers are from the MPC Willie Borsch altered. The injector was a little frustrating as I made sure I had the two halves glued together very solidly and I sanded down the seam. Then, after it was painted that *&%$#%&* seam opened up at the front!

As always, comments, criticism, sticks and stones, are welcome.

(Your mileage may vary)

[charlzrocks]

Looks reel purty!

[RatRod]

Very nice, the engine mods are a plus!!! I recently built one of these to, and did basically the same type of mods. I never really understood that peach color, I have done numerous hours of research trying to find pics of this car. The restored car is close, but still more orange....

I also came up with a picture of the car from 1969 when it was first built, look in the back of the truck....

Seeing the above pic, the car was a lot more orange, and so I went with HOK tangelo pearl on mine, but if you look closely at the second dragster, it has that peachy two tone...

At any rate, the car needs mods, and those old showrod slicks gotta go!!! You did good on your build man!!!

Edited January 21, 2010 by RatRod

[2002p51]

I think the orange, like you've done, though it may not be correct, certainly looks much better than the peach.

I found a bunch of photos of both the original and the restored car on the web and the color looks different in every one of them due to camera and sunlight angles. So who knows.

I like your version a lot!

[Chuck Most]

These old rail kits are a pain to wring a decent replica from- but as you've shown it can be done!

It may not be perfect, but it's still nicer than any of the rails I've built. Or should I say, tried to build, gave up on, and stuffed into a box in the darkest corner of my attic!

[RatRod]

Thanks Drew!!! Geeeez, didn't even pay attention to who you were until a few minutes ago. I've always enjoyed your articles, and builds over the years, glad to see you here!!!

[2002p51]

Thanks Drew!!! Geeeez, didn't even pay attention to who you were until a few minutes ago. I've always enjoyed your articles, and builds over the years, glad to see you here!!!

Thanks.

There will be a lot more on building this kit in a future issue of Model Cars. Stay tuned.

[Dragline]

This is gorgeous. I got one last week.

Inspiring builds both.

Bob