Early Era Blown T-Bucket Altered

[Bernard Kron]

Early-Era T-Bucket Altered circa 1960-61

(More pictures below)

This is a T-bucket blown altered based on the AMT Competition Parts Pack released a couple of years back by Stephens International by way of mrknowetall who generously sent me a copy. The kit includes several engines and a Cal Automotive style fiberglass T Altered body with some of the interior bits needed to build one. But the T-Altered parts pack (these are all old AMT Parts Packs compiled into one fabulous collection) doesn't include a chassis. However the instructions do show one as an example and it's the Fiat Altered chassis included in the AMT Double Dragster kit just recently re-issued by Round 2.

With the Double Dragster re-issue it was obvious that the time had come to build the Parts Pack T-Altered! If memory serves me all these Parts Packs and the Double Dragster kit itself date from around 1961-1962. One look at the Fiat's chassis and it's pretty obvious that it represents a typical Altered from the transitional period around 60-61 when the engines were getting increasingly powerful but the chassis still left something to be desired. As a result the "back story" on this build would be to represent a period-typical Midwestern altered run by a lo-mid buck operation primarily at local tracks with the occasional road trip to the NHRA Nationals where they would surprise the Left Coasters with their competitiveness.

In this case the engine is the 421 cu. In. blown Pontiac from the Competition Parts Pack. The scattershield is from the Tommy Ivo Showboat kit and the 2-port Hilborn injectors and scoop are from the Chrysler Hemi in the Competition Parts Pack. The in-out box is from the AMT Double Dragster Fiat as is the entire chassis and suspension with the exception of the roll cage which is part of the Competition Parts Packs T-Altered kit. The parachute, steering gear, steering wheel and clutch pedal are from the Competition Parts Pack T-Altered as well. The rest of the interior details and the moon tank are from the Fiat Altered. Tires are from Modelhaus and the wheels are AMT '40 Ford steelies. The fabulous little bucket seat was scratch built and given to me by Dave Nelson (racer13). Most other details such as the floor and steering column braces, parachute stuff, etc., are either scratch built or from the parts box.

Paints are Duplicolor Yellow and Torch Red with Tamiya Bright Blue for the block and various Testors Metallizers throughout. The NorthState Tire Sales decal is home made and is a fictitious owner/sponsor. Most other trade decals are from Slixx including the very cool Dragway 42 and Kil-Kare Speedway and Dragway stickers on the turtle deck. These are the team's home tracks in Northern Ohio. The phone number is a Dayton exchange (DRake…).

This was a blast to build. Thanx for lookin'!

B.

[Bernard Kron]

Here are some additional body-off shots:

[Joker]

Sharp looking photos! Thank you for sharing. Awesome build BTW... James

[Bernard Kron]

Sharp looking photos! Thank you for sharing. Awesome build BTW... James

Thanx James. I got a new camera for Xmas amd I finally got the hang of how to get the most out of it. Getting in sharp and close like that sure makes you wanna build clean! Glad you like the altered.

B.

[curt raitz]

Good Morning Bernard

was wondering what happened to ya, haven't seen ya on the board since the NNL West

One problem with a camera that gets in really close is that it doesn't lie...all the little nicks, bumps, etc. pop out

I really like this model, you're doin' a great job...

c'ya

[Raul_Perez]

Very, very cool dragster, Bernard!!

I think that this is your best build so far!!

Everything about it is right on the money, including the fuel line and steering details!!

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx for the generous props from three of my favorite modelers! For sure I stole a page from your "texture and realism" book on this one Dave! I even resisted polishing out the paint to hang on to that race car look.

...was wondering what happened to ya, haven't seen ya on the board since the NNL West...

Actually I've been around but I was kinda busy building, I guess.. Since the NNL I got a '49 Merc and this Altered done! Busy enough so I missed out telling you how much I dug the NNL diorama (which I just spied out of the corner of my eye when you were handing it off to the "officials" that AM - had to wait for your post it to really get a gander at it) and the Lauda F1 Ferrari. Nose to the workbench, don'tcha know...

...I think that this is your best build so far!!...

Thanx! I kinda hafta agree. I was definitely "in the zone" on this one. Although it was a lot closer to a simple assembly build than the '29 A drag roadster, it was a similar experience. I guess these pseudo-historical early era race cars have a way of making it easier for me. Probably because the exterior finish work is less demanding and there's no upholstery to worry about! But every completion seems to have a way of moving one along the way to some undefined goal...

[Sixties Sam]

Very nice build, Bernard. Looks like some of the models I built back in the 60's, only much better! Those old altered cars were cool!

Sam

[Bernard Kron]

Very nice build, Bernard. Looks like some of the models I built back in the 60's, only much better! Those old altered cars were cool!

Sam

Thanx Sam. I guess there's no escaping that basic old time AMT DNA!

[Foxer]

Nice looking, Bernard. It fits your build target to a T!

I'm trying to figure how you handled the steering linkage though a body hole with body on and off photos ... both look good.

The metallic painting looks very realistic .. but those Mid-Coasters really like to scream in their body/frame paint to get noticed!

Edited April 6, 2010 by Foxer

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx Mike!

....I'm trying to figure how you handled the steering linkage though a body hole with body on and off photos ...

Pretty simple, actually. I took the "body off" pics before gluing the body in place. If you look carefully you'll notice that the tie rod is simply tacked in place in the body-off pics. After putting the body into position I fed the tie rod in the hole in the body and installed the tie rod end. In the 1:1 world the tie rod end would be removable with a set screw. The ends are from the Double Dragster kit Fiat with some styrene rod for the link itself, a longer rod being needed since the Parts Pack roll cage sets the steering further back than on the Fiat. I was going to leave the body removable but decided it would invite too much much fiddling with the model in the future. With the removable tonneau cover you can see just about anything worth looking at on the chassis.

[Raul_Perez]

I keep coming back to look at this one!!

Now that I have the Double Dragster kit, I may have to build a couple of those old dragsters to add to my collection!!

I plan on selling a bunch of my older Danbury Mint stuff to make room for the new builds, rather than getting rid of some of my older builds...

Later,

[Bernard Kron]

...Now that I have the Double Dragster kit, I may have to build a couple of those old dragsters to add to my collection!!...

Well, this kit is definitely Old School, an instant way-back machine. Any attempt to build anything newer than 1962 will look silly. Very restrictive in a way, but great fun if you can get into it!

[Raul_Perez]

Well, this kit is definitely Old School, an instant way-back machine. Any attempt to build anything newer than 1962 will look silly. Very restrictive in a way, but great fun if you can get into it!

Yeah...slanted B pillars, pie-cut hoods, modular engines, modern paint schemes or any of the other tricks used to make the styling of old cars look new just don't cut it when you're building something that dictates it be kept true to its original form!!

It should be a lot of fun...after I finish the WagonRod and the '50 Chevy Z06 pickup...

Later,

[dimaxion]

Nice 1/4 horse . No nonsense and follows the rules . In the day , the Double Dragster came with a set of NHRA rules . My friends and I made out models to confirm to these different regulations to fit the catagories . I appreciate this one . You must have the rulebook . Thanx..

[Bernard Kron]

Nice 1/4 horse . No nonsense and follows the rules . In the day , the Double Dragster came with a set of NHRA rules . My friends and I made out models to confirm to these different regulations to fit the catagories . I appreciate this one . You must have the rulebook . Thanx..

Thanx John!

Unfortunately I don't have a rule book. I've had to trust to AMT to keep me on the straight and narrow! The Tin Box re-issue comes with a reproduction of the original NHRA pamplet that came with the first release, 8 pages with section titles like "Ingenuity In Action", "A Typical Day at The Dragstrip", History Of The Altered/Coupe/Sedan and includes a summary version of the basic rules shared by the two cars in the kit. I notice that my build violates the "Seats" section in that my seat is not upholstered and that I have seat belts but no harness. This is my bad since I didn't use the kit seats and they do include a harness. Oh well... On the othe hand AMT violates the "Flash Shields" rule if you build the Hemi with the 8-carb option since the kit doesn't include them (the carbs are open topped).

[unclescott58]

Very nice. 

[bisc63]

Sweet little old-school rod, kinda reminds me of a box art illustration, with its primary colors paint scheme. Just plain cool!

[Bernard Kron]

Thanks for the kind words on this eleven (!!) year old post. I'm amazed it's still here. This turned out to be the first of 4 models I managed to squeeze out of the tin box special issue of the veberable AMT double dragster kit that Round2 had just released at the time. Here are links to the other three, a Fiat altered, a twin engined dragster, and a Bantam competition coupe.

 

Edited October 3, 2021 by Bernard Kron

[slusher]

very nice!

[Dave Armstrong]

I think I missed this one- nice looking build Bernard!

[PatW]

Superb job yet again Bernard!

[David G.]

Sweet hotrod! Love all the added details, well done!

David G.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Cool. Love it. Double dragster kit is really versatile. Glad this got bumped up I missed it the first time around,

[carbuilder1950]

MY friend @Bernard Kron

I just love your style of building, the quality, and your photos have always been "Supreme".

This era perfect T-bucket is no exception.

Beautiful colors for contrast, and great detail make this a real standout.

Nice to see you back, and thank you for sharing this latest build with us.

Dave