Slingshot Dragster Circa 1959 - Updated 07-16

[Bernard Kron]

My penchant for the more obscure backwaters of vintage hot rodding comes to the fore once again with this one. I'm working on a '53 Stude salt lakes streamliner with a Potvin blown Chrysler in it so I recently bought a Polar Lights Carl Casper's Undertaker Dragster kit for the Potvin drive details in it. Show rods aren't something I do so I thought other than that it would prove relatively useless to me. As it turns out it has a very nice example of an early three-point slingshot frame of the sort seen around 1958-59. So I thought I'd make a model of a local mid-field runner from it.

The frame itself is quite well detailed but comes completely chrome plated so it went into the stripper. Here are details of the frame, the funky lever shock front suspension and the roll cage which puts the driver just barely behind the rear axle.

The body is cut up from a Revell Tony Nancy Dragster kit, the engine is a Revell Parts Pack Caddy with an accessory drive from an AMT '40 Ford Sedan Oldsmobile engine. The seat is a cut down AMT '25 T kit item. Here's some pics with a mockup of the car and shots of the engine.

Not too far from done, with the remainder of the parts mainly from the Undertaker kit A quick build while I work on a tube frame for the aforementioned Stude streamliner.

Thanks for lookin'

B.

Edited July 16, 2010 by gbk1

[Bernard Kron]

I like it Bernard! Since it double posted on you, I deleted one of them.

Thanks Mark. It's my first double post. How can I avoid that happening?

[trogdor]

Thanks Mark. It's my first double post. How can I avoid that happening?

Make sure the selector is on semi and not burst

Just kiddin, nice dragster

[Raul_Perez]

Cool dragster, Bernard!!

The Caddy engine fits in there nicely!!

Isn't it about time for some updated pics of the Stude?

Later,

[Fuel Coupe]

I LOVE IT. were'd those rear shoes come from

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx everyone! Glad you all like it.

...Isn't it about time for some updated pics of the Stude? ...

Nothing to show right now, just a bunch of layout sketches and measurements for the tube chassis based on the dimensions of the kit frame. But it should be back on the bench any day now...

...Where'd those rear shoes come from...

The slicks are from the Revell Tony Nancy Double Dragster kit and the wheels are the Undertaker kit wheels stripped of chrome and finished in Testors Acryl Jet Exhaust. The Undertaker kit tires are really nice whitewall cheater slicks, way too nice for this funky old rail!

[Raul_Perez]

...Isn't it about time for some updated pics of the Stude?

...Nothing to show right now, just a bunch of layout sketches and measurements for the tube chassis based on the dimensions of the kit frame. But it should be back on the bench any day now...

Sketches?! I like sketches! Do you have a scanner, or did you do them in PhotoShop?

I've got the basecoat of paint on the bottom of my Stude. I still need to finish the body mods before it gets primed and painted...

[Bernard Kron]

Just a quick update. These types of cars are incredibly simple and go together pretty much like a 1:1. So here are some pics of the completed chassis ready to receive the engine and bodywork. Tomorrow I hope to do the paint on the body panels and begin final assembly.

Thanx for lookin',

B.

[Bernard Kron]

Sketches?! I like sketches! Do you have a scanner, or did you do them in PhotoShop?

I've got the basecoat of paint on the bottom of my Stude. I still need to finish the body mods before it gets primed and painted...

I'll see about scanning some chassis sketches tomorrow. Looks like there's a race goin' on between our two Studes!

[Raul_Perez]

...Looks like there's a race goin' on between our two Studes!

Yeah...but remember, I only build in one of two speeds, slow progress and no progress.

Besides, mine is just a side project while the paint cures on my two other builds.

Later,

[Fuel Coupe]

I love the friction shocks and the Dog house. Is that METAL I see

[Bernard Kron]

Yeah...but remember, I only build in one of two speeds, slow progress and no progress. ...

GIven my ambitions on that build we should just about match pace...

... Is that METAL I see

No metal in the chassis pics, just tons of Testors Metalizers.

[Fuel Coupe]

I meant on the dog house over the carbs...

[Bernard Kron]

I meant on the dog house over the carbs...

Oh yeah, that's genuwine aluminuminuminum....