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Posted (edited)

Yes, but sadly, it's potential was never realized after Bill France inflicted the "NASCAR Bubble Top Show Rod Ban" of '65 when the Orbitron broke several standing records in January trials at Talledega.

bandit001.jpg

The only BB I've ever seen looks just like this. Was the Orig ever modified? Was there another kit that used BB stuff?

Edited by samdiego
Posted

I've never seen another version either, Sam. I think it was just Revell's attempt to let you out do Roth. I've never seen a BB built any different than the original.:)

Posted (edited)

I think it was just Revell's attempt to let you out do Roth.

That's exactly right! I had the old issue back in the day and those parts are to allow you to build "custom" or "competition" versions. Pretty ridiculous but that's what was expected at the time - everything had to be some kind of 3 in 1. Also, on the chrome tree there's a version of the blower drive with a guard on it that, as far as I know, was never used on the real thing.

Edited by mr moto
Posted

As I realize that I've missed 3/4 of the movie that's on because I've been contemplating the BB.

banditmotor006.jpg

I put the motor together because I liked the blower drive, looks like a double v-belt with a separate water pump drive. You don't see old style blower belts for the street very often. The cogged belt shown is the only other one that I can find here. The zoomies will fit under the BB's fenders and the different tail panel makes sense, but i can't figure out where the tonneau or the sail panels could fit and no way to make a pickup out of what I'm seeing.

Posted (edited)

I think I saw some drawings of the Orbitron in a recent Rodders Journal by Larry Watson that showed "sail panels" mounted on the top of the body in the back, kinda like a Daytona Charger.

Edited by Greg Myers
Posted

The sail panels combined with that pleated piece made a cantilever style roof that you used in place of the bubble.

Here's a picture of the kit with the guard on the blower drive:

BBratfink09015.jpg

After I looked around on the net I found some pictures of the real thing with the guard on it so I guess it was used sometimes.

Posted

Does the Road Agent have that cover behind the bubble? Did these two kits share a tree? Those look like the same wings.

I've never had an RA kit.

Posted (edited)

The road agent has a two piece round "sail thingy", the beatnik bandit's are flat so I dont think they share any of the same parts. thier is a small trunk behind the bubble top. not a large cover like what come in the beatnik bandit.

Edited by sobpinstriping
Posted

The cantilever roof was actually from Roths original design for the Bandit, before he decided to do the bubble top. inthe book "Hot Rod by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth", there's a picture of the shetch in the chapter about the bandit, whick also explains that the "beatnik" part of the name was actully Revells idea, not Roths.

Posted

These are from the "Hot Rods by Ed Big Daddy Roth" book:

IMG_5083.jpg

IMG_5084.jpg

The original Ed Newton sketch of the Orbitron, showing the pods which appeared on the Road Agent:

IMG_5093.jpg

Posted

What a cool variation. Was this in the instructions ? If not, how did you figure it out?:)

It was in the instructions for the very early issues of the kit, maybe only the first one. Hasn't been on the instructions in years.

Posted (edited)

I'm kinda liking the Tall T look and it's giving me ideas since I've already built this car a couple of times. he also used the zoomie style headers.

Thanks for helpin', mi amigos

Edited by samdiego
Posted (edited)

I can't answer that, the one I have in front of me now is the Hot Rod issue as in mr moto's post

I can't see where it would be worth the trouble to block off where those parts are, i would bet they are still included

Edited by samdiego

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