'71 Petty Roadrunner

[Scottnkat]

Well, I had decided that I was going to just do a nice simple out of the box build for my next car. I pulled out the JoHan Richard Petty Superbird thinking I would do that. After looking at that kit, I realized that there was no way I could build that box stock and I would have to change alot. So back into the box it went and the box went back on the shelf. This started a process where I would pull boxes out, review the contents, decide that I couldn't stop without doing at least something to the kits, then put them back. This has gone on for two days.

Finally I pulled out the Monogram '71 Plymouth Satellite. The kit is really of a Roadrunner, but Monogram couldn't use that title, so they called it the sister car's name. I had bought this used and upon review I found it was missing parts. Well, I hate having an incomplete kit, so I decided "Screw it! I'm not gonna do a simple box stock build after all!"

First thing I had to do was to try to bend the body back into shape. It had broken and become warped while sitting in the box. Once I got it back into shape, I then glued the roof back on with the front A pillars. Here's the body now:

The kit was missing the interior tub (which, considering that it's going to become a racecar, isn't really needed), so I will be working right off the frame. The first thing I have done is I have started making the transmission tunnel.

There's still alot of work to go and like I said, it is missing parts. Maybe after this is done I will try doing something box stock...

[Scottnkat]

Since this is going to become a racecar and won't be the stock car, I had to cut some stuff off. Off goes the inner fenders and the front support:

From the chassis, we cut out the gas tank:

I then had to make a new firewall. I did this (and try to do all the pieces that I have to cut out of styrene) by making a pattern out of paper. I put the body and chassis together, then trimmed the paper until it fit the way I wanted it to:

I then took the paper and laid it flat on a styrene sheet. I used a pencil to cut out the styrene using the paper as a pattern:

Finally, we get a nice plastic piece to fit right where we need it to:

I'm sure alot of the more experienced modelers already knew how to make a pattern to cut stuff out, but I showed this more for anyone that hasn't done this kinda thing before. Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Also, if anyone knows anything that should be done special about this car, please let me know.

[Bartster]

Alrighty, then. Was it this one or the Charger that Granatelli negotiated the red & STP logos on?

[Scottnkat]

The STP logos were first seen on the Roadrunner in (I believe) '72.

[Scottnkat]

Yep, they were on the car in '72 - Here ya go:

[Scottnkat]

I finally got the transmission tunnel done and I have begun work on the rollcage. It still needs a little work, but you can see how it's going along so far.

[bbowser]

Looking good so far.

[Bartster]

Nice looking roll cage. I gotta do me a race car soon. This just looks like a lot of fun!

[wraith]

I love the idea and that rool gage is awesome!

I will be watching!

[Scottnkat]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I appreciate it. I made the rollcage from .080 Styrene rod. That works out to a scale 2 inches. I didn't have enough .100 rod (scale 2 1/2 inches), so I took some liberties with it. We're single income with four kids still at home, so there's never alot of extra disposable income that I can use. I don't have alot of extra money for all the fancy resin or other aftermarket parts, so I often have to work with what I have. I appreciate the comments and hopefully we can make a nice looking car out of all this.

[Bartster]

Scott, really, such modesty! l think we all know it's gonna be a nice looking car.

[Scottnkat]

Thanks, Bart. I've been making small adjustments to the rollcage this morning and I've been puttying and sanding the body, so making some progress, but not much to show right now.

[jjsipes]

I have a couple of the old MPC Petty Roadrunner kits in the que to be worked so, I am following along with your build. Looking great. I have been watching all your Petty builds, gotta say great work Scott.

[Scottnkat]

It's always nice when you try it out and see that it does fit.

I did have to make a couple of small adjustments to the rollcage, but it's just about done now.

More to come...

[Car Crazy 81]

This thread makes me wanna dig my old GTX out of my stash since i had plans on replicating Richard Petty's 71 Roadrunner but never came to be.

[Scottnkat]

Thank you for the comments, Jason - I do appreciate it.

Get that GTX out and we can build them together, Rick!

[Scottnkat]

Not alot to show so far - still working on the body. I found a kit in my stash that had an extra 426 Hemi engine (the reissue of the 1970 Superbee)!! Woo Hoo!! I didn't know what I was going to do it I didn't find that, but I did. I'll see about posting pics later.

[Scottnkat]

Here's a pic of the fuel cell I made for the underside of the car, as well as the unpainted (as of yet) extra 426 Hemi that I found:

[Scottnkat]

The rear end was going to be a problem. It has the exhaust pipes molded to it as shown below:

Now we can't have that, so after a little surgery and sanding, we have a useable rear end now:

[Scottnkat]

Finally, I checked the fit of the engine into its new home:

It currently sits a bit high, so I am going to have to lower it - I've decided to do this by moving the mounting tabs on the frame down. That should get it lower where we need it.

[TheCat]

looking good

[Bartster]

Great progress, Scott. Lookin like a racecar! Can't wait to see some paint.

[wraith]

She is coming along real nice!

Nothing wrong with working with what you have around you! I often have to do that myself. Makes the build a lil more satisfying when it's all done knowing that you "MADE IT" yourself!

[Scottnkat]

Thank you for the kind words, guys. I do appreciate it.

Jacen, thank you for the info on the car - I knew about the different paint jobs, but I didn't know about the 5 slot wheels. I am going to have to see if I have some somewhere.

No jig used. Do they make jigs for doing the rollcage? That would really make it so much easier!!

Edited May 2, 2012 by Scottnkat

[Scottnkat]

Finally got some paint on this sucker!!!

Aside from the body and chassis, if you look to the right you will also see the almost completed engine.