Mickey Thompson's V8 Pontiac Dragster Build

Doctordarryl · October 31, 2014

Yet another one. This is the V8 Pontiac dragster that Mickey Thompson had at the '61 NHRA Nationals along with his Tempest 4-cylinder dragster.

Kit: Revell Attempt 1 Record Car, #7119, and Blueprinter Engine Parts Pack, 1/25^th scale

Builder: Darryl W. Peters

Body: The body panels were cleaned up of very light mold lines. The kit tach mounting hole in the cowl panel was filled with Evergreen Styrene rod. The body was wet sanded with a 4000-grit polishing cloth, washed, and dried in a dehydrator at 110° F overnight. The body panels were sprayed with two wet coats of Tamiya White Fine Surface Primer and dried in a dehydrator overnight. The inside of the body panels were sprayed with Tamiya AS-12 Bare Metal and dried in a dehydrator for 24 hours. The inside of the body panels were masked with 3M Blue Painter’s Tape and the body was then airbrushed with two wet coats of Tamiya TS-19 Metallic Blue, cut 1:1 with Dupli-Color lacquer thinner, using an Aztek A470 airbrush at 35psi with a 1mm (yellow) nozzle. The body panels were dried in a dehydrator for 24 hours. Dzus button fasteners on the body sides and cowl panel were simulated with photoetched large screw heads from Model Car Garage. The custom decals from Scale Auto Details were cut out and placed into warm water before applying them to the body panels. They were positioned and blotted with a piece of clean dry chamois and the body panels were then placed back into the dehydrator for 24 hours. The body panels were gently washed with warm water and dish soap to remove any decal glue. They were rinsed with warm water and placed back into the dehydrator for several hours to dry. They were then airbrushed with two wet coats of Testor’s Wet Look Gloss Clear, cut 1:1 with Dupli-Color lacquer thinner. Before the second clear coat flashed off, the paint jar was filled with straight Dupli-Color lacquer thinner and a wet coat of thinner was airbrushed over the body panels. They were placed back into the dehydrator and allowed to dry for 48 hours. The body panels were lightly wet sanded with an 8000-grit polishing cloth followed by rubbing out with Novus Plastic Polish #2. The panels were polished with Turtle Wax Clear Coat and given a final clean with Novus Plastic Polish # 1. The body panels were assembled to the chassis using super glue. The fire wall was drilled for a hydraulic throttle line and tachometer cable, sprayed with Tamiya AS-12 Bare Metal, and glued to the chassis.

Frame: The front axel, radius rod, tie rod, and steering link were stripped of chrome using Purple Power cleaner, rinsed, and dried. The front axel parts were assembled using IPS Weld-On #4 and redone by airbrushing Alclad II Chrome over Testor’s Gloss Black. The rear axel was assembled with Weld On #4 and squeezed to fill the join. Once dry, the rear end seams were sanded smooth and the rear end was sprayed with Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminum followed by Testor’s Dull Coat. The rear end cover was sprayed with Model Master Stainless Steel Metalizer. The frame was assembled using IPS Weld On #4 while mounted on a Micro Mark steel plate with magnets holding the chassis sides to square up the chassis. Because different slicks and wheels were used, the rear axel had to be extended 1/8^th inch on each side so the slicks would extend far enough from the body. After the frame was assembled and dried, it was sprayed with two wet coats of Tamiya White Fine Surface Primer and then dried in a dehydrator for 24 hours. It was then airbrushed with two wet coats of Tamiya TS-19 Metallic Blue and placed back into the dehydrator overnight. The kit’s front torsion bars were replaced with fine, uninsulated wire. The throttle pedal and brake handle were sprayed with Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf. A gauge face was added to the gauge pod on the cockpit cross member. A 60s style tach from Detail Master was added under the rear of the cowl panel with a mount made from printer’s aluminum sheet. The seat was airbrushed with Tamiya AS-12 Bare Metal. After drying, the back was masked with 3M Blue Painter’s tape and the seat cushion was sprayed with Tamiya TS-63 NATO Black. Seat belt decals from Colorado decals were added to the seat with Simpson logos from Scale Auto Details. The steering wheel was airbrushed with Alclad II Chrome over Testor’s Gloss Black and the rim was painted with Tamiya NATO Black. The kit’s front wheels were stripped of chrome. The 5-window rear Halibrand wheels were from an AMT parts pack. They were stripped of chrome and all wheel stud holes were drilled out. Each rear wheel consists of 13 individual pieces. The wheels were sprayed with Model Master Magnesium Metalizer followed by Testor’s Dull Coat. Valve stems were made from fine black insulated wire. Wheel studs were made from 0.020 inch Evergreen Styrene rod. Lug nuts were made from drilled 0.040 inch hexagonal Plastruct Styrene rod. The studs and lug nuts were assembled with IPS Weld-On #4 and painted with Model Master Steel Metalizer. The axel stub was simulated with Tamiya Flat Black. The slicks and front tires were from AMT parts packs. A machined aluminum Moon Tank from Detail Master was drilled for fuel lines and mounted to the chassis using their photoetched hold downs. The remote oil filter was plumbed to the engine with black insulated wire. Fittings on the oil and fuel lines were made using drilled Plastruct 0.040 inch hexagonal rod.

Engine: The Blueprinter Pontiac V8 was assembled using IPS Weld-On #4. The block and Attempt One kit heads were sprayed with two wet coats of Tamiya White Fine Surface Primer. After drying for 24 hours, the block and heads were sprayed with Tamiya TS-23 Light Blue. The oil pan and timing cover were sprayed with Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf. The freeze plugs were painted with Model Master Brass Metalizer. All chrome engine parts were stripped of kit chrome using Purple Power cleaner. The GMC blower, injector, and scoop from a Revell 41 Willys kit were used. The blower was assembled and the snout was shortened and drilled to accept a pulley from an AMT Hemisphere kit. The idler and crank pulleys were also from a Hemisphere kit. The blower and scoop were sprayed with Tamiya TS-19 Gloss Aluminum followed by Testor’s Dull Cote. Machined aluminum breather caps from Detail Master were added to the valve covers. The blower belt was from a Hemisphere kit and part number decals were from Scale Auto Details. The water filler neck on the heads was scratch built from Detail Master hard line with a cap cut from 0.060 inch Evergreen styrene rod. The Scale Auto Details Hilborn fuel pump was sprayed with Tamiya TS-29 Semi-Gloss Black and drilled to accept fuel lines. The fuel injector was sprayed with Model Master Aluminum Plate and drilled to accept fuel lines. The fuel block at the front of the injector was also drilled for fuel lines. The exhaust header flanges were thinned, the header tubes were shortened, and their ends drilled out. The valve covers and assembled exhaust headers were airbrushed with Alclad II Chrome over Model Master Classic Black. The magneto was scratch built from telescoping pieces of K&S aluminum tubing which were assembled with super glue and polished with a piece of 8000-grit polishing cloth. A black magneto cap from Morgan Automotive Details was added with a magneto top decal from Scale Auto Details. The bellhousing and transmission were sprayed with Model Master Stainless Steel Metallizer. A hydraulic throttle actuator was scratch built from thin wall 1mm stainless steel tubing, drilled 0.040 inch hexagonal Plastruct Styrene rod, and a strip of thin metal with black insulated wire as the hydraulic line. A photoetched throttle linkage from MAS was attached to the injector rod and linked to the hydraulic throttle with thin wire. The shop rag stuffed into the injector scoop was made from a piece of cotton Tee shirt painted with Tamiya Flat Red.

Figure: The figure was a modified Tamiya Rally mechanic that was painted with various Testor’s and Model Master colors followed by Testor’s Dull Cote.