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Post by TooOld on May 18, 2018 14:10:28 GMT -5
Time to start the second of my tribute builds to the Monogram 1/8th scale kits of the 60's , this one is the Little Drag ! Most of the parts come from a Boomer Bucket kit with a few Little "T" parts and some misc parts from various kits .  This one will be made easier thanks to a friend in Ohio who sent me a copy of the Big Drag instructions and a scan of the decals . Note the depth of the front wheels .  I'll be using the good old Monogram tires with the rear wheels from a Li'  Coffin . The front wheels are from a Revell '49 Merc , they have more depth than most but still not as much as the Big Drag wheels .  Here's a closer look .  Headers are from the Monogram Slingster kit .  The blower and intake are from a Monogram '30 Phaeton kit , same parts as the Yellow Jacket . The ribbed rear cover and twin injectors are from my parts box .  I found several scoops that would work but one of them is almost perfect ! Scoop "A" : Revell '41 Willys - a bit too narrow and too long but otherwise correct . Scoop "B" : AMT Wild Willy Borsch - This is the one I'll be using !! Scoop "C" : AMT Studebaker Double Whammy - would work but is tapered front to rear . Scoop "D" ; The T'rantula : this is the right size and shape but the ribs on top are wrong .  Here's the Big Drag engine for comparison .  Pulleys and belt from the T'rantula .  Chrome Chevrolet Script valve covers from my parts box but I'm pretty sure they came from a Revell '57 Nomad .  And a Moon tank from a Revell '32 Ford . It has the correct cap placement and the notch on the bottom for mounting .  From the Big Drag instructions showing a support bar that the Moon tank rests on .  And lastly the paint . Originally I thought it would be cool to paint it to match the box art so I bought a can of Light Metallic Blue . Having time to think about it I've decided to go with French Blue to match the color of the Big Drag plastic .  That's everything . They're will be some fabricating for the roll bar and the rear push bars . . . and making some decals , so it won't be a quick build by any means . Thanks for looking , to be continued ! |
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Post by jbwelda on May 18, 2018 22:18:48 GMT -5
Should be fun! I think the French Blue is the one
jb
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Post by krassandbernie on May 19, 2018 13:03:08 GMT -5
Pretty cool! When I was looking into what parts I might use to build my version (which I have not started on yet); I thought I might use the two-port Hilborn scoop from the Revell Miss Deal Studebaker kit. It looks pretty darn close. The main issue is finding one that doesn't have a giant injection sink mark in the top half of the scoop. I cast the Blue Beetle bucket seats and the old Revell "Chevrolet" script valve covers like you are using. I think I was going to settle on using Duplicolor "GM engine blue"; which was fairly close to the color the original Blue Beetle was molded in; and similar to the Big drag color. Perhaps you might want to check that color out?
I can't wait to see more!
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Post by TooOld on May 19, 2018 15:05:11 GMT -5
Pretty cool! When I was looking into what parts I might use to build my version (which I have not started on yet); I thought I might use the two-port Hilborn scoop from the Revell Miss Deal Studebaker kit. It looks pretty darn close. The main issue is finding one that doesn't have a giant injection sink mark in the top half of the scoop. I cast the Blue Beetle bucket seats and the old Revell "Chevrolet" script valve covers like you are using. I think I was going to settle on using Duplicolor "GM engine blue"; which was fairly close to the color the original Blue Beetle was molded in; and similar to the Big drag color. Perhaps you might want to check that color out? I can't wait to see more! GM Engine Blue is as close to the color of the plastic as French Blue , I think they both work just fine . And I did look at the Miss Deal Scoop when I started searching for parts . It looks okay but it's more round and the Big Drag scoop is flat , I even made a bunch of comparison pics of all the different scoops in case I had to buy a kit for the parts . Here you can see the difference in the shapes .  |
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Post by jbwelda on May 19, 2018 16:23:36 GMT -5
Speaking of shapes though, I think the blower you chose is not going to be correct. the BD has a much taller supercharger case, not the lower profile type you are planning on using. More of a GMC 6-71 (I think it is) look. I think I used one out of one of the Revell Willys coupes. That's the only variance I can see at this point. I chose the same Slingster headers you did, I think they are pretty close to the prototype.
jb
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Post by TooOld on May 20, 2018 7:47:55 GMT -5
Speaking of shapes though, I think the blower you chose is not going to be correct. the BD has a much taller supercharger case, not the lower profile type you are planning on using. More of a GMC 6-71 (I think it is) look. I think I used one out of one of the Revell Willys coupes. That's the only variance I can see at this point. I chose the same Slingster headers you did, I think they are pretty close to the prototype. jb Thanks for the input JB and I think you're right about my blower being a little lower profile than the Big Drag blower . But the GMC blower has a flat side down to a mounting flange at the intake , the Big Drag blower is rounded with with no flange more like a Weiand blower . I'm not an expert and I'm just going by what I can see in photos .  Here's the blower out of my Willys kit and the blower from the '30 Ford/Yellow Jacket . I think I can live with the difference in height but if there's taller blower out there that will work I will use it if you find it .  |
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Post by jbwelda on May 20, 2018 11:58:40 GMT -5
you have a good point there Bob, had not even noticed the flaring out down at the mount point. So from that perspective I think you are looking in the right direction, I didn't even consider that factor
jb
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Post by TooOld on May 20, 2018 12:23:48 GMT -5
you have a good point there Bob, had not even noticed the flaring out down at the mount point. So from that perspective I think you are looking in the right direction, I didn't even consider that factor jb Like I said I'm just going by whatever photos I can find and I've never seen a Big Drag in person . Just like with the Little Rod I want to get it as accurate as possible so if you see anything please point it out to me , I'm open to any suggestions . |
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Post by TooOld on May 20, 2018 14:38:18 GMT -5
The Blower and scoop in this kit looks promising but I can't find any photos of it anywhere . Anybody know anything about it ?    |
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Post by jbwelda on May 20, 2018 15:58:45 GMT -5
I know that kit is kinda rare these days and brings pretty good money sometimes. It contains the remains of the old muy kool 63 No-Va station wagon, including some misc interior parts I think...even though the model as it is doesn't use them or much aside from the body really.
If you need any photos of Big Drag specifics, Bob, let me know, I have two I have built and another two builders in boxes so taking some photos on request will not be a problem.
If it were me I would consider taking one of those 6-71s and removing that lower flange with a dremel tool or files.
jb
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Post by krassandbernie on May 20, 2018 16:28:19 GMT -5
Now I am curious if the blower scoop found in the old MPC tilt nose '57 Chevy and '53 Ford pickup kits is more along the lines of the correct shape. I think it is going by memory; and it is designed for a two-port as well; where the Wild Willie Borsch scoop isn't.
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Post by TooOld on May 20, 2018 16:30:30 GMT -5
I know that kit is kinda rare these days and brings pretty good money sometimes. It contains the remains of the old muy kool 63 No-Va station wagon, including some misc interior parts I think...even though the model as it is doesn't use them or much aside from the body really. If you need any photos of Big Drag specifics, Bob, let me know, I have two I have built and another two builders in boxes so taking some photos on request will not be a problem. If it were me I would consider taking one of those 6-71s and removing that lower flange with a dremel tool or files. jb Yeah well I'm used to paying mucho bucks for the kits I want , but I may have a lead on just the engine parts for the Boss Nova . I'm not locked in yet on the blower so modifying the 6-71 is an option . And I'll let you know if I need a photo of anything , thanks ! |
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Post by yekoms on May 20, 2018 19:39:36 GMT -5
Hey Tooold, I friend of mine has a built Big Drag. I can take pictures of specific parts of it for you if needed.
Cheers,Smokey....yep its me...
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Post by TooOld on May 21, 2018 7:06:04 GMT -5
Hey Tooold, I friend of mine has a built Big Drag. I can take pictures of specific parts of it for you if needed. Cheers,Smokey....yep its me... Hey Smokey ! When did you sneak in here ? Boy they'll let anyone join won't they . . . HAH ! Thanks for the offer but I think at this point I'm good . . . I think . Not really a lot going on yet just a little prep work before paint . Notches were filed in the radiator shroud for the Moon tank and it's glue to the frame .  Seats were separated and one was shaped and sanded smooth .  I used an interior bucket to locate some blocks , these will support the new floorboard .  A new floor was cut from .030" sheet and mounts located for the seat and the roll bar .  That yellow on the body is because this was a messed up paint job for my Little Rod . One thing about painting directly onto the plastic without any primer is that the paint etches into the plastic and is very difficult to strip , so while it was soaking (for days !)I just painted another one . |
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Post by jbwelda on May 21, 2018 10:52:41 GMT -5
Making the rollbar is going to be the interesting part. I made up three of them before a friend of mine was kind enough to try his hand with aluminum rod and got it close enough, I then took what he did and smoothed the joints and polished it. I was having a real problem making the correct bends and having it look right when it was done.
jb
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Coffin . The front wheels are from a Revell '49 Merc , they have more depth than most but still not as much as the Big Drag wheels .
It's an interweb thing.....