Post by skip on Oct 31, 2022 16:15:54 GMT -5
My version of the Atlantis FIREBALL Dragster
First, pardon the cell phone pics and the lighting issues which have caused some glare. The
Camera batteries are cooking as we post this and should have a couple decent pictures later
to post.
Incidentally, while digging through the parts stash that I inherited from my uncle, I came across
an original "Light Blue" Fireball dragster small block Chevrolet engine which I almost used. Needed
more cleanup and restoration than I was willing to put into it, so it's a memory that now lives on
the bench, a reminder that my late uncle built this same kit back in the day!
I built this kit pretty much per the kit contents, first major exception being the front rims
from one of the Revell Tony Nancy 22JR kits, the rims fit in the Fireball tire with very little
sanding. The roll cage extends to the interior floor, at the rear is a resin chute pack which
may be fitted with the release cable later. If I do build this kit again, I will chop off the kit's
front axle and fit a torsion bar setup and a standard tube dropped axle. Decals are from the
decal file with the exception of the 8-ball and side-flames. Ignition wiring and fuel lines are
added using hard line from tank to the fuel pump which was scratch built from a Stromberg
Carburetor from an old Revell '57 Nomad kit. The holes visible in the injectors are for the
butterfly linkage, I have linkage on its way from eVilbay seller on a slow boat from wherever
they sent it from, we are in the Ding Toolies up here in Washington state so some of our mail
still arrives by stagecoach! (Ask BK pretty sure he can attest to our notoriously slow mail up
here! LoL!!) The premise here is that this kit was built when the original version was released
by a modeler who was detailing things a little higher end on this "low end" kit back then. Which
is why the engine was not replaced, parts were scratched or came out of parts box to jazz it up
a bit more than out of the box. All in all, this was kind of a fun kit to build, especially when the
build parameters were added. Although I did use a few exceptions like the "now" type ignition
wire which would have been waxed thread, back in the day. The use of photo etch linkage
which will kind of add a bit more pop to the build when they're added.
Hope you guys like
Head on shot shows the weird lighting anomalies on the Left
front tire and blower belt. (??) Scoop was carved open, fuel
tank cap vented; headers blackened with AK detailing pencils.
My kit suffers from frame twist, I had to heat it up with hot
water several times to get it to sit without one front tire jacked
up in the air! I think that was the only issue that I really had
with the kit. I really dislike the front axle set up here, but
replacing it on this go around didn't fit into my "build plan"
so here it is.
Added a few details to the interior - the
seat was framed with Evergreen sheet to
form side bolsters giving it an aircraft seat
appearance. Steering wheel is converted
to a "Butterfly" wheel by trimming the kit's
steering wheel and lopping off one of the
Spokes of the steering wheel. Added a
brake master cylinder and brake handle with
brake line going to the rear end, used the kits
"axle" for the rear end, it's not visible under
even the stock seat so I left it be. Bonehead
decal is from the old Monogram two-piece body
'32 Ford Hot Rod kit.
![]()
Small Block Chevrolet engine was plumbed and
drilled for ignition and fuel lines, injector pump
is scratched from a Stromberg carburetor, added
a pair of chrome Chevrolet script valve covers out
of the parts box (again the chrome was not stripped
on them to fit the idea of the build as were the kit's
undersize looking headers not replaced.) Painting is
mostly detail painted using Vallejo and Vallejo Metal
Color acrylics, everything with exception of the frame
and body are acrylic, frame and body are rattle can.
Lastly the front end of the engine and
fuel tank. Scoop is carved and filed open.
Red Fuel line is from Morgan Automotive
Detail, Hard lines are Hobby Lobby Jewlry
wire, (they have aluminum, stainless and
copper, I used stainless wire). Headers
again, are weathered with the AK weathering
pencils to get kind of a peeling VHT white
header paint effect. Looks like I need to
replace the blower idler pully arm, which
must have jumped off to meet up with all
the PE bits gobbled up by the carpet monster!
![]()
First, pardon the cell phone pics and the lighting issues which have caused some glare. The
Camera batteries are cooking as we post this and should have a couple decent pictures later
to post.
Incidentally, while digging through the parts stash that I inherited from my uncle, I came across
an original "Light Blue" Fireball dragster small block Chevrolet engine which I almost used. Needed
more cleanup and restoration than I was willing to put into it, so it's a memory that now lives on
the bench, a reminder that my late uncle built this same kit back in the day!
I built this kit pretty much per the kit contents, first major exception being the front rims
from one of the Revell Tony Nancy 22JR kits, the rims fit in the Fireball tire with very little
sanding. The roll cage extends to the interior floor, at the rear is a resin chute pack which
may be fitted with the release cable later. If I do build this kit again, I will chop off the kit's
front axle and fit a torsion bar setup and a standard tube dropped axle. Decals are from the
decal file with the exception of the 8-ball and side-flames. Ignition wiring and fuel lines are
added using hard line from tank to the fuel pump which was scratch built from a Stromberg
Carburetor from an old Revell '57 Nomad kit. The holes visible in the injectors are for the
butterfly linkage, I have linkage on its way from eVilbay seller on a slow boat from wherever
they sent it from, we are in the Ding Toolies up here in Washington state so some of our mail
still arrives by stagecoach! (Ask BK pretty sure he can attest to our notoriously slow mail up
here! LoL!!) The premise here is that this kit was built when the original version was released
by a modeler who was detailing things a little higher end on this "low end" kit back then. Which
is why the engine was not replaced, parts were scratched or came out of parts box to jazz it up
a bit more than out of the box. All in all, this was kind of a fun kit to build, especially when the
build parameters were added. Although I did use a few exceptions like the "now" type ignition
wire which would have been waxed thread, back in the day. The use of photo etch linkage
which will kind of add a bit more pop to the build when they're added.
Hope you guys like
Head on shot shows the weird lighting anomalies on the Left
front tire and blower belt. (??) Scoop was carved open, fuel
tank cap vented; headers blackened with AK detailing pencils.
My kit suffers from frame twist, I had to heat it up with hot
water several times to get it to sit without one front tire jacked
up in the air! I think that was the only issue that I really had
with the kit. I really dislike the front axle set up here, but
replacing it on this go around didn't fit into my "build plan"
so here it is.
Added a few details to the interior - the
seat was framed with Evergreen sheet to
form side bolsters giving it an aircraft seat
appearance. Steering wheel is converted
to a "Butterfly" wheel by trimming the kit's
steering wheel and lopping off one of the
Spokes of the steering wheel. Added a
brake master cylinder and brake handle with
brake line going to the rear end, used the kits
"axle" for the rear end, it's not visible under
even the stock seat so I left it be. Bonehead
decal is from the old Monogram two-piece body
'32 Ford Hot Rod kit.
Small Block Chevrolet engine was plumbed and
drilled for ignition and fuel lines, injector pump
is scratched from a Stromberg carburetor, added
a pair of chrome Chevrolet script valve covers out
of the parts box (again the chrome was not stripped
on them to fit the idea of the build as were the kit's
undersize looking headers not replaced.) Painting is
mostly detail painted using Vallejo and Vallejo Metal
Color acrylics, everything with exception of the frame
and body are acrylic, frame and body are rattle can.
Lastly the front end of the engine and
fuel tank. Scoop is carved and filed open.
Red Fuel line is from Morgan Automotive
Detail, Hard lines are Hobby Lobby Jewlry
wire, (they have aluminum, stainless and
copper, I used stainless wire). Headers
again, are weathered with the AK weathering
pencils to get kind of a peeling VHT white
header paint effect. Looks like I need to
replace the blower idler pully arm, which
must have jumped off to meet up with all
the PE bits gobbled up by the carpet monster!
though. It's just weird enough to seem awkwardly authentic...I think I'm starting to like it!
