|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 11:58:03 GMT -5
In 1947 there were three general classes of racing cars in use in America. The largest of these is the Championship Speedway car as typified by the Indianapolis cars where the wheelbase must be 99 inches or more. The second class in size is the dirt track racer where the wheelbase is 91 inches. The third class is the Midget, which as a rule, has a wheel base of around 70 inches. The midget size is usually about three fourths that of the dirt track racer. As to the wheel tread or track, the usual plan is to use the standard passenger car tread of around 56 to 58 inches for speedway and dirt track cars. The midgets have the track decreased to about 44 inches. A number of years ago I got the chance to meet and talk to Dave Kurz. One of the things we discussed was one of his wonderful illustrations called “Don’t Ask”, the subject matter a 1937 Ford flatbed with a 60 Flathead powered midget racer on the bed. I have wanted for many years to build a flat bed and midget just like the illustration but the lack of suitable kits has always had me at a loss. images42.fotki.com/v1379/photos/1/1100664/7119415/DontAsk-vi.jpg[/img]Was hoping that I could get the whole project done for this year at GSL ’09 but…since I make part of my living building and painting other people’s slot cars… building models in my spare time just doesn’t have the same thrill it used to! At any rate, this long-term project has never lost its desire for me and so I present some of what I have so far and ACTUALLY begin construction on the midget! The starting point is a Monogram Midget racer, which looks like it scales out at 1/20th scale. However, Rod & Custom Models build a 1/25th scale midget from this kit and following the instructions in that June 1964 issue should not be too hard… Many more pictures of this project will be hosted on my Fotki account if anyone is interested. public.fotki.com/jairus/1/dont-ask/Time to start cutting!
|
|
|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 12:00:41 GMT -5
Using the drawings reduced to correct scale as a plan for which to work from... The front axle had to be narrowed to fit the requirements for a Midget. Not yet sure yet which powerplant I will be using... but I'm leaning toward a Model A with a Riley two port head because I love the look of two carbs poking through the hood and a set of exhaust pipes on one side. Onward and upward! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 12:03:36 GMT -5
Okay, now you guys are caught up. I will be posting updates as they happen…. Provided I can continue to find the time and inspiration. Worked till late last night cutting down the rear of the body. Didn't use the cut lines from the article after-all.... The R&C Models build was a "Sprintcar", also know as a Silver-crown or Dirt-tracker which is larger than a Midget. Also, the build looks like a late 50's early 60's representation where my car is intended to be strictly post-war 1947! Next comes a lot of sanding and shaping....
|
|
|
Post by fletch on Jan 13, 2009 12:04:18 GMT -5
Jairus, that is cool, to bad you didn't bring it to the meeting Sunday night. What are the chances of you having it completed by the Classic?
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Jan 13, 2009 12:30:44 GMT -5
Great project, Jairus! Keep on building!
Would Monogram's 1960s-vintage "Hot Shot" Midget in 1/24th scale be another good starting point for a similar project? Or is it a totally different style car?
|
|
|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 12:46:46 GMT -5
Been working on this since 2006 Dave so.... I don't know if it will get finished by the Classic.
Monograms Midget is 1/20th scale. Revell's midget on the other hand has not been re-released since the mid 60's and that is 1/25th. I talked to Ed Sexton and Roger Harney about those molds and the story is that Model King was going to have it run but the molds needed some "machining" as Roger put it. Not sure what that meant but the kit was released as both a kit and a slot car (Revell was into slot car stuff big time from 1962 to 1966) and the changes may have been the need to modify the molds away from the slots.... Or, it could have been that they are damaged. The third alternative is legal or parts availability. But whatever the reason, Model King didn't want to foot the bill (not that I blame them) for the mold modifications so Revell has placed the 1/25th scale Midget "Hot Shot" kit in the line up for 2009 and is making the modifications themselves. Whew!
To answer your question John, YES if you are talking about the Revell kit. I am already using the Monogram kit for this project which is requiring massive sectioning to reduce the size to something replicating 1/25th scale.
|
|
|
Post by zorchcat on Jan 13, 2009 15:53:14 GMT -5
Superb subject, Jarius. Your choice of year and type are the best! When growing up, we had a Racecar shop 4 blocks from our house in Santa Clara, CA. Sim Clark Race Cars maintained a 4-car stable, 3 V8 60 cars and 1 Offy. (two were Kurtis Kraft) When 10 years old, I scratch-built one of the Kurtis cars carving from a balsa block. Sim helped me with measurements off the real car. Following this one, thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
Post by NitroMarty on Jan 13, 2009 17:10:11 GMT -5
Been working on this since 2006 Dave so.... I don't know if it will get finished by the Classic. Monograms Midget is 1/20th scale. Revell's midget on the other hand has not been re-released since the mid 60's and that is 1/25th. I talked to Ed Sexton and Roger Harney about those molds and the story is that Model King was going to have it run but the molds needed some "machining" as Roger put it. Not sure what that meant but the kit was released as both a kit and a slot car (Revell was into slot car stuff big time from 1962 to 1966) and the changes may have been the need to modify the molds away from the slots.... Or, it could have been that they are damaged. The third alternative is legal or parts availability. But whatever the reason, Model King didn't want to foot the bill (not that I blame them) for the mold modifications so Revell has placed the 1/25th scale Midget "Hot Shot" kit in the line up for 2009 and is making the modifications themselves. Whew! To answer your question John, YES if you are talking about the Revell kit. I am already using the Monogram kit for this project which is requiring massive sectioning to reduce the size to something replicating 1/25th scale. Actually, Jairus.... Monogram produced two different midget kits.... The 1/20 scale kit that you are working with which dates back to the mid to late 1950s and the 1/24 scale "Hot Shot" which came in the early to mid 1960s.... Pictured below is an example that I restored from a glue bomb a few years back
|
|
|
Post by racer13 on Jan 13, 2009 17:19:22 GMT -5
Absolutely Awesome Project here!!! Very nice craftsmanship. Excellent subject matter!
|
|
|
Post by volvo544special65 on Jan 13, 2009 17:51:14 GMT -5
Nice to see something different up here. Midgets are fun and IMO a part of hot rodding too.
|
|
|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 20:20:25 GMT -5
Ah....well. Can't be right all the time... or ever! (sigh)
Regardless, Revell IS re-releasing the Hotshot Midget provided they get the tooling corrected. Back to the project...
|
|
|
Post by Jairus on Jan 13, 2009 21:28:16 GMT -5
Body smoothed out and rear axle attached. Time to create motor and radiator mounts up front.
|
|
|
Post by geezerman on Jan 13, 2009 21:50:24 GMT -5
Nice project, Jairus.
|
|
|
Post by torinobradley on Jan 13, 2009 23:28:49 GMT -5
This model is looking great and I can just imagine by looking at it that the 1:1 was a wild ride indeed!
Incredible!
|
|
|
Post by ChrisV on Jan 14, 2009 6:35:56 GMT -5
Impressive work Jairus - It looks GREAT so far!!!
|
|