CabDriver Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 I’ve been really enjoying learning about and researching the street racing scene in New York in the 60s and 70s lately, and I’ve been wanting to build a gasser of some sort so here goes a fantasy ‘probably didn’t happen like this but I think it’s cool anyway’ project. Now, from the research I’ve done and the pics I’ve managed to find you’d be much more likely to find a full bodied sedan or a Vette or something running at these outlaw meets that would happen on Long Island, in various spots across Brooklyn or up in the Bronx, but I’d bet on there having been a decent share of little rods and barely (if at all) street legal gassers and the likes there too. I’ll be building the AMT 40 Willys kit; the one with the terrible-fitting flip front: I already started slicing up the hood so that I can fix that whole affair… …and that’s about as far as I got so far ? I haven’t built any of these AMT gasser kits before - posting this thread a little too prematurely to see if anyone has any good build tips before I get going here properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 Ok, very minor progress after a few days putzing… I wanted a nice secure bond of cab to fenders so I cut some little styrene pieces that fit right inside the arches, tacked it all in place with Loctite gel, and then after I got it all straight used styrene cement to lock it all in place. Once that was done, I filled the gaps with some little slithers of styrene to plug any gap big enough to take a slither of styrene: This body isn’t super straight and will need some fettling before paint, especially as I’m going to go nice deep gloss black for this one…started some puttying tonight to help get it straight: The kit tires rear are pretty skinny, and whilst I was researching 1:1 builds I got attached to this wider-tire look: I ordered a set of AMT Jumbo drag slicks, but the seller sent me the exact size tires I had already: So, some parts-box digging later I came up with these instead: The stance isn’t right here at all, but I love that combo of bigs ‘n’ littles…they’re not as big as some I’ve seen, but big and dumb enough to look cool, and close to what I have in mind. Next jobs will be messing with the frame and suspension to get the stance how I imagined it, and figuring out how to have the hood attach back on nicely after I cut it all off…more soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Your 40 Willy's pickup is coming along nicely. I've seen this kit a HL many times but elected not to get it due to the front end fitment. I'll be watching to see how your's turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Looking forward to more updates. I built this kit many years ago and one major issue is the front axle mounts a bit too much to the rear, but it can be "adjusted" to look right. Actually builds into a fairly nice looking gasser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Looking VERY good! I started a similar project about 10 years ago. Here's as far as I got with it before another shiny squirrel ran into view. I should dig it out for a BOYD build one of these days. Good luck with yours--you'll no doubt beat me finished. Drive on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 11, 2021 Author Share Posted July 11, 2021 Thanks for the comments guys! Nice job on the bodywork for yours @Snake45 - looks like you did about what I did too. Get ‘er brung out - we can race em! ? Spent the day at the bench today - I didn’t like the front axle that came with the kit too much: It’s not BAD, I guess, but I wanted to scratchbuild a straight axle for it seeing as all those suspension parts at the front especially are so visible on a car like this. Some hours later… Took me longer than I thought it would considering this is just a straight piece of styrene round bar connected to the springs out of the box ??. Looks better though, I think… Tomorrow’s job will be replacing the kit front shocks with some home made ones - replaced the mounting bracket part already and added receivers to the axle, just gotta make the actual shocks: Oh, and when I was waiting for the glue to dry I spun up those two-piece plastic tires in the lathe and levelled them out nice and smooth to get rid of the visible seam: Hoping to get this thing on it’s wheels tomorrow to see how the stance looks…more soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 That fabbed up front axle looks pretty nice Jim. With the gloss black on the body the front end ought to stand out pretty well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 12, 2021 Author Share Posted July 12, 2021 16 hours ago, Zippi said: That fabbed up front axle looks pretty nice Jim. With the gloss black on the body the front end ought to stand out pretty well. Thank you sir! Today’s (small amount of) progress… Stripped the chrome from the rear axle and got that assembled…not going wild on messing with the rear end as it’s nowhere near as visible as the front: Those tires look huge on there! With the cab and bed on there they look like what I was shooting for though: As you can see, I squirted a little primer on there to see how much work the body will need - I’ll need to do some more fine tuning but overall it isn’t too bad. Scratchbuilt a rear bumper, because it was just easier than cleaning up the kit part: And I was hunting to see if I had a parachute in any of my spares boxes but couldn’t immediately find one…picked up three resin cast ones off eBay for a fair price so that’ll give me some options to try: Would this thing need a parachute? Doubtful…but it would maybe intimidate your rival at the street drags a little ? More soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Nice looking project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Great job Jim, I am very happy to see another pickup in the drag racing category... ? I love the work you have done on the front suspension, a big improvement IMHO. The 2 pieces tires are nicely assembled and the joint is invisible, did you used Loctite gel to glue them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Off to a really good start. Your fabricated tube axle looks great and it raised the front up into 70’s Street Freak territory. Are you going to change the engine? Probably by the 70’s the weapon of choice would be a Chevy big block. I’ll be following along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 15, 2021 Author Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) On 7/12/2021 at 7:19 AM, afx said: Nice looking project. Thanks buddy! On 7/12/2021 at 8:57 AM, AmericanMuscleFan said: Great job Jim, I am very happy to see another pickup in the drag racing category... ? I love the work you have done on the front suspension, a big improvement IMHO. The 2 pieces tires are nicely assembled and the joint is invisible, did you used Loctite gel to glue them? Thank you too! I actually just used regular Tamiya styrene cement in the jar with the orange lid…but I gave the outside of the seam a good thick coat too to hopefully seal that seam up. It seemed to work ok! On 7/12/2021 at 10:11 PM, Dennis Lacy said: Off to a really good start. Your fabricated tube axle looks great and it raised the front up into 70’s Street Freak territory. Are you going to change the engine? Probably by the 70’s the weapon of choice would be a Chevy big block. I’ll be following along! That’s a good idea!! I haven’t built one of these before so I’m (kinda) trying to build it box-stock-ish to see how this kit goes together and what to watch for…but I’ve also got ideas for like 10 more (11 now ?) so a more detailed version will be coming down the pipe I’m sure….is there a particular kit you like that has a decent big block? Little bits of progress here - trying to get some major components in paint so I can start actually putting some stuff together. Shot the engine and frame in Testors metallic blue: Then painted the bits I forgot the first time… Got the body straight enough to start laying down some paint, so tonight I shot one last thin coat of primer, followed by Createx pure white base, followed by Pearl Ex macropearl: This thing is actually going to be black with some white graphics, but it’s way easier to paint black over white than white over black… Not a bunch of progress, but excited to do more on the body next and see if I can hit the idea in my head…more soon! Edited July 15, 2021 by CabDriver 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 That front end turned out pretty nice. That black is going to make it shine like a new penny. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Love it. Coming along nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted July 17, 2021 Author Share Posted July 17, 2021 Thanks fellas! A little more progress… Cut some skinny strips of mask and laid down some simple pinstripes, rather than just have the body all black… Then shot black: Then peeled the masks: Then did some cleanup on the stripes (this mask that I tried isn’t quite sticky enough - need to try a something else next time…) then added a coupla three decals and shot it all with gunmetal Pearl Ex followed by Testors acrylic clear: Was going for a fantasy vintage NYPD livery - the idea of an illegal street racer in police insignia amused me… That’s in the dehydrator baking now ready for polishing in a couple of days; meanwhile, painted the bed and started detailing that with some woodgrain: Got some more painting to do on that bed, but it’s a start…need to start painting the suspension and wheels this afternoon so I can start assembling the frame. More soon! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Love the paint Jim, with the police ?♀️ theme. Real nice touch on your scratch built front axel and turning your slicks. Your making this old kit top notch.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Lacy Posted July 20, 2021 Share Posted July 20, 2021 The pinstripe paint job is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted July 20, 2021 Share Posted July 20, 2021 Oh yeah....your Willys pickup is looking great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted July 20, 2021 Share Posted July 20, 2021 Wow Jim, darn awesome build!!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 This project is turning amazing, great work on the front end, love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Really like the direction this has come from! Overall detail and attention to klean modeling skillz shows! This is becoming "one kool PU"! -KK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 7/17/2021 at 2:55 PM, CabDriver said: Thanks fellas! A little more progress… Cut some skinny strips of mask and laid down some simple pinstripes, rather than just have the body all black… Then shot black: Then peeled the masks: Then did some cleanup on the stripes (this mask that I tried isn’t quite sticky enough - need to try a something else next time…) then added a coupla three decals and shot it all with gunmetal Pearl Ex followed by Testors acrylic clear: Was going for a fantasy vintage NYPD livery - the idea of an illegal street racer in police insignia amused me… That’s in the dehydrator baking now ready for polishing in a couple of days; meanwhile, painted the bed and started detailing that with some woodgrain: Got some more painting to do on that bed, but it’s a start…need to start painting the suspension and wheels this afternoon so I can start assembling the frame. More soon! Hey Jim....the quoted post appears to be the last from you. Whats going on with this neat build?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Yep, what Mike sez....? Inquiring minds like ours want to know....??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabDriver Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 Oh, that’s weird, I evidentially forgot to update the thread - my bad! Thanks for the interest… I finished it! Pics here: https://public.fotki.com/NewYorkSpeedShop/scale-models/drag-cars/willys-gasser/ Not my most incredibly detailed build - just wanted to get a handle on how this kit goes together for future builds! I’ve got two more here ready for some attention… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 9 minutes ago, CabDriver said: Oh, that’s weird, I evidentially forgot to update the thread - my bad! Thanks for the interest… I finished it! Pics here: https://public.fotki.com/NewYorkSpeedShop/scale-models/drag-cars/willys-gasser/ Not my most incredibly detailed build - just wanted to get a handle on how this kit goes together for future builds! I’ve got two more here ready for some attention… Hey there Jim. Ha, glad we "woke" you up? Came out very cool, great job?? Mines' waiting in the box. I'm thinking I want to do what you did with the hood but just a bit reluctant for fear of messing it up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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