72 Plymouth Roadrunner 426 HEMI 8 Pack

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Hello Everyone!

As promised and for those who are interested, I am posting some pics of another of my previous completed build.

On this thread you will see my drag racing version of a HEMI 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner 1/25 scale.

The production of the 426 HEMI ended in 1971 and was obviously not available for the 1972 model year but since it’s a drag car and not any kind of tribute build I decided to implant the elephant under the hood…

Like for my ’70 Dart Swinger, this build is also less detailed than the ’70 Plymouth GTX (my last completed build) and it was done with more plastic components but still pretty well detailled for a model car that I built roughly 10 years ago.

Some of the machined parts are less elaborate than my most recent versions but still decent with all the final details added.  As you know, we all have to start somewhere and gain experience to do better...

As with my other older builds, I can't remember if I took a lot of picss during the build process, but I can't find more than what is posted in this thread.  Some photos are blurry or overexposed so I will try to take new ones with a better-lit environment when the weather and time permit.

The body shell is an original annual MPC kit that I bought on ebay several year prior the build.  The car was already built but unpainted so I had to dismantle it to save the body shell.  I used the floor pan and engine bay from the latest AMT version of the 71 Dodge Charger as a donor for this project.  The engine block and transmission are from the ’69 Dodge Charger Revell/Monogram Pro Modeler kit that was also used as a donor on various of my builds.

The body is painted FC7 Plum Crazy using Model Master lacquer topped with 6 coats of Tamiya gloss coat and polished with Detail Master polishing cloths starting with 3600 thru 12000 grit. Novus 2 stage polishing compound and Meguiar’s Carnauba wax were used to complete the job.  Strobe stripes are from Keith Marks.

I spent countless hours (I had not done precise follow-up) over a 15 month period working on this build from the beginning of January 2010 to late March 2011.

Comments and questions are welcome, so don't hesitate to ask if you would like more information!

Take care, Francis

Trunk floor engraving.

Transmission support in milling vise.

Piece of frame made with styrene.

Dana cover in milling vise.

Front spindle with brake disc and resin caliper.

Brake drum in the rotary table.

Aluminum machined Centerline mags.

Machined gas tank with brass straps.

Aluminum leafsprings.

Rear end components.

Driveshaft Safety Loop.

Hemi heads progress.

Aluminum machined tunnel ram Intake

Holley carbs (pretty crude design).

Modified front grille.

Scratch built B&M shifter.

Completed model pics with hood.

Without hood.

Front view with brass grille and Alclad painted bumper.

Back view showing modified bumper and gas cap.

Side view (sorry for the overexposed pic).

Interior.

Trunk details

Underside view

I know, I know, the safety loop is not properly positioned...

Underhood, the elephant!

[GeeDub]

Wow!!!  I am totally amazed at the high level of detail you are able to create with your mini machine shop. 

I keep waiting for the driver to walk up, climb in and fire that baby up.  Outstanding work.  Well done!!!

 

[Vettegasser]

Awesome 

[Steamboat]

That's nuts in a good way!  Totally incredible!

[Deuces ll]

Woh!.... ??

[Straightliner59]

Francis, your machining skills are a wonder, to see! I always appreciate your sharing of your work, my friend!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

8 hours ago, GeeDub said:

Wow!!!  I am totally amazed at the high level of detail you are able to create with your mini machine shop. 

I keep waiting for the driver to walk up, climb in and fire that baby up.  Outstanding work.  Well done!!!

Thanks for your kind comments Brandon!  However, I did not open the doors so the driver will have to enter through the driver's window...lol.  Take care, Francis

 

8 hours ago, Vettegasser said:

Awesome 

Thanks Jimmy, I really appreciate it!  Take care, Francis

 

7 hours ago, Steamboat said:

That's nuts in a good way!  Totally incredible!

Thanks for the kind words Bill !  Take care, Francis

 

7 hours ago, Deuces ll said:

Woh!.... ??

Thanks Guido!  Take care, Francis

 

5 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Francis, your machining skills are a wonder, to see! I always appreciate your sharing of your work, my friend!

Thanks Daniel, but I feel a little embarrassed that I don't have more image of the construction process to share but it is what it is...?  Take care, Francis

[Metalmad]

Unbelievably Insane Cool Build !!!

[cobraman]

You say the carbs are crude ? Let me tell you sir there ain't nuttin' crude about this model !

[Bills72sj]

I am always blown away the detail you accomplish so skillfully. The headers are AWESOME!

[rustybill1960]

Speechless. Simply speechless.

Your mastery of the mill is nothing short of "stunning beauty!"

I look forward in great expectation to Your next build and Thank You for sharing with Us here

 

[GeeDub]

What did you use for the radiator hose?  It look so realistic.

[AmericanMuscleFan]

13 hours ago, Metalmad said:

Unbelievably Insane Cool Build !!!

Thanks Seth!  I think it was one of the fastest builds I've done... imagine... 15 months... I'm embarrassed...   Take care, Francis

[Scott8950]

Wow that's absolutely beautiful!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

13 hours ago, cobraman said:

You say the carbs are crude ? Let me tell you sir there ain't nuttin' crude about this model !

Thanks for your kind comments Ray!  I think the carburetors are pretty simplistic design comparing to what I can do today but I was always obsessed by the ones supplied in the kits.  Glad you like them... as well as the rest of the build!   Take care, Francis

[AmericanMuscleFan]

12 hours ago, Bills72sj said:

I am always blown away the detail you accomplish so skillfully. The headers are AWESOME!

Thanks Bill for your kind words!    Despite the great metal-mimicking paints we can find today, I think nothing is more realistic than real metal...   Take care, Francis

[AmericanMuscleFan]

2 hours ago, rustybill1960 said:

Speechless. Simply speechless.

Your mastery of the mill is nothing short of "stunning beauty!"

I look forward in great expectation to Your next build and Thank You for sharing with Us here

Thanks Russel for your great feeling about my build !   I would dare say this is a pretty old build, so I'll set the bar higher and hope I don't disappoint you!   Take care, Francis

[AmericanMuscleFan]

1 hour ago, GeeDub said:

What did you use for the radiator hose?  It look so realistic.

Thanks Glenn!   Like for metal, nothing looks more realistic than real material... the radiator hose is a small section of a rubber o-ring.   I bought a set on the internet for a few dollars so I have plenty of sizes available for most situations.   Hope it help,  Francis

[AmericanMuscleFan]

26 minutes ago, Scott8950 said:

Wow that's absolutely beautiful!

Thanks Scott, always a pleasure to get your comments!  Take care, Francis

[STYRENE-SURFER]

Francis...

Simply amazing ? Those nuts and bolts are of your own creation?

Agian WOW! ?Thanx for the pics.

 

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Thanks for your kind comments Kurt!

The smallest nuts and bolts are from RB Motion or Scale Hardware, I don't have the time or patience to make them... and I need a lot of them for my builds!   I usually machine the bigger ones like the lock nuts on the suspension components but I save most of my machining time for shiny parts!

Your Mustang project is progressing very well by the way!   Take care, Francis

[Vietnam Vet67]

I worked at the Chrysler Tech Center from 1965 till 2007 in the performance engine/ race  engine development group. There was going to be a Hemi for 1972 (before insurance and regulations killed it) but it was going to be the 444" Ball Stud Hemi which I worked on. We had one engine installed in a 1971 Plymouth GTX and it was a runner. Engine displacement shown on machined boss on front of block below distributor mounting area. There was also going to be a 400" version also and we were going to eliminate the 383 and 440 engines.

 

[Deuces ll]

Cool!.... There's plenty more pictures of that motor... I'll dig those up and post them....?

[Deuces ll]

Here ya go!.....

It's a shame that Chrysler had to kill the project.... ?

Edited August 20, 2020 by Deuces ll

[AmericanMuscleFan]

On 8/19/2020 at 8:18 PM, Vietnam Vet67 said:

I worked at the Chrysler Tech Center from 1965 till 2007 in the performance engine/ race  engine development group. There was going to be a Hemi for 1972 (before insurance and regulations killed it) but it was going to be the 444" Ball Stud Hemi which I worked on. We had one engine installed in a 1971 Plymouth GTX and it was a runner. Engine displacement shown on machined boss on front of block below distributor mounting area. There was also going to be a 400" version also and we were going to eliminate the 383 and 440 engines.

 

23 hours ago, Deuces ll said:

Cool!.... There's plenty more pictures of that motor... I'll dig those up and post them....?

Thanks for the info and pics guys, I didn't know anything about this engine.  Would be an interesting engine to build for another Mopar project...  another rarity... ?

Strange that the spark plugs are placed like a wedge engine but advertised as hemi heads?  The engine seem to be under the hood of a 68 or 69 Barracuda?

Now I know which door to knock if I need more information on this mysterious engine!