`74 Gene Snow Vega Funny Car

[Hawk312]

After the L88 corvette project, which is going on 6 months now, I am looking to do something quick and easy. Hopefully this will do it. I had this one sitting around for well over a decade, possibly 2. Also, this is starting out as the Snow car, but may end up as the Prudhomme Army Monza Funny Car. We shall see.

First, the built model pictured is not what is in the box. The box art appears to be the 1/16th kit. I was really disappointed with the actual contents, which is why it was shelved for so long. The wheels and tires are horribly undersized and in no way accurate (though the rear wheels are close). The tires are also the two piece versions, split down the middle. So I will be borrowing parts from other kits.

Here is what I am starting with:

And here is what I have so far:

I made a mold and cast the wheels from the `66 Malibu kit for this build to replace the kit wheels.

The tires above, from left to right, a tire from a newer Revell F/C kit, the same plus the rear wheel from the Malibu kit, the kit wheel and tire (notice the size difference), and a Pegasus/So-Real slick and newer top fuel kit wheel. Notice the size difference of the kit tire and the tire on the far right, and the kit tire is in the foreground! The Pegasus/So-Real scales out to about 36" if memory serves me.

[Speedfreak]

Looks cool David. So which tires are you going with?

[Hawk312]

Thanks! `ll be going with the modified tires from the newer Revell funny car kit. They are the two on the left. I think they are still just slightly under sized, but the Pegasus ones look way to big IMO.

[Speedfreak]

Yes, they are huge!

[F/CNUT]

Looking good, Love what you done with the tires. Looking forward to some more on this project

Edited September 10, 2014 by F/CNUT

[Jade043]

I have this kit as well will be watching to see how yours turns out.

[Hawk312]

Thanks guys. Help me out here though...is it just me, or does this body have waaayyy too much length? Or maybe it is too narrow? Or the roof has a smashed look? Or is it just me?

[F/CNUT]

Personally I think the body looks good. If you are not sure check out Bob Snyder's drag photos web sight. He has a lot pictures from the 60's to the present. You will see a lot of Vega bodied cars.

[10thumbs]

By the way, how are the split, 2 piece slicks supposed to be put together?

Michael

[Hawk312]

By the way, how are the split, 2 piece slicks supposed to be put together?

Michael

Probably the best way would be to use CA glue I would imagine. I used that for the front tires, and it seemed to work really well. I was able to sand them, very roughly I might add (120 grit), without them coming apart. This was like 5 minutes after gluing them together. I am not even going to try anything with the kit rears, as they are way too small. The "kit" tire in the above picture is actually from the Blue Max funny car kit, and is 1 piece. The frame is also 1 piece in that kit, as opposed to the two piece frame in this and some of the monza kits, so I will be using that frame.

[1320wayne]

With a little bit of work at adjusting the ride height with the chassis and using the modern era Revell rear slicks you can make a pretty decent build that looks a lot more like the real cars from that time as opposed to what the kit actually builds into using the kit tires. Also, the body isn't too far off being accurate. Here is a pic. of one Gene Snow version that I did a few years back.

[Hawk312]

Thanks for posting that Wayne! Your changes make a night and day difference compared to box stock build. BTW, I am using your excellent guide in my build!