Post by oldcoyote on Dec 9, 2006 17:44:49 GMT -5
This is a model of John Keeling and Jerry Clayton's gorgeous "California Charger" top fuel dragster which was driven by Rick Ramsey ............ the car went through a series of configurations, but the one I chose to model is the 1970 version .......... full body but no canard wings
The basis for this build is the 1/16th Revell California Charger kit, which has much of the car correct but a few of the pieces are not quite right ............... the chassis is all straight kit pieces .............. however, the only kit piece on the body is the lower nose panel, the rest are Competition Resins parts (including the scoop and the Enderle injector) ............ the magneto on this build had to be moved to the rear of the block (don't know why Revell left it at the right front "426" style ... they corrected the valve covers but not the mag) .............. pictures from Jerry Clayton allowed me to replicate the "wiring & plumbing" on the engine ........... the kit wheels (according to Jerry) were only used for one run ...... and they collapsed on that run and were never used again ........ I went back to the 5-slot Halibrand wheels the car was generally seen with
I used Cobracolors Moon Mud primer for the base ............ the body color coats are a 50/50 mixture of Testor's French Blue and Classic White ........... the chassis and engine are a mixture of Cobracolors Navy Blue Metallic and Cobracolors Machine Silver ( I'm really going to miss Leon Tefft and his marvelous paints) ............... the decals are from Slixx and went on quite well, didn't even have to overspray them with clear lacquer
I had a ball replicating what a lot of us believe was the most beautiful front engine Top Fuel Dragster of the era ............. hope you enjoy
John
The basis for this build is the 1/16th Revell California Charger kit, which has much of the car correct but a few of the pieces are not quite right ............... the chassis is all straight kit pieces .............. however, the only kit piece on the body is the lower nose panel, the rest are Competition Resins parts (including the scoop and the Enderle injector) ............ the magneto on this build had to be moved to the rear of the block (don't know why Revell left it at the right front "426" style ... they corrected the valve covers but not the mag) .............. pictures from Jerry Clayton allowed me to replicate the "wiring & plumbing" on the engine ........... the kit wheels (according to Jerry) were only used for one run ...... and they collapsed on that run and were never used again ........ I went back to the 5-slot Halibrand wheels the car was generally seen with
I used Cobracolors Moon Mud primer for the base ............ the body color coats are a 50/50 mixture of Testor's French Blue and Classic White ........... the chassis and engine are a mixture of Cobracolors Navy Blue Metallic and Cobracolors Machine Silver ( I'm really going to miss Leon Tefft and his marvelous paints) ............... the decals are from Slixx and went on quite well, didn't even have to overspray them with clear lacquer
I had a ball replicating what a lot of us believe was the most beautiful front engine Top Fuel Dragster of the era ............. hope you enjoy
John
