Bob Sowle Offy Midget

[harveythedog2]

In keeping with all the Midget threads that are popping up or will be popping up, I thought I would post some pictures of the Bob Sowle Offy Midget I made from a 1/18th scale GMP midget kit.

I build this car for Bob who is still alive and well and in his late 80's I believe. Bob was a car owner and Cheif Mechanic and has the distinction of being the Cheif Mechanic on Johnny Rutherfords rookie car at Indy in 1963. I built this car and made my own homemade decals and gave it to Bob as a gift.

[img src="http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/sbenford/SO24.jpg"img]

[img src="http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/sbenford/SO22.jpg"img]

[img src="http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/sbenford/SO19.jpg"img]

George Amick drove for Bob among others. If anyone ends up doing a car that Bob was involved in, I would be happy to see if I could get it autographed for you.

Stu

[clm1545]

That is really neat. I would love to see a tutioral from you, Stu, on how you made those decals.
Take Care
Craig

[Calvin]

Looks real! Your good at every part of model building.

[harveythedog2]

Craig,
No tutorial needed really. My Dad did the artwork and I printed it out onto clear decal paper with a black outline. The clear decal was soaked and placed on top of gold decal paper. When all was dry I cut it out, soaked and placed as normal.

Calvin, thanks but I don't do everything well. I once glued the exhaust on a Cosworth facing the wrong direction! You guys just don't see the Oops!

Resin casting is something I just can't quite grasp yet either but I am working on it.

[professor]

Looks great Stu, I have had lunch with Bob a couple of times, don't really know him but it was a group from Race Car Restorations.(including Watson) The figure actually looks like him as a young man!!

Tom O.

[SWT500]

Bob was actually referred to in the 50s as the King Of The Midgets. At one time he ran a school to teach other guys how to do their motors and built Indy engines for Rolla Vollstedt. He was also on Amick's runner up car at Indy inm 1958, among other distinctions. His midget drivers included Amick, Eddie Sachs, Len Sutton and Sam Hanks just to name a few.

[Deleted]

Cool Build Stu!!! The seat looks like real leather!

[racerbrown]

thanks for sharing, stu
i love to see all the detail on it!
duane

[indy]

Really great stuff!! Nice work!

Jordan

[harveythedog2]

Thanks Guys.

Here is a picture of Bob holding the 1963 Rutherford Rookie car I did for him also. I had one of him holding the midget too but seem to have misplaced it.

Stu

[img src="http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/sbenford/6303.jpg"img]

[Deleted]

How cool is that....And I agree that your midget mechanic bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Sowle. Good stuff!!
Tom T.

[Art Laski]

Very nice midget, Stu! Also learned a new decal trick from you. I never though of overlaying clear decal paper over another color like gold or silver that can't be printed by an inkjet. That could come in handy at some point!


-Art

[Deleted]

Very nice midget! I love everything about the older cars. The lines, the liveries, and the drivers!