WIP Monogram Midget Converted to a USAC Sprint car update

[kip]

And now for something completely different.

Randy Short sent me an old Rod and Custom (June 1964) article about converting the Monogram Midget into a 1/25 sprint car. I want to do several early to mid-sixties sprinters using Bob’s drawings and this article.  If someone has done this before on the Forum, please let me know and I will spare everyone the repetition.



The kit is much larger than 1/25 so lots of cutting is involved.



And here is where I am now. In addition to the cuts indicated in the article, I had to take a section out of the middle (front to back) as the kit is also too wide.



Rather than cut up the tail (it looks kinda complicated), I am going to use the fuel tank from the Monogram winged sprint car kits. Its nearly a perfect match to Bob’s drawing. Just a little narrow but some sheet plastic took care of that.

The nose is giving me fits. The profile of the kit nose is all wrong—even after cutting. Been working with filler for about two weeks. I will post photos when I get it right.

These are the cars I hope to model.  (I've got a thing for McCluskey)





And the long wheelbase Iddings.  Rumor has it that it once had a Hemi engine.  Anybody know anything about that?



kip

[racerbrown]

you're a very brave man...
duane

[Deleted]

You might be interested in these pics;

public.fotki.com/DarylH/shows-races-contests/clarence-mutt-anderson/

Mutt was the car owner/crew chief and he and his son did a great job of restoring the car before he passed away. The 12th scale scratch build of the 51 is Randy Derr's work

[Deleted]

And here;

archive.org/stream/RLDSprintCarSummary/RLD%20Sprint%20Car%20Summary#page/n0/mode/2up

[robh]

That is definitely doing it the hard way and I'll be watching. I have long considered a similar project using the AMT sprint car kit.

[kip]

Darylh

Thanks for the links. I had seen an article in a Model Car magazine about Randy's scratch built model and I've wanted to build that car ever since. Derr's model is without equal.

kip

[kip]

Starting to look a little more like a sprinter. Fuel tank is from the Monogram winged sprint car kit. Had to build up the cockpit sides and cowl a bit.



kip

[Patrick]

How did I miss a nice and dice build project like this! So cool!

Patrick

[kip]

Hey, I'm beginning to think this may actually be doable!  Added some side panels and hood--and I am getting close on the nose. (The nose in the photo is not for this build.)



kip

[Gary Davis]

Man KIP...I missed this one from the get-go. This is really looking good my friend! I also have that article and was thinking about doing the same thing. I think we talked about that...or maybe I thought we did...LOL That kit is the same kit I used to do the #92 Midget & Trailer. The Kit is in 1/18th scale. I don't remember if I posted pics of here or not. At any rate...these projects are going to look GREAT when you get each one finished. Really looking forward to ALL the W.I.Ps...

[kip]

Finally finished the nose. I narrowed the kit nose, cut off the bottom of the nose, replaced it with sheet plastic and totally reshaped the top. I am going to make several copies (either vacuform or resin) because it’s too much work to make each one from scratch. Have to reshape the rear axle opening and open up the front axle area.






kip

[racerbrown]

looking good kip!
duane

[Gary Davis]

Oh yea...that nose looks great KIP.

[Patrick]

I don't know much about the old sprinters, but I do like what you're doing!! Maybe I can learn more about them from your build!!

Patrick

[kip]

In paint & decals



kip

[Gary Davis]

That sure looks good Kip. Did GWS do the decals for you? Looking forward to seeing this bad boy on all fours....

[Art Laski]

Sweet, Kip! I love the Konstant Hot paint scheme.

[racerbrown]

i gotta say it.
that's really hot!
duane

[robh]

The body looks superb!

[gwstexas]

Beautiful, Kip! Couldn't look better!
Best,
Gary

[indy]

The Konstant Hot black, red, and gold is such a nice scheme. Your work is very impressive, Kip, as the paint is beautifully smooth which shows how well your scratch building and finishing skills are executed.

Jordan

[kip]

Thanks for the kind words Gary, Art, Duane, robh, Gary and Jordan.


Gary Davis--GWS did decals for this one.

kip

[fhall]

I'll have to try and find that issue of Rod & Custom. I followed the instructions and built a Hector Honore Black Duece and a Jerry Richert Wagner car. I was very pleased with the final results when they were finished. I did them when about 15 or 16, and a friend of my dad's wanted me to build him one. I came home one day and found he'd sold them both to his friend. I have the kit but not the magazine anymore.

[Calvin]

Its beyond me why I dont remember this thread. But this is awesome!
This kinda project is right up my alley. It would be a very lucrative resin project.

[alwaysindy]

I’m with Calvin: how did I miss this? Photos of it done? Nice job Kip!
Tim

[racerbrown]

i love when people bring up an old post like this one!
duane

[kip]

I started this project in 2017. Shortly after posting the photos of the painted, decaled car I clear coated it and ruined the paint job. It went directly to the shelf of shame. I picked it up every month or so trying to decide what to do with it. Six years later Randy Short shamed me into finishing it. I thought about starting over and sawing up another Monogram midget but then figured why not try to fix it. If that didn't work I could then get out the saw. I did some sanding and repainted about half of it. Several decals had to be replaced and GWS provided them. Did some polishing (I love shiny black paint). It is now back to looking like the October 2017 photo I posted. I am going to start on the suspension, nerf, nose, and push bars tomorrow and will post some photos.

Back in 2017 some readers commented that they did not have the Rod and Custom article. If anyone wants a copy, let me know and I will send a copy.

Since I will not have to redo the Konstant Hot car I plan to use my other Monogram midget for the Iddings car (see photo above).

Kip

[kyledehart5]

I am truly astonished. Fantastic work on this conversion. I really hope to see the finished version. That Iddings car is a beauty as well but the Konstant Hot has long been a favorite of mine. Glad to hear you're back on it and sorry I haven't been to this thread sooner.

[SteveG]

Oct 31, 2017 15:07:26 GMT -5 kip said:

In paint & decals



kip

Wow! This is just beautiful. I love old midgets and sprints and it's nice see a car raced by McCluskey. A very under appreciated driver from that era. He was a multiple USAC sprint and Stockcar champion, as well as the USAC national champion in 1973.