Old AMT Willard Battery Special

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Here is the AMT/Watson Roadseter with some nose work on it to make it accurate.

[2lapsdown]

What tires did you use? Those aren't the kit tires are they?

[Deleted]

No....Those aren't the kit tires. I had a good friend of mine cast in resin some tires I had that were going to be used if I did a 1964 Watson, but were too thin by Bob Clindist's drawings and they just fit the 1963 profile perfectly. 1963 was the first year of the lower, flatter profile Firestone's. Makes a big difference in the way the kit sits.

Russ

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Another great build. What paint did you use for the BLUE?

[2lapsdown]

I love the job you've done. I have this kit but I'd like to have the correct tires. Do you think Lance Sellers or Bill Jorgensen would be able to help?

[lance]

I do have a tire wheel combo for a 64 watson . Lance

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There you go! Just contact Lance, he has them!

[2lapsdown]

I just heard from Lance and he told me he'd make up some molds but he wasn't sure they'd be right for the 63. I found a photo of the 63 and the tires looked more like the kit tires. So now I'm really confused. Please don't let this detract from my previous statement about your car, it's fabulous. How did you modify the nose?

[Deleted]

Okay, don't worry. I did the research on this one. The rims and tires used in 1964 were the same in 1963. Lance's tires and rims will work according to Bob Clindist's drawings, which are the Bible for all Indy Car builders. Bob has seen every lap turned by any car at Indy since 1964 and is the expert on this.

To answer a question about the nose here...The nose was slush-casted by a guy who no longer is in the cottage industry at all. That is the accurate nose for the 1963 Watson. It needs work though. David Roberts, (DrDave) has one and will be happy for a small fee to make one for you. Contact him about the details. As for the color of blue, I paint all my models with Dupi-Color lacquer paint. Best to you!

[Deleted]

Just another picture of the beast!

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Thanks, this is why I'm so happy to have found this message board

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oldcalhoun,

That's a great build of that kit! I also use Duplicolor *almost* exclusively.

I see you refer to *Bob Clindist's drawings*. I must admit my stupidity.......... I have not seen nor heard of them! Details, please......... thanks!

Bill Little <><

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Welcome Aboard!!!!

Thanks for the nice comments about the OLD Amt/Watson. That kit has still many good things to offer, although it has demons galore!

I'm not surprised if you are not familiar with Bob Clindist's drawings....Many are not. Bob is, simply put, the finest modeler I have ever met. His drawings of classic Indy Cars are a must for any project. I am proud to call Bob a friend. Bob's father served on crews in the 1950's for many teams. Bob's experiences at the Speedway go back to the mid 1950's. If you want to know what a color of a car was that raced at the Speedway, Bob knows and remembers because Bob saw it! He has seen, every lap turned, practice or race since 1964. He is a great gentleman and always has a kind word or an encouraging remark an any project. Bob's attitude is "just try it and get it done." Bob and I have had many conversations on the accuracy of the OLD AMT Watson kit. Bob doesn't care for it unless you "rebuild the thing!" Bob is old school. Bob is an slot car racer from WAY back. He is not afraid to hand paint makings on his slot cars. HEck....he even carved molds for cars that didn't have bodies back then. Bob would make and race whole team cars. I have seen his 1963 Parnelli Jones' Willard Battery Team....The midget on up to the Indy Winner in 1/32 scale! He showed me a Cale Yarbourogh 1968 Ford he did and handed it to me and I asked, "Where did you get the decals for this sucker?" Then he told me he hand painted all the markings and sponsor stickers on it. I looked at it closer, and sure enough......HE DID! He has done this for years and has encourage me to try it....I'm no way near that good. Bob was one of the people behind the "Accurate Miniatures" 1/43 scale models in the 1970's, Bob has helped out SMTS with their kits. Bob just recently worked on the new computer game, "Indy Legends" to make sure all of the classic car paint jobs were accurate. Bob is a great guy!

If you need any of his drawings, just e-mail me and I'll see what I can get you. It's almost May, and Bob will be working again at the Speedway. I always look up Bob when I go to Indianapolis. He has many wonderful stories and got all of them from the drivers themselves. Bob is also, a big A. J. Foyt fan, something we have in common.

Best to you

Russ

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Thanks, again, Russ! I am presently working on Bill Vukovich's '55 Hopkin's Special. I'm having the HARDEST TIME (!!) trying to work out the exhaust, which, as you know is on the opposite side and down at the bottom of the body, compared to the old Monogram kit.

I a also going to use an AMT Watson for Smokey's blk/gold Simonize Special. I am (already) filling and reshaping the nose.

These are the *pressing* Indy projects from the Roadster era.

Thanks for ANY help you can psare on those two!

Bill <><

[Deleted]

Hi ya Bill!

I have always wanted to do Rathmann's 1961 car myself. I did it in 1/32 scale using a Strombecker Slot Car...It came out good and runs well also. Yes, I'm a slot car head. Nothing like racing 1/32 scale Watson's!

I have the decals to do Vuckovich's 1955 Hopkins Special, but I have never gotten around to it, for some reason. I can only suggest looking at photos or drawings of the car. Start by filling the exhaust opening on the hood, and cutting the opening on the lower right side of the body. Find something to stick the exhaust to inside the body. Maybe mount the engine tilted like the real car did? Get Bill Jorgensen's wheels and tires, he has a set on e-bay currently. I'll ask Bob about the color and get back to you. Best of luck!

Russ

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Hi ya Bill!

I just got of the phone with Bob. The man is wealth of information! He said, the color for the 1955 Vuckovich Hopkins Special was a Chrysler Metallic Blue. I would rake his word for it, Bob stood by the car before it ran in 1955. He has drawings of the Kurtis Roadsters, but not of that particular car. He was like everyone else that day, stunned that Vuky was killed during that race. I knew Bob would have the answer to what was the correct color. I hope I helped some. Good luck with it.

Best to you

Russ

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Hi Russ,

Thank you for all the help! Does Bill's wheels/tires work ok on the Monogram Kurtis? That kit looks a touch *big* for 1/25th scale...... ?? I found them on ebay and will probably try to get them, anyway.

[herk56]

Hi Bill - I'm working on the Hopkins car myself. I took the engine half that the exhaust hooks to, cut off most of it and glued it behind the new opening I made on the lower right side. As Russ said, you also need to fill the hood cut-out on the left. I'm going to go curbside on mine as the Monogram engine is so poorly detailed it wouldn't be worth the work, plus, like you, I really don't know what the engine compartment looked like. I got a lot of info from this site, despite it's gruesome side, there's a lot of good pics here. I also found that pics of the Carousel 1/18 model were helpful, but I never bookmarked those sites, just printed the pics I wanted. One more thing that needs doing, the right side of the cockpit on the Monogram kit needs to be raised, I don't recall the amount I raised it, but look at the pics, you'll see what I mean. My kit is packed away somewhere right now or I'd take some pics, if I find it soon I will. Later - Brian

www.vukovichaccident.com/

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herk56 said:

Hi Bill - I'm working on the Hopkins car myself. I took the engine half that the exhaust hooks to, cut off most of it and glued it behind the new opening I made on the lower right side. As Russ said, you also need to fill the hood cut-out on the left. I'm going to go curbside on mine as the Monogram engine is so poorly detailed it wouldn't be worth the work, plus, like you, I really don't know what the engine compartment looked like. I got a lot of info from this site, despite it's gruesome side, there's a lot of good pics here. I also found that pics of the Carousel 1/18 model were helpful, but I never bookmarked those sites, just printed the pics I wanted. One more thing that needs doing, the right side of the cockpit on the Monogram kit needs to be raised, I don't recall the amount I raised it, but look at the pics, you'll see what I mean. My kit is packed away somewhere right now or I'd take some pics, if I find it soon I will. Later - Brian
www.vukovichaccident.com/

Hi Brian,

I have the body and hood all prepped to paint. Glad I heard about the cockpit side! LOL!! At least I haven't shot the color coats. Not too late to change things. I wasn't sure about the blue, but I have one that I think will be awful close.

I printed several Carousel 1 pictures, also. AND, I will have a closed hood, too!

Thanks!
Bill <><

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Looking at the paint charts from 1955, Chrysler had a color: RHAPSODY BLUE POLY , Ditzler:DQE-1155-DAL for lacquer, which appears to be the color in question For the Vukovich/Hopkins car.

[herk56]

Bill (& anyone else interested) - I am posting WIP pics of my '55 Hopkins car in a new thread, I think we've hi-jacked this one far enough - LOL!

Brian

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Thanks, Brian.