32 Bantam Fuel Altered

[mickgee]

Hello guys,

Here the first of in the meantime 3 Altereds done in metal.  It was my plan from the beginning to build all three of the most infamous cars of this class, using the same technique for all three.  Along with the Fiat and the last one, the recently finished Ford T.

These cars were all built with the help of real racers from back in the day, who were actually owners/pilots of these cars.  Lots of valuable info, also what worked and what didn't.  The first time I ever heard for instance, that the Bantam race cars mostly used a GM truck 3 speed transmission, but never used the first gear.  They launched at 4500rpm in 2nd gear, then went full blast and shifted just once.  Using two gear levers.  The 2nd gear shifter used a reverse linkage too, so the car could back up.  Then, after launching, immediately pulling the 3rd gear lever back and then it was "hold on" tightly!  These cars were more than a handful to control.

Also, the racer with the real Bantam used a 421 Super Duty Pontiac with Hilborn injection.  Later switched a few motor parts and ran with 30% nitro, which meant an increase of 30% more power.

This model uses a heavily bashed 392 Hemi from the Revell Miss Deal model kit.  Brass frame, motor parts and other parts in nickel.  The Comp Resin front and rear wheels are cast in Nickel as well.  The wheels are steerable, as the front end is also brass.

Here the model, still one of my favorites;

Perhaps an interesting note about the paint.  I love using House of Kolor lacquer paints.  The stuff is amazing.  This one is not green.  Candy blue over a gold base = jade green.

This was quite a shock, but I love the outcome.  This job has 16 coats of gold base, candy blue and gloss.  The gold base has a slight metallic effect, which is mild and not wild.  I didn't want a metallic color.

Mick..

[afx]

Great information and build Mick.  No doubt Altereds could be a handful to drive.

[mickgee]

Amazing.  Actually, I think the pilots of these silly cars must have been close to insanity.

My mentor on this build, says himself he really doesn't understand how he did it.  The whole startup and staging procedure is so intensive.  The stinking fuel, it's hot in the fire suit.  You sweat, the car is shaking like an earthquake.  The g-force is hefty.  Burnt rubber and debris flying around in the cockpit, visibility is blurry....then when the chute flies out and catches the wind, the rear wheels lift up and the car jerks like you ran into a speed bump.....and you're grinning from ear to ear.

Wow. Some 8 seconds @ 175 mph.  Would you do it?  Not even in my better days would I have.

[cc]

 Mick,  you have definitely have the altered’s down cold. Just a sweet build. Thats the closest one comes to riding a bucking bronco with out getting on a wild horse.  Took some mighty big ones to strap in and go. And to think the “Wildman” drove with one hand on the wheel. Just insane. 

CC 😎

[mickgee]

Hi CC....real big ones, my opinion.

Check out closer the pic posted from afx.  The pilot looks kind of wide-eyed, to say the least.  Also, he's off the gas....the butterflies on the blower hat are closed.

What happened...he hit he throttle hard at launch, got off of it quick because he's probably losing control, the car does a slight nose dive, on the gas again, the rear tires start to hoppity-hop, he hits the pedal again and the car is airborne.  Jumping like a frog.  The pilot has heavy pants now, and his foot is off the gas.  Finish the run and cruise home for a cool one in the pits.

These cars have a wheelbase like an early generation VW Golf, high rear tires and around 2000hp.  Excellent traction capabilities, just too much throttle and things go haywire.  Wild, wild rides.

Thanks for your interest.

Mick..

[Joel_W]

Mick,
What a great build!!

I know literally nothing about drag racing other then what I'm learning these days from watching it on Cable a few nights per week. Needless to say I'm not use to seeing any of these drag altered as it's been a steady diet of Funny cars, Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and even bikes. Now talk about a set of steel ones. Those guys on bikes certainly seem to have a real death wish.

As far as your build goes, you get top marks for sure. Everything seems to be made from some form of metal except the engine & tires. And everything looks absolutely dead on and perfect. Your paint job is magnificent.

Thanks for sharing, and can't wait to see your next build.

Joel

[mickgee]

Thank you Joel, I appreciate you commenting on the builds.  Very encouraging.

Actually, I have no more interest in modern drag racing.  These cars I built were outlawed about 1971 or so. There are of course quite a few of the famous teams still around, and are quite active.  Nowadays these cars are run at nostalgia events only, drawing huge crowds and enthusiasts.  They are today pretty much as they were in 1970 and before, just they've been completely restored and are a sight to behold, like show cars.

Here a link to the Team that I modeled my Fiat from;

www.burkholderbrosracing.com/

Another Fiat owner helped me on my Fiat model, and even contacted the Burkholders and took some photos of parts of their car so that I could get things sorted out.  I remember asking him exactly what size frame rails does his Fiat have.  So he says, hold on a minute....he goes aout and measures the frame rails and tells me, they're 1 5/8".  Case closed, now I knew.

The motor on this model has a styrene block, heads and oil pan.  The rest, valve covers, gaskets, front cover and fuel pump and headers, along with the injection are metal.

After this build, the motors became all metal. It hurts to paint a block that is metal, but I've gotten over it.

Mick..

[Joel_W]

Mick,
Your attention to detail, and dedication to these Fiats, certainly has set your modeling apart from most of us that basically model what's in kit box. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to start on a metal kit, or once figured out, how to proceed. But there are so many "must have" limited run kits that are only multi media (super expensive to say the least), that I'm actually leaning towards just one per year which should give me enough time to save my pennies for the next one. That is if I actually ever get it across the finish line.

Like you, I do prefer the cars of yesterday over what we have today. Aerodynamic monstrosities is the nicest term I can conjure up. But I do follow both Indy Car & F1 almost daily, and IMSA when I can.

Joel