Post by Bernard Kron on Jul 13, 2019 16:58:04 GMT -8
Since there have been some mighty fine circle track models posted here of late I was reminded of the only asphalt car I can recall building this dirt modified I built back in 2015. It's one of only 2 I've attempted, but it was the source of many pleasurable hours at the bench and I still think of it as one of my better efforts. I hope you all enjoy it.
It’s a largely out-of-box AMT '37 Chevy Modified kitt. I grew up in Duchess County, N.Y., about 70 miles north of NYC, and I can remember these cars being trailered up Route 22. Those who may know more abut this form of racing may be able to tell me where they were headed. The sponsor, The Old Post Road Tavern, was a favorite restaurant of my family. They served fresh caught trout which was all I can remember us ever ordering there.
It’s a pretty straightforward build, based on photos of these cars I found on the web. The chassis and all the interior surfaces except for the chassis tin work are painted Duplicolor Cream, a kind of medium light beige color. The cockpit tin is finished Testors Metalizer Aluminum Plate. The basic body color is Duplicolor Chrome Yellow, with Duplicolor Flash Red trim. As is my practice on virtually all my race cars, I made my own decals. The motor is standard Chevy Engine Orange. I used a Morgan Automotive Detail pre-wired magneto and after-market headers, but otherwise the motor is kit-stock.
All the chrome bits have been stripped and refinished in various shades of Testors Metalizer. The exception is the wheels. I used the kit wheels but they have been refinished in Testors Acryl Jet Exhaust, which is a pretty close match to the Dow 7 anti-corrosive finish used on Halibrand mags. The tires are from Big Donkey Resins with a small "pony tire" for the inside front and a staggered oversize outside front tire
A nice detail I noticed on some of the dirt track modifieds that I studied, both 1:1 and in scale, is the wire mesh grilling in front of the radiator and safety netting in front of the driver to protect him from flying dirt and debris. I made the radiator grill form 1/8” aluminum sculpture mesh and the safety netting is tule wedding veil fabric.
Thanx for lookin’,
B
It’s a largely out-of-box AMT '37 Chevy Modified kitt. I grew up in Duchess County, N.Y., about 70 miles north of NYC, and I can remember these cars being trailered up Route 22. Those who may know more abut this form of racing may be able to tell me where they were headed. The sponsor, The Old Post Road Tavern, was a favorite restaurant of my family. They served fresh caught trout which was all I can remember us ever ordering there.
It’s a pretty straightforward build, based on photos of these cars I found on the web. The chassis and all the interior surfaces except for the chassis tin work are painted Duplicolor Cream, a kind of medium light beige color. The cockpit tin is finished Testors Metalizer Aluminum Plate. The basic body color is Duplicolor Chrome Yellow, with Duplicolor Flash Red trim. As is my practice on virtually all my race cars, I made my own decals. The motor is standard Chevy Engine Orange. I used a Morgan Automotive Detail pre-wired magneto and after-market headers, but otherwise the motor is kit-stock.
All the chrome bits have been stripped and refinished in various shades of Testors Metalizer. The exception is the wheels. I used the kit wheels but they have been refinished in Testors Acryl Jet Exhaust, which is a pretty close match to the Dow 7 anti-corrosive finish used on Halibrand mags. The tires are from Big Donkey Resins with a small "pony tire" for the inside front and a staggered oversize outside front tire
A nice detail I noticed on some of the dirt track modifieds that I studied, both 1:1 and in scale, is the wire mesh grilling in front of the radiator and safety netting in front of the driver to protect him from flying dirt and debris. I made the radiator grill form 1/8” aluminum sculpture mesh and the safety netting is tule wedding veil fabric.
Thanx for lookin’,
B
As the expression goes, "I knew that". I, in fact have yet to build an asphalt car of this type. But I especially enjoyed researching the history of the sophisticated Tobias chassis in this kit - such a contrast to the body covering it. Between that and childhood memories of what these cars looked like "in the metal" helped carry me through this project. I'm flattered you think it passes muster. I suspect much of it is the result of the surprisingly nice kit that I worked from. I do have an asphalt car in the planning stages based on the AMT Vega kit. I'm hoping Chris follows through on the refurbishing project for his old build of the Vega kit he posted this morning.