Post by modelcitizen on Mar 16, 2015 17:18:04 GMT -6
OK, this one's NOT from the Alpha List but since it's the only other Wedge Dragster kit ever produced besides the "Flying Wedge" & Steve McGee's "Black Beauty", I hope the powers that be will allow it to stay in the "Completed Show Rods" section.
This was the third and final Wedge Dragster kit ever produced. It was manufactured by MPC and this was the only release of this kit as well (1975). It is another "conglomeration car" which I don't believe ever existed. It was simply meant to represent the foray into aerodynamic experimentation in top fuel drag racing, at that time. It also played heavily on the patriotic hoopla of the upcoming Bicentennial of our nation. I definitely feel it epitomizes ALL of that!
The paint is; Testors White Lightning Pearl Lacquer for the Exterior Body Work & Floor Panel, Duplicolor Torch Red for the Chassis, Krylon Brushed Nickel Metallic for the "Magnesium" Inner Body Panels & Seat Shell, Krylon True Blue Gloss for the Upholstered Items, Drive Train & "Packed" Drag Chute Straps, Krylon Matte Clear to flatten the Upholstered Items & "Packed" Drag Chute and Testors "Wet Look" Clear Lacquer as a decal sealer & Top Coat. Various Model Master bottle paints were used to detail the Seat Safety Harness, Fuel & Oil Lines and "Packed" Drag Chute. The Hand & Foot Controls were finished in "Raw Aluminum". Most of the "Interior Detail" will not be seen, however, since sealing the Body Work to the Floor Pan, installing the Front Wing and gluing the Front Radius Rods to the Outer Body Shell are the final steps to complete this kit, sealing off the "Interior" from direct sight forever. (One of the things I don't like about this kit.)
The decals are reproductions by Gooche. The Gold Metallic Trim that replaces the Kit Decal's "Golden Tan" really sets them off! (IMHO)
This was a mild "Resurrection Build" that did not come with the correct decals and needed the Original Windshield, Rear "Superstructure"/"Body Support" and Exhaust Headers "Reproduced". I suppose you could say this is a fairly convincing "Clone" of the "Spirit of '76" since the only parts original to the kit were the box, the two Body Shells, the Floor Panel and the broken Windshield. All of the other parts (still on their "Trees") are from the Don Garlits RE-1 kit, which is the correct/duplicate chassis, etc. to the "Spirit of '76", the Chassis it was originally based on.
I'm particularly proud of this build since it forced me to form my first Windshield (albeit a pretty simple one) and fabricate my, first ever, set of Exhaust Headers. The "Superstructure"/"Body Support" was a fairly simple matter of "repurposing" the Rear Wing Supports already in the Garlits kit.
CAUTION: You may find yourself wanting to stand up and salute this one!
This was the third and final Wedge Dragster kit ever produced. It was manufactured by MPC and this was the only release of this kit as well (1975). It is another "conglomeration car" which I don't believe ever existed. It was simply meant to represent the foray into aerodynamic experimentation in top fuel drag racing, at that time. It also played heavily on the patriotic hoopla of the upcoming Bicentennial of our nation. I definitely feel it epitomizes ALL of that!
The paint is; Testors White Lightning Pearl Lacquer for the Exterior Body Work & Floor Panel, Duplicolor Torch Red for the Chassis, Krylon Brushed Nickel Metallic for the "Magnesium" Inner Body Panels & Seat Shell, Krylon True Blue Gloss for the Upholstered Items, Drive Train & "Packed" Drag Chute Straps, Krylon Matte Clear to flatten the Upholstered Items & "Packed" Drag Chute and Testors "Wet Look" Clear Lacquer as a decal sealer & Top Coat. Various Model Master bottle paints were used to detail the Seat Safety Harness, Fuel & Oil Lines and "Packed" Drag Chute. The Hand & Foot Controls were finished in "Raw Aluminum". Most of the "Interior Detail" will not be seen, however, since sealing the Body Work to the Floor Pan, installing the Front Wing and gluing the Front Radius Rods to the Outer Body Shell are the final steps to complete this kit, sealing off the "Interior" from direct sight forever. (One of the things I don't like about this kit.)
The decals are reproductions by Gooche. The Gold Metallic Trim that replaces the Kit Decal's "Golden Tan" really sets them off! (IMHO)
This was a mild "Resurrection Build" that did not come with the correct decals and needed the Original Windshield, Rear "Superstructure"/"Body Support" and Exhaust Headers "Reproduced". I suppose you could say this is a fairly convincing "Clone" of the "Spirit of '76" since the only parts original to the kit were the box, the two Body Shells, the Floor Panel and the broken Windshield. All of the other parts (still on their "Trees") are from the Don Garlits RE-1 kit, which is the correct/duplicate chassis, etc. to the "Spirit of '76", the Chassis it was originally based on.
I'm particularly proud of this build since it forced me to form my first Windshield (albeit a pretty simple one) and fabricate my, first ever, set of Exhaust Headers. The "Superstructure"/"Body Support" was a fairly simple matter of "repurposing" the Rear Wing Supports already in the Garlits kit.
CAUTION: You may find yourself wanting to stand up and salute this one!
You May Be Seated.
Thanks For Looking!
"Paulie" 
