1959 Johnny Thompson Pole Winner WIP

[kip]

Starting a new WIP on Johnny Thompson's 1959 pole winner Racing Associates Spl. Built one from a Union Vac body 20 odd years ago. Had to do my own decals. Not much detail. Clear coat has yellowed.

This time. I going to use Gary Ducette's resin kit with wheels/tires from American Racing Miniatures.

kip

[jj66]

Looks interesting. Where I can buy American Racing Miniatures wheels? Thanks

[kip]

American Racing Miniatures bought the Etzel molds  (so you know they are very detailed and  high quality) and currently sells several resin cars (a Miller, the Stutz Black Hawk, and I think a Dusenberg) and will be offering a  midget racer, a Kuzma championship dirt car, and a Monroe/Fronteac later this year, an Offy engine($20.00 incl. shipping) and Halibrand/Firestone dirt tire sets available with either the early 50s dished or ribbed wheels or the later kidney bean and five spoke Halibrands ($16.00 per set of four incl. shipping), and three kinds of Halibrand speedway wheels/tires: early fifties dished, early fifties ribbed, and late fifties kidney bean and five spoke rears which I am using on this build (also $16.)  The address is:

American Racing Miniatures

 P.O. Box 96,

Round Hill, VA. 20142

Cheers, kip

[kip]

Finally some progress. Working on the cockpit before closing up the belly. The photo of the restored car is courtesy of Ed Mautner.





This is the frame for the cockpit. The side rails are from Gary's kit. The rest had to be made.



The frame is in the cockpit and the drive line is in. In this photo, the drive shaft is crooked. That has been corrected--I just didn't feel like taking another photo.



I'll hold off on the rest of the cockpit for a bit. Next up is the belly pan, I guess. I'll have to do that before painting because the belly pan to upper body fit is miserable. I sanded it smooth so the parts are tight but the panel seams on all sides of the belly pan are not even close to being crisp. So I will glue it up, fill with putty, and then cut new panel lines with my trusty razor saw.

[kip]

The belly pan did not fit very well. It was about 1/8 inch too short, was too wide, and the panel seams--when joined to the body--were very rounded. Puttied the belly pan seams on all four sides.





Cut new panel seams with my razor saw. Used Dymo label tape along where the panel line should be, then leaned the saw against the tape.




In primer.




Just noticed the flaws along the seams; showed up in the following photo better than in person. Old eyes. Will have to fix those. I opened up the vent next to the cockpit with a drill and small files.




kip

[mjjracer]

Love the cockpit detail. And the label tape edge to cut panel lines is brilliant!
MJ

[jj66]

I can't wait to see finished!

[kip]

Finally, Its been so humid here that I couldn't paint. (Too cold to paint in the winter--too humid in the summer. Leaves me about three days in between seasons). Finally got a break a week ago and put the pink on. Let it sit for a week. Spent all day today polishing with 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12000 grit. Actually didn't sand through the paint to the primer--for a change.

Last post, I said I drilled out the air scoop by the cockpit. You can see it better in the first photo.

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Decals and clear coat are on. Didn't like the kit decals. They had blemishes and--based on the photos I have--weren't the right size, especially the nose number. So I made my own. I scanned the "3" from the Etzel Kuzma decal sheet and resized it. The kit has no accessory decals so they mostly came from left over Indycal sheets.









kip

[jj66]

I think shine is very realistic! What clearcoat do you use?

[kip]

Well, I usually use Future floor polish, but this time I tried Testors Wet Look spray. I was not happy with the results so I sanded it with 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12000 grit and went back to the Future. Should have done that in the first place. I love the Future. Just brush it on with a flat, wide, soft brush and it settles itself to a nice, even shine with no brush marks. Good stuff.

kip

[Deleted]

What an outstanding job! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished car. I passed on this one because I didn't want to do a pink car. But after seeing your work, pink is looking a whole lot better, I may have to get one. Thanks for posting the WIP, it is really helpful.

Jerry Sudduth
Frankfort, KY

[kip]

Thanks for the kind words Jerry.  I am currently working on the oil tank.  Trying to add some detail.

Thanks to Ed Mautner for the photos of the real car. This is what I am trying to duplicate.


This is the kit oil tank. The “tray” under the tank is sorta molded in. The straps around the middle are super thick. And the cap has a huge air bubble in it.

To model the bottom tray, I made a mold of the bottom of the oil tank and cast it in resin.


I used that to vacuum form the tray. 

Cut the tray down to match the photo of the real car.  Sanded off the molded straps and the tray molding. I cut off the cap and will replace it with one from the old Grant King sprint car model.

Pieces are in paint now. Going to use striping tape in silver and black for the straps and will make the front attaching rod from aluminum tubing.. I will post photos of the results in a few days.

kip

[kip]

Finished the oil tank.  Once again, here is the real thing.

I cut the tray to size (see prior post on making the tray) and glued it to the oil tank bottom. I sanded off the straps around the middle and replaced them with silver and black tape and put a new cap on top.



kip

[kip]

I thought I should wrap this one up and post it. The first two pictures are of the restored car and is what I was trying for. (Except in pictures I have from 1959 the wheels don't look as shiny, so I did matte.)




And this is my effort.









The tires and wheels are from American Racing Miniatures. Paint is Krylon Ballet Slipper Pink. Many thanks to Ed Mautner for close up, detailed photos of the real car (see prior posts). The bolt heads on the tail disc and the oil tank attachment are from the Model Car Garage. The resin is Gary Ducette's.

Cheers,
kip