The fun started when trying to mount the body. From the box, the kit would've looked like some kind of wierd NASCAR 4X4, the body sat so high. Fxing this required the entire roll cage to be cut and lowered, modification to the body mounting points, cutting down the rear deck panel, cutting down the window net, and cutting the body to fit around the rad. After the engine went in, the air filter and oil breathers had to be cut down to allow the hood to close. The body itself was also a challenge, as the front and rear bumpers did not fit well to the body contours, so a lot of reforming and putty work was called for.
Under the hood, all fuel and oil lines were added using electronic solder. An oil filter was fashioned from the fuel cell of a 1/25 dragster and a tail-light bezel from a '57 Ford kit. Thottle linkage was made from a 1/25 hood hinge and the return spring from a length of coiled wire. All wiring including starter, alternator, gauges, ignition system, and auxilliaries was added. Hood hinges and NASCAR type folding supports were added made from straight pins and plastic stock.
In the cockpit, a water cooler was made using an oil-bath air cleaner from a big scale Chevy kit, and a drink tube brought to the seat. The rear gear cooling rad was plumbed to the trunk mounted pumps, and a battery installed in front of the right rear wheel. Radio wiring, including roof antenna, driver's ear plug and steering wheel talk button installed. Detail on the gauges was poor and didn't paint well, so decals were used instead. I also moved the mirror to the roll cage from the roof, where the kit called it to be.
Under the deck, the rear gear oil pumps were wired and plumbed to the cooler and rear end. Fuel fill pipe and vent hose was added to the fuel cell. The last bit of this project will involve hinging the deck lid, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.
Other details on the kit include all brake lines and hoses, valve stems and wheel weights on those skinny wheels and tires, modifications to the front suspension to allow posable steering, jack pegs made of plastic stock and hood pin lanyards made from silver wire.
The body and chassis were sprayed first with a base coat using Tamiya Pure White. Tamiya Light Blue and Bright Red were used for the body and upper chassis with Silver Leaf used on the undercarriage. Bare Metal foil was applied to the window frames, and might go on the bumper strips. I didn't see these details on the track car, but the 200th win car in the Smithsonian does have this extra brightwork.
So far I have almost 200 hours invested in this job, and it's been fun. It really gives me extra respect for the guys who go all the way on the regular cars."
(Note from Mr NASCAR: Bill is a fellow Canuck, in fact he lives in my old stompin' grounds, in Eastern Ontario...)