Revell Vega Funny Car

THE MODEL

I built this model because I wanted to create an accurate portrayal of a Funny Car. I've spent years working on my buddies' real racing cars, doing body work, paint, and airbrush work. I'm also an old funny car fan.

 

I saw Ed ‘The Ace' McCulloch back in the early 70s at the old Mission Dragstrip as a young fella. This was a very fun model to build.

 

 

BODY

The body is from a reissued Revell Vega kit. The body had 1/8" taken out of the front end and 1/8" removed from the cab area to shorten it 3 scale inches for a more realistic 1970s era wheelbase. I scratch-built the front wheel bubbles, the blower surround, and the front spoiler.

 

I reshaped both the front and rear wheel openings, and added aero lips along the bottom of the body. I then fabricated the functional escape hatch. It was painted with a custom mixed orange over a white base, all graphics and lettering done by hand.

 

ENGINE

 

The engine is a mix of old and new Revell parts. It is completely wired and plumbed, with injector lines made from my son's guitar strings.

 

 

I scratch-built the headers, the front motor plate, and idler pulley support. The supercharger belt was made from a piece of old bicycle tire tube.

 

 

 

CHASSIS

 

I took the new Revell chassis and modified to backdate it to a 1970s appearance.. I scratch-built the fuel tank and hold-down strap, the wheelie bars, the side debris panel, and driveshaft tin.

 

 

It has all the fire extinguisher cables, brake lines, throttle cables, and fuel shutoff cables. I also incorporated an old school dropped front axle for cool factor.