Vintage Monogram '32 Deuce hot rod dragster

[demonhunterfan]

Wanted one of these-- some 50 years ago -- and finally got one a couple years ago. Supposedly this is a 1995 re-pop of the kit which has a 1959 copyright date embossed on the chassis.

Originally I was going to build it OOB, kinda as if I was a 10 year old, but I just couldn't do that. Did decide to go for the box art look tho......

Made a few slight changes to it. Added a moon disc to the one rear wheel...

....opened up the other rear mag wheel. Put a 'better' roll bar from the '37 Chevy in it.....

... replaced the molded on tail-lights with 'real' ones, and added an Arkansas plate. Since I'm pretty much a "bonehead", it seemed only appropriate to put the Bonehead decal on.

Also did a lot of work on the Merc flattie. The kit has 4 pipe headers which are one too many to begin with, and they looked like solid hunks of sprue, so I cut off the 'extra' header pipe-- after drilling out the ends of all 8 pipes (see above, about the 'bonehead' thing ;D)

Also added some sort of drum brakes to the front wheels (to keep it from doing wheelies...... ), removed the molded on door lines and engraved new ones, and replaced the molded on headlights with the buckets and lenses from the Lindy '32 pickup kit. Added stacks to the carbs, and kit bashed a fan belt assembly as well. Radiator from a '34 Ford, and made a grille insert from a side panel from the parts box. May still replace that grille insert with one made from aluminum, when I figure out a jig/punch to make 'real' louvres. I made some free hand louvres in a piece of aluminum.....

... and while these ones don't look too bad, I want to make them 'line up' better.

All in all, a fun build that took me a little over a year to do, and I'm real happy with how it came out

More pics in my Fotki: public.fotki.com/V866/model-cars--trucks/racer-types/vintage-monogram-32/page13.html

Thanks for looking, and God bless

[84vanagon]

Very cool build John!

[Kit Karson]

John,

That is one very impressive build, Brother!

Way more enjoyable now than it would have been some fifty plus years ago, I'll bet!

Thanks for sharing,

KK

[dimaxion]

I like this . This kit was a Christmas Gift for me 1959 or '60 . I was new to the Hobby . The formula I lived by ; 1 kit + 1 tube of glue = 1 finished model . Your build is a fond memory for me . Thanx for sharing ..Honk !

[davewahl]

I also think you definitely did that model justice. Looks real good for a tool that old. I too remember building that one when I was young, somewhere around 1961 or 2. Thanks for the memories.

Dave

[demonhunterfan]

Thanks fellas for the kind words. Nice to hear from people who built this as a kid, and I'm glad it brought back fond memories for you-- it did for me as well

Thanks again, and may God bless

[sigmaman]

Thats really cool mate. If you hadn't mentioned the mods you made I've been none the wiser. All the early Monogram stuff predates me by a few years at least. Its a sweet ride.