Hillary Will's '07 NHRA Top Fuel Dragster

hakkfan · 03-01-2009, 07:35 PM

This is something I've been messing with for a while now, and just finally got enough progress to post. Once it warms up some more I can get the paint work started, but for now I've been doing other stuff.

This will be her '07 car using the most recent Revell kit, Slixx KB Racing decal sheet, HoK paint for the body work, and many other after market parts. As well as plenty of scratch building and updating.

Here's the real deal. She ran this scheme in both her rookie year of '06 and in '07. Her '08 car was totally different and I plan on doing her first win car from Topeka '08 once this one is finished.

I started off with chassis and body mods. The Revell frame got quite a few bars replaced and updated. I also built a new roll cage shield from .010 sheet plastic and a lot of luck.

Once it was all primed I gave it the old "welded look" with Alclad's and chrome silver for the weld highlights. As far as the body work goes, I sanded it completely smooth, filled in all panel lines, as well as extending the cockpit sides. All of this was done to match the one piece body style Hillary's car used. I also reworked the air exits on the sides from Naca style to a more square style.

Engine time!

I've probably been messing with the longest. The standard kit engine has a new SRP oil pan, SRP mags with aluminum tubing bodies to raise them up, TEM bell housing, and at this point had a CR resin blower in a bag.

BUT..........I decided I wasn't happy with the blower, or the pulleys. So, I popped them off and started over. I used a TEM blower with a separate blanket made from athletic tape. On top I used a MAS blower hold down plate, and on top of that I machined a new injector spacer from solid aluminum. Up front I added two things that I always wanted to do but never had the skill to pull off. One is the two support rods that support the front of the pulley snout. And behind that I made a plate that goes around the snout from thin aluminum, and added the yellow straps. I need to tweak my top buckle there, but I was really happy to get these details in there this time.

The other thing I wasn't happy with on my first engine was the pulleys. So I set out yesterday to machine three new ones as close to the reference pics I had as possible. The top upper and lower onces were knurled as they were being turned, and the top one was taken over to the mill to drill out the six holes for the bolts. Those were then filled with Scale hardware bolt heads. The idler pulley was the easiest of the three. Once they were all done they were mounted and slightly detailed.

And as you can also see, I've got the lower oil line and pump on, the hard fuel lines, and distribution block on, as well as the soft lines to the heads. I've got the super tall injector had CF decaled, it just needs to be cleared then I can get to the rest of the fuel system. These things are so complicated. For everything you think you've got covered, you find 50 more things that could be added! But they are a lot of fun.

Hopefully this week I can get some nice weather and get to painting!

Thanks for looking......CK

bmwmech1 · 03-01-2009, 08:02 PM

Looking pretty kick a*!, I must say... I have not been around Top Fuel for quite a while now... Boy the motors have changed a bunch! Frame looks good, nice weld detail. I'll watch this one just to catch up on T.F. technology!

BM1

Redline it! · 03-01-2009, 09:59 PM

Good call on the blower change. Looks much better than the first attempt. Are the distributors aftermarket or did you make those? And how in the heck did you get the spark plug wires inside?

indy1977tx · 03-02-2009, 04:07 PM

Was thinking this build was up there with Clay Kemp's builds.... then I realized it was you Clay - lol. This is a great looking build - keep up the great work!

Jordan

sportracer02 · 03-03-2009, 12:58 AM

WOW !!!!

Nice details on the frame, unbelievable realism on the engine!!!

Have you seen the 1:1 car as a reference source?

Robi J · 03-03-2009, 10:18 AM

Fantastic modification on the engine, as usual

Robi

GunSlinger4 · 03-03-2009, 12:11 PM

That's nice,
how come the welds show after the frame is "painted" inspection purpose?

gionc · 03-03-2009, 02:29 PM

I don't understand the 3 stars rating and I must say it's not comic: the job is terrific as we expect from one of the verrrrrrry best like Clay. Great, I'm tuned.

Robi J · 03-03-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gionc

I don't understand the 3 stars rating...

Me too

rollover · 03-03-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunSlinger4

That's nice,
how come the welds show after the frame is "painted" inspection purpose?

Top fuel and funnycar frames are made of Chromemoly steel alloy. Since they don't readily rust they are left unpainted to check regularly for cracks. One team member takes a rag of WD-40 and a dry rag and goes over the complete frame for a crack test.

sportracer02 · 03-04-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gionc

I don't understand the 3 stars rating and I must say it's not comic: the job is terrific as we expect from one of the verrrrrrry best like Clay. Great, I'm tuned.

I must agree to gionc and Robi J :

At the moment it is just a 2 star voting - to me this appears as enviousness of other modelers ...

So once more I ask the moderators: those ratings are only reasonable, when those guys, who do a rating, can be seen and the ratings are not given anonymously.

gionc · 03-04-2009, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportracer02

I must agree to gionc and Robi J :

At the moment it is just a 2 star voting - to me this appears as enviousness of other modelers ...

So once more I ask the moderators: those ratings are only reasonable, when those guys, who do a rating, can be seen and the ratings are not given anonymously.

I ever said I would like public rating votes: any member has right to cast 1 or 5 stars but he must take his responsability about it. Now I try to cast my 5 stars like the thread deserve.

tonioseven · 03-04-2009, 03:46 PM

Ratings, shmatings! This is a terrific build no matter WHAT the ratings system says!! I personally couldn't care less about them just as long as I like the model I see whether it be mine or somebody else's.

Build on.

hakkfan · 03-04-2009, 03:58 PM

Thanks guys.....should have more soon. And Tonio.....anybody with a tribe Called Quest avatar is A-OK with me!! Q-Tip was the man........

CK

tonioseven · 03-04-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hakkfan

Thanks guys.....should have more soon. And Tonio.....anybody with a tribe Called Quest avatar is A-OK with me!! Q-Tip was the man........

CK

Best group evar! IMHO of course!!

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