Tommy Ivo F/E Dragster

Ivo build that I have in the mock-up (white glue) stage. I have replaced the kit’s rear tires with tires from the Johan F/C kits that I casted in resin. I also used the wheels from the Johan kit that I have drilled to accept lug nuts (Pro Tech Hex Fittings) and studs (.025 Evergreen rod), I have a how-to on my site on doing this, check it out! This kit needs a little work to get all the body panels to fit just right but time well spent in the end. I also cut the upper body panel in two just behind the engine so upper panels can be lifted off lower body panels to show frame, fuel tank details etc. I will post again as soon as I get the real building going and yes it will be stuffed with plenty of Pro Tech goodies! keep tuned!

Charlie
Pro Tech

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Very nice project Charlie. What is the base kit you're starting with?

Your wheels and tires look just right. Could you post an original picture of the 1:1 car? If not, was this the 'Rainbow' striped metalflake car of 1969 or '70? I ask because I did some gold leaf lettering on that car.

I know your products will wake this kit up.:grinyes:

Very nice project Charlie. What is the base kit you're starting with?

Your wheels and tires look just right. Could you post an original picture of the 1:1 car? If not, was this the 'Rainbow' striped metalflake car of 1969 or '70? I ask because I did some gold leaf lettering on that car.

I know your products will wake this kit up.:grinyes:

Thanks Merlin, this is the kit that was re-released a few months ago, it's the orange car not the rainbow car (not sure if the rear body panels are the same to do that build). Very cool you did some work on one of the great's "back in the day"

Charlie
Pro Tech

Nice one Charlie, hope you will post more photos of this one, I'm looking forward to that. Cheers.

it's the orange car not the rainbow car (not sure if the rear body panels are the same to do that build). Very cool you did some work on one of the great's "back in the day"


Thanks for the reply. Can't find the rainbow car anywhere I've searched Ivo. I know it did crash, here on the east coast, I believe. Hope when TV's book comes out that it might be in there. He and Tarzan were a pair of wackos in the day.

Please post regular updates-looking forward.

I have assembled the engine with a few additional details as follows – Pro Tech Braided Line and Hex Fittings (more to come), Bolt Heads (on front cover and other areas), and Supercharger Pulley Set, scratchbuilt barrel valve, fuel block and oil adapter plate. I then gave the entire engine a light weathering with Polly Scale paint, I will post finished engine pics in the future. Thanks for looking!

Charlie
Pro Tech


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Nice work on the engine looks good

old skool, cool!

agreed on the engine, looks real nice

Thanks guys for the comments! I have been busy working on a new line of 1/16 – 1/18 scale parts and have not had much time to work on any personal builds but here’s the latest on the Ivo F/E dragster. I have managed to complete the engine assembly with the following – the barrel valve is scratchbuilt and I made the headers from solder. The aftermarket parts used are all Pro Tech items and are as follows – Braided Line, Hex Fittings, Plug Wire, Plug Boots, Supercharger Pulley Set, Gauges (for oil pressure), photoetch Nuts/Bolts and new Cirello Magneto Kit. I also gave the entire engine a mild weathering to give it a used look.
Thanks again for checking it out! The frame will be completed next so stay tuned!!

Charlie
Pro Tech

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Hey Charlie, here you go. After a long search, I found the Ivo cars.
The first two are 'your' orange car. The return road shot, taken in '68 shows no rear fairing. The next one, taken in '69 shows the full body fairing.. Note the wheels, small letter GoodYears and motor detail. There seems to be a discrepancy in the motor choice. Your parts are excellent however, you've modeled a 426 'Elephant' motored-car and the ones I reference here are 392's. In this time TV used 392's as they were plentiful and cheap. The 426 was new in Road Runners and Cudas and quite expensive. They also didn't have much nitro-capable parts available then. The Ramchargers team was running and developing those parts. So maybe you picked a car that I don't have reference for. If so please show some 1;1's of your project.:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/IvoTF69Custom.jpg
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/Ivo2TF68FGCustom.jpg
Here is 'my' "Rainbow" car taken in '68. I had lettered "East Coast Header Corp" under each zoomie in gold leaf. The gag on my shop owner (where Ivo and Tarzan stayed on the eastern swings) was that Ivo let the name be on the car but was nearly hidden under the pipes. Ivo always was a joker. It was my claim to fame at age 21:
The car was destroyed shortly after this by a clutch blow-up, my glory gone. Then came the orange car.
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/Ivo3TF68Custom.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/TommyIvo68Custom.jpg

Hints from memory: TV's cars were always immaculate so go easy on the weathering. The only time the motor had handprints or oil/fuel stains was between rounds.
TV was playing with Hydrazine during match races around '68 and that's probably what killed the Rainbow car. Just my luck...:mad:
Hope this helps.

Nice project and the engine looks brilliant. I love protech braided wire - by FAR the best bw there is:)

Merlin, what great old pics! thanks for sharing. The car I'm building is the ones that he use to transport in his "cool" enclosed (plexiglass) transporter for 2 dragsters and his Corvette on top. I have a hand-out of these cars and shows them to have 426's with Cirello mags (that had chromed or polished housings, unlike the usual black as I have modeled). They also show the cars running Halibrand rears. Here's a pic I found.

Charlie
Pro Tech

http://image.hotrod.com/f/27431377/hrdp_0809_01_z+tv_tommy_ivo+dodge_600_trailer.jpg

Nice project and the engine looks brilliant. I love protech braided wire - by FAR the best bw there is:)

Thanks, always nice to hear from our customers. Thanks also for your support :smile:

Charlie
Pro Tech

Merlin, what great old pics! thanks for sharing. The car I'm building is the ones that he use to transport in his "cool" enclosed (plexiglass) transporter for 2 dragsters and his Corvette on top. I have a hand-out of these cars and shows them to have 426's with Cirello mags (that had chromed or polished housings, unlike the usual black as I have modeled). They also show the cars running Halibrand rears. Here's a pic I found.

Charlie
Pro Tech


Thanks for clearing that up-we're talking cars just one generation apart-probably late '69. Glad we solved that and please devote more time to this build-I'm looking forward.

Thanks guys, I finished the frame and have detailed it with the following – I sanded off the molded on belts and buckles on the seat and used Pro Tech’s racing harness converted to a vintage style of belt system. I also detailed the fuel cell with Pro Tech’s gas cap and photoetch nuts and bolts. I also used the nut and bolts for detailing the front suspension. Then I gave the front suspension a light wash. Now on to some body color.
Thanks for looking!!

Charlie
Pro Tech

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/protechmodelparts/Tommy%20Ivo%20FE%20Dragster/DSCN2926.jpg

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One more stage completed, paint and decals applied, now on to installing the engine and some final plumbing. Thanks for looking.

Charlie
Pro Tech


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/protechmodelparts/Tommy%20Ivo%20FE%20Dragster/DSCN2943.jpg

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Very cool Charles-you've nailed it. Brings back memories!

Thanks Merlin, a small update. I finished the rear tires/wheels. The tires are recast from the old Johan funny car kits. I detailed the wheels using Pro Tech’s hex fittings (PTMC 25) used for lug nuts (along with Evergreen .025 rod) and Pro Tech’s machined aluminum valve stems, then gave everything a mild weathering. Thanks for looking!

Charlie
Pro Tech


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/protechmodelparts/Tommy%20Ivo%20FE%20Dragster/DSCN2985.jpg

Charlie,
Your parts are flawless- love the lugs, studs and stems.
One minor reference tip: the sprayed-on letters have spaces in the letters O, D A and R on slicks and sport car tires. Here are mine:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/S-2.jpg
And in model form I find it adds that 'real' look:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/K-1-1.jpg
This is NOT a nit-pick-the model is beautiful-Ivo would love it.

Charlie,
Your parts are flawless- love the lugs, studs and stems.
One minor reference tip: the sprayed-on letters have spaces in the letters O, D A and R on slicks and sport car tires. Here are mine:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/S-2.jpg
And in model form I find it adds that 'real' look:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv151/Aframe/K-1-1.jpg
This is NOT a nit-pick-the model is beautiful-Ivo would love it.

Hi Merlin, I know what you mean about the sprayed-on lettering (by the way great job on your wheel/tire ref. looks nice!) I have a picture (the only one I came by) showing the side wall of the slick for the car I'm building and it shows (what looks like) raised (non-broken) Goodyear lettering. Also the tires I'm using have the raised lettering so it would not look correct with the broken letters anyway so that's another reason I went this way. Keep tuned! I'm finiishing up all the plumbing on the engine/fuel tank etc. and this puppy will be ready to fire-up soon.

Charlie
Pro Tech

I have a picture (the only one I came by) showing the side wall of the slick for the car I'm building and it shows (what looks like) raised (non-broken) Goodyear lettering. Also the tires I'm using have the raised lettering so it would not look correct with the broken letters anyway so that's another reason I went this way.
Charlie
Pro Tech
Thanks for the correction about these particular slicks. Keep goin' man!

Thanks Merlin, I finished the engine installation along with all the fluid lines (fuel and oil) using Pro Tech’s Braided Line and Fittings. Been a long road but getting close to wrapping this one up. Thanks for looking!

Charlie
Pro Tech

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/protechmodelparts/Tommy%20Ivo%20FE%20Dragster/DSCN3030.jpg

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Looks great Charlie. I'm going to have to get some of that braided line and those fittings. I have a couple builds I want to do soon that's going to need them.

Thanks Eric, this one’s a wrap! It was a long road but I am pleased at how it came out.
Thanks for sharing the ride.

Charlie
Pro Tech
www.protechmodelparts.com (http://www.protechmodelparts.com/)

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Beautiful build Charlie. Your products are the icing on the cake.
Now if you can fab some PE dragster front wire wheels....:evillol:

brilliant job of a very interesting subject.

Nice work!

Thanks guys!

Charlie
Pro Tech