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"LONG & LEAN CORVETTE DRAGSTER INSTRUCTIONS"

4- different year Corvette bodies were used to build this replica- 1963, '64, '66 & '67.

Rear wheel wells were moved forward 12 scale inches and filler panels were added.

The nose was removed so another front clip can be added to do the longer stretched nose.

Using another '63 Vette for the fender pieces to make the clip 19" longer.

Another '62 Vette clip (in the background) was added to make the stretch another 15 scale inches.

Starting with another '63 Corvette nose, I measured from the center of the wheel well back 15".
The body is now 34" longer.

Finally, side sections from a 1967 Corvette with the vertical slots are fitted.
The old '63 vents were filled with sheet plastic.

The correct wheelbase on the Long & Lean Dragster is 130".
I needed to remove 10 m.m. from an AMT Don Garlits (140") Dragster frame, to get the 130" needed.

The Body was narrowed 12" in rear and narrowed 16" in front for a slight wedge shape.
The Corvette Sting-Ray emblem was saved by cutting around it.

I'm using an AMT Rampaging Reptile Dragster (as it is the same chassis as the Don Garllits Wynns Jammer), to get the stance right.

The license plate recess was cut out.

The nose piece was re-inserted when the front clip was narrowed,

3- hoods were needed for the stretch, (the hood in center with power bulge is from an mpc '66 Corvette).

Rear bumperettes were altered and mounted to the body.
Tail light block outs were added using sheet plastic and a punch. All other holes and license plate area were filled.

All the fenders were puttied up and everything was sanded and re-surfaced along with removing any unwanted scripts or emblems.
All window trim was removed as well.

The side vertical vents were tediously opened up an perfected with a jewelers file.

First coat of primer!

Putting the "Landing Pads" on the Garlits frame rails.
You can also see the corrections needed (bottom frame) to make the chassis work for this project.

Getting the stance correct !

My wife Kim came up with the "Gutter Trough" idea to have the body pivot up & down.
A plastic hollow round tube was cut down the center to have the trough and .080" rod was added to the rear of the Garlits frame.
Rear wheel wells from an amt '66 Cyclone Comet were altered to fit body, along with plastic strip fillers.

.... It works great !

Little sections of plastic strips are used to attached to the body to hold the wheel wells in place.

Driver figure and small block Chevy Engine are looking good.

REVIEW:
This Dragster is not well known, but is a very cool subject and I really wanted to build an accurate version in 1/25 scale.
Since this car was not that familiar, and due to lack of interest lately, I decided not to cast this model.
Besides, sometimes I like to do a project just for myself.

How to fit a driver figure in your Dragster model.


Click on image