NASCAR MODELS by MR NASCAR
Marty Robbins' 1978 Dodge Magnum
I've included this model, built in 1986, as a pre-emptive strike, as there is talk of a Magnum body, and Marty Robbins decals floatin' around out there...
The late country and western singer Marty Robbins loved his NASCAR racing. Thanks to his immense success in C&W, he, unlike most of us, was in a position to indulge this affection. From 1966 to 1982, he ran in 33 events, collecting about $50,000 in prize money, with a best finish of 5th at Michigan in 1974. (There was a movie made about his career in Stock car racing, in which he played himself - I've only seen glimpses of it, it looked pretty cheesy, but there was this purple '63 Dodge sportman he was drivin'...)
For most of his racing career, Marty drove a second-hand chassis he had purchased from Cotton Owens in 1973, skinned at the time as a '71 Charger. Cotton maintained and tuned the car for Marty, and rebodied several times during its life to stay current. The 1978 Magnum version was the final version, and after Marty died in December '82, it was donated to the Talladega museum.
Marty never took himself seriously as a racer, and did it for the sheer enjoyment. His car was set up with a softer suspension than the hard chargers, to make it more predictable. He made a point of keeping out of the way of those in the points chases over the years. He promised Petty and Pearson and others of the day that he wouldn't drive a race car like them if they didn't sing like him.
I built this model in 1986, starting with an MPC 1978 Dodge Sport (Kit# 7826) which were cheap and plentiful at the time. Main modifications were the C-pillars and the new nose, which I built up with styrene strip. The chassis came from MPC's "Cannonball Run" Laguna, stretched about 1/4" to accomodate this hulking machine. Wheels and tires came from the 1983-84 vintage AMT NASCAR series.
Paint came from aerosol auto touchup spray cans, and decals were made by brushing a thin film of Micro brand Super Film@ on a glass window pane, then, after it had dried, painting the numbers and letters freehand with yellow and black Testor's@ Enamel. Once these were dry, they were cut out, lifted carefully off the glass with a razor, and applied to the model with a bit of Solvaset@. Almost thirteen years later, and they still are in place (photos taken March '98)!
Marty's actual car
photo from Jan 1985 CIRCLE TRACK magazine.
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I've included this model, built in 1986, as a pre-emptive strike, as there is talk of a Magnum body, and Marty Robbins decals floatin' around out there...
The late country and western singer Marty Robbins loved his NASCAR racing. Thanks to his immense success in C&W, he, unlike most of us, was in a position to indulge this affection. From 1966 to 1982, he ran in 33 events, collecting about $50,000 in prize money, with a best finish of 5th at Michigan in 1974. (There was a movie made about his career in Stock car racing, in which he played himself - I've only seen glimpses of it, it looked pretty cheesy, but there was this purple '63 Dodge sportman he was drivin'...)
For most of his racing career, Marty drove a second-hand chassis he had purchased from Cotton Owens in 1973, skinned at the time as a '71 Charger. Cotton maintained and tuned the car for Marty, and rebodied several times during its life to stay current. The 1978 Magnum version was the final version, and after Marty died in December '82, it was donated to the Talladega museum.
Marty never took himself seriously as a racer, and did it for the sheer enjoyment. His car was set up with a softer suspension than the hard chargers, to make it more predictable. He made a point of keeping out of the way of those in the points chases over the years. He promised Petty and Pearson and others of the day that he wouldn't drive a race car like them if they didn't sing like him.
Paint came from aerosol auto touchup spray cans, and decals were made by brushing a thin film of Micro brand Super Film@ on a glass window pane, then, after it had dried, painting the numbers and letters freehand with yellow and black Testor's@ Enamel. Once these were dry, they were cut out, lifted carefully off the glass with a razor, and applied to the model with a bit of Solvaset@. Almost thirteen years later, and they still are in place (photos taken March '98)!
photo from Jan 1985 CIRCLE TRACK magazine.
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