Short Track and NASCAR modeling

Short Track Forums => Fab shop-under construction pics => Topic started by: Tom Birky on July 03, 2017, 11:28:00 PM

Title: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Tom Birky on July 03, 2017, 11:28:00 PM
Late Model Dirt Hall of Fame member Tom Hearst in his Larry Eckrich owned Camaro. 1979

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4286/34284097664_06f99497c7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UeyXN9)Tom Hearst1 (https://flic.kr/p/UeyXN9) by Tom Kirby (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94024653@N02/), on Flickr

Been working on this one for awhile. After being stalled on some construction issues, it's slowly moving again!
Started as MPC Super Stocker chassis. Rear stub and cage scratchbuilt. Interior tin started and bumpers finally mounted. Body by Gator.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4286/35538037422_83cc90965a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W9nJp9)20170703_225851 (https://flic.kr/p/W9nJp9) by Tom Kirby (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94024653@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4234/34865553294_a0b59bf42d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V7X5id)20170703_225949 (https://flic.kr/p/V7X5id) by Tom Kirby (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94024653@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: sentsat71 on July 04, 2017, 05:31:39 AM
Looking good!!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: James2 on July 04, 2017, 06:41:02 AM
I haven't built a chassis in years, this makes me want to...
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: john2 on July 04, 2017, 07:57:27 AM
 :)  J2, it makes me   NOT  want to.  But I do admire you guys who like that sort of thing and have the talent to accomplish it.

These days, I am staying as close to box stock as I can, and I was never far from it anyway.

Tom, it is looking really good and I am sure will be a beauty when you get it done.
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: ModelCarMan AKA Ricky on July 04, 2017, 08:49:39 AM
Very nice fab work, Tom!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: slim on July 04, 2017, 09:54:44 AM
Gonna be a good one! I like the reference!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: BobD on July 04, 2017, 06:12:52 PM
 Another "show-stopper" in the works!!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: slim on July 07, 2017, 03:48:53 PM
cool! 8)
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: Bob P. on July 08, 2017, 07:47:45 AM
Tom,

That build looks dead on to the original so far. I can't wait to see this one finished.

Bob
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: RandB11 on July 08, 2017, 01:09:38 PM
This is really cool watching all of this come together! Outstanding chassis and body work!

Rick :)
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro in progress
Post by: pdaly28 on July 08, 2017, 10:43:27 PM
I am sure this will be cool.nice work!
Title: a little more progress.
Post by: Tom Birky on January 08, 2019, 10:17:39 PM
A little more progress on the Camaro. Pretty much finished the interior tin, fabricated a fuel cell, added a couple of bars and did some more body work. Finished the shocks and added rub rails. A few more little details on the chassis and body and I think it'll be ready for paint. Ordered a cool shifter for it and feeling it may get done soon. Thanks for looking.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4838/46610301331_c482135c05_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1MYH2)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4900/46610301061_e824d79095_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1MYH2)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4846/31754523847_4fcf6f45ac_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1MYCn)

(https://flic.kr/p/Qo3eCt)
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Dirtman on January 08, 2019, 10:24:58 PM
Looks right on with these eyes. Looking good!

Rett
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Marty W on January 09, 2019, 01:13:52 AM
That's looking really good, Tom. Very nice tube work! Where on earth did you get that Hurst shifter?!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Brian Conn on January 09, 2019, 10:53:13 PM
  I'm quite impressed with the interior....its almost a shame that it will be obscured by the body....care to elaborate more on how you did it?
  B.T.W I got to see Tom and this car at the big Fall race in '79 at the fairgrounds track here in Topeka...there was quite a contingent from Iowa here for that race...Tom Hearst,Bob Shryock,Ken Walton, Mike Niffenegger,Don Hoffman, Ken Farrell, Injun Joe Merrifield, Bill Rice,Ed Sanger..... and Darrel DeFrance showed up with his Street Stock.
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Tom Birky on January 10, 2019, 06:15:43 AM
Out if that list, 3 World 100 winners, and 5 National Dirt Hall of Famers! And they all used to compete regularly, together. At Hawkeye Downs. I was lucky to have witnessed such a grand period of dirt racing. Add hall of famers Droste, Dake, Hansen and Verlin Eaker to the mix. How was one area so lucky to produce such talent?

Oh, the Hurst shifter is by Detail Master from Ted's Modeling Marketplace.

Tb

Tb
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: BobD on January 10, 2019, 10:33:48 AM
I'm amazed at the talent you have for the getting everything straight & precise....and that interior work is awesome!  I  can get some of my "stuff" halfway straight, but only after about a dozen tries!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Bob P. on January 10, 2019, 04:10:01 PM
This build is looking fantastic Tom. You have a lot of nice detail in this build. Keep us posted.

Bob
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: Brian Conn on January 10, 2019, 09:21:27 PM
Quote from: David Bogard on January 09, 2019, 11:37:28 PM
Wow! Now there's a list of racing names!! I imagine that would have been something to see!
Yea, our money...a lot of our money went bye, bye to Iowa back in those days.  That list was just the Iowa bunch, imagine who all showed up from the S.E quarter of Nebraska, Missouri, Eastern half of Oklahoma.  The big Spring/Fall races started around 1977 as I recall....I do remember Billy Moyer winning the Spring race the fallowing year in 1980  The Fall races where run late enough that most if not all of the tracks in the Midwest had closed the book on that season of racing.   
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: David Bogard on January 11, 2019, 01:09:54 PM
That's why our State of Illinois Championship deal was so cool Brian. Almost all of the tracks had closed so when Peoria Speedway had it's weeks of "Open Competition" after it's regular season that led up to the big 100 lap finale, we would get guys from"everywhere" to come for the big money (maybe $1,000 back then, which WAS big money!) and that amazing 6-foot tall trophy! I got to see drivers that I had only previously read about in Hawkeye News or something and it was "the best of times."

Not hijacking your thread Tom but rather complimenting it. When you build certain cars (and build them right!) it brings back a flood of memories and that's what this old Tommy Hearst car does. No higher compliment than that!
Title: Re: Tom Hearst '79 Camaro: Update Jan 8
Post by: ModelCarMan AKA Ricky on January 12, 2019, 08:55:42 AM
Sweet fab work!