NASCAR MODEL TIP by MR NASCAR

UPDATING THE PONTIAC GP NOSE

It seemed like a really neat idea, so I gave it a try in my two new TABASCO models. Worked real well! Thanks, whoever you are, for the great idea!

Background for this is that when Monogram introduced their '96 GP kit (Chad Little version was the first), they had a winner, a nicely done body, with an improved chassis, that would later appear under a revamped Monte Carlo. Problem was, as the Poncho evolved aerodynamically, with a few concessions from NASCAR, for parity (that damn P-word...) the nose drifted away from that in the kit, so by 1997,at least to my eyes, it was noticeable. I'd thought of trying to fill it in and putty it into the new shape, but that would be messy, and slow, so I lived with it.

Then at Randy's Forum, this idea was floated, to use the airdam off the first issue (1995) Monte Carlo, in place of the kit-supplied GP air dam. "Just so crazy, it might work!" I said to myself, eying a stack of obsolete WCW Montes...

Here is how I went about it, using this suggestion:

Step 1

You'll need a GP kit and an original mid-90's Monte, such as Mr Grissom's lurid WCW machine...

Step 2

Trim all the tabs of the MC nose, for a tight fit on the GP body, and fill in that ugly hole for the grillework...

Step 3

Glue and clamp the MC nose in place. Be sure to centre it. Note it is a bit shorter than the GP version, we fix that in Step 4...

Step 4

Cobble up some fillers from sheet plastic, to extend the airdams. I used cyanoacrylate (Krazy) glus, plus baking soda, for a fast, sandable bond...

Step 5

Here's the nose in place, sanded, and ready for some light coats of putty and primer...

Step 6

Partway thru the putty/prime/sand/putty/prime/sand process. Don't expect to get it right the first time....

Step 7

The final result. Original version on the left, updated one on the right... Admittedly, its subtle, but it does increase the model's accuracy!