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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 2, 2023 4:24:01 GMT -5
Feel free to skip my ramblings and get to the photos. My first Christmas gift build of the season is complete. For my birthday I built my dad the rear wheel drive 50s version of the Kurtis-Novi. That is only his second favorite car and I was still looking for one of these. His first trip to the Indy 500 was 1946, which coincided with the entry of the screaming puller Novis. These front wheel drive cars had a massive supercharger that spun at so many revs they sounded like actual banshees. My 6 year old Dad was hooked. His favorite driver became Duke Nalon, who managed to wrestle these big cars around the Speedway better than anyone. In 1948 Nalon had the field covered with speed and a 1 pit stop strategy. Alas, on the scheduled pit stop at the halfway mark the crew didn't quite get it filled up all the way and Nalon had to come in for a splash of fuel with only a couple laps to go. This relegated him to 3rd place. The best ever finish for the legendary Novi, although it would remain in competition, getting more powerful with each version, well into the 1960s. The build itself was very straightforward, for the most part. One big hunk of resin, some white metal and a piece of clear plastic. I smoothed the body out first and then primed it and painted it with some good old Ace Hardware antique white. It was hard to get the right look of yellowish cream. But I'm happy with my choice. I also contacted Fernando Pinto of Portugal about the possibilities of him having a similar wire wheel to the one I needed, since my kit didn't come with any. Much to my delight, he agreed to build me a set specifically for this car. They turned out beautifully but needed a red paint job to look the part. Decals are an ancient Fred Cady set that gave me some fits but came out ok for the most part. The twin drag link steering setup was made using brass rod. The axles were built using aluminum tubing. The headers were part of the kit but the exhaust pipes are aluminum tubing. I added some gauges and a bezel. And I added the buttons around the cockpit using styrene rod sanded down somewhat flat. I think that about covers it all and I hope you enjoy the photos. Back to the other two Christmas builds next.
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handiabled
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Post by handiabled on Dec 2, 2023 4:39:05 GMT -5
Excellent back story to this! You created another classy classic here Kyle! Another gift I am sure will be treasured
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 2, 2023 4:56:10 GMT -5
Excellent back story to this! You created another classy classic here Kyle! Another gift I am sure will be treasured Thanks Brent! Very much appreciated. I had a good time with this build.
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project510
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Aug 15, 2023 21:56:18 GMT -5
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Post by project510 on Dec 2, 2023 10:57:25 GMT -5
Beautiful
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 2, 2023 11:02:45 GMT -5
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2whl
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Sept 10, 2023 12:21:52 GMT -5
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Post by 2whl on Dec 2, 2023 12:07:43 GMT -5
Very well done !
Makes me want to break out one of my old school Indy kits. I've got a couple from Doucette.
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keavdog
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Apr 2, 2023 21:25:25 GMT -5
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Post by keavdog on Dec 2, 2023 12:21:25 GMT -5
Fantastic! The paint looks awesome and what a great story.
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stikpusher
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Living The Dream
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Apr 24, 2023 12:51:53 GMT -5
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Post by stikpusher on Dec 2, 2023 12:29:18 GMT -5
Such a sharp looking ride! Everything turned out beautifully. Talk about a no nonsense clean lines design on the exterior.
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 2, 2023 16:27:51 GMT -5
Very well done ! Makes me want to break out one of my old school Indy kits. I've got a couple from Doucette. Thank you! Those Doucette kits can be pretty rough. I have a couple to try my hand at sometime soon. Hard to break away from those gorgeous MFH kits now isn't it? Fantastic! The paint looks awesome and what a great story. Thank you very much!! Such a sharp looking ride! Everything turned out beautifully. Talk about a no nonsense clean lines design on the exterior. Thank you! And I agree. Beautiful lines that just work well. Probably biased because of my Dad, but I've always loved these as well.
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tatocorvette
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Member since: July 2023
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Jul 22, 2023 21:35:37 GMT -5
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Post by tatocorvette on Dec 3, 2023 10:17:00 GMT -5
What a beautiful build! Really love it!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 3, 2023 10:31:13 GMT -5
What a beautiful build! Really love it! Thank you so much Ismael!
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Post by deafpanzer on Dec 3, 2023 13:26:29 GMT -5
Once again you nailed it! It reminds me of those I see at Indy 500 museum often.
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atomicholiday
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Sept 4, 2023 8:25:11 GMT -5
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Post by atomicholiday on Dec 3, 2023 14:42:20 GMT -5
Wow! Great job on the model, and even better background. Awesome job friend.👍
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 3, 2023 15:40:07 GMT -5
Once again you nailed it! It reminds me of those I see at Indy 500 museum often. Thank you, my friend. Actually you have likely seen this exact car. The museum has owned it since 1960 and it has been on display several times. I am devastated that the museum is closed for 2 years right now as that is where so many of my reference photos come from. Wow! Great job on the model, and even better background. Awesome job friend.👍 Thank you very much!! I really appreciate it!
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Post by deafpanzer on Dec 3, 2023 18:06:06 GMT -5
Wow! I had no idea that it is being closed for two years? I assume they will do alot of updating because I thought the building was pretty outdated. I have been to the museum 3 times last year because of hosting conferences here that everybody wanted to visit it of course!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 3, 2023 18:27:38 GMT -5
Wow! I had no idea that it is being closed for two years? I assume they will do alot of updating because I thought the building was pretty outdated. I have been to the museum 3 times last year because of hosting conferences here that everybody wanted to visit it of course! Oh it’s an absolutely massive renovation. Look up the renderings if you get a chance. Going to definitely not be dated anymore! I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait but it’s still tough.
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Post by deafpanzer on Dec 3, 2023 18:29:43 GMT -5
It is going to be awesome! I smell a field trip for us to visit the museum when it opens again!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 3, 2023 18:31:53 GMT -5
It is going to be awesome! I smell a field trip for us to visit the museum when it opens again! I agree and will write that into my plans now and in permanent ink!!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 30, 2023 21:24:16 GMT -5
Well, unsurprisingly my dad did not want a picture taken. But I did snag a photo of this car in its new display home with the other Novi I built for his birthday. Complete with a brick track!
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sharp
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Mike
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Aug 31, 2023 15:08:43 GMT -5
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Post by sharp on Dec 30, 2023 21:42:15 GMT -5
Beautifully done. That shade of white looks perfect.
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roland66
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at the workbench
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Post by roland66 on Dec 31, 2023 7:41:18 GMT -5
Wow, wonderful.
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Post by kyledehart5 on Dec 31, 2023 19:41:57 GMT -5
Beautifully done. That shade of white looks perfect. Thank you! I spent far too much time trying to decide on that color. Lol Thank you!
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fox
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Dec 25, 2023 20:31:17 GMT -5
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Post by fox on Dec 31, 2023 20:24:00 GMT -5
Outstanding build!
Stay safe. Jim
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modelcarjr
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Post by modelcarjr on Dec 31, 2023 22:56:36 GMT -5
Looks great, Kyle! After 45 years attending the race every year I missed the last two years due to air fare being ridiculous so I wasn't even aware that the museum was closed. But the Novi was before my time. I saw it go around the track a few times when I was in high school but that's about all I remember about it. Did Jim Hurtubise drive a Novi? I know he was a favorite because he was from Indy but never had any luck. Nice work on your Novi!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Jan 1, 2024 5:49:09 GMT -5
Outstanding build! Stay safe. Jim Thanks a lot!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Jan 1, 2024 5:52:15 GMT -5
Looks great, Kyle! After 45 years attending the race every year I missed the last two years due to air fare being ridiculous so I wasn't even aware that the museum was closed. But the Novi was before my time. I saw it go around the track a few times when I was in high school but that's about all I remember about it. Did Jim Hurtubise drive a Novi? I know he was a favorite because he was from Indy but never had any luck. Nice work on your Novi! Thank you!! If you ever find yourself back around for the race just let me know. I went every year for many years. But haven’t gone in about 5 years due to our biggest sprint car race of the season being the night before. Hurtubise did drive a Novi for a couple years. Right towards the end of the Novi life. A big rear wheel drive fluorescent red one. He started around tenth one year and had the lead by the backstretch only for the car to brake nearly immediately. Novis were ever unreliable. Right up to the end.
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Post by 406 Silverado on Jan 1, 2024 10:12:20 GMT -5
This is one of those threads that I had pulled up and read through it and thought I’d posted in BUT…..didn’t. Sorry for being so late to the party with my response to this fantastic looking finish up Kyle. It’s hard to believe that you just starts off wit resin block for a car body pretty much and turned into this beauty. Good call on reaching out to Fernando and him being able to come through on the wheels. MAN that looks good!!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Jan 1, 2024 12:54:48 GMT -5
This is one of those threads that I had pulled up and read through it and thought I’d posted in BUT…..didn’t. Sorry for being so late to the party with my response to this fantastic looking finish up Kyle. It’s hard to believe that you just starts off wit resin block for a car body pretty much and turned into this beauty. Good call on reaching out to Fernando and him being able to come through on the wheels. MAN that looks good!! No worries at all Joe! There is plenty of action going on around here and I know you e got your hands full keeping up with it. Thank you very much for the kind words
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