Lil Redd Wrecker back next
Built by: Chuck Darnell in Quincy, Illinois
With all the latest rave of 3D printing, I stumbled upon a kit I had long wanted for my collection-- a1974 Redd Foxx “Lil Redd Wrecker”
It was painted initially blue and named the Turnpike Hauler. It was built from scratch by Dick Dean from an Ed Newton design for Bob Reisner and Jay Ohrberg's California Show Cars in 1970. It was an "all show, no go" art car made for display only.
Around 1974 it was acquired by customizer George Barris, who painted it red and renamed it Lil' Redd Wrecker, as a promotional tie-in with Redd Foxx, star of the popular TV show Sanford & Son. Barris brazenly claimed credit for building it in lettered paint right on the vehicle when all he did was give it a makeover! Currently, the Wrecker is owned and on display at the Galpin Auto Sports Museum in Los Angeles.
Once I received my kit I started the process of prepping the intricate parts. Keep in mind there aren’t instructions like the big model manufacturers!
Once soaking the parts in alcohol and sorting the placement of parts were determined it was time I got to work. Having my reference material handy, I worked closely off the photos .. there were a few clearance issues on the front suspension which were quickly rectified with a dremel and patience.
Soon the chassis was complete and it was time to move into tires and wheels. Pre-fitting everything prior to paint is a must on 3D print items. Once the wheels were pre-fit, I moved on to the engine basically making sub-assemblies.. the kit was left-hand drive so I scratch-built the center console as parts box steering wheel and column.
I later found a guy on Facebook who sold the materials to hand-cut the interior pieces. The windows is .005" sheet plastic. The tires were painted a mixture of brown, grey, and black while the chrome parts were finished with air-brushed Molotow. The body color is House of Kolor Orion Silver base followed by House of Kolor Kandy Red then clear coated with USC01 House of Kolor Klear. The white lettering was done by brush using flat white water-based acrylic.
The kit was one of the more challenging I’ve worked with over my 50 years of modeling but I’m glad I persevered. Decals are being designed which may take months so meanwhile I'm content having this gem in my collection.
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