Monogram 1/24 Snake & Mongoose Funny Car questions

Modeling Subjects Autos
1

Hello:

I remember when I was a kid back in the '70s I built the Monogram Snake & Mongoose Funny Car kits. I remember the bright yellow Snake & bright red Mongoose car bodies, the blue chassis, all the great chrome & colorful decals. Drag racing was really popular then & having those kits was pretty cool for a kid.

Being in my 50s now, I’m getting more & more nostalgic about my old modeling days. I recently found the reissued Snake & Mongoose Combo kit & was happy to snap it up. What a time machine! Even though the yellow, red & blue have been replaced by white, the chrome goodies & great decals are still there!

Some questions: I seem to recall that the original Snake & Mongoose kit bodies were “smooth”. An actual funny car body usually has no panel “shut lines” since they’re made out of laid-up fiberglass as one piece. The new kits have recessed panel lines. Should I fill these in? Seems like they would look a lot better.

Also, the new kits have molded-in front & rear details. Again, these would normally be “flat” on real funny cars but painted to resemble the details found on production cars. I can use sheet styrene as needed & sand off the other details, but what about decals? The set with the kit does not include any front or rear decals. Does anyone remember if the original kits did? I sort of recall that they did. Are aftermarket decals available?

Thanks to all! Happy modeling.

2

I agree that the panel lines should be filled. A little more work that I like to tackle, but I agree.

Check www.slixx.com for decals. Either enter 'Snake" or 'Mongoose" in the search field or look in the Funny Car section for decals.

I remember those kits from my youth also-I had the Mongoose kit-molded in red…those where the days. I have the recent Revell Mongoose later Funny Car in the stash waiting to get built.

Please post progress pics…will be fun to watch.

3

Do a search for the web site of Don “the Snake” Prudome. I remember reading something about the original “Snake” funny car being in a museam display and maybe there are picture of the original car on a web site. It might be worth a try. Prudome is still active in drag racing as a car owner. I’m having a senior moment and cannot remember who drove the “Mongoose”. I have been away from drag racing for over 40 years.