More great Drag Boats from B.A.D.
Review and photos by Marvin T. Smith
Stan Gill continues to crank out incredible diecast products at Bad Ass Diecast. This time he sent along two drag boats and a trailer for inspection. First up is the Hot Licks owned by Dennis Gibson and driven by John White. This is the third boat in the series produced by B.A.D. The real boat is a strong contender and was runner-up at the 2006 Marble Falls, Texas Lakefest. Hot Licks is a gorgeous black boat with yellow and red flames. Boat four in the series is the Loose Cannon driven by Greg Tedesco. This is also a black boat with strong red and white graphics including subtle flames. It is a very striking model. While the diecast boats are replicas of the boats raced in 2006, note that the Loose Cannon paint scheme is also good for the 2007 season. Both boats are 1 of 1250 made, so production numbers are very limited.
If you haven't had the opportunity to see one of these boats, let's look at some of the features common to all boats in the series. First, each boat has a heavy, diecast metal hull with plastic and sheet metal detail parts. The engines are fully wired (even the firing order on the twin MSD magnetos is correct). There is a detailed drivetrain from clutch to V-drive that splits power to two props. The canopy opens with nice hydraulic pistons to reveal roll cage details, cloth seatbelts with photo-etched metal buckles, an oxygen mask and various controls. The butterfly steering wheel actually actuates the rudder in the rear. Just like the real boats, the driver's safety capsule is removable from the hull (a safety feature on the real boats). Several hatches and a body panel between the safety capsule and engine are removable and are held on with small, but strong, magnets. At the rear of the boat, twin parachutes have simulated shroud lines and bright red safety tags. A metal fuel tank is deeply chrome plated and features fuel lines and an overflow hose. The injector hat features movable butterflies. The rudder not only turns, but also folds upward to prevent breakage. The different materials used, paint and plating finishes on the parts, and extreme detail make these some of the most incredible diecast drag racers produced at this time. Paint and tampo lettering are first class.
As boats three and four in the series, a number of improvements/new features were incorporated into the design that was missing from the first boats. First, the steering gear was modified for better movement. The magneto caps were changed to more accurately simulate the real items. Fuel return lines were added to improve engine detailing. The injector scoop was painted black to more accurately portray the real carbon fiber scoop. These minor adjustments make an already great product even better.
Because B.A.D. works from a generic design, there are a few inaccuracies. The Loose Cannon lacks the low mounted rear wing seen on the full scale boat. Because the wing is mounted low on the boat, it is not really all that noticeable a feature. The Hot Licks model includes a cowling piece which fits between the capsule and engine like all the boats produced by B.A.D., but I have been unable to find a photo of the real boat with this feature. Actually, since the cowling is removable, simply removing it adds to the model’s accuracy and gives it a somewhat different appearance compared to other boats in the series. No real fan of Hot Licks or Loose Cannon would let these minor discrepancies deter them from purchasing one of these beauties.
Stan also sent along one of his new boat trailers. The boats come with a nice display stand, but for the collector who would prefer a replica trailer, B.A.D. can provide one. This is no modified car trailer, but one made specifically for the boats. It has a heavy diecast frame with textured plastic boat cradles (no need to worry about scratching the finish on your boat) which simulate the padded surface of a real trailer and contrast nicely with the glossy black paint of the frame. The four wheels are very nicely replicated in two parts. The wheel front is plated and has holes for the lug nuts, which are cast onto the real wheel half and painted to contrast with the wheels. This arrangement gives more of a three dimensional effect that provides a very nice touch. The tires have nice tread detail, but lack any sidewall lettering. The fenders are plastic with a nice paint (?) finish and the inside of the fenders has a diamond plate finish cast in. The fifth wheel folds. The boat with trailer makes a great display with a 1:18 scale SUV. Your model SUV didn’t come with a trailer hitch? No problem, B.A.D. provides three different hitches with every trailer to fit almost any vehicle. The boat on the trailer sits a little lower than the boat on the standard display stand, and the trailer tongue is much longer than the boat. This made me wonder if the trailer would fit inside the display case also available from B.A.D. Not to worry. Stan and the gang at B.A.D. now have a larger single display case just for the boat/trailer combination.
Stan has great plans for 2007. The first two boats for this year will be the Spirit of Texas, a single prop Top Fuel Hydro, and the Plum Crazy of Jerry Kutz. Stan also promises some accessories, such as an engine and "A-frame" for display. Stan says that he will produce the extra engines both in boat and car configurations (injector hat faces opposite directions). I can't wait to try to drop one of his detailed blown hemis in a 1:18 scale car! The super-detailed engine would make an impressive display by itself. Stan also has a resin driver figure in the works and boats in a smaller1:43 scale – great additions to his impressive line-up.
These drag boats are simply incredible! The real boats can run the liquid quarter mile in the four second range. Recently, the Problem Child boat (also available as a model from B.A.D.) ran an incredible 263 mph! If you love drag boats, drag cars, or quality diecast vehicles, you must have at least one of these boats in your collection. For more information, go to www.diecast-badass.com or call (904) 381-9401. For more information on the real boats, try www.Dragboatracing.com , www.Dragboats.com , and www.loosecannontopfuelhydro.com .
Stan Gill continues to crank out incredible diecast products at Bad Ass Diecast. This time he sent along two drag boats and a trailer for inspection. First up is the Hot Licks owned by Dennis Gibson and driven by John White. This is the third boat in the series produced by B.A.D. The real boat is a strong contender and was runner-up at the 2006 Marble Falls, Texas Lakefest. Hot Licks is a gorgeous black boat with yellow and red flames. Boat four in the series is the Loose Cannon driven by Greg Tedesco. This is also a black boat with strong red and white graphics including subtle flames. It is a very striking model. While the diecast boats are replicas of the boats raced in 2006, note that the Loose Cannon paint scheme is also good for the 2007 season. Both boats are 1 of 1250 made, so production numbers are very limited.
If you haven't had the opportunity to see one of these boats, let's look at some of the features common to all boats in the series. First, each boat has a heavy, diecast metal hull with plastic and sheet metal detail parts. The engines are fully wired (even the firing order on the twin MSD magnetos is correct). There is a detailed drivetrain from clutch to V-drive that splits power to two props. The canopy opens with nice hydraulic pistons to reveal roll cage details, cloth seatbelts with photo-etched metal buckles, an oxygen mask and various controls. The butterfly steering wheel actually actuates the rudder in the rear. Just like the real boats, the driver's safety capsule is removable from the hull (a safety feature on the real boats). Several hatches and a body panel between the safety capsule and engine are removable and are held on with small, but strong, magnets. At the rear of the boat, twin parachutes have simulated shroud lines and bright red safety tags. A metal fuel tank is deeply chrome plated and features fuel lines and an overflow hose. The injector hat features movable butterflies. The rudder not only turns, but also folds upward to prevent breakage. The different materials used, paint and plating finishes on the parts, and extreme detail make these some of the most incredible diecast drag racers produced at this time. Paint and tampo lettering are first class.
As boats three and four in the series, a number of improvements/new features were incorporated into the design that was missing from the first boats. First, the steering gear was modified for better movement. The magneto caps were changed to more accurately simulate the real items. Fuel return lines were added to improve engine detailing. The injector scoop was painted black to more accurately portray the real carbon fiber scoop. These minor adjustments make an already great product even better.
Because B.A.D. works from a generic design, there are a few inaccuracies. The Loose Cannon lacks the low mounted rear wing seen on the full scale boat. Because the wing is mounted low on the boat, it is not really all that noticeable a feature. The Hot Licks model includes a cowling piece which fits between the capsule and engine like all the boats produced by B.A.D., but I have been unable to find a photo of the real boat with this feature. Actually, since the cowling is removable, simply removing it adds to the model’s accuracy and gives it a somewhat different appearance compared to other boats in the series. No real fan of Hot Licks or Loose Cannon would let these minor discrepancies deter them from purchasing one of these beauties.
Stan also sent along one of his new boat trailers. The boats come with a nice display stand, but for the collector who would prefer a replica trailer, B.A.D. can provide one. This is no modified car trailer, but one made specifically for the boats. It has a heavy diecast frame with textured plastic boat cradles (no need to worry about scratching the finish on your boat) which simulate the padded surface of a real trailer and contrast nicely with the glossy black paint of the frame. The four wheels are very nicely replicated in two parts. The wheel front is plated and has holes for the lug nuts, which are cast onto the real wheel half and painted to contrast with the wheels. This arrangement gives more of a three dimensional effect that provides a very nice touch. The tires have nice tread detail, but lack any sidewall lettering. The fenders are plastic with a nice paint (?) finish and the inside of the fenders has a diamond plate finish cast in. The fifth wheel folds. The boat with trailer makes a great display with a 1:18 scale SUV. Your model SUV didn’t come with a trailer hitch? No problem, B.A.D. provides three different hitches with every trailer to fit almost any vehicle. The boat on the trailer sits a little lower than the boat on the standard display stand, and the trailer tongue is much longer than the boat. This made me wonder if the trailer would fit inside the display case also available from B.A.D. Not to worry. Stan and the gang at B.A.D. now have a larger single display case just for the boat/trailer combination.
Stan has great plans for 2007. The first two boats for this year will be the Spirit of Texas, a single prop Top Fuel Hydro, and the Plum Crazy of Jerry Kutz. Stan also promises some accessories, such as an engine and "A-frame" for display. Stan says that he will produce the extra engines both in boat and car configurations (injector hat faces opposite directions). I can't wait to try to drop one of his detailed blown hemis in a 1:18 scale car! The super-detailed engine would make an impressive display by itself. Stan also has a resin driver figure in the works and boats in a smaller1:43 scale – great additions to his impressive line-up.
These drag boats are simply incredible! The real boats can run the liquid quarter mile in the four second range. Recently, the Problem Child boat (also available as a model from B.A.D.) ran an incredible 263 mph! If you love drag boats, drag cars, or quality diecast vehicles, you must have at least one of these boats in your collection. For more information, go to www.diecast-badass.com or call (904) 381-9401. For more information on the real boats, try www.Dragboatracing.com , www.Dragboats.com , and www.loosecannontopfuelhydro.com .
posted by David @ 10:49 PM
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