19 replies to this topic

[Martin]

When you have known of a particular slot car and you have seen its box art for decades which does not match what was being sold back in the day, I have to ask myself why did I not question this?

 

Some time ago there was a thingy body that nobody knew its name or where it came from.Victor Fuguson strongly suspected it was a Russkit mould. He was so right.

Well,l it took a well-rounded slot car enthusiast to connect the dots. Lee from the U.K. mentioned to Gene that the box art on the Russkit Hustler is a perfect match to this unknown thingy body.

 

All I could say is why did we not see this before? Blows my mind its so obvious now.

The untold story, why some one at Russkit would send a prototype body to the art department and have the box art printed in bulk then decide to switch the body for a modified Lotus 30. 

 

I would love to hear any theory's or what happened here? I am not even sure what its new name should be, is it the "Real Hustler" or the "True Hustler." The "Mystery Hustler" maybe?

  

Gene has made a few bodies for me and now can be had with the matching artwork.

 

 

 

Shown here with the box art not matching body.

 

[don.siegel]

Martin, 

 

Interesting point! 

 

I've only seen one or two Hustler boxes and honestly don't remember anything about the illustration... nor do I remember seeing that Thingie body and I never would have made the connection... Lee is very good at that sort of thing(ie)! Do you remember at all where the body was first mentioned? 

 

It wouldn't be the first time that a company put a very different illustration on a box; they must have commissioned the illustration with a prototype body, then changed their minds about the actual model - wouldn't be the first time for that either (see Cox Ford MkII). 

 

Fascinating case in any case... 

 

Don 

 

PS: my Hustler - not even sure it's an original, or just a well-done repro! (not sure why I put it next to a Marauder)

 

 

[Flathead]

Mould was discussed years ago where Victor Fuguson strongly suspected it was a Russkit mould but wasn't 100%.

See here.

https://slotblog.net...gie-mold/page-1


Then was redone by Victor and Maximo was flogging them.

See here;

https://slotblog.net...ie/#entry809170

[Martin]

Don that looks to be original (as Russkit sold it ), except for the decals. You can tell an orginal Russkit paint by the soft production rubber mask edge on the driver and motor.

I would be happy to send you some repo #15 on label paper. They match what Russkit sold perfectly.

 

Thanks again Lee for seeing what I and others never questioned. Victor was correct it was a Russkit design but we collectively never made the connection to the box art.

We may never know why Russkit decided to sell the Blue Lotus like body instead of the one that was given to the art department.  But now we can have a repo of was what I think Russkit should of offered.

 

Gene made a few bodies which what I pictured here below and on the first page. They are sharp and beatifically made I also replicated the art work for numbers and red R with Champion stickers.Along with a cleaned up print of the number 5 Hustler as seen and a bottom pic of the chassis with body. 

Now anyone can have The Mystery number 5 Hustler in there collection. Let me know if there are any interest and I will take names and then put an add on here in The racers swap shop or The parts counter. The body will come with stickers and art work that fits a clear plastic box just like Dynamic sold.

 

[don.siegel]

Thanks Martin, 

 

Yes, please put on on the list. Of course, it will then be in line to finish, just after The Bat... and I would like some repro decals for the Hustler, if not too much trouble. 

 

Don

[Martin]

No problem at all Don, I will die cut a few #15 stickers for you, and you are on the list for the limited number of # 5 Hustler bodies.

[anglicanbeachparty]

Gene has made a few bodies for me and now can be had with the matching artwork.

 

 

103_0063.jpg 

 

 

Gene's work here is stunning, as always!!

[Flathead]

That is a cool shot matching the box art Mart 👍🏻 some of the other shots you sent me show off the body better though, can you post them up?

[Bill Seitz]

Anyone notice that this Hustler body is variant of the Lola GT?

[Martin]

Bill, take a look at some some other angles maybe you can see the windshield for one thing is not like any other that I can remember.

 

Lee, the first painted body is now in the hands of Gene, but I did take some pics before I resized the side numbers and R logo were too large.

The next one I paint will have a clear rear window as you suggested, as I now think that was as it was intended. I covered my hunch with a stripe. It will also have the resized numbers printed on clear vinyl ( thanks to Gene) as shown in the Box and body kit. 

 

P.S. the box art is the same on the inside and the outside of the display box. The body on the chassis is the next one I trimmed in readiness for a good day to paint one for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[don.siegel]

That's looking very good! 

 

Don 

[Martin]

Painting weather is here and I took some time to mask a body and paint.

The first one I did I used liquid masking fluid, I did not like that much so this  time i used masking tape.

Have not pulled the tape yet but I feel its a better way to go. This time I kept the rear window clear, now the fun will be finding a suitable interior to show off the engine and driver detail.  

 

This may of been one of several small reasons why Russkit decided to go with the Lotus style body. No interior No windows and a simple mask to mist a bit of white on the driver and engine, we will never know for sure?

 

 

This is the display box with the clear body.

 

 

I had some red R's stickers, too big for the car so I stuck mine on the bottom of the box chassis pic in the top right hand corner.

 

[Martin]

Tape lines looks good enough. Started to detail with grey panel lines a suggestion from Gene. I was thinning black before but this is better ( more subtle) I feel.

Ready for number and sponsor stickers.

 

You can see now how big the rear window is, maybe time for a scratch built interior. 

 

[Martin]

Now the taillights and grills are painted and the numbers and sponsors are in place its time to re-imagine an interior.

 

I would think that Russkit would of sold a matching interior for the # 5 Hustler. If they had gone forward with this body. 

So now I have the opportunity to do a bit of recessionary history. 

 

Going thru a few interiors, of course nothing is close. Any thoughts are welcome. 

 

 

 

 

[Flathead]

For inspiration this is what Victor came up with. I don't approve of the full face helmet though.
I feel the rear is too complicated although Russkit did go to town on the eagle detail.

[Martin]

Yes I remember this but could not find this pic. Thanks Lee.

 

I think I will start with the Lancer 2E interior as the front comes to a point that matches the body.  It also has the removable head so I also prefer the open face helmet  .

I applaud Victor but will stick to a more conventional motor detail maybe a V12 and maybe I can use the Russkit Eagle for that.

 

I keep saying to myself "what would Russkit do?"

 

......and don't say "stick a modified Lotus body in the Hustler box and ship it before the bottom falls out of this market". 

Which is probably what they did say?

 This is a quick mock-up. 

 

 

[Martin]

Now you too can make the Hustler car Russkit shows on the artwork, see link here below.

 

https://slotblog.net...tching-box-art/

[pn6]

 Is it done? Is it done? ..no really is it done?????...Great project Martin!

[Martin]

Thanks Paul, 

Box art done. To fit that clear ( Dynamic style) display box.

Numbers and sponsor stickers done.

Body done.

Done da done done and ready to ship.  Are you ready to build the car that Russkit had planned, then did a switch on us kids?

[macwest]

Great information.

 

Here is the mold I bought from Mark Mattei about a year ago. Would make sense being a russkit as I purchased the Chapparral 2D and Marcos mantis in the same group

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