BY BILL ENGAR

ATLANTIS MODELS M5695 -- TOM MCEWEN'S MONGOOSE "AA" FRONT-ENGINE FUEL DRAGSTER -- UNASSEMBLED MODEL KIT -- 49 PARTS MOLDED IN WHITE AND CHROME-PLATED STYRENE PLUS BLACK SOFT VINYL TIRES -- PAINT AND GLUE NEEDED FOR ASSEMBLY (NOT INCLUDED) -- RECOMMENDED FOR MODELERS AGE 14 AND ABOVE -- LENGTH OF COMPLETED MODEL 10.25" -- MSRP $US32.99 -- MADE IN USA

Atlantis Models has released the former Monogram Mongoose and Snake Rail Drag cars.  In this review, we'll feature one of the pair, Tom McEwen's blue Mongoose AA-Class Fuel Front-Engine Dragster.  Circa 1970, the traditional "slingshot" dragster's days were numbered.  As engine power and tire technology increased rapidly, safety issues demonstrated that positioning the engine behind the driver would provide better protection during catastrophic engine failures.  This historic model kit represents one of the last rear-engine designs.  Its sister kit is Don Prudhomme's Snake Rail Dragster.

Atlantis' Mongoose Rail Dragster (Front Engine) has all-new box art that evokes models of the past.

These dragsters were both featured in a Hot Wheels set in 1971, which I received as a Christmas gift that year.  Monogram was owned by Mattel at the time and it was possible to get model kits of many cars that were featured as Hot Wheels cars including Tom Daniel's Red Baron, another recently re-released Atlantis model kit.  Atlantis offers these kits with high-quality decals and the tooling is checked and cleaned up if needed.  Chances are the kit you build today is better quality than it was when first released.

Like many Monogram kits of the era, this one is engineered for easy assembly.  Flash, sinkholes, sprue attachment points, etc are all relatively minor for a kit of this vintage.  Builders who can handle a tube or bottle of glue should find that the kit goes together easily.  Perhaps the biggest construction challenge we see for the contest modeler is working the center body seam.  The engine, driver compartment, and differential are all trapped inside one body half before mating it with glue to the other half.  One solution is to paint both halves prior to construction and live with the seam.  The contest modeler will likely paint the engine and driver before gluing them in the body and carefully cleaning up the seam around these components, then masking engine and driver compartment prior to spraying the body.  You could leave off some of the top-parts to the engine, gluing them to the block after final painting of the body is done.

Atlantis' Mongoose and Snake front-engine AA Top Fuel Dragsters have 49 parts molded in white and chromed styrene plastic with soft vinyl tires

Here's a closeup of the chrome parts sprue.

Decals for the Mongoose include sponsors.  Mattel's Hot Wheels was a major sponsor!

One option when building the model is whether or not to portray the parachute packed or deployed; both options are included.  The deployed 'chute will need some tan household thread (not included) to simulate the shroud lines.  The instructions show how to cut lengths of thread and how to add them to the parachute to simulate the deployed 'chute.

You have your choice of a deployed drag chute (pictured) or packed chute.

A driver figure is included depicted wearing a full fire suit.

The other option is whether or not to include the driver figure.  It's pretty well detailed with a full fire suit.  Built right out of the box, we anticipate an easygoing project you can complete over an enjoyable weekend.  Due to the basic nature of the kit it would be a good place for a modeler to learn or practice some more advanced skills such as engine detailing.  Here are a couple suggestions:

Perhaps the easiest place to start is to drill out the ends of the header pipes.  Start with a pin vise and small bit.  Drill as close to the center of the pipe as you can; you could use a push-pin to make a starter-divot to deep the bit from wandering.  graduate to a larger bit or use a #11 X-Acto knife (or less expensive facsimile) to enlarge the hole.  Don't go very deep; a couple millimeters or so is fine to give the illusion of depth.

Another detailing option is to add ignition wiring.  We like to use AWG 30 single-core wiring circuit board wiring.  It is a pretty good 1/24 or 1/25 representation of a spark plug wire.  The roll in the supplied link is relatively inexpensive, supplies eight colors, and will likely give you a lifetime supply for wiring model car engines.

Adding engine wiring to a Hemi is easy.  The Hemi's spark plug wiring goes into the tops of the valve covers.  There are four holes in each cover; you simply drill a small hole there to receive your wire.  From there it goes to the distributor/magneto.  Atlantis' kit has the distributor on the left side (looking towards the rear of the car).  Drill small holes in place of the eight outer posts using a micro-bit in a pin vise.

Adding fuel lines isn't that hard, either.  We like to use thin lead-free solder.  It looks great and it's flexible yet will hold its shape.  Note the photo; two lines go from the top right of the blower front (Part #22, looking at it towards the rear of the car, drill small holes big enough to fit the solder).  The lines go inside the forward body towards the front of the car, out of sight.  Easy!!!

This photo shows engine wiring (red) and fuel lines (silver).

A long (over ten inch!) body features the distinctive coffin-style driver enclosure that made these cars unique.

The kit tires are vintage vinyl; the rears are two-piece.  We like using two-part epoxy to glue the inside sidewall to the rest of the tire.  Mix the glue first as usual, stirring even portions well and spread a thin layer on the inside edge of the large tire part.  Inserting the smaller piece should push the glue inside the tire, not the other way around.  Allow it to cure overnight.  Slow-cure is always stronger than the 5-minute variety and you can use the leftover as filler putty (it never shrinks!) and it's awfully handy around the house.

The engine is immediately identifiable as a vintage Hemi (those six freeze plug holes instantly give it away).

The driver's seat has ribbed padding detail.

You can almost hear the roar of the engine coming from these header pipes.

This box photo shows a built model with authentic decals and a blown Hemi engine

The kit box has a strong vintage vibe.  Atlantis includes kit specs, a short history and list of paint colors on this side of the box.

The other side of the box has a reminder that there's a sister-kit to consider, Don Prudhomme's Snake!

Instructions consist of a double-sided, premium bond paper with simple assembly diagrams and descriptive English-only text.

We're glad to see this awesome pair of classic dragster model kits return!  As always, Atlantis hits a home run when it comes to clean moldings, great decals, awesome boxes, and cool instruction sheets!  The 2Modeler Guys give the Mongoose 'n Snake Front-Engine AA Fuel Rail Dragster kits Four Enthusastic Thumbs Up!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ATLANTIS MODELS FOR PROVIDING THIS GREAT KIT TO REVIEW AND ENJOY!  ORDER YOURS TODAY DIRECTLY FROM ATLANTIS, AMAZON, OR OTHER FINE RETAILER!

BONUS FEATURES

MATTEL, MONOGRAM, HOT WHEELS, AND THE NHRA

Up to the Mid-1960's, Mattel Toys had become a powerhouse in the doll industry thanks solely to the popularity of Barbie!  By 1968, over 100 million costume sets alone had been sold!  That year, Mattel debuted a new toy line it hoped would enjoy the same success with boys of the era.  The new Hot Wheels were an overnight success!  The fast, free-rolling cars raced on the early track sets without batteries or plug-in transformers.  The most popular 1968 set was the Drag Race Action Set.  It turned out that we loved drag-racing our Hot Wheels!  In 1969, Mattel added a couple loops to create the Double Dare Race Action Set and this one was a good seller.  What could possibly top that for 1970?

Two of Tom McEwen's drag cars.

In 1971, AA fuel drag cars were trapping speeds well in excess of 200 MPH below seven seconds on the Quarter Mile.

It was Tom McEwen who approached Mattel about a potential sponsorship featuring the racing rivalry between him and his best friend Don Prudhomme.  Ink was signed and Mattel added two new cars to what was essentially their 1969 drag set.  Tom's red Mongoose Plymouth Duster and Don's yellow Snake Plymouth Barracuda each had flip-up diecast bodies, a first for Hot Wheels.  But that's not all, as they say.  The other cool (and very clever) thing that made us want it badly was a pair of new drag chutes that would "pop" from the cars (or more accurately from boxes under the track after being trapped by the cars) once the checkered flag was dropped for the winner.

I was thrilled to receive this set as a youngster the first Christmas it was available (1970).  The Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set was another big hit for Mattel.  It also greatly increased awareness and interest in NHRA drag racing, helping take the sport from a primarily West Coast / Southern California regional activity to a nationwide phenomenon.  Like legions of other kids at the time, the first names and cars I connected with professional drag racing were Tom "Mongoose" McEwen and Don "Snake" Prudhomme.  Hot Wheels was instrumental in transforming NHRA Drag Racing into its modern form.

The next drag racing set by Hot Wheels was the Mongoose and Snake Wild Wheelie Set.  It featured 1/64-scale versions of the front-engine rail dragsters now featured in the Atlantis/Monogram model kits.  So why did Monogram decide to make these cars into model kits in the first place?

The first Mongoose and Snake Hot Wheels set was released in 1970.  It was a big success!  The cars had diecast Hemi engines you could view under a flip-up body.  So cool!!!

On the heels of the successful funny car drag race set, Mattel released the Mongoose and Snake Wild Wheelie Set in 1971.  I had to have one of these when it was available.  It provided a pretty good simulation of a fuel dragster drag race from the wheelie on launch to parachutes deployed after the finish line.

In late 1968, after Hot Wheels was established as a smash-hit, Mattel also purchased Monogram Models.  The Snoopy line of kits was wildly popular and profitable for Mattel/Monogram.   Mattel encouraged Monogram to create the new Snap-Tite kits.  These engaged younger kids (myself included) as model builders with simpler kits we could build ourselves.  From these, we got valuable experience which helped us transition to Monogram's traditional glue-kits such as the Tom Daniel fantasy show-cars.  Thanks to the Hot Wheels drag racing  sponsorship, Monogram made kits of a number of favorite drag cars featuring the Mongoose/Snake rivalry.  Today, Atlantis carries on this tradition, having taken ownership of much of this iconic tooling.  It's exciting to have these vintage racing model kits  available once again!

Atlantis Models offers other Mongoose and Snake-themed racers!  Check them out on Amazon1

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