GMP 1:18 Drag Boat - Jay Hartunian's Whiskey River II

It’s rare for a manufacturer of high quality models to make running changes to a near perfect diecast, particularly near the end of a run. It’s not economical. Well, getting it right is what Bad Ass Diecast (BAD) does and the latest editions of their 2006 high end 1:18 scale Top Fuel Hydro (TFH) boats are not just as remarkably done as the first in the series, but even contain a few upgrades.

Before we dive into the review, let’s make sure we get the car guys tuned up. Drag racing boats is becoming increasingly popular, so much so that the sanctioning body for the events named themselves the International Hot Boat Association or IHBA. They have bracket racing events race in three classes with TFH being the premier class. The IHBA season runs from April to November on lakes and reservoirs throughout the southern and western US. If you’re not familiar with it and you get SPEED channel through your television provider look for IHBA Racing in your program guide. You might need to TIVO these programs if you have a steady 9-5 but they are well worth watching if you like vehicles that go fast. And I mean fast, the TFH boats launch violently and boast speeds around 250 mph.

BAD has produced a series of six diecast 2006 TFH boats. All come in a sturdy GMP-like styrofoam clamshell packaging complete with an easily assembled display stand. Buy all six, and the owner of BAD will even throw in a free acrylic mirror backed display case. Gee I hope that idea catches on in the model car world. Custom artwork adorns each box with specific action photos of the boat inside.

So far, four of six planned 2006 boats have been completed and among the last two are Jay Hartunain’s “Whiskey River II” as driven by Rex Childers. This boat has all the goodies that made the original issues a real treat and then some. For example, the dreamy 500cu.in. Keith Black engine but an upgrade from the previous models is the MSD logos emblazoned on the twin magneto caps. All the things that made it a festival of detail for the engine fanatic are still there, including working butterflies, soft belts and hoses and color coded wiring, blower restraint safety blanket, oil pump, bell housing, port nozzles, starter, fuel shut off and barrel valve. Notice then engine actually sits backwards compared with a car in order to power the W drive that fires the twin propellers. These metal props have been redone with scale and pitch more accurate. The steering mechanism now works flawlessly though I would recommend working the steering through the rudder transom as it is more robust. The rudder has a more finished appearance than previous models and can still be posed at virtually any angle.

There are total of five removable panels/components on the model. On top of each sponson a flat magnetized panel can be opened. One starboard side is the battery, on port side an air cylinder both resting in faux flotation material. A removable center panel reveals the steering mechanism. The removable cowl separating the engine from the driver capsule reveals the clutch can and Aqua Systems Engineering W-drive. The driver capsule is removable from the body and now features yellow safety paint on the bottom of its hull which makes it easier to find should it become separated from the body (which apparently has happened more than a couple of times to the Whiskey River).

The capsule door is mounted on delicate hinging which is surprisingly stout. Inside you’ll find something you might normally see in an Air Force fighter jet: a full rollcage, canopy latch, oxygen system, butterfly steering wheel, air shifter, nylon belts with photo etched buckles and fire extinguisher.

When I see this many removable pieces on a model, I tend to cringe in advance given potential paint variations. But I didn’t find that here, as with the other BAD drag boats, the paint was lustrous and tampo graphics were crisp and flawless. Even my wife mentioned the how shapeliness of the Goldigger girl silhouette graphics around the capsule. I tried to distract her, pointing out the complex fuel system and chute packs complete with safety straps (but for some reason this was not as memorable to her.)

You’ll be happy to know that BAD has trailers available for your new treasure and is working on a line of additional goodies such as driver figurines and a line of TFH boats in 1/43.

I continue to be impressed by BAD, not only with the level of workmanship, but the willingness to make changes to production in order to get the model as exactly right as possible. The attention to detail is just astounding, right down to the brass plate on the hull bottom that contains the serial number of your boat. It’s good to buy BAD.

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