Go Speed Racer, Go! - WIP models of cars from 1967 anime and 2008 film

[Murdoch17]

The following models are all modified versions of the original 1967 anime and (begrudgingly) the 2008 film, while the figs are customized and updated versions of the ones from the Lego theme:

The Mach 5 (Speed Racer's car)

This is half of set 8158 (Speed Racer & Snake Oiler) from the 2008 Speed Racer movie line. I tried to make the Mach 5 more accurate to the original late 1960's cartoon without using stickers. This includes some new (to the model) cartoon-accurate features: detachable sawblades and jump-jacks! (Sadly, neither of them fold away as in the cartoon... they just come off when not needed. Also, the cross-brace on the sawblades is to keep them from flopping around.) These extra features are not on my car as-ordered, but can be added easily in the future.

The Shooting Star (Racer X's car)

Here is a mod of half of BOTH set 8159 (Racer X & Taejo Togokhan) and 8160 (Cruncher Block & Racer X) from the 2008 Speed Racer movie line, as the car is oddly identical across both sets. I tried to make Racers X's car, the Shooting Star, more accurate to the original 1960's cartoon without using stickers, but this required heavy modifications, such as adding double headlights, exhaust pipe tips, taillights, printed side numbers (9), and smoothing out missing parts of  bodywork using parts that weren't available to designers in 2008.

The Mammoth Car (Cruncher Block's mobile HQ)

It looks like a ordinary semi truck. But it's not! It's the mobile headquarters of notorious criminal Cruncher Block. This is a heavy mod of Jurassic World set 76948 (T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout), restyled to be like the Mammoth Car from set 8160 (Cruncher Block and Racer X) from the 2008 Speed Racer movie line. I changed around a whole truckload of stuff with this build, so I'm not going to mention everything I did. The brand new trailer has a removable roof to access the inside details.

Cruncher Block's mobile office from the 2008 movie - complete with piranha tank, desk, and weapons storage. I have good reasons for doing in the film style, though, as the original 1960's anime the Mammoth car was mostly empty inside, so it would look like an ordinary semi truck otherwise.

The Brick Breaker (Rocket Racer's car)

Now, I know what you're thinking: "He wasn't in Speed Racer at all! What gives?" Well; he was in the much beloved LEGO Racer videogame franchise, he is a race car driver, and has the word 'Racer' in his name. Thus, he belongs in my Speed Racer collection.

This model is a total redesign of half of set 8898 (Wreckage Road) from the World Racers theme. I removed all the weapons and play features, redid the color scheme in a major way, added headlights and ID number tiles (1) to the car, plus I added the Rocket Racer figure from the Stuntz theme to the drivers seat.

The Stars of the Show / Film

I drew inspiration for these six (currently five and a half) figures from the original 1967 anime and the failed 2008 movie. As you can see, some parts are still missing, such as Racer X's black visor and Trixie's torso. (I have the legs I'm gonna use already pulled out and placed just out of frame) I also still need to re-design Taejo's car at some point, because the one Lego came out with officially is the weakest of the bunch IMO.

Progress on the models / final thoughts

(Sorry the photo is bad, I tried IRL to make it bright and failed, so I had to do so digitally. Some colors are washed out as a result.)

The one in the digital background is the Shooting Star and what parts have yet to be found in my own collection or bought are featured on the screen.

The real world model in the foreground is the Mach 5 which is awaiting one order to arrive to be finished. Pictures will be added once it's done.

Thoughts?

[Moon_Knight]

Hey man, these looks great! I'm glad I was able to get the official sets when they were out. The Mach 5 is one of my most prized Lego sets I own.