Name: John M. Papp
Location: Far Upstate New York
Brand name of kit:

Every once in a while, a project comes along that reminds you why we build — that perfect fusion of imagination, skill, and flat-out mechanical insanity that fuels this hobby.

For me, that project was “Blown Fury,” an Unlimited Modified Tractor Puller built around the incredible MCV 3D-printed five-engine Hemi block — a resin masterpiece that practically begged to be wired, detailed, and unleashed.

This wasn’t a kit you simply “assembled.” It was an engineering adventure. Each of the five Hemis received its own scratch-built MSD ignition box and Conkur-wired magneto distributor, hand-detailed with fine wire and micro-connectors. Scratch-built safety tethers and steering linkages added that extra layer of realism, while a set of custom inkjet-printed decals finished it off with attitude. Even the scoop screens were hand-cut and fitted.

The result? A five-headed mechanical monster drenched in Tropical Glitz “Seductive Red,” polished to a deep mirror glow. That color—intense, rich, and unpredictable—wasn’t chosen for subtlety. Under the lights, it looks alive, shimmering with every curve of those five roaring Hemis.

When Blown Fury debuted at the Hudson Valley Historical Modelers Show in Poughkeepsie, NY, it stood defiantly among the dragsters, NASCARs, GT racers, and Formula 1 machines—a tractor puller with attitude. Though it didn’t take home a trophy, it earned what every builder really wants: head turns, smiles, photos, and that one overheard whisper—

“Now that’s different.”

And that’s the whole point. Blown Fury celebrates what this hobby is really about—creativity without limits. It’s not just five Hemis chained together; it’s five decades of model-building experience condensed into one defiant, fire-breathing creation. Every wire, every hose, every polished surface carries a story of patience, learning, and love for the craft.

So here’s to the builders who look at a pile of resin and styrene and see something wild waiting to be set free.

Here’s to Blown Fury—the kind of build that reminds us that the true reward isn’t on the contest table… it’s in the building itself.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

The MCV 3D-printed five-Hemi block at the heart of Blown Fury — five engines, one vision.
Scratch-built steering, safety tethers, and ignition boxes bring the mechanical madness to life.
Custom inkjet decals and Tropical Glitz “Seductive Red” make it gleam under show lights.
The table shot at HVHMG Poughkeepsie — the only tractor puller in a field of dragsters and race cars.

ABOUT THE BUILDER

John M. Papp is a lifelong model-car builder, photographer, and FAA-certified drone pilot from Far Upstate New York.

A 50-year veteran of the model-car hobby, he is co-founder of the Adirondack Nationals Car Show, founder of the Model Car How To’s Facebook community with more than 30,000 worldwide members, and a founding member of the world-renowned Adirondack Glue Crue—a fellowship of builders known for creativity, camaraderie, and the occasional good-natured glue fingerprint.

When he’s not flying drones or writing his weekly “Friday Inspiration” posts, John can be found in his workshop, surrounded by kits that “whisper ideas,” reminding him that creativity has no speed limit.