Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

'81 Plymouth Reliant 9/1/17 Fotki fix


Foxer

Recommended Posts

I just found the 1/24 Motormax diecast of the Plymouth reliant so I can now start the build of my daughter's car in a man's size! ;) You may have seen the 1/67 scale build I recently posted. At the time I thought this was an '83 and had trouble finding the correct paint. I used a Testor's Light Green whick looked pretty close. I've sine learned it was an '81 and the only green reliant there was. PaintScratch.com had the paint and it's on the way ... Light Seaspray Green Metallic. So now it's ready to go . all disassembled. I need some photos of the 1:1 from my daughter so will post when she gets them.

 

Here's the Motormax I'm starting with:

 

MotorMaxPlymouthreliantDSC_1085_zps101ba

MotorMaxPlymouthreliantDSC_1086_zpsaf5fd

MotorMaxPlymouthreliantDSC_1087_zps7ff49

MotorMaxPlymouthreliantDSC_1088_zpsda873

reliantDSC_1089_zps878537dd.jpg

 

 

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

wow! your build looks great! my mom had one of them,brand new in '81 white with brown interior.that car ran forever.i think she had 225,000 on it when she traded it in.don't see them much any more.their is a red one i see once in a while around here still perculating,and there is a silver blue horizon still around too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, the car that saved Chrysler Corporation! Gotta love them just for that reason.

Note that it's very cool that Motormax actually did a diecast of this one. Check out the opening doors. It appears that the window frame stays with the body, but should be on the door.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Note that it's very cool that Motormax actually did a diecast of this one. Check out the opening doors. It appears that the window frame stays with the body, but should be on the door.

I'm sure you're right. Tom. I didn't notice that error ... but no way I'm going to try to fix it in metal! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They actually didn't do too bad of a job on this one. One thing I can notice is that the grille/lights should be straight instead of having an angle to it as it does.

I've been looking for photos and will have to keep an eye out for that. This is the only side shot showing the front I have and it does show a slight angle. That is from an '83 reliant brochure.

Thanks for the comment, Al.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a pic of a 1:1..........looks like the problem with the diecast lies mostly with the grille.

81%2520plym%2520reliant%25202dr%2520red.

Could be the grill was slanted when installed in production. Fixing it should be no problem. Thanks for the reference photos.

and WoW! .. bright red reliant!

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

It's been slow going so here's a small update on painting of the engine compartment. This was a well used car so the engine compartment got some weathering. It's pretty low level detail but does resemble the Reliants. The grill I have to study yet to see how easily it can be made more upright. It does go in slanted.

I found the correct paint once I got the year right. 1981 was the only year there were green Reliants.

ReliantengineDSC_1098_zps2d42860f.jpg

ReliantengineDSC_1100_zpsfc42fe7a.jpg

ReliantengineDSC_1101_zpsdae1ff49.jpg

Edit 4-8-2013: Just realized I never mentioned adding the upper radiator hose with some BMF clamps using a piece of black wire. :)

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had to take a shot of the front mocked up to see if pushing grill more vertical would work. I think I get too many gaps between hood and grill and the sides of grill center are too wedged shaped. The photo is how it will end up. I do appreciate the comments that led me to check this out. The grill does pop off the headlight piece.

wheelsDSC_1102_zpsead11d09.jpg

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking good. My parents bought a '82 new, two tone brown. After they passed, I drove the snot out of it (just under 200K miles). I had hoped to have my older daughter have to drive it to school, but it gave it's life on the freeway to save mine.

Mark

Edited by the goon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It looks like the way to make the grill more vertical, is remove the area it is mounted to

and Push in the bottom, not pull out the top. At least, that is what I would do. The bottom

of the grill looks to be almost flush withthe base of the head light bezel in the1:1 shown.

Sure would like to find one of these!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a shot of the grill and headlight backing it mounts to. I'd rather not separate the headlights into two pieces, but not totally opposed. Going to have to contemplate the pros and cons in my mind.

grillDSC_1104_zps86cee6bb.jpg

Here's a shot from the 1981 Reliant brochure and shows the grill well.

2_zpsed78c87f.jpg

And, here's a shot of the 1: with my daughter mounted on it. Hopefully the other photos she says she has will let me scan and make decals for the stickers.

ReneeonReliant_zps668d11bc.jpg

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can understand not wanting to separate the headlights, especially if the

pins in the grill are what hold them in place too. But can you cut and shape the

piece at the bottom and leave it in tact at the top??

The Brochure definitely shows that the bottom of the grill and head lights are flush.

The head light bezels tilt back towards the top, while the grill is more vertical.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike, that's coming out nice so far. You gave some depth to the engine compartment and made it look less toy like. Love the green, and it's right on. Did you have it mixed up or did you find it somewhere? Not to copy, but I'd be interested in doing one of these in green as well. My dad had a wagon version for a company car from 81-84. He hated it. It was WAY underpowered, and banged and rattled alot, but it never let him down. In '85 they replaced it with a new model with the 2.5 motor. That was alot smoother and had a little more pickup. In '89 they gave him a Taurus wagon V-6 and there was no comparison!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Love the green, and it's right on. Did you have it mixed up or did you find it somewhere? Not to copy, but I'd be interested in doing one of these in green as well. My dad had a wagon version for a company car from 81-84.

The green paint is pretty official .. I got it from paintscratch.com. It's a 1981 color only. I got it in a spray can for the first time and was happy with the results. It's called Light Seaspray Green Metallic color code VF2 (1981)

I usually get a bottle ans have to thin it down for the air brush, but since I hate airbrushing because of the hassle I did the spray .. first time I've seen them offer it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The green paint is pretty official .. I got it from paintscratch.com. It's a 1981 color only. I got it in a spray can for the first time and was happy with the results. It's called Light Seaspray Green Metallic color code VF2 (1981)

I usually get a bottle ans have to thin it down for the air brush, but since I hate airbrushing because of the hassle I did the spray .. first time I've seen them offer it.

Wow, 25 bucks a can!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, 25 bucks a can!!!!!

It was a bit expensive, but I wanted to try their spray as I've gotten paint for many of my builds of my 1:1 cars from them and was always pleased with the quality.. Just get a bottle of touch-up paint and stuff in your air brush. :)

Edited by Foxer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...