'69 Mustangs....

[mk11]

Every once in a while these cars come up in discussion but I don't think I've ever seen a real comparison done. Soooo, here's a few pics for the historians and the generally curious ...

 

mpc on left, original amt middle and revell on right

 

hoods: mpc, amt, revell

dashes: amt, mpc, revell

 

bodies/grilles: mpc, amt, revell

 

tails: mpc, amt, revell

 

The mpc body noted is currently badged as amt, available on any street corner you could name. Seems to be re-released every couple of years and is definitely underscale in some proportions. The original amt body was modified into a long nosed funnycar and never reissued in original form. The revell f/b kit was an '80s issue originally, reportedly copied from a 1/10 scale '70 wooden master used for the 1/24 monogram '70 boss 429 kit. Very well done kit but for the woebegone mess at the front

 

mike

Edited August 20, 2017 by mk11

[mk11]

Here's a profile comparison... revell top, amt middle and mpc bottom

 

...and a pic showing the revell 1/25 '69 shell alongside the monogram 1/24 '70 shell clearly showing the two shared a common source

 

While the flawed front fenders on the master weren't real obvious on the '70, they became painfully so when the '69 parts were applied.

 

side by side amt '69 and mpc '69 bodies

side by side amt '69 and amt '70 bodies

Edited January 28, 2019 by mk11

[Jay t.]

I would have to say the AMT body looks the best.

[Monty]

Looks like there's finally a solution to the Revell's awkwardly shaped front end!

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=100079&p=1387145

Edited March 16, 2015 by Monty

[tim boyd]

One of the first products from Missing Link Resin (bought my copy in 2005) was a rebop of the AMT 1969 Mustang body, which is clearly the best of the lot as illustrated by the pictures from Mike above.

Surprisingly to me, apparently it didn't sell that well and it's been out of their catalog now for a number of years.

One has to wonder if the AMT 1970 body mold (last seen as the "Mach Won" funny car) still exists in the vast AMT/Ertl (now Round 2) toollng archives. Still, even if it did, returning to 1969 status would be problematic (the body was hogged out for the rear funny car slicks, and the rear quarter panel scoop was redone - incorrectly as it turns out - to replicate the ventless 1/1 scale 1970 body....).

TIM

[Snake45]

Excellent pics and comparo and matches my impressions exactly.

Revell, best detailed chassis, engine, interior and body quite nice except for the complete backbirth front end.

AMT, best body overall and definitely better front end than Revell.

MPC, undersized (somewhere between 1/26 and 1/28). Body not perfect but overall better looking than Revell. Also, front valence panel seems to be too shallow, giving the front end a raised look. With a little work, can be built into a presentable (if small) model.

[Guest]

I corrected the front end on the Revell '69. But, that's as far as I got with it. Maybe I'll get back to it someday. I got rid of the MPC kits I had.

[Monty]

I corrected the front end on the Revell '69. But, that's as far as I got with it.

Pics or it never happened

[Ace-Garageguy]

Well, they all look good enuf to me. I can't see any differences whatsoever and they are absolutely identical to my eye.

Why oh why would anyone notice or care about completely invisible "innacuracies" like these?

You all want perfect kits and you'll see...the model companies will all stop making models and go sulk in the corner.

Dang rivet counters.

[unclescott58]

I'm surprised! I've always heard about the MPC kit being way undersized. After seeing it compared with the other two '69 Mustangs, it's not as bad as I expected. I've had one laying around for a few years now. Maybe in time to pull in it out and look at building it.

 

Thanks for the comparison.

 

Scott

Edited September 6, 2016 by unclescott58

[keyser]

Ermegerd!!11!!

I thought the 69 and 70 were carefully crafted replicas of the usual whisky-bruised old Mustangs.

Had an AMT new in '69. Far better.

Bill, ya darn sheet-metal screw and body clip counter. Get some o' those vaseline-coated lenses like me, problem fixed

[mk11]

The pics aren't as clear as I'd hoped but you get the idea. I just missed picking up missing link's last copy of the '69 a couple of years ago.

The mpc body isn't all that bad; the hood is the same size as the amt part and I think the windshield opening looks better. The amt body could probably benefit from some upper windshield trim finessing a la the F350 and the current re-issue '66 Fairlane/Comet body.

Another historical bonus I happened upon the other night was someone's thoughtfully provided photo of the '70 blue crescent parts (from the big auction site) so I'll add that one with a pic of the '69 amt kit...

 

'69 amt

 

'70 amt

 

better view of retooled '70 chassis...

Mach Won parts

mpc super stocker parts

'70 mach won chrome shot (one of three); recycled whole from the '69 long-nose funny car kit

palmer '70

Edited January 28, 2019 by mk11

[Monty]

One of the first products from Missing Link Resin (bought my copy in 2005) was a rebop of the AMT 1969 Mustang body, which is clearly the best of the lot as illustrated by the pictures from Mike above.

Surprisingly to me, apparently it didn't sell that well and it's been out of their catalog now for a number of years.

TIM

That's one of the frustrating things about resin casters. Missing Link used to offer what they said were the most accurate versions of the '69 & '70 Mustang as well as the '70 Cougar. Given their reputation, modelers finally had a quality alternative to the Revell kit's flattened nose, so, like you, I was surprised that their '69 Mustang didn't sell better.

In the same vein, given the scarcity of '70 Cougar kits, I still can't believe Missing Link's repop didn't fly out the door. Unfortunately, AFAIK, Missing Link hasn't offered any of these kits in some time, and I have no idea what it would take for them to offer them again.

[vamach1]

Palmer made a 70 Boss 302 but wasn't that a close knock off of the MPC kit?

[Snake45]

Here's a profile comparison... revell top, amt middle and mpc bottom

...and a pic showing the revell 1/25 '69 shell alongside the monogram 1/24 '70 shell clearly showing the two shared a common source

While the flawed front fenders on the master weren't real obvious on the '70, they became painfully so when the '69 parts were applied.

mike

Never noticed this before, but look how much shorter the sheetmetal is ahead of the front wheel openings on the Revell vs the other two. I wonder if that shortness is part of the problem?

[Bob Ellis]

I have that Palmer '70 Mustang too. It's actually pretty good. To me, the copied they AMT '69 chassis wise, but the '70 body is okay. Has a very decent set of hubcap trim rings used on the Torinos and Mustangs. I need to compare body to, I guess

The AMT '69 Mustang chassis appears to be a by-product of the ill fated promo. Very simple construction , almost like back to 1964 design. The '70 AMT chassis is the core of the '71-73 kits having separate rear axle and exhaust.

Hard to believe, but the MPC chassis and engine is basically a '66-67 kit design. They stretched it for the 71-73 run. I agree the MPC is not that bad.

Most obvious is the rear quarter windows. The Revell is a triangle, or so it appears so. But the AMT has a trapezium window (yeah, that is a word) that none of the lengths are angles are the same. Looks dead on. The MPC has the same window but no posts so it is an open "C".

[jefropas]

Thanks for the review Mike, I just picked a Revell kit off Ebay a couple of days ago, this'll help!

Jeff

[mk11]

Looks like there's finally a solution to the Revell's awkwardly shaped front end!

 

 

Glad I ordered one of these last night; looks like he's out of stock now, kinda like maybe he had a run of orders... wonder what caused that

Been wanting to build one of these '69s for quite a while; more since I read about Mr Boyd's '70 Boss project a while back, but that poorly rendered snoot put me off.

 

 

m

 

 

Edited August 20, 2017 by mk11

[Bob Ellis]

I wonder if they considered making '70 noses and rears?

[Monty]

Looks like there's finally a solution to the Revell's awkwardly shaped front end!

Glad I ordered one of these last night; looks like he's out of stock now, kinda like maybe he had a run of orders... wonder what caused that

Been wanting to do one of these for quite a while, more since I read about Mr Boyd's '70 Boss project a while back, but that snoot put me off.

m

I saw where he'd already run out of these so I emailed him. Here's his response:

Hi Monty,

Yes, the sets which were in the inventory have been sold out quickly now and a promotion you mention below has certainly helped a lot.

I will try to complete more these sets at this week since the molds for this set are still quite good to get more castings from them.

Regards,

Dmitri

[kevin]

Monty

thanks for pointing out this thread to me, not all of you know at missing link when a mold dies if the sales arent there i dont re tool it, i have sooooooooooooo many others waiting to go into rubber. As far as the 70 cougar goes...sales were not great probably because because plastic re builders pop up at the shows & online, i am h owever partial to the 70 cougar because i own a 1:1 since 1985. That being said...i may 1 day get back to the coupe or the convert, let's see how the team feels about tooling them up alont with everything else we have to do.

thanks guys!

Kevin

[Bob Ellis]

Kevin

The question is; do people need a complete body copy of the original MPC '70 Cougar (hardtop or convertible) or do they just want a '70 Cougar.

There are millions (or it seems like it) of AMT '69 Cougar kits to be had. Some from Round2 this year and more from the secondary seller market. So, the basic '69/'70 Cougar is easily available.

Wouldn't it satisfy the need by making just hood, hood chrome, front and rear bumpers plus the red tail lights. The basic AMT kit has everything else.

Just a thought.

[Ron Hamilton]

I saw where he'd already run out of these so I emailed him. Here's his response:

Hi Monty,

Yes, the sets which were in the inventory have been sold out quickly now and a promotion you mention below has certainly helped a lot.

I will try to complete more these sets at this week since the molds for this set are still quite good to get more castings from them.

Regards,

Dmitri

I ordered one of the front ends, and I have an e-mail stating that is is on the way. I'll give my impressions of it when it gets here. If it is anything like the photos, it should be great. The "droop along" front end is the one thing that kept me from building this kit.], and I really like '69 Mustangs. I am going to re-do the side window profile too.

[vamach1]

I need another Revell kit. I already painted the three bodies I have.

[sfhess]

Kevin

The question is; do people need a complete body copy of the original MPC '70 Cougar (hardtop or convertible) or do they just want a '70 Cougar.

There are millions (or it seems like it) of AMT '69 Cougar kits to be had. Some from Round2 this year and more from the secondary seller market. So, the basic '69/'70 Cougar is easily available.

Wouldn't it satisfy the need by making just hood, hood chrome, front and rear bumpers plus the red tail lights. The basic AMT kit has everything else.

Just a thought.

The "basic AMT kit" doesn't have correctly-shaped front fender tips (pot metal bolt-on extensions on the real car) That were different on the 69 and 70 cars. This is probably easily remedied with some putty/evergreen and sanding. Also the 70 seat and door upholstery patterns are different.

Hey Kevin/Missing Link, a suggestion: How about doing resin repops of the MPC 69-70 Cougar rear bumper and taillight? This is a much better-looking representation, mainly for the fuel door lens in the center, than the AMT version.