AMT '70 Monte Carlo

[AMT68]

Round 2 release of the 1/25 scale '70 Monte Carlo. Painted in Tamiya TS-58 Light Pearl Blue and top coated in Testors Glosscote. Nicely detailed model with minimal flash or parting lines on the body. The front stance is off slightly as the chassis didn't properly push up into the body on the passenger side. Something I'll have to do a better job on future builds of this kit. And oddly enough blackwashing the grill (which is usually a relatively simple procedure) gave me fits on this one. 

Edited December 8, 2020 by AMT68

[avidinha]

That came out great. The color suits the car well.

[Classicgas]

Nice. 

[e30lover]

Great color choice on a beautifully done model!

[AMT68]

Thanks Andrew, Lee and Chang. The color felt period correct in a way. 

Edited December 8, 2020 by AMT68

[cobraman]

Looks good, nice choice of color.

[BeakDoc]

Wonderful looking build. That’s a great color choice. I’m putting the finishing touches on a build of the exact same kit. Have been dealing with the same fit/stance issues you described. I fully agree with you that it’s a nicely detailed kit. But, it has fought me every step of the way.

[AMT68]

Thanks Ray.

 

8 minutes ago, BeakDoc said:

Wonderful looking build. That’s a great color choice. I’m putting the finishing touches on a build of the exact same kit. Have been dealing with the same fit/stance issues you described. I fully agree with you that it’s a nicely detailed kit. But, it has fought me every step of the way.

Thanks Chris for your comments. In addition to the stance I had to work with the front glass to get it to fit better. The tail light lenses also needed to be sanded down but that wasn't much of an issue. What I really liked about the body were the prominent trim lines which allowed for proper foiling. Looking forward to seeing yours completed. 

[BeakDoc]

42 minutes ago, AMT68 said:

Thanks Chris for your comments. In addition to the stance I had to work with the front glass to get it to fit better. The tail light lenses also needed to be sanded down but that wasn't much of an issue. What I really liked about the body were the prominent trim lines which allowed for proper foiling. Looking forward to seeing yours completed. 

Yep. That glass is rather clunky. I ended up trimming/rounding the corners. As for the stance, in the front I cut down the springs and spindles to lower it. 
I’ll probably be posting pics this week if I can get my tail in gear and find the motivation to get to the bench.

[1972coronet]

Nice , nice , nice !  I have a life-long love of the 1970-1972 Monte , especially the SS-454 model . 

The colour choices are perfect ! 

I have one of the c.2003 issues of that kit as well . It's on the back burner for a couple of reasons :

1.) I feel a compulsory need to add the halo vinyl top 

2.) I'm thinking about converting it to a 402 / 4-speed 

As great as those late 90's AMT 'renaissance' kits are , they aren't without some construction woes ---- typically component-interference issues ( windscreen-to-dashboard ; door panels-to-exterior door edge ) and/ or suspension which doesn't sit-proper ( typically looking as if there's an overloaded trunk ) .

But , I digress...

Yours looks fantastic ! Keep 'em coming ~

[Tom99]

Looking good.

[crazyjim]

Very nice build.  Color is wonderful.

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[espo]

Very cleanly built Monte Carlo. I'm also a fan of this kit and owned a late model '72 Monte years ago so I'm partial to them. The light colors you used give it a more modern appearance then the colors often seen on the 1:1 cars. I also like how you got the badge trim done on the trunk and the C pillar. 

[Danno]

Most excellent!   I love those Montes.

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[AMT68]

18 hours ago, BeakDoc said:

Yep. That glass is rather clunky. I ended up trimming/rounding the corners. As for the stance, in the front I cut down the springs and spindles to lower it. 
I’ll probably be posting pics this week if I can get my tail in gear and find the motivation to get to the bench.

Thanks for the tip on trimming the springs and spindles to achieve the proper stance. I have a couple more of these kits to build and I'll remember that one. 

[AMT68]

17 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Nice , nice , nice !  I have a life-long love of the 1970-1972 Monte , especially the SS-454 model . 

The colour choices are perfect ! 

I have one of the c.2003 issues of that kit as well . It's on the back burner for a couple of reasons :

1.) I feel a compulsory need to add the halo vinyl top 

2.) I'm thinking about converting it to a 402 / 4-speed 

As great as those late 90's AMT 'renaissance' kits are , they aren't without some construction woes ---- typically component-interference issues ( windscreen-to-dashboard ; door panels-to-exterior door edge ) and/ or suspension which doesn't sit-proper ( typically looking as if there's an overloaded trunk ) .

But , I digress...

Yours looks fantastic ! Keep 'em coming ~

 

Thanks John for your comments. I've always appreciated the first and second generation Monte Carlos myself. I have another Round 2 kit to build and just this week purchased another older release with a green car on the box. I'm assuming that it's the 2003 issue you're referencing. I've considered doing a vinyl top on of the two builds but the halo will present a challenge in terms of properly laying it out and finding the right size styrene strips. As for the 402 could you possibly use the AMT '69 Chevelle 396 engine?  Overall what challenges the kit may provide are well worth it given the cleanly molded body and well detailed kit. 

[AMT68]

6 hours ago, crazyjim said:

Very nice build.  Color is wonderful.

Thank you Jim. 

 

5 hours ago, PappyD340 said:

Very nice!

Thank you Larry 

[AMT68]

4 hours ago, espo said:

Very cleanly built Monte Carlo. I'm also a fan of this kit and owned a late model '72 Monte years ago so I'm partial to them. The light colors you used give it a more modern appearance then the colors often seen on the 1:1 cars. I also like how you got the badge trim done on the trunk and the C pillar. 

Thanks David. The badge scripts are the only detail item that wasn't foiled. I used chrome silver paint for those. I'm sure there are modelers capable of foiling those scripts but not me....lol.  I've always been a fan of the various shades of light blue that appeared on the late 60's and early 70's GM cars. 

 

4 hours ago, Danno said:

Most excellent!   I love those Montes.

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Thanks Dann

[1972coronet]

19 minutes ago, AMT68 said:

I [...] just this week purchased another older release with a green car on the box. I'm assuming that it's the 2003 issue you're referencing. I've considered doing a vinyl top on of the two builds but the halo will present a challenge in terms of properly laying it out and finding the right size styrene strips. As for the 402 could you possibly use the AMT '69 Chevelle 396 engine?

Yes , the 'olive green' edition box . I bought it from eBay during the time when the stock version wasn't being issued ; the Fast & Furious kit being the only version readily-available at that time ( no , thanks ) . I've been toying with the idea of buying the new Round2 edition , if for nothing else for the better decals , tyres , and white platic ; and , to support Round2's continued efforts to bring restored kits which many believed were lost to the annuls of time .

That halo top trim is the reason why I've been putting-off building my example . I don't trust my skills yet...

I'd keep the kit's "generic" Mark IV engine , and find a resin 4-speed . I'll have to research if the 4 speed console is the same ; pedals could come from the parts box . 

[doorsovdoon]

Colour looks awesome. Very nice looking kit, one I've been wanting to do, but the only one I've seen in the UK is the Fast and Furious version so not sure if it'll have the right wheels and such.

[charger74]

It looks very good 

[AMT68]

18 hours ago, doorsovdoon said:

Colour looks awesome. Very nice looking kit, one I've been wanting to do, but the only one I've seen in the UK is the Fast and Furious version so not sure if it'll have the right wheels and such.

Thanks Gareth. I've become quite fond of the Tamiya colors and they apply nicely. This Round 2 kit is already out of production and becoming scarcer. The older releases are still fairly plentiful on ebay. 

 

18 hours ago, charger74 said:

It looks very good 

Thanks Eric. 

[TooOld]

Great color and a great looking Monte Carlo !  I've had issues with black washing some grilles too , it seems some chrome just doesn't like it .

[AMT68]

9 hours ago, TooOld said:

Great color and a great looking Monte Carlo !  I've had issues with black washing some grilles too , it seems some chrome just doesn't like it .

Thanks Bob. I think part of what made the blackwashing tough of this one is the fact the grill isn't recessed deeply enough. But I never thought about the chrome being a culprit.