Mark Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 There were a number of car kits with clear bodies... AMT Don Garlits Wynn's Jammer (the 1964 car) MPC Ford GT "J-Car" MPC George Montgomery Mr. Gasket Gasser 1969 Mustang MPC David Pearson NASCAR Pontiac GTO Gunze Sangyo High-Teck Isetta Polar Lights Charger and Barracuda funny cars (in clear, with a small number in red clear) Esci made a couple of car kits with clear bodies. One was a Mercedes-Benz, the other a European Ford Escort if I remember right. Of all of these, only the Gunze Isetta had the windows molded as a unit with the body. The body was meant to be painted after the window areas were masked off. All of the others had separate windows that had to be glued in, creating glue marks that were visible on the finished model. All were probably planned for issue with solid color bodies also, otherwise everything would have been molded as one unit. The MPC Mr. Gasket Gasser did not have a separate tilting front end or opening hood, so if you painted the body you couldn't view the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSNJim Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Of course, if you're into HO scale, there's http://www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/cars.html . All their vehicles are molded in clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete J. Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Tamiya 1:12 Ferrari 641/2 McLaren MP 4/6 Motorcycles: Yamaha YZF-R1 Taira I believe that there was one Kawasaki that had a clear green cowl 1:20 Brabham BT46 Ferrari Williams FW24 McLaren MP4/13 Ferrari F2000(the infamous Barbie Farrari because the clear was tinted pink) Ferrari F2001 1:24 Ferrari F50 Toyota TS020 Mercedes CLK-GTR Porsche 911 GT1 Ferrari Enzo(very limited) Ferrari FXX(rear cowl only) Nissan GT-R(clear hood only) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete J. Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Paul - The F2000 was the Barbie Ferrari as the tint came out a bit on the pink side. Looked a bit weird. MPC cougar F/C (stp) had a clear body AMT Piranha had a clear upper body half. Wasn't there also a Tamiya F2000 that was clear red? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikelo Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 My dad has a 1/16 scale petty Pretty Charger stock car that is clear and I have some foreign kit of the old BMW M1 that was a race car (though they also made a street version as well). Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slantasaurus Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 How is it that nobody has mentioned the Renwal/Revell visable V-8 yet ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) How many years and reissues of the "Visible V-8" have we seen? The "Visible Man" ? "Visible Woman"? Monograms "Phantom Mustang" ? Tamiya's "Clearview" series ? Monograms "Visible" B-17 kit ? how many other engine kits with completely CLEAR features ? I find this rather puzzling. http://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/visible-engines.htm Edited January 9, 2013 by Greg Myers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 MPC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I think that I read somewhere that the "chemical-formula" for making the clear-plastic in the original 1/16 MPC Nascar Charger kits has been lost. Yep, Greg, you're right about that MPC clear-bodied GTO Nascar kit; forgot about that one. I'd bet it used the same clear-plastic chemical-formula as the 1/16 Petty kit used, back-in-the-day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 and subs too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Almost forgot this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 (edited) AMT offered the Clear Tailer not too long ago, and what about the Daytona Transport. That Large Clear & Clear blue tint option for the top. Yea, I know, the trailer was made in Flat sections. I Might have bought one of these with the Clear body, but since I restrict my builds to 1/14-5 and smaller, I don't think I will get the new issue. I have my original I built new way back when I have a original Built of the Pearson Sportsman GTO too Edited January 10, 2013 by Edsel-Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Interesting find on another board. Looks like all releases and colors of plastic have warping issues. http://www.cglfc.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=24689&start=15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) Edited January 19, 2013 by Greg Myers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAGNUM4342 Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 The only one in the pics above I see that would be stressed during mounting is the Pearson GTO. The rest look like they go on easy, especially the dragster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) Must be something really hard to master Edited January 19, 2013 by Greg Myers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpiguy Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Round 2/AMT makes a large Star Trek Enterprise D kit in clear (for those of us that want to light it). It's quite a few pieces and the saucer sections are huge. So size and detail couldn't be a reason for not using clear either. The price on the clear Enterprise is about $50 though. My guess is cost. Probably cheaper to mold it from light blue plastic and hit the sub $40 mark retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragline Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 This whole clear business is academic. Buy it if you love excellently detailed kits of iconic cars, pass if you love gimmicks and pseudo features. For me the truth is that R2 loves models and are busting their B@lls to get us once lost treasures.. These are the guys who complain about the weight of the gold once handed to them. Philistines all. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) It's all about seeing what's going on inside Edited January 20, 2013 by Greg Myers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 It's all about seeing what's going on inside No single piece in either of the aircraft kits is anywhere near as complicated as the one-piece Charger body. The airplane wings, and even the fuselage halves, are molded using relatively simple tooling compared to what is needed for a one-piece car body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roncla Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Something that has always intrigued me and I've seen some excellent models using the concept is to do a ' cut away '. These can be seen at the real car shows. Half of the body is as normal and the other half has been removed so you can see the insides. You get a better view without any possible distortion that you may get through a clear plastic body and without the mold release marks and the like which always spoil a clear plastic body Edited January 20, 2013 by Roncla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Not to completely railroad the thread ... I wonder if a multi-piece car body would take well to clear casting ? In other words , perhaps something along the lines of how a full-scale ("1:1") auto body is assembelled ; main "skeletal" structure ; separate quarter panels , fenders , shear panels , door skins , etc. , etc. Certainly this would be "easier" in 24th or 25th scale ; however , perhaps it'd be *do-able* in 16th scale as well . Just a thought ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMChladek Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 The idea does make sense. Although I've found that the seams in multi-piece clear parts do tend to stick out like a sore thumb somewhat if they are thick. One possible alternative I could see though would be a clear vaccuform body perhaps (even multi-piece since the edges of the parts would be thinner). Still, I would consider that more for an aftermarket supplier to do rather than Round 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Not to completely railroad the thread ... I wonder if a multi-piece car body would take well to clear casting ? In other words , perhaps something along the lines of how a full-scale ("1:1") auto body is assembelled ; main "skeletal" structure ; separate quarter panels , fenders , shear panels , door skins , etc. , etc. Certainly this would be "easier" in 24th or 25th scale ; however , perhaps it'd be *do-able* in 16th scale as well . Just a thought ... Remember how hated the Revell Vette kit with multi piece body was???? Or the 59 Ford??? I can see the reaction if folks paid $40 and had to glue the body together!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Here are some rare ones : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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.