JS23U

Nice build, Tim ! You know that white hockey stripes were not available from the factory? Concerning the wheel wells: Starting in about mid-January 1970 the Hemicudas got the wheel well trim (chrome) deleted. This was only on the Hemis, all others kept their chrome trim. Could be of help when correcting those areas on the kit. About the shaker colors I am pretty sure that the silver shaker was standard on early cars unless you ordered a red car. Later in the year black was available. My guess is that black replaced silver on the shakers as there was no option code to choose if you wanted silver or black. 71 shakers were all black, hence it would make sence to me that late 70 shakers were already black. Maybe someone knows more about the red shaker cars. As I know several red cars with silver shaker there must have been a connection to something else, maybe the colored bumper group or the painted sport mirrors. I would doubt any other color available than these three as Chrysler (or the manufacturer of the shaker bubbles) had difficulties getting them painted, as someone already wrote. AFAIK they found a solution but it was quite expensive, so they limited it to red. I have seen sevaral body colored shakers on Cudas as well as Challengers. But I'd doubt every single one unless someone shows me some good proof like a photo from the day of delivery or something like that. Even then the dealer could have painted it...

I just received my replacement glass parts from Revell. Took about six weeks but as I am overseas it is absolutely ok for me. Thanks a lot to those Revell people !

Jeff, that is my wish also. A regular wheelbase long bed truck is a beauty, a camper special with the lwb like the AMT seems to be quite exotic and not really appealing to my eyes.

A 72 kit should be white and should have t-roof along with metal axles. Some Javelin/AMX kits came with the 73/74 body (no t-roof) but the 72 rear bumper/grille chrome part. This leaves a gap around the rear grille. Another hint for this is the red plastic. Maybe your "72" is one of these? Johan didn't bother to change the box after the 72 model year. The 73 and 74 issues came in the same box. Just as the 74 to 76 Johan Eldorado kits all came in the 74 box. Your 71 sounds like being the Donohue kit.

From what I know: JoHan 71 and 72 kits (and promos) had the T roof, which is correct for both years and would be correct for Javelins (non AMX) as well. The roof of AMX and Javelin is always the same in a given year. JoHan 73 and 74 kits (no more promos) had a flat roof, which again is correct. The JoHan kits molded in color are kits that came on the market after the annual run. I don't know the exact date but I would guess in the eighties. Most of them are the ones with the 73/74 taillights and colored taillight bezel. Early reissues had the 73/74 body but the 72 rear bumper/grille which leaves a gap around the rear grille as the 73/74 bezel is bigger than the 72 egg-crate grille, like Raoul wrote. The 71/72 cars didn't always have a vinyl or contrasting color top. I'd say this was an option, but not sure. Except for grille, taillight and the T-roof body the JoHan kit stayed more or less the same over the years. 71 had a different steering wheel. Starting with the 73 the model got small bumper guards. The 71 and 72 promos had the wheels like the Rebel Machine, I don't know about the 71 AMX, but at least all 72-74 AMX glue kits had Magnum style wheels. Maybe the 71, too.

Are you sure that the box and the contents belong together? The box shows a 1970 car, the model is a (long nose) 69 car. I'd say the model is from a different kit. As I heard it both versions of the "Mach Won" were identical except for boxes. Maybe some small differences but nothing big. Also, the body of the Mach Won was more or less stock. Edit: At least one ot the Mach Wons was molded in yellow.

I once had that metallic blue version. Although knowing the age of the molds I was so disappointed of both the parts quality and the cab proportions (windshield, as Ed wrote) that I finally sold it and never again bought one. But I love this year's cabin because of the wraparound windshield. It is the most appealing year for me of all those "early" Ford Trucks.

@Gabriel, PM sent !

I bought a 70 Bonneville hardtop body (for the Model King convertible issue). That one is really nice and I had absolutely no problems with him. But it's a few years ago now...

I tried Dave as I mail ordered several items from him directly in the past. I am pretty sure I will get at least an answer. I'll try Revell if he'd neglect.

In my kit the front and rear window "glass" was broken from careless packing. Should I contact the Model King or Revell? Dave's email is on the box...

JoHan did a 68 Ambassador convertible. AMC did not ... AMT and MPC each made a 76 Corvette convertible, Chevrolet didn't. The 1961 Corvair annual had convertible/coupe building options. AFAIK Chevrolet brought a Corvair convertible starting in 62 or 63.

I would bet that at least the kit Hardtop and kit convertible came out of the same mold, just using different inserts for the roof section vs. sun visors. Maybe even the promo mold is the same one.

In my opinion the Revell wheels don't look deep enough. That's the reason I am looking for replacements, as well.

Anything new on this topic? Will the Demon kit be based on the new tool Duster?

The Challenger SE had the Code JH29, or JS29 as R/T SE. There was no JP. This was correct for the Barracuda, where there was no "29", but the different car lines were BH (Barracuda), BP (Barracuda Gran Coupe) and BS ('Cuda) with "23" being Hardtop and "27" convertible. The Power Bulge hood (twin scoop) was available on base Challengers starting at around mid year (Dec./Jan 1970), although it is quite rare. I don't think it was restricted to any engines, so technically even the /6 was probably available with it. The Challenger 340 had the PB-hood as standard as well. The Challenger 340 basically was an R/T with a smaller engine and without the R/T badging and some other options missing. The shaker hood had limited availability, as John said. That led to the fact that some Hemi Challengers got through with the black T/A-hood from the factory, if the original buyer wanted a fresh air hood during the time the Shaker was not available. Shakers might even have been available on some base Challengers, but I'm not aware of any for 1970. In 71 there were several. But AFAIK the least engine must have been the 340, as the shaker base plates were all different for the particular engine because of carburetion and height of the engine. Chrysler probably didn't tool up any parts for a combination of /6 or 318 with the Shaker option. How many would have been sold ? Jens

The one from the top of the scalemate-page is the Marui-kit which I also have. Here are some pics of the body, excuse my lousy photographing abilities The body is one without the bolted on flares. It is a GTS version but is lacking decals. I think the one on the lower left of the scalemate-page is an older version of the Marui kit which has decals. This Pantera came to a US-car meet over here in Germany on the last weekend. Seems to be an early US-version with its side markers (usually no side markers on European cars) and the small bumpers. The valve covers and air cleaner have "DeTomaso" and "Pantera" scripts which makes me think they might be original equipment. The valve covers were very thick and looked like aluminum die-cast parts that were polished afterwards !

Hi Jeff, yes, I have the kit with black plastic. Is from the late 80s, I think. I can post pics, but it would take a while...

Yes, they did. It was based on the AMT annual as the Revell kit was not already available back then. I think they offerered more than one version.

I would appreciate a Mangusta as well. Concerning the Pantera I like the Marui kit best. It has very nice proportions and is quite crisp. Is a curbside, though. But I can live with that.

I am glad I have a (built) kit of it. And even that one was expensive enough...

The front looks quite similar to the 69 Cutlass, the rear fender tips remind me of the 1969/70 Olds Toronado.

Yes. And the Buick Wildcats from those two years weren't ugly cars, either. And have also never been made in 1/25...

Was there ever any model of a 1967 or 68 Olds 88? Like this one (1968): If not, this would be my wish for some of the master-builder/caster. I would love to have a model of this overlooked car. 1969/70 is nice as well, but not as exciting as 67/68.

To make it even worse, the original JoHan annuals of both these years, which are Newyorkers, have a shorter wheelbase shared with the DeSoto model. So you can't build a correct NYer either... New Yorker and 300 need 126 inches, DeSoto has 122.