Bob Ellis

Stuntman, that is excellent work. True, you are done considering a whole '71 MPC bumper from Modelhaus. You might try to trim off the lights . You have to buy the black inserts too. Look at the current ERTL / Round2 '72 bumper. I think it could be modified into a '71 after trimming off the lights. Just needs a horizontal chrome strip in the center.

MPC Gangbusters come with arsenal

You pretty much need a color analyzer or formula. I find most photos confusing and lead to the wrong conclusions and arguments. Giving the ability of a program like photoshop and such, and artificially and by nature, photos can change appearance of colors.

Stuntman, Modelhaus sells the MPC '71 Chevelle grille and it fits the AMT '72 body okay with a little shimming. If you scratch build one, I would be curious to see it. I decided to stay with the AMT grille. When I glued in the '71 headlights and turn signals to the '72 body, it sort of sealed my fate. I can not fit the MPC version anymore.

Comparing the two models with the same lens makes sense. Both Catalinas look the same length to me. I guess the 62 is the ERTL recent? I think Dave's model looks great. The only thing I see is that little flip up at the rear side window to the roof bottom (C post). I could fix that while building the model, but if Dave can fix it, all the better. I would like to buy a few of these 61s for myself. Great work Dave.

Those two-tones are the best. Looks great.

I built the 22 fords

I think the 32 Fords would swap the engines too.

I can't tell for sure, but it appears the camera is lying a bit. One shot is taken far away and the other taken at a foot or less making one more skewed from the other. The model could be correct, yet by optical illusion, looks incorrect. I can't believe the model is off 8 scale inches, when a lot of work was done measuring it.

Ron, thanks for the compliment. My '71 was mostly useless. I am guessing yours is a lot better. You would think Round2 would make a run of a '71 from their 1970-1972 Chevelle tools? Wouldn't be that difficult.

nice

Something happened to this MPC GTO kit in '70s. I think it became a modified stocker or NASCAR. In any case, when it returned in 1980 or so, it was different, just like the Chevelle kit. Some of you have seen the '70 GTO with a separate nose piece that the original never had. The answer is find an old rear bumper or buy one from Modelhaus.

Looks great. Did GM own Opel back then? In some ways it reminds me of a '37 Chevy.

You chose a good color

Glad you had fun building it

Worked on the sides to fix the odd shape. The turn signals are test fitted with the 71 grille. Its a little dull. The boot is okay now.

Look at the old AMT on top compared to the recent Revell 1970. My goal is to make the AMT equal to the Revell which has a very nice shape. Off with the emblems. The weren't that great anyways. Will replace with Model Car Garage etch items.

The sides of the AMT Chevelle leave a lot to be desired. It's just plain wrong and has been since the tool was created in 1970. I scratched the side to show the error. Looks like they copied an artist drawing with shadows and reflections. I am going to teach this old dog some new tricks.

I picked up a gluebomb AMT 1971 Chevelle. All I could save was the headlights, front bumper, and turn signals. I also had a sorry AMT recent release 1972 Chevelle. I decided to marry the parts together and make something interesting. I figured it should be a convertible too.

It turns out that the Modelhaus MPC '71 and '72 Chevelle bumpers fit on the AMT '72 Chevelle. I believe a 0.010" shim is necessary as the head not quite as wide as the opening; better slightly narrow than too big. Here is a '71 bumper set into an AMT '72 so that if a '71 is your interest, it can be done. The MPC rear bumpers fit the back too but set in a little too far. Shimming is required again.

I use alot of Evergreen styrene because it bonds to the other plastics well. Not sure all types are the same

I use it straight and sometimes still takes time to remove paint. Really depends on how thick the paint (repeated scrapings) and whether the paint ate into the plastic.

In my opinion, the original MPC '72 Annual kit had the best body shape and emblems. Maybe because MPC got the promo contract. You need to find this original kit because MPC turned it into a NASCAR Hurtubise race car. The SSlasher and SS454 '80s issues were quasi restored after Hurtubise but really aren't too good. The turn signals on the front of the SSlasher are horrible. I believe they don't include the special SS steel wheels that the original kit had. Modelhouse has them. The AMT '72 sort of survived. Even when new, it had a funky body line on the front fenders above the wheel opening to the doors. To me, it was based on an artist rendering of a reflection or shadow. I guess it can be reshaped. The MPC has the correct shape (even with the SSlasher version). The Revell is a '70. The body shape may be the best, and some have said so. I wonder if buying Modelhaus '72 MPC bumpers could be married to this kit to make a perfect '72? You have to create turn signals. The 1980s AMT Red Alert or street machine '72 is second best after the original MPC annual kit. Recent issues of the AMT '72 are disappointing. I have been using them for parts only. The front and rear bumpers are NG. The body is extremely tired. Compare it to the crisp Revell '70 and you will be amazed. In order of choices I suggest; find an original MPC '72, find a AMT Red alert or Street Machine, create a perfect '72 using the Revell body. I guess it is possible to fix a SSlasher using Modelhaus bumpers and wheels. With some Evergreen styrene and Model Car Garage etched emblems, it might be pretty good too. You could buy a promo and cut it open too. I am curious what others may suggest. Sorry for the long answer.

Chris, You are correct, and I deleted that Red Alert picture because I found another with SS on the rear bumper. The one with SS on the rear was chrome in the AMT sealed bag. So, I assume that is correct (Red Alert has SS on the rear bumper) and the other was a bumper from a '71 mixed up in a pile.

Too bad AMT a the bowtie on the '72 grille because their was nothing but a small "Chevrolet" in the bottom left side of the real Malibu grille. Otherwise, you would have a perfect non SS grille for a 72. The '71 didn't have SS on the rear, but it's on the grille. The Red Alert did have SS on the grille and a SS on the rear bumper. I am going to check out if the MPC grille from Modelhaus will fit. I think it will be too narrow but it's worth a try. If too narrow maybe shims will help? The MPC bumpers have better defined SS badges as the AMT versions look more like noodles.