vamach1

This is one my long list of subjects I want to tackle someday. I was thinking of using the gearbox fans transaxle so from a GT40 kit. It's unfortunate no kit manufacturer of the many variations of this subject ever did a version with engine detail. Good luck and looking forward to your progress.

Use the leaf spring "helpers" included in the kit.

Is ACME on the same level of quality? It does not look like it is.

I have managed to piece together a buildable model from several glue bombs. It's on my very long list of builds to get to someday. Picture to be posted in a few minutes.

I took the Cobra to the Sully Plantation show. I've been to the Warrenton show but it's about 45 minutes away for me.

I was in the Clearwater area on vacation and went to the House of Hobbies on Route 19. There used to be two locations and they combined them about 15 years ago. I rememer the one in Clearwater on Ft. Harrison St and it was packed to the ceiling with kits and RC cars and trains. The store is a little better organized with a huge model selection including many older kits. There are boxes in every aisle and you cannot even see everything. There are a few rows of diecast models going back to at least the 1990's. If you are on vacation or live down there it is well worth checking out.

The grille may not fit flush with the front end. Sand it down until it fits. Also note that the piece should be body color except for the edges with the grille flat black and the bumper of course chrome. I detest the engine compartment and have built some versions using a resin inner fenders and a more realistic radiator and added a pair of horns.

This article is from July 1997. The full article is nine pages long. Despite the builder Mr. McDonell making a few gaffs (painted bumper - should be chrome, rear panel should be painted black and not have the honeycomb part, and the wheels should be Magnum 500's or trim rings with FOMOCO hubcaps) he did build the best 71 Mustang I have seen. He goes into great detail about all the scratch pieces he made (ram air and lots of other underhood pieces). One other nitpick is that no 71-73 Mustangs came with rear louvers - they were an aftermarket item only. Since the full article is too large to attach here I will email it anyone for the asking. Either send me an email or PM or post your email in this message and I will forward the files (about 8 meg total) to anyone that want a copy. I will be on vacation starting Tuesday for five days so please be patient if I do not reply right away.

I think Leno can afford to pay for the repairs or have his guys do it. He is Mega rich.

I'll preface my comments by saying I have owned five real 72-73 Mustangs. Two (yes two of the fifty) sprint convertibles, two 72 Mach1's and a 73 convertible. As I have mentioned on other threads, there are some resin parts out there from Missing link to fill in the gaps of the AMT and MPC kits. They offer variations of the stock 71-72 Mach1 Grille, standard grille and I believe the 73 Mach1 and standard grill as well as the correct size 71/72 urethane and 71/72 chrome bumpers. So, with the "correct" parts one can build a Standard fastback or a 71 Boss, 72 Mach or 73 Mach1. If one chooses to use the 71/72 stripes (whether an Mach1 or not) the underside should be painted the same color to match the decals. The hood only came in the flat blackout if the car had ram air. All Boss 351's had the hood painted black or silver without the tapering like the Mach1. You can have special ordered a 351 (yes 2 bbl) ram air Mustang in any body style in 1972 with the black hood with of course the NACA scoops. As others have said, you built a nice model that is sort of a mix of a 72 and 73 which is fine - I see real Mustang owners do it all the time. I would dab some semi-gloss black in the scoop openings. The non ram-air cars had a plastic block off plate in the scoop. Lastly, Scale Modeling by Chris has some nice 351 Cleveland valve covers which would make the engine look more authentic. As I was typing this I saw you are in South Africa so is the USA we take a lot for granted but model parts are only half a world away. Keep up the nice work - I wish I had the time to build some of my 71-73's Mustangs to do these kits justice.

That's an amazing transformation and Mr. T would be envious of those guns. Hats off to you and keep it going. God Bless.

Of course that side stripe on the box art is not "stock." Let's just say I'm not holding my breath for any improvements in this version. A set of 73 only factory aluminum wheels would be cool but that's not going to happen.

Oh heck yes. I still have my 72 351C Mach1.

Underside of Diamonds are Forever Mach1. Note chrome trim between red and black.

I'll add some comments to the discussion. The main difference between 71-72 and 73 Mustangs is the front bumper and gille. Mixing the 73 larger bumper (Boss 351 kit) with the sport lamp 71/72 grille is flat out wrong. 71/72 Mustangs had a narrow chrome number (including the Boss) except for the Sprints and Mach1 that had the urethane bumper. All 73s had the larger urethane bumper and Mach1 and non Mach1 grilles. The 71/72 had either a stock grills except for the Boss, sprints and Mach1 that had the sport lamp grille. As far as both kits go, neither has anything resembling the correct 351C (Boss or 2v or 4v Cleveland) or 429 CJ or SCJ engines. The molded in chrome trim is correct for a Mach1 that came without the side stripes on the 71/72. Off course the molded in Mach1 emblems are incorrect but engraved very nicely. All 73's had the Mustang script on the front fenders. The 71/72 Mach1 and 71 Boss did not have any Mustang scripts, only the black or argent decals. You pointed out many other "flaws" in the body. If you are building anything other than a coupe I'd recommend adding the side sport mirrrors. The engine compartment is almost a lost cause not having a brake booster, washer fuild container, shock tower braces much less realistic fender wells. The exhuast system on all the kits is correct. There should be a single exhaust system (6 cyl up to the 351C 2v) and dual exhuast with mufflers, not resanotors or a transverse muffler. None of the 71-73 Mustangs had vents in the rear of the hood. The honeycomb rear panel ea only on the Mach1. The Grande had a plain black panel and the standard models were body color. The area on the Boss was painted black or argent. One some other posts I've shown some parts I have had to cast to rememdy some of these issues and Missing Link resin has some really nice chrome bumpers and correct 71/72 Mach1 and standard grilles. The NACA hood was standard on the Boss and Mach1 and a special order option on a base Mustang. Needless to say you can spend a LOT of time to build a more accurate model of whatever 71-73 Mustang you desire. Whenever I look a my two Danbury Mint models I realize there are light years of difference between the AMT and MPC kits issued 45 years ago and the beautiful DM diecasts. We know the downside, the high cost and lack of color choices (pewter and blue) but they set the bar really high when compared to a bunch of plastic pieces. I would not overlook building a Europa version - Keith Marks has the decals and there were very unique Shelby authorized editions.

Round 2 had a box on display at the NNL East show. I do not recall the release date - nothing on the round2 website.

Superb builds. I built the 1/16 one many years ago and you've inspired me to redo mine that is in pieces.

You may want to paint the front soon so the color matches.

Yeah - the NASCAR models that scale have engines.

This one?

You did notice her name right. I do not want to stereotype but I'd guess 95% of car modelers are male.

Are there any support groups out there for people obsessed with a particular year and model of car? On a serious note, I plan to build at least some of theses versions over the coming years. I think I can stop buying any more. On the list are 71 429Mach, Boss 351, Europa, Shelby prototype (fantasy), Drag car (TBD), 72 convertible, coupe, Yellow Mach1 like mine, Bond Mach1, stock car, sprint fastback, 73 mach1, fastback, Eleanor, Warren Tope racer and Endurance racer (SPA). A future post will show all the parts I've collected to build some of these as close to factory stock as possible.

I think the picture is from the 75/80 drag way in Maryland. It's in a spot where there are no bleachers in the background. There is a guardrail and that's about it. It's a 1/4 mile track that goes uphill at the end.

BUMP. Anyone?? Bueller ..... I may have to resort to making an 73 Eleanor and a 72 based upon the 67 Shelby version with scoops, etc.

Grabber green is a nice color for a Boss 429.