Marc @ MPC Motorsports

My LHS and local HobbyTown USA store both carry Ambroid Pro Weld. Just bought a new bottle last week. Haven't tried Tamiya but I hear it is great stuff.

It is 1:20 scale and I am not aware of any aftermarket parts for it.

Here's my workbench on the last Saturday of November, 2009. The first car has occupied my time this week. It is an original MPC 1968 Barracuda body from the original "Hemi Under Glass" kit that I am restoring for a friend. It was a promo-style body until I opened up the hood. It is a decent survivor with all scripts intact, but there was some glue damage that needed attention. Another area that required attention was the front fender openings. A previous owner had filed back the rear edge of the openings, so I replace the lower fender with a patch panel from the last reissue of the AMT ex-MPC 1969 Barracuda. I still need to replace the missing fender trim. One more addition will be front vent windows as the HUG body was cast without them. This body just came out of the "purple pond'. This is an MPC 1972 Pontiac Firebird Formula that I received this week from an Ebay victory. Paid $25 for it. Formerly brush painted Testors gloss black, it has some model glue fingerprints. Nothing that cannot be repaired. The glass was not "hard glued" to the body, only tacked at the rear posts. I have another body just like this one, but the roof needs major work because the builder used a half tube of orange Testors to glue the glass, causing major meltage and warpage. The roof looks like it has double humps!!! I consider this new one a good find. Finally, my AMT '66 Mercury Cyclone annual is still on the bench, patiently awaiting final assembly. I've shown you mine, now let's see yours!

Well stocked...yes. Well organized...that depends on your definition of organized.

Drew, I have a mold for some resin tubs that I did for a buddy a few years back. Let me see if I can pour you a couple. All I have for resin right now is the fast setting Alumilite tan but I'll give it a try. Here's some pics of them. Let me know if you think these might work. Marc

That's cool!!! And, you just gave me the sick idea of using the Yenko decals on my Chevette when I build it. They look like they belong!!!

No uptop and it comes with a 455 motor.

My favorite kits have to be the MPC muscle car annuals, followed by their counterparts from AMT and Johan, and reissues thereof. Here's a few pictures of my stash. Not all these boxes contain unbuilt kits. Many are dismantled builders that happened to come with the vintage box. Many kits are hidden from view because they are stacked two deep on the shelving units. I also have a large plastic tub full of vintage builders in baggies and a number of resin repops of hard to find vintage muscle car kits. Also not shown is my collection of Aoshima wheel sets(sorry Lownslow ). I love restoring the vintage builders. To me, it is almost as much fun as finding and restoring a 1:1. The thrill of finding the car, dismantling it, seeing what work it needs, finding missing or hard to find parts. The hobby means different things to each of us, but the one element we share is the FUN!

George, Contact KDog @ Bandit Resins. He casts that hood and a 1971 GTX grille insert.

I'll second that!!! I have the '64 Cutlass and it is a beaut!!! I just ordered Modelhaus chrome and clear taillights for mine.

Ott lights are kinda pricy. I went with clamp on lamps with 150w equivalent true color compact flourescents.

Humidity is a primary cause. Where do you paint?

Same here, Shawn. Looking good and can't wait to see it finished. What are you using for rolling stock?

Went to the LHS and bought seven bottles of HOK paint.

Gregg, Awesome photos...thanks for posting!!!

George, This is the AMT kit. The MPC kit did not have an opening hatch. Kerc, Great job on the Deuce!!!

You're absolutely right, Bill. Johan really knocked these out of the park and as far as promo style chassis go, the Johan under the hood looks right and is miles ahead of the MPC annuals of the same era. Too bad they have the molded in exhaust and rear suspension.

Tamiya has a Titanium Gold acrylic paint that is a good match.

Thanks for the comparison. Gotta love those old AMT and MPC annuals. Can you tell me how close the fit of the Revell hood is on the AMT? Drag City Casting offers hoods for the Revell '65.

Mark, Thanks for the history on the MPC Charger kit. This is definitely one set of tooling that has been around the block a time or two. While the new kit is not up to the standard of the Revell Charger, it can be built into a decent kit with some patience and some basic modeling skills. If you want a better detailed chassis, look no further to the AMT 1968 Road Runner/1969 GTX/1970 Super Bee kit. That MPC Charger 500 was the first model I completed in 2002 when I returned to the hobby. If you get the opportunity to see the original 1968 and 1969 annuals up close and personal, you will find the proportions and details to be spot on and more accurate to the 1:1 than the much revered Revell kit. I like them so much that I have two 1968 builders, three 1969 builders and one mint unbuilt 1969 kit in my collection. If anyone would like comparison pics of the Revell body with an "original" MPC 1969 Charger annual body, I would be happy to oblige. Mark, the history your posted hopefull will show what a piece of history this kit really is. And for us long time builders, it is a trip back to the days of $2.00 model kits. Thanks for sharing. Marc

After a few day of on and off bench time, I've made significant progress on the Cyclone. I applied BMF to all the window trim. I'm out of practice so it took me a few sessions to complete. Also painted the headliner with Tamiya German Grey acrylic and the inside of the body with Testors Acryl Aircraft Interior Black. The interior assembly is complete. Shifter is the manual unit out of AMT's 1969 Olds 442 kit. Finally, began work on the engine assembly. Using the FE block from the AMT 1969 Torino Cobra and the heads from an AMT 1960 Starliner, it is painted to depict an aluminum FE motor. Cobra valve covers from AMT 1969 Shelby GT500 and the intake from the AMT Phantom Vicky kit. BMF was applied to the intake and valve covers prior to painting. There is a Cobra logo on the top of the intake too. Strictly a phantom engine, but cool nontheless. I'll give more details on the powerplant later in the week as I complete it. Marc @ MPC Motorsports

Thanks!!! I should have some updated pics later this weekend. R&R is the only one I know of that has a complete '66 Cyclone in resin. Contact Steve Kolar @ Star Models via www.resinrealm.net. Marc

Killer Camaro!!! And who said that these kits molded in colored styrene can't be built by pros? Is that metallic brown a factory color? I'm curious what paint you used.

Way cool!!! All it needs is a pair of rubber boots crammed between the bed and the cab.

We don't use soy sauce at our house either. Some might consider it a waste, but I just poured the sauce down the drain.