ReduitRetro

Wow! Great execution on this one, I think I need to add one of these to my build list. Nice job!

Wow! Nice clean build on this one! Factory fresh.

I'm really liking this one! Nice job!

I love the execution on this one! Great job!

Great job! The restoration on this one is top notch!

Extremely nice job!

Hello again friends! I finally finished this one after working on it off and on for over 10 years while other builds moved forward on my workbench. I modeled and modified this kit to exactly replicate a vehicle a close family member owned back in the late 70's. First of all, nothing from the kit was used under the hood. Everything from the cowl and firewall to the radiator core support, were either sourced from my parts box, extensively modified, or scratch built as needed to accurately portray the engine bay of the actual car. The kits original engine bay was basic and highly inaccurate, so using it was out of the question. The model features the largest available 400 cubic inch V8 with the infamous "Electronic Lean Burn System" (the larger 440 cubic inch V8 by that year in history was only available in 4-door police applications, or pickup's), full HVAC plumbing, spark plug wiring, vacuum lines, fuel lines, secondary wiring, cruise control module, ELB spark control computer (mounted on air cleaner), etc. The kits chassis pan was also fairly bland and simplified, so I grafted in a complete and more accurate front torsion bar suspension, along with adding shocks and a anti sway bar to the just as simplified rear axle as well. I also corrected the vehicles overall ride height, as well as its track width to be more accurate and appealing to the eye. Interior was the easiest to modify, only needing to remove the molded in manual window cranks from the doors, and adding the power window switches, along with adding the right outboard passenger a/c vent that was not replicated in the kit since it was originally a non a/c car. The exterior body features the extra cost "Brougham" vinyl top, optional chrome decor/molding trim package, fender turn signal indicators, deluxe bumper gaurd's, and factory steel "Rallye' wheels on whitewall radial tires. So, why did I spend so much time on such a ho-hum kit?...honestly, I couldn't tell you. I guess it's just for the love of the hobby. Anyway, thanks for stopping and taking a look friends. Until next time...happy modeling!

Nice job on this one! I have a few old Mopar kits in my collection from the infamous "Malaise" era. This one gives me some good ideas on a future build.

Really nice clean build, great job!

Nice job! I'm really digging that color too!

Thankyou! It was modeled after an actual family member's car from back in the day. I never knew what became of that car, but I'll definitely never forget it.

Thanks! I can't take full credit for the color combination, as I built this model from memory of a late uncle's '69 Barracuda he had in the early '70's that was this color. And what better way to represent a "fish" than silver metallic with blood red inside's huh?..lol!

Great looking wagon you got there sir! In the meantime...get well soon!

CLEAN! Nice job on this one!

I LIKE it! Good to see something on here of a build that's not too common. Good job!

Nice job! I think you may have given me the motivation to track one of these kits down for myself...hmmm!

That's a sharp looking bee! And looks like you also remembered what half the time I forget to do....scribe the panel lines! Nice job!

Hello again fellow model builders! I've had an extremely busy year, so this is the last of just 3 build completions for 2024. Anyway, this kit has been around in some form for over 40 years now, and I finally got around to purchasing a couple of them a few months ago from Round 2 Models. Right from the start upon opening the box, I could clearly see even after all these years nobody had ever fixed the extremely incorrectly molded front grille. First off, it looks like someone long ago got confused and mistook the inner grill for the outer grill surround that's molded in the body, and as a result the headlamps are severely undersized (see picture). So, my first task was to grind off the molded in headlamps, replace them with larger ones found in my parts box from a '77 Pinto Wagon, made headlamp bezel rings by using the open end of an X-Zacto knife barrel pressed into molding clay, and did a resin casting of them. I cleaned them up with careful sanding to fit around the replacement headlamps, reshaped the inner grill surround, made a mold of the now corrected new grill, and cast it in resin. Now I have a mold to do more in the future if needed. Speaking of casting, I also made and cast the hood scoops and seat headrests as well. Next, anyone familiar with vintage MPC kits know the underbody and suspension are molded as one piece, so detail is sparse at best. I left the rear suspension alone but went again to my parts box and found a suitable Mopar torsion bar front suspension and grafted it on to the underbody. Interior was left stock, with the exception of adding red flocking to the floor, a proper 4-speed shifter, and the headrests mentioned earlier. Under hood inner fenders from a '68 Dodge Dart were added, since again they were not represented correctly on the simplified kits underbody, as well as the brake master cylinder and booster, the wiper motor and washer container, horn and fan shroud. The kit supplied engine was used, but sparkplug wiring, heater hoses, vacuum lines, fuel lines, and carburetor return spring were added for detail. Finally, I added the hood scoops (which were an option on all Barracuda S models), the optional hood mounted turn signal repeaters, a pair of chrome exhaust tips, optional black vinyl top, and a set of Firestone raised white letter performance tires to complete the build. All in all, it was a fun build for sure. Thank you all again for stopping and taking a look, and have a Happy New Year!

Nice job!

Super slick paint job, and a great build!

HOLY COW! This has got to be one of the coolest and cleanest builds I've ever seen on here. NICE JOB!

Nice job!

One thing about building models of vintage vehicles, is to ALWAYS get the color right for the period...you nailed it perfectly! Very nice job my friend.

LOL!...I LOVE IT! You absolutely nailed the look, and yet another build I swear I can actually hear while looking at the pics. Looks like all that one needs to take this thing down the track, are nerves of steel, a good racing helmet, and current immunization shot records. Great job!

Nice job! I have a couple old Mopars on the work bench right now. Your build will inspire me to complete them, thanks!