Arjay 396

That looks just about as nice as your B5 Blue Challenger!

Tres cool! A little detail painting and some BMF will turn that thing into a real nice curb-side representation. If I ever find one in 4C Ivy Glamour Metallic, I'm grabbing it!

Typical for truck models given that they have to fit into a standard retail box that slips into a standard shipping carton. Most of the pickups sold by Maisto, Jada, Motormax, and the like are similar -- not quite a standard scale but attractive models nonetheless. That Silverado looks swell, enjoy.

Walk away from their P-40E Warhawk. One studied look at the wing in planform will tell you that it's hopelessly hosed with no practical method of correction. Go with the Hasegawa or ProModeler kit instead.

Indeed......I could've sworn it was a one-piece vacu-formed part. Very ingenious!

Vacu-formed? Looks nice and tidy!

Just a wee bit o' wobble, laddie.

Yeah, there were some minor cosmetic differences. And of course, the Challenger's wheelbase was two inches longer. But I think the mechanical specs regarding powertrain options, brakes, tranny, and rear axle type and gearing were identical.

Some solid modeling there, JC! Rawk on!

I'm pretty familiar with the '70 Challenger since I owned one and if Plymouth followed the Dodge protocols as far as options go, I might be able to help. IIRC the only thing you couldn't get on a 'Cuda was the goofy "opera" rear window that came with the Challenger's SE package.

Gorgeous! Reminds me of a Cosworth.

+1, same here. I'll figure out how to fix it......one of these days. I need some Saturn Yellow in my collection!

My biggest issue with Welly's GSX is the ride height -- scaled up to 1:1 it would sit taller than my 4X4 pickup! And the fuel tank extends so low that it could double as a spare-tire well. Both of those attributes are amplified by what appear to be 80-series profile tires - they look like they belong on an 18-wheeler. I think you're right about the scale -- a bit smaller than 1/25th (and certainly not the advertised 1/24th). I can live with that but I just can't countenance the model's other peccadillos. One of these days though I'll figure it out.

Welcome to the forum, Bob. I really enjoyed your narrative which was posted elsewhere previously -- you really should write a book. Perhaps you might enlist the help of other former Monogram colleagues from the various model divisions as co-authors to broaden the potential appeal. I've been modeling since 1957 and I'd love to read about a modeling company's inner workings, especially the R&D and engineering aspects. I was an acquaintance of Bill Bosworth (of Accurate Miniatures) and a better modeler I've never met. Thanks for sharing your fascinating experiences.

I don't think you'll be disappointed, sir. And if you ever happen to pick up one of Welly's new '68 Olds 442 replicas, let me (or us) know your impressions. I've been waffling on that model since its release. I'm hoping they did a better job with it than their '70 Buick GSX. I've given up on that thing several times.

This is one of Welly's later releases and I took a chance on it, seeing as how they've been hit-or-miss for me in terms of shape, detail, and actual scale. This Challenger is advertised as being 1/24 but it's actually 1/25 as can be seen in the comparison photo with an M2/Castline '71 Challenger R/T (cars are aligned at the rear). Regardless, I was actually banking on that because I wanted a 1/25th scale Challenger for that portion of my collection. The model as issued has exceptionally good lines and both the stance and ride height seem correct. The paint on my example was nearly flawless, representing Dodge's K-2 Go Mango (Welly merely calls it "orange"). The rallye wheels look good and the rubber is adequate for the model's price point. The interior seems for the most part correct but would benefit from some skillful brush-painted details. Under-the-hood appointments are a bit weak but understandable given that the car is basically a toy. Two versions are offered -- the "orange" edition and another that seems close to B-5 Blue. I detailed the chromed front grill assembly and rear backlite with flat black paint, gave the wheels some flat aluminum to tone down the chrome, then brushed some steel on the center caps. Tampo-printed AMT Polyglas GT's were a slip-on replacement for the stock tires. I also drilled out the ends of the exhaust megaphones. Time permitting, I'm going to disassemble the model and animate the interior with a proper set of instruments for the dashboard and some brown paint to simulate the walnut overlays on the console and door panels. All in all though, a pretty decent model for the paltry sum of fifteen bucks. I plan on buying the blue version as well.

That's a pretty accurate representation of B5 Blue......gorgeous!

A survivor of those paint-ball games! I think it looks pretty cool.

Thanks for the clarification, Walter. I was actually overseas when these cars came out and the 'Cuda catalog didn't precisely specify the rim type.

I got a few licks in last night -- the heater hoses are mocked up and I installed cables on the battery. With any luck at all I might finish this thing by Christmas.

+1 Bill......it's a 8-3/4" differential.

By "other wheel" are you referring to the Magnum 500 rim? IIRC when a buyer ordered a 'Cuda with the Hemi option, 15-inch wheels came along for the ride. Standard were the black, 6-slot "police" wheels with dog-dish hubcaps OR the 15x7 rallye rim. Chrysler never offered the Magnum 500 type in a 15-inch diameter (as Ford did) so they'd be inappropriate for a stock Hemi Cuda.

Absolutely! Here's a Johnny Lightning '66 Chevy II in Butternut Yellow that I "tuned up" with a set of Danbury Mint Corvette wheels and tires.

In case there's still some interest in this topic, here's a couple of pics of the 1:1 Cuda grille for years 1972 through 1974......

A no-nonsense upgrade that really adds to the model, Bill......congratulations! I too am a wheel snob and I've had to resort to constructing "composites" scrounged from different sources, especially when trying to improve some of the Johnny Lightning models. It's a bear for sure but well worth the time and effort. I've got a whole box of nice FM/DM wheels and tires just waiting for me to get inspired and install them on the cars that so desperately need them.