tim boyd

I also use this resource regularly and I completely agree - it's a fantastic resource. In this case, the chart represents the availability at the beginning of the year - with the V6X Sport Tape Stripe representing the "hockey" stripe being in Black only. This source is also among the best sources I've seen on mid-year updates, but they haven't captured everything in this area - yet. I've also noticed that they continue to add updates so it's a good idea to check back every few months. There are several '70 'cuda restorations that show the stripe in white, meaning either that it became available during the year, or (and this is possible) somebody got creative after the fact. I have never seen a survivor or 'cuda restoration with a red stripe, though. TIM

Bill...like you, I've been around Mopars (or at least,Mopars of this era) all my life (my professional work career was with a different manufacturer!) I've been aware of the white sport stripe some time now, but the Blue Shaker was a surprise to me as well.. Of course, I am relying here on what the professionals and the printed record says....TB

One of my favorite topics... 1968 there was also a (different) 1968 Bright Blue - often seen on '68 Roadrunners that still carried Chrylser's old paint code system - code QQ1 "Electric Blue" (Plymouth) and "Bright Blue Metallic" (Dodge). '69-'70 EB5 and '71-'73 GB5 as in John's note '74 B5 was yet another color..."Lucerne Blue Metallic" for both Plymouth, and Dodge. It was not as pure/intense a Blue as GB5. GB5 was discontinued/not available in '74 So...when people say "B5 Blue" in a generic way, they are actually talking about what could be four different paint colors. Certain magazine editors are the worst about this! TIM

Neil...that model is WAY cool....can you give any more background on the build? TIM

Fred...yep...the entire car would need to be B5 Blue Fire Metallic in order to have the Blue Shaker. But one could still have added a vinyl roof, and a white or black "Sport Tape Stripe", or since the B5 Blue Shaker was a mid year add, one could have added the "Longitudinal Strope Sttripe", so bottom line, plenty of potential variations in the build...just as Rob notes in his post directly above. TIM

Bingo! TB

Rob....right you are....now....anybody wanna' guess what blue it was? TB

Let's hope so, John! TIM

Jens...thanks for the comments and let me respond to your points based on the research and resources I have consulted. These resources include magazine articles on 'cuda restorations and survivors (dating from 1984 through 2013!), original factory dealer memos and order guides, and restoration guides and references from authors like Galen Govier, et al: * At the beginning of the model year, the "Sport Tape Stripe" (aka hockey stick stripe) was only available in Black. It also became available in White sometime during the model year. There is no indication it was ever offered in Red (though my memory suggested it), and it was not available in Silver. * I agree with you on the deletion of the wheelwell trim on Hemi 'cudas during the model year. As a personal preference I believe they are essential to the appearance of the car (and I have, ever since 1970 - not that I was strongly opinionated that the subject that far back!!!). The majority of restored and survivor Hemi 'cudas I have seen have them, though by no means do all have them. So unless someone is duplicating a specific 1/1 scale car, it becomes a choice for us as we build the kit. * Shaker hoods were eventually available in four colors by the end of the model year. Red, Organisol Black, and Astrotone Silver were available through most of the model year, and then one additional color was added at mid year. No one has documented what determined whether a car got a Black or Silver Shaker, as you say, there was apparently no order code between the two colors. The other two Shaker colors were restricted to cars that wore the same exterior paint color as the Shakers - e.g. Monochromatic. The Red Shaker also tied into the original availability of the Elastomeric rear bumper in red only, although it was not restricted to cars with red rear bumpers. * As for the fourth Shaker hood color, I'm not going to reveal it here - it was very rare in that it was a mid-year option, and I have never seen one personally. If someone guesses correctly, I will confirm it. Shaker hood colors are just one element of the '70 'cuda mystique. There's also the elastomeric front bumpers (available in nine colors), the painted racing mirrors, the expanded paint color availability of rear elastomeric bumpers at mid year, the addition of two exterior paint colors at mid year, the expansion of white with black components interiors to white with other accent colors at mid year. and on and on and on! Oh - and don't forget the vinyl top options, including "Mod Yellow" and 'Mod Blue' as someone commented earlier in this thread. None of the above is to suggest that this is the final, 100% accurate word on '70 'cudas - as we've learned time and time again - Chrysler back then seemed to change the rules on a moment's notice. But it does represent - to the best of my ability - what seems to be the most current areas of agreement among the "experts" that I respect. Thanks..TIM

George, both the front and the rear wheel wells are overly flared vs. the 1.1 scale car, the rear moreso than the front. I did not modify my build, but I was careful to keep the BareMetal trim as thin as possible (just like the 1:1) which also tends the draw the eye away from the overly emphasized flares. \ For my next build of this kit, I will remove most of the flares, reshape the front opening (if needed), then do the thin BareMetal foil again. I think that will be a nice enhancement/refinement and shouldn't be too difficult to pull off. Thanks for the compliments on the model! Best..TIM .

Curtis...haven't tried it but my semi-educated guess would be "yes". Cheers...TIM

Dave...be sure and let us know if that works! Thanks..TIM

I just checked mine, the '70 'cuda MPC kit has a separate grille insert that is inserted from behind the remainder of the grille assembly. It does have the red pinstripe element engraved, slightly proud of the remaining grille surface. You'd have to be a pretty gifted modeler to lay a consistent line of red paint along that engraved element. We're probably talking a width of 1/64" at the max. Or else find - or cut - some really, really thin pinstriping tape. Overall I think the Revell grille casting is more accurate, but the red line element does remain a detail to be added somehow. Good discussion and input from everyone on this one, thanks guys! TIM

Click on the link below for 21 pictures and captions showing all of what's new in this kit Revell just introduced last week. Here's the link, and thanks for looking! TIM http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/first-lookwhats-new/first-lookwhats-new/

David...you are exactly correct about the red molding (I call it a red "stripe"), but of course, you already knew that!. Revell did not include the red stripe, but they did include an excellent decal for the "Plymouth" badge that lies at the end of the right edge of the red stripe when viewed from the front (that would be, the far left side of the driver's side grille insert). They also did not raise the grille surface where the red stripe lies, so you can't effectively "drybrush" it either. I've already completed a second build of this kit for a different assignment, and on that one I was able to figure a way to do the pinstripe, but in silver instead of the correct red. For those of you now familiar with David's point, this red pinstripe is exceptionally thin, and that makes it really, really difficult to replicate in 1/25th scale and then apply in a straight line to a deeply recessed grille surface I'll bet someone in the aftermarket figures out a solution, but right now it's an open challenge to all you modelers out there! Hmm....maybe I could paint the entire recessed grille surface red first, then fill in the rest of the grille with hand-brushed flat black, leaving the horizontal red stripe in the middle? Best...TIM

Wow! The OnLine QuickBuild of the Revell '70 'cuda is finally finished. It took parts of eight days, and most of it was pure fun (a little hard not to get a tad stressed during final assembly today, but we made it). Here are a few views of the completed model.... Thanks everyone for your interest, your questions, your comments, and your enthusiasm! Now let's see YOUR builds of this kit! Best regards...TIM.

Lee...sorry for misunderstanding your initial question. Based on everything I have observed and read, not the double bubble/twin scoop hood was not an option for the Hemi. Best regards...TIM

Jim....interesting. I've got three of them now, one had no flash, the second had just a little bit on the floorpan/Unibody casting, and the third I haven't looked at closely yet but don't recall seeing any. Add your experience and that's a lot of variation for a new tool. Hmmm TB

Greg...that is sharp! The color scheme is really cool too! When you get the Revell kit, you will find it to be a fascinating comparison to the MPC kit. Let me know your conclusions....Christmas is not THAT far away! TIm

David...that is the cleanest '75 I've seen in a long, long time. If the '74 B and E body 360's are rare, a '75 has be to be mega rare! TIM Thanks Don! Best...TIM

Yes, it was! The E58 360 is one of the most misunderstood muscle ear engines of all time. Most car book authors call it a dog and they don't have the first clue what they are talking about. I have first hand experience here, having purchased new a '73 Duster 340 and then factory ordering a new '74 RoadRunner 360. The 340 would wind more but the 360 had mid-range torque that the 340 could only dream of. And that was in a much heavier B body vs. the A body 340. It was a great car - kept it for 16 years and 140,00 miles, but like most Mopars back then, the body rusted at the mere hint of moisture or salt. Sigh...TIM

Paul...ME TOO! I really don't care for that combo pack they offer in the hobby stores now - I just want the wax. I recently got on their website and could not find this product either. I ended up buying some 1.1 scale "Carnauba Wax" IIRC, but I haven't tried it yet so I don't know if its the same product or not. Hmmm....TB

Confirming several items from Bill's post based on my research on the same subjects... * Road lamps were standard on the '70 'cuda (but optional on the '71). * For the first half of the '70 model year, the only color available with both front AND rear Elastomeric (body color) bumpers was FE5 Rallye Red. (At mid-year, it got very complicated - way too much to explain here.) * The standard 'cuda black tailamp cove and surround molding Bill correctly references is, unfortunately, omitted in Revell's body engraving. You'll need to wing this to make for a fully accurate model - not easy to do, but can be done. This was one of the reasons I chose Black for my QuickBuild color - at least it's not as noticeable an omission with that body color. * One other point, on the 340 cars only, E60-15 (not F60's like the Hemi) on 15"x7" rims were standard. The size difference would be almost imperceptible in 1/25th scale, however. (As an aside, the 1970 'cuda and challenger programs must have been a product planner's dream - or nightmare - due to it's complexity! For restorers and modelers...well....) TB

Time for quick update - spent the last day waxing the paint, prepping all the body components, and doing a ton of BareMetal foil work. If everything goes well, the next update should show the finished project. Here's an in-progress shot...

David - Oh man, that breaks my heart. Sandpebble Biege is not my idea of a great color, but a 340 4-speed survivor? $25k is a lot to swallow under any context, but I agree with you, that sounds like it would have been a really good move to get it. So I share your pain! I also had a chance to grab an FE5 '74 'cuda with the E58 360 hi-po in the late 1990's - it was around $18K at the time IIRC correctly and it great shape. I passed too. Like you said, what was I thinking? As for the moldings, yes it's those stripes above and below (and in the front and the back end) of the molding that would be so hard to pull off, yet they are what gives the option its character. Maybe someone in the aftermarket will figure out a solution? TIM