ClassicDarts

I meant that the wheel/tire size was accurate for the tooling's original subject, but that when they made it into the GTZ, they didn't bother to make the wheels larger. I guess just so they could keep using the same tires & wheelbacks from the original mpc kit? Not that they couldn't / shouldn't have tooled up new ones for the upcoming re-release... maybe they did?

I guess the model is accurate in that sense... in that it started out as an (MPC) base model promo didn't it? I can't really remember what it looked like assembled, (except that I liked how it turned out) but the '88 or so MPC issue was one of the first kits I ever had. (Maybe even THE first)

It's a little disappointing, sure. But, I can wait. I didn't think we'd ever see a kit of a stock '64-66 Barracuda again. Something I've wanted to see for years... without paying hundreds of dollars for an original unbuilt kit.

Same for both cars... '70-'74. '75 was the first year for the wraparound rear window.

Nicely done! I don't think I've ever seen this kit before. I guess the real car has taillights from a Monza hatchback... the kit version has not only those, but the entire rear hatch from one? That's what it looks like, at least.

I know people cast different '72-80 Dodge truck grills, the '79+ hood and even the '72-76 tailgate with the chrome Dodge script emblem molded into it, but what about the '72-76 / '79-80 front valance with the turn signals in it? The piece between the grill and front bumper... that's the one part I've never seen offered in resin. (it's in the '72-76 kits and even the post '78 kits with quad headlights "Fire Fighter" etc) It's not a huge detail, but just curious.

I love this idea. Now that I think about it, I'm almost surprised a Lumina APV was never issued in any form... seems like it would've been ripe for an early-mid 90's AMT dealer promo. Maybe not a full kit necessarily, but I'd buy one if there was.

Excellent build. I'm looking at builds of this kit because I think I'm finally going to start on the one I have. Looks like you added some shims between the chassis plate and bed? From what I've noticed, if this kit is just built box stock, the lower bodyline on the cab and box never lines up properly. It's often a little off on 1:1's too, regardless of whether it's a '72, '93 or any year in-between... BUT on real ones, the bed is usually slightly higher than the cab's line. Whereas the kit's box sits a fair bit too low. Yours looks perfect! Not a huge detail, but it's the kind of thing that would bother me, even though I stink at builds. (I have good attention to detail, but coupled with crappy dexterity and a lack of patience) haha edit: while I'm on the subject, I might as well mention it; the 2019 reissue includes decals for the grill's turn signals (the clear kind that '77s and '78s until the mid-year change had. Trucks built after Feb. '78 had amber front turn signals) They're not really necessary, but I've never seen anyone use them for a build. Do they look awful if applied / don't fit properly?

My brother bought the 1/25 MPC '77 Trans Am a while ago (the reissue with blackbird car on the box top recolored to blue) with the sole intention of building it as the custom Trans Am from "The Wraith" (1986) I brought up the fact that there were some early 80's MPC firebird kits that had a rear spoiler very similar to the movie car. Primarily, this one came to mind; The '84(?) issue Custom Firebird and then thought of the '82 War Eagle Cafe Racer (which, I think, uses the exact same rear spoiler) then later, the AMT Camaro Cheverra came to mind (and is arguably the closest to the one on the movie car) obviously, they'd all require at least some modification.. and the entire front spoiler would have to be scratch-made, but probably not as difficult to do. At least having a starting point for the whale-tail spoiler would make things easier. Anyway, I do pretty much all of my models as close to stock as possible most of the time, so I have a good amount of custom parts from mostly 70's and 80's kits that I never have any intention of using in the off-chance anybody has that one part from any of the above kits. Then again, the only real reason to own any of these would be to have such over the top parts. But what the hell... figured I'd ask anyway.

Same here... maybe not this winter, but have one and I've never built this kit before. I'll also add that I think this build of this kit is the first I've ever seen where the grille looks right. Every other one I can recall seeing looked like the grille was put in upside-down. (in too far along the top, and sticking way out along the bottom) Nice work, Jim I guess it's because 1:1 '79s have an ever so slightly different angle to the grille and header / filler panels... the fenders' leading edges have the same angle as the '75-77s, but the header panel and grille are a tinge more upright. Whereas the mpc model just kept the '75-77 shape with an updated '79 grille. So, even though it isn't 100% accurate, having it fit the angle of the '75-77 grille looks way better to me than flipping it upside-down to try and compensate for the difference... as the difference is pretty subtle on the actual car, never mind a 1:25 scale model.

This build inspires joy-joy feelings in all those around it. You look GREAT today!

even worse than the mpc '67 gto circa the last 40-45 years? if so, that's pretty bad.

Damn close! I'm a Newfie. Although I did live in Dartmouth for a couple of months 22 years ago. lol @NYLIBUDI could be wrong, but I think every subsequent Monogram fox body Mustang kit was derived from this '79 style tooling. So if you wanted to put a later frontend on it (since it'd be undoubtedly be easier to find a newer one) I guess all you'd have to do is shave off the molded-in front fender extensions.

With those taillights, it's a '79-82. Although you could adapt it to a newer m/y without too much trouble, I imagine. edit: haha, this is the second time me and Can-con have replied to something at almost the exact same time... and we're both Canadian... AND we're both named Steve!! Conspiracy?!!

I was thinking the same thing... probably not very? I assume all you'd really have to do is graft the stock rear wheel openings from the '65 onto the HUG's body... basically DIY tool backdating?! Since the HUG's body tooling is just modified from the '66 promo version in that one detail. Sure, '65s and '66s have some slight differences in their front and back edge bodylines, but I'm sure the rear wheel openings are the same on both as far as the 1:1's are concerned. That, and cut the HUG's hood from its one-piece body, if you didn't want it to be a curbside. Not sure that I, personally would have that easy of a time doing it, but someone who actually knew what they were doing probably would. I'll definitely buy one when it comes out, either way. I'd most likely do it box-stock as I'm kind of a novice. I did have the thought of trying to do it as a '66 though, as I have an un-started HUG kit. And I would like to have a stock '66... as the one in the movie "The Wraith" is what introduced me to the first generation Barracuda when I was a kid. To this day I like the first generation more than the other two. I know MCW Finishes did have a '66 Resin kit on their site, but I never bit the bullet on it. Seems they don't carry it, though... for the time being, at least.