ClassicDarts

The Pinto wheels don't fit the metal axles supplied with the Mustang II. Apparently the Pinto kit's wheels are meant for a thicker gauge axle than the ones meant for the the Mustang. Not a big deal, but I figured I'd mention it. Not hard to get around, and multiple methods would work, but it's worth mentioning. I guess the easiest thing to do would be to cut off the mounting slots on the Pinto's rims and glue the kit supplied ones from the Mustang's minilites to them. (which is what I plan to do) All that to say I don't mind aftermarket wheels, but I didn't want to use them on this... especially since, if you're building it box-stock, you have no choice.

I appreciate it. I'd say I have the attention to detail but not the dexterity or the patience. I know the paint looks orange-peeled to hell, but as long as it's not a total runny disaster, it's good enough for me. Maybe I can massage it into something half-decent looking? haha

Starting with the 2005 RC2 issue AMT '77 Mustang II (the one with the better MPC tooling shown on the box... with an awkwardly-applied front spoiler) First thing I did before even really doing anything with this kit was to get a set of the "styled steel wheels" and tires from an AMT '77 Pinto. They haven't been seen in the AMT Mustang II kits since the annuals. Gone with the arrival of the late 70's "Python" kit and never seen after. They seem a tad undersized against the Mustang II's body, but they kinda do on the real cars too... so I guess they'll work. I wanted to paint it in a color that resembled '77 Ford "Bright Saddle". Although this color was indeed available on '77 Mustang II's, The only pictures I could find online were curiously base-model notchbacks. No 3-doors of any kind... be they base hatchbacks or 2+2's, let alone a Mach 1. (for whatever that was worth in the "Pinto-stang" era) Maybe it was just an uncommon color? Or it was only available on notchbacks for some reason?! Either way, I went with it. The kit seems to be modeled after a Mach 1, to me. Given that it has the specific lower side molding that runs the length of the car short of the bumpers and encases the side markers. The closest paint I could find locally was Dupli-color Nissan "Orange Mist Metallic" (an early 80's Datsun 280zx color, I guess?) so that's what I chose. I kinda missed a spot on the quarter panel's overhang... needs a little more. what I was going for: Close enough? That's all I got so far. Haven't decided if I'll do it as Mach 1 yet or what. Happy Malaising!

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.