Blue coyote

I agree. Tuck the rear tires just a hair up into the fender lip and it'll have more of a "street muscle" look, and a bit less of the "1/4-mile waiting to happen" look

Is it cheating to drop a 1:25 scale Mustang II body onto a 1:32 scale monster truck, then trim the chassis to slip a 1970 429 into place, and call it "close enough? On your oilpan issue, I think I'd have chopped the crossmember and swapped in a Mustang II front suspension like all the traditional rodders do (search "Mustang II suspension" on Egay and see all the applications they kit the things for in 1:1), or else scratch build a tubular x-member to clear, using sections of old sprue (like the performance foxbody Mustang guys do)

Yes, the word "grok" was coined by Heinlein in the science fiction CLASSIC book (and I just KNOW that some will recognize the name, even if not the original source...) "Stranger in a Strange Land". I read the book many (MANY) years ago, and yes, the transition fits. Heck of a good book, too, BTW... And as an update, along with the Entex 1/16 Cobra II, I have purchased my one and only likely candidate to grok... my grail model I'm not even worried about the two Fox kits, even though they are both fairly rare. That 1:16 Ghia is only the second one I've even seen a picture of...

I'll tell ya in a couple of weeks, when my Entex 1:16 Cobra II is here, and when I know if I won my other Holy Grail model. And I think Bob Heinlein (R.I.P.) would be proud of your use of HIS word. I think you've caught the spirit of it perfectly.

Today I got shipping confirmation on that "Holy Grail" 1:16 Entex Cobra II, and the post office sent me a truck today, due to the load... Two AMT "Python" Mustang II kits (one sealed), an MPC 78 Mustang II (sealed in the bags), an AMT 67 Cyclone (in the wrapper), an AMT 57 T-bird (sealed in the bags), a Revell 70 Boss 429 2'n1 (in the wrapper), an AMT 66 Mustang coupe (sealed in the bags), an MPC Ridge Runner Bronco (open, but complete), and a vintage game of "Siege" (with catapults and stuff). Still waiting on about another 25 or so kits, diecast, and parts-cars, and bidding on a few more...

The engine Jack Roush (yeah, THAT Jack Roush! ) dropped into the original (all-steel bodied) Monroe Handler was a small-block Windsor 302, bored and stroked to 363. Went like a bat out of Purgatory, but had some issues. The seven that were originally made from the molds taken by the original body shop (Dave Kent) had the original stock 302's. There were several more sets of the body panels produced from the original molds and sold separately by Dave Kent (I know the location of three of these kits), and several years later, there was a set of molds made from one of the first-generation kits. These secondary kits are lighter and not quite as solid as the originals. The cars these ended up on were probably all V8's, but who knows what evil lurks in the heart of a Mustang II owner?

The only difference in the smoked glass (which that definitely IS, BTW) and the clear is the tinting. The standard glass is simply clear, and a LOT more commonly found when you open the box Be careful when you modify the rear panel. The swoops of that molded in rear spoiler are trickier than they look. I'm not a huge fan of the Monroe Handler rear body, myself. I've been toying with the idea of using a shaved rear bumper over the rear rollpan to break up the curves a bit without actually changing them... On the front, maybe try adding to the lower edge to taper it forward a wee bit, and re-work the center opening a little.

The smoked windows is way cool. Lucky bugger! I like the Centerlines as well, but I'll take a look when I get back from the shop tonight and see if I can bear to let a set go Oh, and its a hatchback. Mustang II coupe models are rarer than hen's teeth... If you decide to go custom on the body, just make extra sure of any cuts before you make them. A lot of the subtle lines of the Mustang II start looking very "wrong" if they aren't taken into consideration during surgery. The other releases are pretty much identical, with the exception of the colour, decals, and box art. Oh, anf the red one is the only one that comes with the "Hot Rod" decal

Not the best under-hood detail, but not a bad kit to build or display. Its not a common kit, but the Cobra II Street Racer (molded in yellow) and the California Cobra (molded in white) are harder to find releases of the same kit. Did you luck out and get one of the ones that came with the smoked glass? It adds a nice touch to the look. If you find yourself missing any bits, let me know. I have three of the red release in the boxes, two parts junkers, four of the yellow release, and one of the white. Since I only have one set of the smoked glass, that's off-limits, but any of the rest is available if needed If you need any 1:1 reference pics, the model is based off the "Monroe Handler" which was a 77 Cobra II that got worked over by various specialists (including Jack Roush) for the late 70's IMSA circuit. I also am currently spending my days twisting wrenches less than 20 feet away from one of these exceptionally rare cars in 1:1 scale, so I can get specific shots if you're a stickler for details... Yeah, I really AM a fanatic about these cars, eh?

Just waiting to be invoiced for my personal Holy Grail of models. 1:16 Entex Cobra II. Two YEARS of patience and frustrated bidding later...

Tecnically, during the turbo coupe days, the T-bird was a pony car, or even an econobox. Other than the body skin, they were the same chassis as a Mustang, just stretched out a bit. The "foxbody" platform was originally found under the Fairmont/Zephyr...Ironic, eh?

Its kind of a backlash some of us (Mustang II guys) feel. We've been getting ragged on by the "classic" crowd for decades, and then we end up hearing it all parrotted back from the generation after as well. The dumbest part is that 95% of what they keep bringing up is pure meadow muffins, and they don't figure it out even when you lay the facts out for them. A common quote from the Mustang II enthusiasts? "there's more Falcon or Fairmont in yours than Pinto in mine" (I believe that other than fasteners and clips, the Pinto and Mustang II only actually share a couple square feet of rear floorpan and about three mechanical parts...) My own car is anything BUT a sleeper. Cammed 302 with a Holley 650 and tunnel ram, planned T56 swap, 4.10 Trak/Lok, 295/50R15's on the back (with a set of 28x10.5 drag sliks sitting in my buddy's shop...) with 225/50's under the front. Oh, and its a Black on Black T-top King Cobra

I wouldn't have a clue about the others listed, but as much as I dislike that whole Mustang era (the foxbody), the 79 and up Mustang turbo cars were the top of the Pony car heap in their day. Not all "pony" cars are V8 muscle cars. Muscle car and pony car are not always the same thing. Dang it, I just cannot belive I just defended the status of the Fairmont-based Mustangs as pony cars. I feel dirty...

I like it, Mike! But looking at that, it just seems to be begging me to mix in the King airdam with those flares... Oh, and I also like the other flares you did up for me. Can't wait to get my dirty little fingers on a few sets and start yet more works in progress...

If you end up damaging any of the parts from the kit and need to replace them (including the missing headers) just shoot me a PM. I think I have 5 or 6 of the Firefighter kit, one of them still sealed. One of the good things about being a niche modeller is having lots of specialized spare parts...

I only need to go back a few minutes. I have a 77 Cobra II in my garage, a 78 King Cobra in the driveway, and lately I've been rebuilding another King Cobra, a modified Mustang II Rallye, and a custom 78Mustang II T-top coupe, with a bit of wrenching on a 77 Ghia, a 74 Ghia, a 76 coupe, and stripping down a couple of 76 Cobra II's. I don't exagerate about being a Mustang II fanatic in ALL scales, either. Trust me, my Mustang II bits box is HUUUUUUUGE!

You might also achieve decent results using a tube flaring tool, such as the cheap ones you can get for flaring brake lines. Only takes a few seconds, and easy to get it right once you get the first one to the shape you want... Right tool for the right job and all

Okay, I'll jump in with a bit of what I know from memory (what little memory I have, anyway)... Other than a few cars built right around the beginning or end of each year's production run, all Cobra II's from the beginning (~late 75) to the end of 77 had the Shelby-style center double-stripes with pinstripes along the outer edges, rearing Cobra fender badges, matching coloured side stripes with "Cobra II" along the LOWER EDGE of the side, as well as in small printing offset on the rear spoiler. 78 Cobra II's had a single very wide hood stripe, with multiple pinstriped edges, matching full-side stripe with HUGE "COBRA II" side graphic, and large lettering centered on the rear spoiler. 78 King Cobra's had the huge hood snake, very small "King Cobra" door and offset rear spoiler placement, and about 4.5 miles of pinstriping (including an outline around the T-roof panels, even on NON-T-top cars!!!) There are a few other Mustang II's that had unique graphics or paint (all Mach 1's had blacked-out lower body and rear panel, all Stallions were two-toned paint with fender emblems, etc. And the only year that is easily distinguished from the others is the 74, which had the fuel cap below the side body line and had a flat-nosed hood. 75-78 II's had the fuel cap above the side body line and the center of the hood comes an extra 3" forward into the header panel. If you need any other info on the Mustang II, shoot me an email. Absolutely NO exagerating when I label myself a II fanatic...

I told ya so, didn't I?

Welcome, Mike! Glad you made it! As a Mustang II niche modeller, I apreciate the efforts you've put into this. I've gotten a fair selection of what Mike has for sale on his site, and its all been top-notch quality (and yes, that's my testimonial on his site).

I agree completely. I'm actually assisting in something VERY similar, but in 1:1 scale (95 EFI Cobra engine in a 78 T-top Mustang II Rallye) The 5.0 gives the build a unique touch. Me. Loved 'em since the seventies. The Mustang II is why I'm still doing any modelling at all. So would I. I'd like to drive the Rat Snake (black on black T-top King Cobra) daily, too, but its one of those works in progress...I've only averaged three times a year since I got it...

I don't recall hearing anything about a Postal strike. I was at my local Post Office this morning. I'm out west, but Canada Post is federal government and federal Union...

I build Mustang II's. Models and 1:1 (often with similar technique)

I agree completely. Those ones weren't the best casting to start with...

You got that right, for sure. Once I get around to buying a "new" set of tires, I'm planning on swapping the telephone dials off the 'vert and tossing on one of my sets of turbines (its a 4-banger that came with those 14" fakey's...). I like the idea for painting them body colour, too, but how do I match 19 year old red fading to white?