mrmike

This is my Mannix '68 Dart convertible made from the Revell '68 Dodge Dart that I originally built 4 years ago and just rebuilt this past month. The paint is Tamiya TS-9 British Green. I have updated many parts of this car and added other details, too.

This is a good kit inspite of it's age and low parts count. Parts flash is abundant especially on one parts sprue that holds the interior. I glued the engine halves together and discovered a huge sink hole about 1/8th inch deep. So, out came the putty! While I had the putty out, I fixed a few flaws on the lower right fender and the corners of the rear valance panel. More to come.....

Cliffo, yes, we do love our Mopars! Dave, I have built the '71 Satelite years ago and I have noticed the nose-up attitude and plan on lowering the front suspension. The rear suspension on the Satelite looks fine, but I will watch out for any issues when I get to that point on the GTX.

I've had this kit in my stash for a few years and I thought that it was time to build it. The kit is Revell's 1971 Plymouth GTX. This will be a mostly box stock build with the motor being wired and plumbed and the kit tires being replace with better tires from my parts box. The paint is a special order MCW 1974 Lucerne Blue Metallic left over from my 1974 Plymouth Roadrunner. More to come.....

Thanks to DoubleD, I have a telephone that I modified into the mobile telephone that is in the 1:1 Mannix Dart. Thanks Dave! He also sent me two reel-to-reel tape recorders, one of which I have already paint detailed. I must now determine a location for this tape recorder in the Dart interior. I didn't like the flat black treatment I put on the rear panel and thought that semi-gloss black would look better. I am hoping to finish the Mannix Dart this week. Mannix will return.....

I built this exact same kit oh so many years ago and over the years, the chrome has faded away, particularly on the wheels and bumpers. I may just have to rebuild it and strip and Alclad II the wheels, bumpers, and other pieces. I like the detailing you are adding to this build. Keep it moving forward!

Move your curser onto the small pic and the lines of code appear underneath it.

I usually use Google Images and eBay Motors.

Thanks Charlie! For those of you who don't know how to make '68 Mopar side markers, I'll show you how. This technique is also posted in the Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials section. First acquire 4 straight pins like those used on a new shirt. Using caution and care, cut the pin about 1/8th inch below the head of the pin. Drill a hole into the fender in the correct position, and from the inside, squeeze a small amount of glue into the hole. Insert the pinhead into the hole and allow to dry. Use your favorite clear paint and apply a small dot of paint onto the pinhead, amber for the front and red for the rear, and you are done. After looking at some reference photos, I noticed that the rear panel was painted flat black, and so it was done. This is the rear panel trim that I had in my parts box and I painted it with aluminium Metalizer. And mounted it to the center of the rear panel. Mannix will return.....

Ron, I know your Mannix Dart will look as good as mine! I had the MPC Mannix Roadster when it first came out. I wished I still had it today. What a difference 40 years makes! DW, yes I am going to use painted pinheads for my side markers. While removing paint and prepping the body for bodywork and paint, I ended up removing the molded in side markers from the body. Thanks for checking in Dan! I foiled the body this afternoon. I started work on the engine bay. I added the chrome trim to the hood, cleaned up the grille, and started reworking the rear panel. Mannix will return.....

Thanks DW and Steve. DW, I don't mind painting, just the puttying and sanding. I just have a hard time with it. I did a mockup of the interior, chassis, hood, and grille to see what the Dart is starting to become. This shot shows the fruits of my labor, the hood scoops, the rear spoiler, and the Tamiya British Green paint. I still have much to do. Foiling, motor installation, my side marker technique, front bumper, and rear panel installation. DoubleD has offered me a mobile telphone and I'll install that when it arrives. Mannix will return.....

This is looking really good Virgil! I'm liking the details!

Thanks Virgil! I'm just glad that the bodywork on the rear spoiler is done! Trying to get transition of the fender tops to the rear spoiler perfect was tough. Even in paint, the transition looks fantastic. Hey, I'm impressing myself!

Thank you Charlie, Dave, and Virgil! After the polishing, this paint really shined and it just looked perfect for this car. It's definitely one of my favorite builds!

DW, the one my Dad had was from Radio Shack. Wasn't worth the ###### it was made out of! Mike, I should check out that kind of primer, but I love Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Is the Duplicolor primer thick? The paint I'm using on this build is Tamiya TS-9 British Green. It is a solid, non-metallic color that is close to the green Georga Barris used on the 1:1 back in 1968. I have two clamp-on lamps on my paintbooth that I have been banging my head on for some time and I finally decided that I had enough of that and cut two holes into the top and permanently mounted them. Then I finally finished body work on the Dart and I just couldn't wait for paint to start flying! The dash was assembled and installed into the interior. Mannix will return.....

My Dad had a 23 channel telephone style CB in his '71 Cougar between the seats. He would get mad at the truckers talking trash back and forth and tell them all to shut up! And then he would turn the CB off. Charlie, if there is a buck to be made, someone out there could change the internals to a cell phone mechanism. Somehow, that doesn't sound right. So much has changed in the world of communications in the last 40 years that basically has outmoded that type of mobile phone. But, who's to know when someone looks into your car and sees a mobile telephone mount under the dash or when a police officer pulls you over when you are seen "talking" on a telephone while driving. Have I ever said, "I hate bodywork?"

Pushy?!! When have you ever been pushy? Well, we won't go into that! That is a great idea Cliff and one to consider for the future. But, right now I have other projects in mind that I want to do including finishing my Mannix Dart GTS convertible and starting a Spenser For Hire '66 Mustang from that series first season. Thanks for the idea and if you ever get back to building, you might want to consider that Challenger, too. Good idea!

It looks like an overpriced Shelby 427 Cobra to me. I can't wait to see if ol' Carroll's lawyers jump on top of this guy and shut him down!

After much hesitation, I finally got the body into primer and I see that I need to do more work on the fender transition to the spoiler. I was getting anxious see some paint on the hood. This is one coat and a little more TLC is needed on the hood. I hate doing bodywork! Mounted under the dash and to the right of the console is a mobile telephone that was considered "state of the art" in 1968. This was merely a prop on the 1:1 car as it wasn't hooked up nor had an antenna. I'll be making one of these. Did I say I hate doing bodywork? Mannix will return.....

Thanks Dave! I seem to recall the Shaker 340-S on the other forum. I think it was at the same time I did my Challenger R/T 340 Shaker using the T/A kit. Anyway, you are correct that building "what-if's" is a fun alternative to building factory stock and I would do it again if I can think of one that is appealing to me.

Thanks guys! This is a favorite build since it was fairly easy with the low parts count, but it also challenged me when I used the 426 Hemi in place of the 340 6-Pak. There were a few issues to sort out and if it wasn't for the help of a few members, I probably would still be working on it now.

Thanks Mark! I've been meaning to ask you about your avatar. Is that your dog and is it a Golden Retriever? The reason why I ask is I have a 105 Lb. Golden Retriever myself. He's a great dog and a good friend! I have finished my Challenger Hemi T/A and it is posted in the Under Glass section. My thanks to all who took the time to look and to comment on my WIP.

This is my Challenger Hemi T/A painted with Model Master Hemi Orange Lacquer with a semi gloss white interior, Cragar SS mags, Shaker hood scoop, and Shabo tire lettering.

Thanks DW and Dave for the suggestions! I used the MRC wheel set spacers on the Shaker scoop to alter the angle as Dave suggested That's much better! The rear panel has been assembled and will be installed onto the body when it's dry. I'm hoping to finish the Challenger Hemi T/A today. More to come.....

Thanks Brandon, Ian, and Jon. And, thanks for the link! I'll check it out. Decals are on as well as the wheels. And now I have run into another problem to solve. The back of the scoop sits too low while the front is at the correct height. The motor angle cannot be altered anymore than it is now, so I have to come up with some creative way of leveling the scoop with the hood. Meanwhile, I'll continue with finishing the Challenger while I ponder a solution. More to come.....