1972coronet

I feel that a Frank Zappa decal set would've have been the pièce de résistance : The Duke of Prunes !

Nice review as always , Chris ! One thing which needs to be pointed out on this reissue versus the original Datsun Pickup annuals ( all years ) : Originally , the stock tyres and wheels were moulded-together ; this reissue has the wheels ( hub caps on plain steel wheels ) moulded separate ! No more plastic tyres ! Granted , D78-14's aren't exactly a premium ; however , they're mighty close to the OEM , U.S.-spec tyres these originally had . The real pièce de résistance would have been the inclusion of the camper shell from the Black Hawk issue from c.1978 !

I have the latest issue of the 1969 Barracuda , and I really , really like it . The Crossram from the earlier versions' Hemi is a nice re-addition (and will perhaps fit-atop the kit's 383) ; the Torq-Thrust wheels are a welcome addition ! Those 6-lug custom wheels of the c.1980 release and the subsequent 1987 (ad seq.) reissues were atrocious back then , and they're even less desirable now . I agree with you regarding the lame rendition of the shear panels / firewall ( 1966-style brake master cylinder ! ) ; not even close to the factory A-bodies of 1967-1976 ! But , all considered , it's just nice to have a Barracuda of '67-'69 vintage .

Is the transmission included in the AMT Chevy 283 & Pontiac 421 parts pack a Hydra-Matic or a Roto-Hydramatic ?

Whatever you do , don't put Pennsylvania licence plates on it ! Hahahaha . The ancient Monogram 1971 Hemi'Cuda hardtop has the backlite louvers . The Challenger's backlite was quite a bit different from its Barracuda relative .

What year were the Hemi and 225 Slant engines "removed" from the lineup ? I've only had the "'69" version (the c.1988 reissue) , and that only has the 383 . Then there was the Judy Lilly 1968 SS/B (with 1969 hood and fascia) , and the late 70's / early 80's 'street machine' version , both of which were 426 Race Hemi equipped , IIRC ...

I agree with the cost considerations ; however , if R-M were to release the engines / transmissions from the 1968-1969 Dart ( beautiful 'generic' 383 / 400 / 440 , backed with an equally-nice TorqueFlite) , 1968-1969 Charger ( excellent 'generic' big block , and a 4 speed ) . The only 'gap' would be a nice LA Engine ( 273 / 318 / 340 / 360 ) , as Revell didn't / doesn't make that engine (and , no , that oversized 340 T/A engine , nor the oversized 318 / 360 in the Ramcharger don't count ! ) .

I'm hoping that Round2 will find the MPC Supra / Celica tooling in useable condition . Those are some of MPC's finest kits ; I'm not alone in wanting for one or more iteration of those 80's gems to be reissued (sans the ridiculously-dark glass !) . Would like to see a 60's Toyota Stout , too . Make it similar to the MPC Datsun Pickup annuals : stock , and custom options ( in this case , a Toyota I-6 Turbo for the custom version ; a period piece "could" include a Buick 215 as the custom engine option ,no ? ) .

Ah ! That makes sense . I thought that the 'Special Edition' deal was just some hyperbolic embellishment ; apparently , that's not the case ! Okay , then ... how about a Special Edition of the '70 Charger ?

The Rim-Blo wheel certainly does look like the 70's D/W Series version , but I don't believe that the D/W got the Rim-Blo feature . My friend's 1970 Charger ( base hardtop , 318 , auto , bench seat ) has the S83 . It was a fairly-common option on the Dart Swingers of that era ; not sure how many Chargers got the 'Blo (most likely the base models) .

You bring up a valid point , Scott . It was a simple oversight on my part , as my main directive was to showcase the W11 , and not necessarily the Charger options . To that end , here's the Charger's wheel and tiller page :

While I understand the mantra of , "Hemi will sell" , I also must take issue with that ; to wit : the fantastic 1968 Charger R/T from ~10 years ago ! It has two engines : 440 and Hemi . Why couldn't that same "largesse" have been bestowed-upon this all-new tool 1970 ??? How about the awesome 1972 Hurst/Olds (and its other iterations) ? Again , all-new tool , and that rascal has TWO transmissions ( TH-400 with the mandatory Hurst edition , and the 4-speed ) ; and , the latest edition has TWO freakin' grilles ( Cutlass AND 4-4-2 !! ) . No excuses , guys .

If they were , this is the first I am hearing of them . I would love to see Fireball take a stab at 'em ! Still (impatiently) awaiting : - 1970 Swinger 340 - 1970 Challenger ( not the ages-old T/A from Monogram , nor the 'Frankenstein' release from Revell that's based-upon the die cast tooling ) - 1971 Demon 340 Each and every one of those (plus the Charger) would have the 'W11' as an option .

You are correct ; the Hemi package mandated 15" wheels (1969-1971) . Either Rallye wheels or plain steel with hubcaps ; no other options . The Road Wheels ( colloq. , "Magnum 500" ) could be had on the Charger --- they were exclusive to the 'B' and 'E' bodies , and were also 14"-only . Absolutely incorrect for the car as it's modelled ! I am proposing that the 'W11' ( 1970-1971 Dodge version ) be added to / included in whatever car of that vintage ( e.g. , a 1970 Charger with optional engines such as the 383 , 440 , and 440+6 ) .

I'm still waiting for the 1970-1971 W11 Dodge wheel covers to find their way into one or more kits :

Randy - That's a gorgeous Riv ! Nice work on that Nailhead ; it looks fantastic ! Now I've got to get a can of that Titanium Gold ...

When I was growing up (born in 1970) , 340-powered A-bodies were everywhere ! Lots and lots of '69-'70 Swinger 340 , '70-'73 Duster 340 ; '72-'73 Charger & Road Runner ; '70-'73 Barracuda & Challenger . Next would be the 383 / 400 and 440 four barrel (and some early 413 / 426 wedge) B-bodies . Just as long as whatever Revell has planned next -- MoPar-wise -- does not have a freakin' Hemi !

Thanks much , Greg . After ( perhaps at the same "meeting" ? ) I would also propse : - Road Runner , with parts to build either a 1972 or 1972 ( again , 340 and "generic" big block ; transmission , and differential options )

I second the desire for an AAR 'Cuda . Further ; how about a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 ? To wit : - 340 with single four barrel and Six Barrel induction options ; - "Generic" big block ( could ostensibly represent either a 383 or 440 ) ; - TWO transmission options : 4-speed and TorqueFlite ; - All of the AAR livery ; - All of the 'base' 'Cuda goodies ; - Bench Seat option (only available with column-shift auto) - A bevy of period-correct "speed" equipment ( e.g. , Spyder wheels , Direct Connection rocker covers , various gauges , 70's decals [ 'STP' , etc. ] , vintage licence plates , L60 tyres , etc. , etc .) Basically , one could either build an AAR or a 'Cuda (perhaps even a Grand Coupe version with the 383 , etc. ! )

While a 318 was an option (truly , standard fare with the Charger) , the 340 didn't hit the option sheet until 1971 for the one-year-only Charger Super Bee . And , YES ! Pretty please with cherries on top , a 1970 Swinger 340 !!

Nice to finally see a 1970 Charger ! Yes , the in-every-kit Hemi is a disappointment ( c'mon , guys ! Why not a 440 Six Pack ?????? ) ; however , it's still leaps & bounds better than : - MPC annual ( and its outrageous prices ! ) - Resin conversions ( no disrespect to Missing Link and their gorgeous piece ) - Yet another freakin' 1969 / General Lee ! Options would have been a nice touch ( e.g. , the 440 Six Pack ; TorqueFlite ; 8 3/4 diff ; "W11" wheel covers ; period-correct custom wheels [ Spyders , please ! ] ; S.E. trim , etc. , etc. ) .

'FM3' Panther Pink ( Dodge ) Moulin Rouge ( Plymouth ) is more aligned with Plymouth than with Dodge , for whatever reason . In my 47 years , I've seen but a tiny handful of legitimate FM3 cars : - 1970 Duster 340 - 1970 Swinger 340 ( on an episode of CHiPs ) - 1971 Challenger R/T 383 . Apparently , a couple of 1971 models were painted FM3 under the "999" Special Order Paint code . I must wonder ; why did Chrysler decide to use cat scat brown as the interior colour for their 1970 R/T Charger in the Scat Pack catalogue ??? Looks positively awful with that FM3 paint !

Datsun Pickup !!! Yea !!! Can't wait for the '59 El Camino...

Thanks much , David and Ray ! I like the idea of the large-sized pins . I'll have to see if the local Dollar Store has those ! Solder is another great idea . I never even thought of that as being "right" for this project .