AURORA/MONOGRAM MASERATI 3500

[sjordan2]

This was recently brought up here, but I can't find it anymore. Anyway, nobody has built a better version of this inaccurate kit than Matt Bacon, and his build journal from this site will show you all the work he went through to make it a stunner. Mostly, the nose is too short and the front of the roof line needs to be addressed. The interior is directionally accurate, but is off in some dimensions and details. It's the only game in town for this car, and it can be done beautifully.

 

Edited October 12, 2015 by sjordan2

[sjordan2]

Note: The Aurora is molded in gray, the Monogram in maroon. I found incomplete chrome coverage of the wire wheels on the Monogram version.

As you'll see in Matt's build, the engine needs some accurizing to fix the blob of a distributor, and wiring is tricky since it requires 2 plugs per cylinder. 

Bear in mind that your reference should be from the fuel-injected 3500 GTi, and not the GT with 3 2-barrel Webers (different body trim parts including fog lights and tail lights). However, many original owners refitted the cars with Webers because the Lucas injection was so finicky (Lucas, after all). 

Edited October 12, 2015 by sjordan2

[fiatboy]

I think that on "Jay Leno's Garage", he restored one of these and kept the fuel injection - and it's nice to have a dynometer!

[Jeremy Jon]

This has long been a holy grail find for me, which i only recently acquired ...my plan is to refurbish & improve, then recast in future

[sjordan2]

This has long been a holy grail find for me, which i only recently acquired ...my plan is to refurbish & improve, then recast in future

If you fix the nose and roof front, then cast it, I would be interested in a body.

[dino246gt]

Me too, with some real wire wheels and an accurate body, wow what a beauty!

[Greg Myers]

Fixed or not, I think most would be happy with Revell / Monogram just reissuing it. 

[sjordan2]

Fixed or not, I think most would be happy with Revell / Monogram just reissuing it. 

There is so much kvetching on this board about things like Camaro rooflines etc. etc. etc., that modelers who are interested in this car would find it hard to accept the inaccuracies and would have to apply a lot of reworking to make it up to their standards. Once again, take a look at the superb adaptations made by Matt Bacon, noted above. The original kits, while expensive these days, are usually available on eBay. Choose Aurora over Monogram.

Edited November 4, 2015 by sjordan2

[SfanGoch]

 The original kits, while expensive these days, are usually available on eBay. Choose Aurora over Monogram.

I'm picking up an Aurora 864-198 for 14 bucks.