Ecto-1 kits

[charlie8575]

I got a call at the store yesterday looking for some information. The caller wanted a kit of a '59 Cadillac hearse, and was emphatic that the Polar Lights kit was horrible.

Is the present P/L kit the old one that had all the stuff molded in, or is it the AMT tool that had all the parts separate so a stock non-landau hearse/ambulance was still within the realm of possibility?

Anyone know for sure?

Charlie Larkin

[blubaja]

The Amt is the better version to make a hearse out of the body. 

[Junkman]

Both have the front flashers molded into the grille.

[Edsel-Dan]

WRONG!!!

Only The P-L kit has the flashers molded to the grill

(Both ARE Incorrect, though less so on the AMT 1A version)

It also has the Bullit tail lights molded to the bumper!!

The Polar Lights kit should only have the UIpper pair of Strobe flashers

as The Original Ecto-1 had those, but No lights below

AMT's kit as 1A should have a Double wide Amber Dash light on the Left side

Not 2 Identical pieces as offered

 

Also, smaller detail parts that are separate in the interior of the AMT 1A kit are

molded in place in the P-L kit!

I have Both, so I do Know this!!!

Both bodies have flanges, etc that need to be removed, as well as 

areas to be filled in to make a Stock Ambulance or Hearse!!

I have an AMT I started this conversion on

Preferable to make the car as first seen in Primer gray & black!!!!

 

And YES, I hope to eventually do some more conversions on the kits, but...............

I can post some pic's of my kits/Builds if wanted.

(I have else where here, but can again

 

[louie]

WRONG!!!

Only The P-L kit has the flashers molded to the grill

(Both ARE Incorrect, though less so on the AMT 1A version)

It also has the Bullit tail lights molded to the bumper!!

The Polar Lights kit should only have the UIpper pair of Strobe flashers

as The Original Ecto-1 had those, but No lights below

AMT's kit as 1A should have a Double wide Amber Dash light on the Left side

Not 2 Identical pieces as offered

 

Also, smaller detail parts that are separate in the interior of the AMT 1A kit are

molded in place in the P-L kit!

I have Both, so I do Know this!!!

Both bodies have flanges, etc that need to be removed, as well as 

areas to be filled in to make a Stock Ambulance or Hearse!!

I have an AMT I started this conversion on

Preferable to make the car as first seen in Primer gray & black!!!!

 

And YES, I hope to eventually do some more conversions on the kits, but...............

I can post some pic's of my kits/Builds if wanted.

(I have else where here, but can again

 

Absolutely, please post some pictures. I would love to see them.    Thanks.    Jeff 

[Edsel-Dan]

Here is the front of AMT's 1A

This is as close as I could get to the Amber light on the lower grill in the second Movie

I sanded the Small Strobes with 600 grit sandpaper to create the frosted effect 

I did the same with the larger one on the roof rack

 

This rear shot shows the clear red Bullits & lower lenses too

 

I need to take a few parts shots though

Here is the Photobucket album for a few more Built and In Progress shots

http://s145.photobucket.com/user/EdselDan/library/Models/Ghostbusters?sort=3&page=1

 

 

Edited July 21, 2016 by Edsel-Dan

[CometMan]

Seems like a lot of us have the same idea! I also have the AMT version to do that conversion, but I also have the Revell Eldorado hardtop to bash with it because the Revell kit has MUCH nicer parts in it.

[Brian Austin]

IMHO both those kits have their pluses and minuses, and have similar proportion problems with the body.  The chassis both have problems, but if you paint them black it won't matter.  :-)

IMHO the PL plastic felt a little cheaper than the old off-while AMT stuff, and generally IMHO the engineering of the AMT kit seemed better. Sadly, most parts won't interchange well between the two without a bit of work.  The rear bumper of the PL kit is close to stock, but not well executed IMHO,  The PL kit has wheels that are closer to stock.

I wouldn't mind seeing another reissue of the AMT kit.

 

Charlie, I posted this video on another message board, and I think you'd get a kick out of it.  Here's someone's '59 Miller-Meteor project car:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ucAOWaMp3g  

 

(More can be found here,  Note that along with the M-M is a Superior project car https://www.youtube.com/user/DrCaron1959/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=1)

[Edsel-Dan]

here is a VEry Good Clip on the Ecto-1 from Adam Savage's  (MYTHBUSTER'S)

Tested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAwqvynkMeY

 

This is a Actual Replica, not a Model, It will Show a LOT of detail

The owner took MANY Pictures of the Actual Film car, so I believe it to be VERY Accurate

, they the clear band in the windows does look a little Flat--Not enough arc