1965 Pontiac Grand Prix

[CarlR]

This is my attempt at the AMT/Round 2 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix.

First of all, my hat is off to those modellers who have built this kit and have done a far better job than I was able to.

Climbing up onto his soapbox...

I have built few of the AMT/MPC kits re-released by Round 2 and I am finding it increasingly difficult to justify spending the extra money on these vintage kits. I know I am in the minority when I say I am not happy to pay premium prices for what I consider substandard kits (I realize a lot of Round 2's kits are from the early years of modeling). I'd much rather buy a current Revell/Monogram release or save up and purchase a Tamiya kit.

...getting down from the soapbox (amidst a chorus of boos and ducking the rotten vegetables...)

I found this kit to be a real challenge to achieve what I consider an acceptable result. There was flash everywhere and a lot of the parts were misshapen requiring lots of time filing and sanding that I would rather have spent on finishing and detailing. After wrestling the parts into an acceptable state detailing became wishful thinking. The challenge would be to just finish the doggone thing!

Anyway, to those of you who might be contemplating building this kit, be forewarned - it will require a lot of attention. Flash removal, removal of molding blemishes, reshaping of misshapen pieces like the distributor will consume the lion's share of your time on this kit. All the trim molding benefits from rescribing in order to make it easier to apply bare-metal foil in the final assembly stages.

Another area to watch for is length of the axles. If assembled as per instructions your wide-track Pontiac will be more narrow gauge than wide track.

I wish I could be more positive abut this kit (I am a big fan of the actual car) but unless you've really got to have a '65 Pontiac in your life, I can't honestly recommend this kit.

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by CarlR
correct links

[donb]

Despite your issues with the kit you did an absolute great job with it. It looks real. NICE! 

[Jon Cole]

In spite of the issues you had, it came out great!

[JerseyRed]

After all that I expected to see a disaster, but this looks great. I really like the vinyl roof, the texture is very nice from what I can see and seams are perfect. Very nice job!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Well, you probably already know what I think about the subject of old annuals.

They're not always the easiest thing to build, but if subject matter is important to you, there are no alternatives, & with a little skill & a lot of love, they can build into exceptionally nice models.

I've said it a million times before, but I'll say it again, A guy can only build so many '57 Chevies, '32 Fords & Corvettes before he gets real tired of them.

If it wasn't for annuals, I most likely would have given up the hobby by now.

You did a very nice job on this '65 & it will make a great addition to your collection.

 

Steve

[Snake45]

All complaining aside, you did a fine job with it and built a VERY presentable model. You should be proud of yourself!

[slusher]

Very sharp Grand Prix..

[Yahshu]

Very nice, yours is better than the one I built

[PARTSMARTY]

It looks great!!!

[David G.]

It came out nice- seems to be worth the effort you put into it. 

The interior looks great, excellent detail work!

Just curious, it looks like there are two radios on the dashboard. Is one supposed to be a tape deck or something?

David G.

[Tom99]

It looks like it was worth the effort, a very nice build.

[Mr Stock]

Id be very happy with that Carl, its a beauty, I agree these old kits really can be a pain in the rear sometimes and I often swear that this AMT kit will be the last I ever do.....I still come back to them !.

Superb work !

[gtx6970]

Sweet build. especially the dash work

I just did one of these myself.  My only beef was where it  once had a vinyl top,,and the remains of the  mldgs were a bear to remove - clean up . And the side emblems are real faint making them near impossible to foil after paint

And although its not up to today's standards . I liked it. But then I like these simpler kits myself. I don't do contests so chassis detail really means nothing  to me . This one is typical of most of my stuff today. Basic black and if I can see them ,,, I'll detail paint the exhaust tips and gas tank

[crazyjim]

It looks very nice.

[Snake45]

 I don't do contests so chassis detail really means nothing  to me . This one is typical of most of my stuff today. Basic black and if I can see them ,,, I'll detail paint the exhaust tips and gas tank

Same here. Usually basic black, and I'll hit the exhaust system with either Testor Steel or a silver sharpie, depending on my mood.

Gas tank, I'll either rattlecan it a flat silver and then crudely mask it off before the black, or I'll just brush-paint it with Testor Steel or Aluminum.

[espo]

All of your hard work seems to have paid off with a great looking build. You're not alone on the pricing issues, I have to agree.

It came out nice- seems to be worth the effort you put into it. 

The interior looks great, excellent detail work!

Just curious, it looks like there are two radios on the dashboard. Is one supposed to be a tape deck or something?

David G.

David. I think what looks like a second radio is the controls for the heater and air conditioner. That was the way Pontiac did it at that time.

[Geno]

I think it turned out pretty darn nice. I commend you for making a silk purse out of a sows ear. Well done.

[carman1]

You done it justice ! Very nice  !!

[Johnt671]

Nice results. Love the dash detail.

[kelson]

I agree with everyone else,despite the issues it turned out real nice!,what color did you use to paint the body?.

[Davewilly]

Fantastic looking GP!

[bbowser]

Well done, glad you persevered!  I agree about paying full price for a simple (by today's standards) reissue, but like Steve said, sometimes they're the only game in town.  Hopefully the money they make goes into new tools.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Well done, glad you persevered!  I agree about paying full price for a simple (by today's standards) reissue, but like Steve said, sometimes they're the only game in town.  Hopefully the money they make goes into new tools.

Is Round 2 even doing any new tools?

I was under the assumption that their sole mission was to re-pop old kits, thus the "Round 2" name.

 

Steve

[Lunajammer]

This was a surprise. I really, really like it. I have the kit and I'm not afraid of it. Rather, I'm encouraged that it can finish this lustrous. I might have to bookmark this for reference.

[Rider]

Great work Carl, fantastic detail work on the interior. I dig the deep blue too.