1972 Missle Cuda and Duster builtups. What to do with them?

[gtx6970]

My quandary. I have a builtup MPC 1972 Mopar Missile Cuda and the 73 Duster.

I bought a bunch of old drag car builtups a few years back via Ebay  and these 2 are from that bunch . So they have no sentimental value to me. The Cuda is the better of these 2 ,,,and it  makes an OK  display case piece the way it sits, just not as nice as I would like it to be . If it was in a case by itself  I would just open it up, paint the seats black and put it back together. BUT its not !!!!!, its  in a case with several others . The Duster on the other hand is painted a semi gloss , almost flat black which is obviously wrong and just  looks bad . So that one I'm thinking just take it apart to redo the exterior with new decals and put it back together. The Cuda is another story. I'm on the fence and cant decide  to leave it or redo it . The Cuda is the only one I have so to build an all new one would require me to  purchase another one. That  brings up the issue,,,what to do with the one I have

 

So, do I take it apart for a complete makeover OR just repaint the exterior with new decals and back in the case. OR leave it as is and buy / build another one . Keep in mind I don't do contests so that's out of the equation . My issue is at some point back then these were some ones pride and joy.

 

2 of the others from this purchase I plan to leave alone. An Arlen  Vanke 72 Duster and a Eddie Schartman Maverick pro stock  They're not as nice as I can do,,,,,but not bad enough I feel like I NEED to take them apart either. The last  one from this purchase  is the Sox and Martin Duster. The decals on it are a mess and its just plain  falling apart , plus there's no engine in it so its slated for a redo at some no matter what.

 

Edited May 12, 2017 by gtx6970

[jeff f]

Wow Bill nice score . Those old MPC kits were not very accurate as a pro stock . I would redo the cuda body with Slixx decals and put Johan Fentons on it . Note that the MOTOWN MISSILE slants the wrong way on the kit decal .

Jeff.

[jeff f]

Bill I would very interested in the Duster if it were on the market .

Thanks Jeff .

[gtx6970]

Bill I would very interested in the Duster if it were on the market .

Thanks Jeff .

Thanks , I bought them a few years ago and  these are  the only one I have  of each one. so  sorry to report but not for resale.The duster needs redone as the semi gloss  almost flat black exterior  just looks bad .

The Cuda seats were painted yellow and the glue on the glass and is the main reasons I'm leaning towards a tear down  to redo it . Its not bad at arms length but up close you can see its an OLD build . The body isn't painted as its molded in black . And looks almost out of place in the case with the rest of them .

 

The Missle Duster next to the Cuda in the case is a diecast of the 1972 Duster. The 1973 car above is the one that needs done is to the far right ,,, next  to the  S+M Duster

 

Edited May 12, 2017 by gtx6970

[Snake45]

Both of those look nice enough to me--at least in these pics--that I'd just clean them up and touch up/fix anything I just couldn't live with. Of course you know me and my "survivor restos."  And then I'd drive on with some other project high on my To-Do list.

You can always come back later and strip and completely redo them, if the mood takes you.

Well, that's what I'D do, anyway, just since you asked.

[gtx6970]

Ive got decals to redo them all. And with recent issues with Fred Cady decals on another car. I'm thinking the decals are getting old . Thus why I'm  even thinking about these cars at this point. As I had no plans to redo them anytime soon .

All my decals are in a  magnetic photo album storage book.. But some are approaching 20 years old now.  Even though  thats where the sheet  for my Bob Ford Thunderbolt build was.  I liked to never got them to stick to the car during  this past winters build of it . ( I had similar issues with some older   Slixx decals a couple years ago )

 

In the back of my mind, I'm thinking open them up. Strip ,  repaint, do the decals and clear. Dry assemble them and put them back in the case for another day to fully complete. But part of me says just finish them now and be done with them . Yet part of me says leave them alone and deal with any issues IF they arise someday down the road .  BUT, will fresh decals still exist in 5 , 10 or even 15 years IF I need them .

[dragmodels44]

Get the decals! Once you have them, you can do the car anytime! And even if u never do, you'll always have them, or the harder they become to find, you can always sell them. Just my opinion.