71 Charger 440

[Quicksilver15]

Finished this AMT 71 Charger R/T with a 440 recently.  My wife gave me this model three years ago after a 25 year absence from the hobby.  This was my 3rd model (yeah, one per year is about what I can do, although this one took only 4 months).

Updates and mods include:

- Wiring and plumbing, including brake lines, emerg brake lines, fuel lines and filter, vacuum lines, A/C lines, battery cables (including scratchbuilt terminals), washer fluid line

- Seatbelts and buckles

- Photoetch details (emblems)

- Tire decals from Fireball Models

- Black flocking for carpets

- Vinyl top (made with masking tape) and new chrome trim around the top

- Scratchbuilt washer fluid bottle

- BMF for chrome trim.  I sanded and polished the trim areas, then masked for doing body paint.  When the masking came off, the plastic was smooth enough around the trim that the BMF looks fairly smooth.  Way better than when I put BMF over painted surfaces.

- Replacement decals from Firebird Designs

- Corner lights made by drilling out where the lenses go, gluing in a BMF backing, and filling with Tamiya clear red and orange.

- Air cleaner is removable to see details

- Bigger rear tires (from parts bin)

- Paint is Citron Yella with 2-part clear coat, both from Gravity Colors.  Inteior is Mr. Color Tyre Black, which to my eyes is a very convincing black leather (has that lightish hue that leather always seems to have).  Other paints are Testors, Mr. Color, and Alclad II metallics.  All chrome parts were stripped and re-chromed with Alclad II.

- Yes, the wiper motor is missing.  I lost it and didn't get around to building a new one.  I'll do that before I bring the car to model shows next spring...

The biggest lesson from this build:  I must've gotten a bad batch of black gloss from Alclad, because it never really dried and thus the chrome never dried and wore off easily.  I've read there have been bad batches of the black.  That's why the chrome doesn't look so good.  I'm going to try the Molotow Liquid Chrome on my next build... and not use the Alclad black anymore.  Also, I sprayed flat finish on the inner rims, and it ate through the Alclad chrome and made it look bubbly.  Every build teaches me something!

Thanks for looking.

[Classicgas]

Well done. How did you do the boots on the distributor?

[charger74]

That is one beautifull charger ??

[Quicksilver15]

Thanks for the comments.  Boots on distributor are wire insulation threaded over the distribution wire.  I cut a v-notch in the insulation, fed the distributor wire thru, bent 90 deg, and put a touch of CA.  I think it's a bit out of scale, I'll use smaller insulation next time.

[donb]

Beautiful model. Engine detail is super nice. The interior seats look real. Excellent! 

[Mr mopar]

nice ............ !

Edited September 18, 2017 by Mr mopar

[PARTSMARTY]

That is simply beautiful-and a mopar !!!

[Foxer]

Beautiful detailing!

[espo]

All of the extra effort on detailing the mechanics of the model really paid off. I think that after you use the pen on your chrome you'll start using it on everything. I'm going back and redoing all the models where the chrome comes off every time you touch the bumpers.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

That is one sharp Charger!! Great work!!

[RestoModGuy]

Very nice! Well done

[Hmann68]

Great build! Your right, the interior just looks so realistic! 

[RAMBENNA]

nice job , looks great

[NYLIBUD]

Great job.The car looks so real.

[Dann Tier]

NICE job!!!....Great work all-way-round!!!!

[dieseldog1970]

Nice color!!!!  

[FabbricaP]

Wow fantastic build. All the details and the color are awesome. 

[moparfarmer]

Very nicely done especially after only being your third finish after a 25 year lay off..You definately haven't lost  your skills..Very nice..

[Zoom]

Well done!

 

[XJ6]

Very Well Done Looks like the Real McCoy. 

[Ack! Ack-ack!]

Your paintwork is spot-on and the engine compartment looks very realistic.

[shoopdog]

Very nice build, I'm trying to wrap mine up that's been in the works for awhile. need to get busy on the foiling. Actually have three builds held up for foil, in my opinion the worst part of completing a kit.