MPC Pinto Cruisin' Wagon - No Pain, No Gain

[Faust]

I’m sure we’ve all run into those kits that we thought were going to be fairly simple, only to realize that they’re a lot more involved than they first seemed to be. That’s been the case for the last couple of cars I’ve built, as I’ve tried to overcome dodgy instructions and a lack of reference material regarding stock versions of the vehicles.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that MPC’s Pinto wagon, rereleased in its late-run “Pony Express” form by Round 2 is any different. However, it’s not just the engine that’s wrong on this one, it’s the whole Cruising Wagon rear end! (You know, the whole reason most of us likely bought the kit?). It’s not Round 2’s fault, though. It’s all MPC laziness, but with some dedication, it can be made to work out in the end.

Check out all the blood, sweat and tears that I’m having to put into this thing at the link below. Just a word of warning: if you want to build an authentic Pinto wagon from this thing without a lot of work, stick to the windowed version!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/pinto-update-2-body-issues/

[espo]

I see what you mean about the side panel. Only my opinion, but I think it looks better this way, but you are correct it doesn't represent the real vehicle. The Vega of this era also offered a similar set up but the metal insert replacing side glass was mounted in this fashion. The Vega was never promoted in the same way Ford did the Pinto. The Vega was offered as a stripped down commercial type vehicle, not even a glove box door.   

[Faust]

You're right about the insert, is is very Vega-esque. I don't know why Ford did what they did with the Pinto, since they had to have the inside insert anyway. Maybe it was to hide all the crappy welds? This way, they could make a right mess of things and just cover it over with a piece of panel. No muss, no fuss. I'd love to see what rot is under, and indeed written on or stuffed into, one of these panels. We are talking about '70s auto assembly lines after all.

I personally like the way Ford did it; it makes the wagon look less cheap. For a commercial-beater, like the Vega, the insert is okay. For the Pinto, though, a more flush side looks more "vanning", and like they cared more.