AMT 1/16 427 cobra

[Brudda]

Good morning. Can anyone give me a review of this kit? It is a AMT 1/16 427 cobra kit. Thank you. 

[Mark IV]

Originally the MPC (and then Airfix, eventually AMT) 1/16 Cobra this has pros and cons:

Pros:

*Only affordable big scale Cobra

*Good body proportions, correct shape for an early Comp, "S/C" car. Wrong for a later street roadster

*Optional parts

* Decent mold quality, emblems, etc. are clear and crisp (at least on my 3 kits which are all 1980's vintage)

*Optional "up" top and a tonneau cover

*427 "FE" engine is well done and has both the normal 4V carb intake and a Weber system that was never really offered by Shelby but is on several cars today

Cons:

*Allegedly an "S/C" due to flare shapes, it does not have the oil cooler scoop below the nose opening. You will need to fabricate this

*Issues with the chassis/frame. The frame rails are open on the top where very visible from the hood opening

*Wheels are both the street car "Sunbursts" which are not used on an S/C. The correct Halibrands are included however they are all front 7.5" wheels so the rears are totally incorrect. All need chrome stripped and to be painted

*tail lamps are for CSX 3200 ands up versions, quad round lamps. early cars and S/C cars were rectangular units

*Tires are WAY too wide and wrong. They are from an MPC 1/16 "trike" custom bike kit so apparently were in the parts pile

*Windshield frame shape is wrong (have yet to see a Cobra bigger than 1/43 with decent frame)

*Transmission is incorrect but good for a 1/16 drag car

 

MPC did photograph and measure a genuine car (I have photos of them doing it) so how they ended up with a mix of late street cat and early "S/C" is a good question.

 

Conclusion? Better than nothing, so depending on what you went to end up with a good, but not great start.

[cobraman]

Also packaged as ESCI Ertl . Despite any accuracy problems I think It builds up pretty nice. IMO

[Tommy124]

If you don't mind some words in German, here is a link to a presentation of the kit on a German forum. Images will speak for themselves, I guess. If there should be the need for translation, let me know:

http://www.wettringer-modellbauforum.de/forum/index.php?page=Thread&postID=582023#post582023

[Dragonhawk1066]

I built this kit as an MPC labeled kit about 35 years ago, and don't recall having too many problems with it, so it must be a decent kit as I was 16 or 17 at the time. I did just buy another MPC version last year as I no longer have the model I built as a youth, but don't plan on building it for another year or two. I don't really pay too much attention to any minor inaccuracies that occur in some kits, so to me this one is just fine visually. I do agree on the tires being a tad bit off size wise, and maybe the wheels too, but overall it should build into a pretty snazzy model kit replica.  3D Model Specialties by Ron Olsen on Shapeways does have some 1/16 scale parts available, but I'm not sure if any would be usable on the Cobra kit, I guess it would depend on personal preference. Might even be other 1/16 scale parts suppliers on Shapeways too. Anyways, this is the box art for the kit I did way back when and just purchased another of last year...

Also here are a couple of links to youtube vids.

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by Dragonhawk1066
To add videos.

[cobraman]

I like this kit . Here is one I built . 

[Brudda]

Thank you for the info. I agree the rear tires are too wide and need to reverse the rear halibrand wheels. The open frame is strange also. Cobra man your car looks really great!!!!! Thank you guys for your help

[Jim N]

Very nice build Ray.  What color did you use for the body? 

[cobraman]

Thanks Jim, i used Root Beer but forget the brand.

[vamach1]

2 hours ago, cobraman said:

Thanks Jim, i used Root Beer but forget the brand.

Testors make a Root Beer spray paint.

[skymnky721]

I found it to be pretty fun to build,,you can do so much to it with the large scale and all,,I pushed mine outside the envelope a bit

[cobraman]

Very cool Cobra.

[High octane]

3 hours ago, cobraman said:

Very cool Cobra.

Ditto!

[Brudda]

Let’s see all of your 1/16 scale cobras!!!

[Brudda]

Skymnky721 you cobra look great!