1/24 '70 'Cuda

[Snake45]

Bought this at Hobby Lobby a couple years ago. The overall body shape is pretty good. Interestingly, they got the front valence panel line right (where Monogram got it wrong). It's done as a strange amalgam of AAR and HemiCuda features—basically a HemiCuda (with Shaker hood and a Hemi under it) with AAR paint treatment (less the AAR emblems, go figger). Google says they've made these in a couple different colors, but all have this same strange treatment. One other problem with it: Looks like the guy whose job was to design the rear end taillight panel just never showed up to work, but they pressed on anyway with just a plain flat chrome panel back there. I first thought mine was just missing an important part, but google-image says no, they're all like that. Ah shucks oh well. Nice wheels, though.

Anyway, here's what it looks like out of the box. Notice the door that sticks out. Google-image says they're all like that, an inherent flaw. Mine also has a nasty paint bubble or blister of some kind right behind the driver's door handle. 

 

Here it is, out of the box, with a Monogram '71 to compare size and shape.

 

First job was to fix that door. I removed it, filed the screw-hole out to where it would fit flush, then built up the other side of the screw-hole with J-B Weld. Filing the hole took me a couple evenings in front of the TV back when I first got this thing in late 2017; dreading the J-B Weld part of the job committed the project to the Shelf of Doom until a couple months ago. Ironically, it went smoothly and only took about 20 minutes.

That handled, time to do something about the blank rear panel. I looked into grafting in one from the first-issue Revell AAR '70 kit, then decided it was more trouble than it would be worth at this point. So I cut a piece of .030” sheet styrene to fit the hole, rattlecanned it Testor White Lightning, masked off the backup lights, rattlecanned it Krylon Sparkle Red, masked off the taillights, and rattlecanned the whole thing Krylon Satin Black. It ain't perfect, but at least it's SOMETHING back there. (The right rear bumper guard is also broken on mine. Oh well, might fix that someday.)

From there on it was all first-degree Snake-Fu Detailed the grille. Detailed the wheels (which came out great). Silver Sharpie where necessary. Added the front and rear side market lights. Darn, it doesn't look half bad! 

Final verdict: It looks far better than at least two of Revell's attempts at a '70 Barracuda, and I'd argue it even has its strong points against the third. IMHO it's fit to sit on the same shelf with the 1/24 Monogram '71, a good but not perfect kit that has its own little problems. I like it well enough that at some point I will probably repaint it, if/when I run across a cheap, easy (rattlecan) paint that can pass for B5 Blue. Of course the AAR graphics will go at that time (and I can remove that wart on the driver's door), and it will live out its life as the Hemi Cuda it really is ("billboard delete," of course). When I repaint it, I'll have another go at coming up with a good solution for the rear taillight panel, too. I might fill in the holes for the wing, too.

Thanks for looking, and as always, comments welcome!

[Hmann68]

Good choice to go with B5! I’m partial to it, my ‘70 RR I owned til 2005 was B5 with blue interior. It’ll be nice to see what you do with the Cuda ?

[Hmann68]

BTW, Tamiya makes a blue that’s darn close, can’t remember the code, but a couple guys on here have used it, I’m sure they know the number ?

[TooOld]

Nice work on the door and rear panel . I agree that it does look better than Revell's early versions , the fact that it's a diecast makes it even more impressive !  

[Snake45]

14 hours ago, Hmann68 said:

BTW, Tamiya makes a blue that’s darn close, can’t remember the code, but a couple guys on here have used it, I’m sure they know the number ?

Yah, I've seen it, but Tamiya paints aren't easy for me to get, and the few I've used have been a little more work than I really want to put into this thing. 

Was doing some research this morning. I've got a giant can of a metallic blue from Rustoleum, it's not quite light/bright enough for B5 but I might be able to pass it off as B7 Jamaican Blue. That would be fairly painless to do. 

Just remembered, I've got a jar of old Odds N Ends Metallic Blue that's kinda pretty and is in the B5 ballpark. Might fire up the airbrush and try that. (I've had mixed results airbrushing the Odds N Ends paints.) Hmmmmm.....  

[Hmann68]

9 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Yah, I've seen it, but Tamiya paints aren't easy for me to get, and the few I've used have been a little more work than I really want to put into this thing. 

Was doing some research this morning. I've got a giant can of a metallic blue from Rustoleum, it's not quite light/bright enough for B5 but I might be able to pass it off as B7 Jamaican Blue. That would be fairly painless to do. 

Just remembered, I've got a jar of old Odds N Ends Metallic Blue that's kinda pretty and is in the B5 ballpark. Might fire up the airbrush and try that. (I've had mixed results airbrushing the Odds N Ends paints.) Hmmmmm.....  

Either one will look good I believe. I’ve never tried odds n ends. You’ll make it look nice tho whatever you use ?