AMT/ERTL #31230 '34 Ford "Slammer"

[Mike999]

This kit was supposed to be re-issued this year, but I haven't seen it yet. Since I recently finished one, I thought I would post with some comments and problems. The problems may be fixed or changed in the new Round 2 re-issue (but I doubt it!).

This kit was first issued by MPC back in the 1970's, in a white box. AMT-ERTL re-issued it at least twice; once with a blue car on the box (the kit I built), and again with an ugly set of scallop decals.  It was part of a series of Modified Stocker kits, all with generic big-block Chevy engines and Tobias chassis. 

Problems:

1. Instruction sheet Step 8, Part #6:  these are the 2 support rods that run from the firewall to the radiator frame.  Both were too short. I replaced them with Evergreen rod.

2. Instruction sheet Step 11, Part #2:  this is the V-shaped brace between the roll bar and the rear bulkhead. It was too long.  The roll bar fits into 4 pins in the floor, so you can't move it around to fix this problem.  I sanded down the 2 points of the "V" until it fit.

3. No Tie Rod:  the kit has "poseable" front wheels, but nothing connects them.  They just flop around independent of each other. 

4. Extra Parts:  see the last pic below.  All those parts were in the box but not used.  Before you glue anything together, go thru the instructions and identify only the parts you need for the '34 Ford.  I put all the extra parts out of the way, so I wouldn't pick them up by accident.

Good Stuff:  nice engine with Weiand valve covers and a well-done carburetor (for the 1970's). And those snaky exhaust pipes, which are a bit of a challenge.  A detailed interior complete with fire extinguisher and seat with a molded-in harness.  The chassis is also well detailed.  I added a few MENG nuts and bolts to it in visible places.

In the interior, I added a lot of detail that, of course, can't be seen now:  a rock screen attached to the roll bar with clips made from metal foil; a detailed instrument panel with gauges and switches, etc.

Just for fun, I painted one of the optional hoods and stuck it on the kit so you can see what it looks like.  The decals came from some Gofer sheets and the decal stash.  "Mac's" on the trunk came from just where you would suspect, a NASCAR McDonald's decal sheet.

Sorry for the photos, still getting used to a new camera that is smarter than I am...

[espo]

Great looking build. You may find yourself under Other Race Cars soon. You're right about a lot of extra parts in this kit. My thought would be they have one set of parts for all of the kits in this series and just change the body depending on what the car body was supposed to be.  

[Vettegasser]

Awesome!!!!!!!

[slusher]

Fantastic looking stocker! Great detail and paint!  Love it deserves more compliments then it has!

[cobraman]

Looks good, nice weathering.

[Spottedlaurel]

It's really good, with a very effective and 'right' look to it.

[ChrisR]

Awesome!

[PappyD340]

Looks great, nice weathering!

[Mike999]

Thanks for the nice comments, everybody!  They're really appreciated.

I forgot to mention the paint, which was an experiment.

It's Jacquard Metallic, stuff meant to be used for painting T-shirts and such.  But it's a tough acrylic paint that comes pre-thinned for airbrushing.  Available at Hobby Lobby and not very expensive.  I bought an 8-pack of different colors.  The "metallic" in it looks more in-scale to me than many metallic paints.  No big flakes etc.  This is the current version of the paint you'll find at Hobby Lobby:

 

Edited August 16, 2020 by Mike999
omit

[PatW]

Very well finished, very realistic!

[RAMBENNA]

man this is way cool, nice job. looks awesome

[Rudy32]

On 8/13/2020 at 7:35 PM, Mike999 said:

This kit was supposed to be re-issued this year, but I haven't seen it yet. Since I recently finished one, I thought I would post with some comments and problems. The problems may be fixed or changed in the new Round 2 re-issue (but I doubt it!).

This kit was first issued by MPC back in the 1970's, in a white box. AMT-ERTL re-issued it at least twice; once with a blue car on the box (the kit I built), and again with an ugly set of scallop decals.  It was part of a series of Modified Stocker kits, all with generic big-block Chevy engines and Tobias chassis. 

Problems:

1. Instruction sheet Step 8, Part #6:  these are the 2 support rods that run from the firewall to the radiator frame.  Both were too short. I replaced them with Evergreen rod.

2. Instruction sheet Step 11, Part #2:  this is the V-shaped brace between the roll bar and the rear bulkhead. It was too long.  The roll bar fits into 4 pins in the floor, so you can't move it around to fix this problem.  I sanded down the 2 points of the "V" until it fit.

3. No Tie Rod:  the kit has "poseable" front wheels, but nothing connects them.  They just flop around independent of each other. 

4. Extra Parts:  see the last pic below.  All those parts were in the box but not used.  Before you glue anything together, go thru the instructions and identify only the parts you need for the '34 Ford.  I put all the extra parts out of the way, so I wouldn't pick them up by accident.

Good Stuff:  nice engine with Weiand valve covers and a well-done carburetor (for the 1970's). And those snaky exhaust pipes, which are a bit of a challenge.  A detailed interior complete with fire extinguisher and seat with a molded-in harness.  The chassis is also well detailed.  I added a few MENG nuts and bolts to it in visible places.

In the interior, I added a lot of detail that, of course, can't be seen now:  a rock screen attached to the roll bar with clips made from metal foil; a detailed instrument panel with gauges and switches, etc.

Just for fun, I painted one of the optional hoods and stuck it on the kit so you can see what it looks like.  The decals came from some Gofer sheets and the decal stash.  "Mac's" on the trunk came from just where you would suspect, a NASCAR McDonald's decal sheet.

Sorry for the photos, still getting used to a new camera that is smarter than I am...