MPC 73 Mustang kinda

[cobraman]

Not done with my Lindberg Mustang but wanted to get a jump on this one . Rare for me to be working on more than one at a time but waiting for paint to dry . Not much done , some parts painted and body and hood primed . The vents in the hood were filled so I don’t get kicked out of the Mustang club . 

[vamach1]

A few other areas you may want to consider  The rear quarter mold line should blend in to the body a little smoother and should be sanded down before it reaches the rear quarter window.  There’s a little lip on the edges of the area at the bottom of the windshield posts.  That “extra” lip that is not on the real car does not bother me as much as the mold lines.  Keep up the good work and you are still in the club.

I’va attached a picture of a body I painted a few years ago but obviously it has not been wet sanded as I see some “dust” in the paint.

[slusher]

Another build I will be following, I almost bought this kit at Hobby Lobby....

[cobraman]

Thanks guys. Hints are welcome and helpful. Not going to try and make this as a replica as too much seems to be needed.

[Deuces ll]

So, does the 429 have a Hilborn setup on it????.... ?

[vamach1]

2 hours ago, Deuces ll said:

So, does the 429 have a Hilborn setup on it????.... ?

So since he’s not building it “stock” (which isn’t possible unless he uses the kit small block engine and does a 302 2bbl base engine, I’m going to guess Ray Is going to use the 69/70 Boss 429 that is in the kit which I’m not even sure the origin of that motor MPC decided to put in the Mustang box (maybe a Torino) since MPC never did a kit of either a 69 or 70 Boss 429 Mustang and Ford did not offer that engine in the 71-73 Mustang.  I think they were so eager to put out new kits that they assumed the 71 429 Mustang would have the BOSS 429 heads or they just did not care that the CJ and SCJ engine heads are way different.  Anyway. It will make a cool Resto mod or something whether he builds a wild street machine with the injectors or the two Holley carbs or something else.  I would cringe some having to cut out that opening in the hood but that’s the purist in me.  Maybe a large scoop would look okay.

Edited September 3, 2020 by vamach1

[Deuces ll]

Ford should have kept using the FE engine like the 428 er 390 in the '71-'73 Mach 1s instead of the much heavier 429 engines... That's just an opinion... ?

[vamach1]

49 minutes ago, Deuces ll said:

Ford should have kept using the FE engine like the 428 er 390 in the '71-'73 Mach 1s instead of the much heavier 429 engines... That's just an opinion... ?

I cannot find exact specs but the 385 series (non Boss 429 version) but it is probably about 80 lbs heavier than the FE engines used until 1970.  Of course the Boss 429 only came in 69/70 Mustangs so by 1971 the Mustang has the same 429 CJ or SCJ as the 70/71 Torino Cobra.  Each engine has it’s pros and cons but since the 385 series engine was also used for the 460 c..i. larger Ford’s and trucks.  I guess the FE engine had just run it’s course.  With the the massive heads on the NASCAR Boss 429 perhaps everyone thought every Ford with a 429 engine had a Boss version but like the Boss 351 - the Cubic inches is just one of many factors affecting torque, horse power, etc.  The 351 Cleveland and Windsor were two distinct engines both of which were offered in the 1970 Mustang but with the same C.I. no wonder people were confused back then.  I think Mexico snuck some leftover 351 Windsor engines in the Mustangs built there after 1970 versus all the US ones that had either a 2bbl H, (Boss or HO) R, or “CJ”  Q code Cleveland engine.

[cobraman]

No injectors, no scoop planned.

[vamach1]

1 hour ago, cobraman said:

No injectors, no scoop planned.

No issues with that here.  It was sorta strange to show them in the box art.  It seems like MPC was trying to do a sort of three in one kit but they really missed the mark on not including the Mach1 decals yet they included basically the racing decals from the original version which best I can tell are supposed to represent this #15 car or one like it.

[vamach1]

These pictures explain the origins of the incorrect features we see in the MPC kit to this day.  A 428 and a “Boss” (not really) 302 engine and those lovely hubcaps and rear widow louvers from 1970.  Sorry boys and girls but there is no 351 engine unless you convince me it’s a Windsor motor for the race car which other pictures show 302 on the hood so it was either a regular 302 or a leftover Boss 302.  I cannot find any documentation the Boss 351 engine was used in any Mustang for road racing which tended to limit engines to Five litres.  The people at Revell probably think I am crazy by now.?

Now here a 73 Mach1 (not a Mach3) ? that was raced at SPA (in Belgium) in the mid 70’s.  It DNF’ed.  Pictures are tight to find of this entry in a European endurance race.

Edited September 4, 2020 by vamach1

[cobraman]

I have some paint on the body I wanted to try and get close to the Ford Medium Blue used on 73 Mustang but I think I missed the mark . I do like the color however . 

[Reeves Racing]

Ray, like others have said it isn't perfect but I don't know of any other option for this car. It can be built up nice as a stock Mach 1. I used it to do my uncle's car.

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[cobraman]

That does look good. I kind of like the half vinyl top. Is that one of the kit engines ?

[Bills72sj]

2 hours ago, cobraman said:

I have some paint on the body I wanted to try and get close to the Ford Medium Blue used on 73 Mustang but I think I missed the mark . I do like the color however . 

 

I like the color too.

[Reeves Racing]

50 minutes ago, cobraman said:

That does look good. I kind of like the half vinyl top. Is that one of the kit engines ?

The engine is from a Revell kit. They really are some of the best Ford engines. My uncle's Mach has a 351 in it and I didn't think the MPC engine looked right. 

[cobraman]

The kit engine is not very good but neither is the rest of the kit so............

[slusher]

Really nice shade of blue Ray..

[cobraman]

Thanks Carl. Should look real nice with some clear on it.  Decals first.

[cheyenne93]

Glad I checked out this post. I am building this kit for the cannonball entry. I also was thinking that neither motor in the kit seemed rite. Gotta look through the stash, think I have a better looking 302 or 351. I will also work out the rear quarter lines.

[Dann Tier]

Looking like a great start, Bud!!!

[cobraman]

Moving forward . Kit is so-so . I like the color but wish I went with a lighter color so the Keith Marks decals would show better . Body has not been cleared and will sit different when interior is in I suspect . Wheels are Pegasus . 

[slusher]

Looks great Ray!

[cobraman]

Thank you Carl.

[espo]

I also like the dark blue color, but I see what you mean about the black Mach 1 decals being hard to see. Were there any white decals on the sheet you got that may offer a little more contrast or are you happy with the way it is ?