MPC 69 Charger hood variations

[Oldcarfan27]

Just dug out my Charger projects (500, Daytona and original issue Dukes and compared all the hoods and just noticed they're possibly all different toolings.

Not only are the scallop areas on top different, but I never realized that the underhood detail was different on all three too.

Is it possible that the correct 69 hood (yellow) is still available for the regular Charger?

Info or thoughts?

[Joe Handley]

IIRC, the Daytona’s used ‘70 Charger hoods, no matter the scale, due to the noses used being a similar profile along that part of the hood.

[CapSat 6]

The yellow one is from the MPC/Ertl Charger 500 kit, the original issue / molded in yellow only, from around 1986. It’s correct for all ‘68 and ‘69 Chargers, including the 500 and except for the Daytona. 
 

The white one is the Daytona hood. It’s correct for any ‘69 Daytona, and it has the scoop detail for a ‘70 Charger, as the 1:1 part for a Daytona was actually a pull-forward ‘70 hood. You could also use this hood, with very slight mods to the front edge, for a stock ‘70 Charger. 

The third hood is from the original issue (around 1979) of the General Lee. There is no underside detail, it has the incorrect ‘70 scoop detail, a sub par front edge (presumably restored from when it was used in the annual ‘70 and Daytona stock car kits) and three hood pins. 
 

Later issues of the Charger 500 (I think there was only one, red on the box and molded in gray plastic) and Dukes General Lee used an incorrect hood (‘70 style hood vents) that was similar to the orange hood, but with underside detail. They would have been molded in orange, gray or white (or black, as in the recent “Country Charger”), depending on the particular issue. 
 

I gripe about this all the time- I really wish that Round 2 would find the yellow “500” hood if they ever do another release of the 500 or stock-ish ‘69 Charger. 

[CapSat 6]

Here are the hoods: 

 

1) original annual MPC 1968 and 1969 hood. 
 

2) original annual MPC 1970 hood. The Daytona stock cars got a similar, simplified version of this hood. 
 

3) original MPC Dukes General Lee hood, circa 1979.

4) MPC/Ertl Charger 500 hood (circa 1986 only). 
 

5) MPC/ AMT Daytona hood (circa 1988-present). 

[Oldcarfan27]

1 hour ago, CapSat 6 said:

Here are the hoods: 

 

1) original annual MPC 1968 and 1969 hood. 
 

2) original annual MPC 1970 hood. The Daytona stock cars got a similar, simplified version of this hood. 
 

3) original MPC Dukes General Lee hood, circa 1979.

4) MPC/Ertl Charger 500 hood (circa 1986 only). 
 

5) MPC/ AMT Daytona hood (circa 1988-present). 

See how #s 2, 3 and 5 are incorrect for a 69. With #5 being the most weak detailed and muddy in the scallop area. 

#1 and 4 are correct, but for some reason never ends up in any current reissue of the kit. AFAIK.

I wonder what happened to it?

[CapSat 6]

17 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

See how #s 2, 3 and 5 are incorrect for a 69. With #5 being the most weak detailed and muddy in the scallop area. 

#1 and 4 are correct, but for some reason never ends up in any current reissue of the kit. AFAIK.

I wonder what happened to it?

I wonder myself. if you look at #4, even the front edge isn't as nice as the original.

There is another alternative. I have found that the Revell '68-'69 hood fits the MPC body with a slight amount of trimming. it's a bit nicer, too. These are very common in swap meet parts boxes.

Round 2 could theoretically put some fixes in and release it as a sort of retro annual/drag release. Revell still doesn't offer a Charger 500. I guess if I ran the Round 2 store, I would do this:

1) find that correct hood tool, and work that front edge.

2) fix the rear valence (by removing it from the body and tooling up a new standalone piece).

3) find some of the NASCAR parts (the gas tank shield, some of the roll cage, and some of the Holman Moody wheels have appeared in recent issues of this kit, notably some of the Dukes cars and the Fast & Furious Charger).  

3) do a very nice retro box for the Charger 500, with a comprehensive decal set, including stock, street, NASCAR and Drag ("Propane X", see below) options.

4) throw in the new Torq Thrust mags and slicks, and make one of the building options the old "Propane X" Charger 500 drag car, and call that out prominently on the box.      

If they did that, I would have to buy another one, at least. That is saying something, because I probably have about 15 of these in various forms.

Edited December 3, 2020 by CapSat 6

[Muncie]

Hood #1, the original 1968-69 hood was probably retooled into the #2 1970 annual hood - and with all the changes that kit has gone through, it may have been retooled again several times into ??  So hood #1 is gone and would require new tooling for a good 1968-69 hood.   Altogether, that kit is a tired old tool and the best way to fix everything would be modern tooling for the whole kit.   We may not see that happen.

Overall, I think MPC did a better job getting the shape of the body and hood right on the original 1968 annual than Revell did but the changes haven't helped MPC kit.

[CapSat 6]

1 minute ago, Muncie said:

Hood #1, the original 1968-69 hood was probably retooled into the #2 1970 annual hood - and with all the changes that kit has gone through, it may have been retooled again several times into ??  So hood #1 is gone and would require new tooling for a good 1968-69 hood.   Altogether, that kit is a tired old tool and the best way to fix everything would be modern tooling for the whole kit.   We may not see that happen.

Overall, I think MPC did a better job getting the shape of the body and hood right on the original 1968 annual than Revell did but the changes haven't helped MPC kit.

All true. The 500 hood isn't the same as the original annual hood, as it has underside detail, and the front edge isn't as nice.

it definitely wouldn't pay for Round 2 to retool this one, as Revell already has a superior '68-'69 Charger tool. Round 2 even did a snap tool that repeats some of the sins of the glue tool(same '72 grille inserts for the stock '69, for instance).

I still have a soft spot for this tool though, warts and all. If they were to bring the 500 back (I think they have only offered it twice, and if you want to build a 500, you must use at least some of the MPC kit, or get the grille in resin), then it might be worthwhile to make a few upgrades while they are at it.

The way Round 2 does their decals and boxes, it makes me want to buy almost anything they offer. I have enough MPC '78 Monaco 4 doors to last the rest of my life, but with the new lightbar and wheels, along with the retro box and new decals Round 2 just did for the CHP version, I REALLY want another one now.