swede70 Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 (edited) Greetings... I always wondered what a factory promo of the '73-'74 American Motors Javelin AMX would have looked liked had it been afforded to us, pondering what could have been made of parts tooled for the AMT release as well as the knocked down snap together Jo-Han release of old. Witnessed below would be a starting point... The 'Volcano' styled stamped steel wheels would appear within AMT's Gremlin (and likely stock Matador) unassembled kits, while maybe the MPC hard vinyl Goodyear Polyglas GT tires could have been used even as they were likely sized to suit the Vega GT promos first and foremost. Modern eBay kit breakers were turned to, while the availability of things sold separately helped knock down costs... For gathering a nicely built up snap together release and collecting suitable scale footwear, I finally decided to do something about a certain urge. Another set of wheels is in the mail, hence I'll hopefully have four well-plated and reasonably crisp examples to choose from. This would Fairway Green Metallic on a '73 Javelin versus the expected Javelin AMX model, with the neat 'Volcano' stamped steel wheels also on view... ...while this would be a very typical (albeit in terrific restored condition) American Motors interior hue of the period. My interior paint choice isn't the closest, although it's typical of period Jo-Han practice. I feared that if I simply painted the interior basic black, it would appear more 'messed with' versus something that might be mistaken for an actual promo. A later Gremlin kit might be tapped to come up with a steering wheel akin to what is pictured here, given the rim blow option was no more after the '72 model year... Seen would be a respray for use of Tamiya TS-20 Green Metallic which approximates '73 American Motors Fairway Green Metallic, a weird interior refinish in Rust-oleum Stalin Leafy Green with a quick semigloss clear coat applied over it. Some clean up work was performed to the body shell casting, although only enough to ensure it would look about equal to a pair of '71 and '72 true promos that I have in terms of finish quality. Jo-Han plastic kit axle locators were modified for adding a bit of plastic tubing to widen the track both front and rear prior to painting each ACE hardware Garden Green to match the color of the plastic used for the aforementioned snap together release, the results being generally clean and discreet for so fitting. Music wire was used for new, wider axles matched to the track of the old Hurst mags typical of these models. I had a spare plastic 'glass' panel/insert on hand, hence such was polished with NOVUS 2 and switched in. The tires are a bit small, but I'll live with such... The tail panel plus bumper top cove black out denoting that the 'GO' package was added after masking out the bumper guards. Locating tabs otherwise intended to square things up for assembly of the top tail panel insert relative to the red-tinted tail light panel were ground away to level things out, while the aforementioned lense insert was stripped with Easy Off and reshot with Tamiya TS-74 Clear Red to ensure it was colored evenly versus the usual Jo-Han blotchiness. Watch out for clumsily built up examples which often evidence glue burns to the tail panel insert top corners extended along the back of the insert. Damage such as I describe is something commonly discovered only after one returns from a show with a messed up example in hand. Both tail light lenses I had to choose from were damaged in this fashion, although one was within the realm of saving for use here. Fred Cady decals are coming - hence a gold 'T'-stripe hood graphic will be added soon enough, being as weird and as typical of anything AMC ever did in period. Mostly I'm happy. Thanks for your review of this more or less finished mini-project... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 17, 2021 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 nice color suits it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Nice promo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Cool idea, nicely done. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michelle Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 nice work iwish i could find one of these i only have one javelin amx it is a 1/25th 3d printed 1971 version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimaxion Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Just a couple of notes about this AMC Javelin AMX . I am retentive . The Javelin AMX's from '71/'74 came with Engine Tuned Dash Treatment , WAPPED into the Driver's Door on Javelins and Javelin AMX's both . What MY did Corvette Invent this feature ? The Wood Grain pictured here is the Javelin treatment . The Wrap into the Door Dash was "invented" by junkie mtrs what year again ? AL MODERN HVAC Systems are pioneered by AMC . I can go on . ALAS so much for oddball and weird AMC Corp. IMHO .BTW .. In 1957 AMC MADE AND SOLD A 327 V/8 Engines . Chevrolet in 1962 . "Chevrolet did all this first" . Yet I was subject to this undisputable FACT while listening to claims junkie mtrs cast AMC Engines for free ?? How benevolent of them . ,Consider especially the Casting all these with Cubic Inch Displacement Embossed on the sides of these FREE Blocks . Enough of my Advertisement . What a spectacular Replica . KUDOS and a great collector ITEM . The Gold T Stripe will set this off nicely . I would like to share mine . Yours puts mine to shame Thanx NOTE The Packard came on fhe ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dann Tier Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Very nice!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) Thanks everyone for the kind interest displayed and comments left... The wheels and decals ordered arrived, while a new rear axle was cut consistent with widening the track a bit to even things up. Noticed will be the new Fred Cady period tape graphic on the hood, essentially matched up to the edge formed along the rear of the stripe work where it terminates along the back of the fresh air hood duct. Perhaps I set the image too far back, while mild regrets that the 'Javelin' script on the leading edge of the hood prevents the decal from settling as flat as I'd otherwise desire. Still - mostly good and about as far as I'll carry things. If a late AMT Gremlin plastic kit is turned up soon, I'll swap in the later style steering wheel found within. Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70 Edited March 22, 2021 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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