mrmike Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 My new project is the Dodge Monaco driven by Rick Hunter, an LAPD Detective Sergeant. Hunter was broadcast on NBC TV Network and starred Fred Dwyer and ran for 7 seasons with several reunion movies. I am using the Yodel American Police San Diego County Plymouth Fury that I can easily swap over to a Dodge Monaco. The body is already molded in green plastic, but the model will be painted with Tamiya TS-43 Racing Green with Tamiya TS-65 Pearl Clear and Tamiya AS-15 Tan interior. The Monaco is listed as a 1977-1978 model and I believe that there are very, very few differences between the two years and this is also the pinnacle of badge engineering. Hunter will return... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullybeef Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 I’m following this, one of my favourite shows when I was a kid, and now I’m watching season 1 on Amazon prime lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nazz Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Great subject Mike! I will also be following it. I did mine as the car in the pilot. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 2, 2021 Author Share Posted October 2, 2021 Thanks Bill and Jerry! There has been many versions of the Monaco from the Hunter TV series and I choose the hero car from the fifth season for my build. This was the neatest looking and cleanest car that Hunter had driven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 This looks swell Mike. What's the "motorized system" in this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Looking good Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 Thanks Joe and Bob! Joe, the "motorized" system is an electrical motor and battery driving a gear mounted to an axle. A design that is definitely showing its age when you consider the new systems consists of servos and power packs. The chassis is a battery powered self propelled unit and I will not be using that feature. I opted to fill in all the holes for switches and electrical componants with sheet styrene and fill the short rear axle with styrene tube. Hunter will return... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 4, 2021 Author Share Posted October 4, 2021 I got the wheels and tires assembled, but I'll have to trim the rear wire axle since it is too long. I made a backer for the front bench seat and I detailed a lot of the chrome with a black wash by Tamiya and the parking lights where detailed by using an orange Sharpie. Hunter will return... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 7, 2021 Author Share Posted October 7, 2021 I was schooled in the correct spelling of Fred's name...Dryer. Fred Dryer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beans Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Great start. Definitely following this one. Dont' think I've ever seen a body molded in that green. And the box art!! Wonder if the Japanese at the time thought that was a typical day for the San Diego County Sheriffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 Thanks Joe! I find that Yodel was a different sort of model manufacturer. Probably more interested in battery powered models than anything else. Accuracy wasn't a big thing for them and the size...probably closer to 1/22 scale than 1/24 as it says on the box. This thing is huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 Either I screwed up or the instructions are wrong. I had the wrong wheels in the wrong places on this build and I don't remember if I ran into this issue with the Plymouth Fury that I built a couple of years ago. I put the wrong wheels on the front spindles which put the wrong wheels on the rear axle plus I needed to add a spacer to the rear axle for proper spacing. This entire operation took me about 1 1/4 hours to assemble, take apart and re-assemble this mess. Along the way, I broke the tie rod which I fixed with a piece of styrene that was on the bench. Hunter will return... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted November 16, 2021 Author Share Posted November 16, 2021 I washed the body and the interior and radio in prep for primer and paint. Hunter will return... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olskoolrodder Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 (edited) We loved that show too, Mike! Just a few years after Dee Dee had that '84 Daytona Turbo Z (it had 4 lug wheels, Dodge went to 5 lugs from '85 on) I had an '85 almost identical to hers, LOL! (it was around 1990, my 2nd car while I was in high school) Hunter was on HULU a couple years ago for a while, we got through about 5 seasons after we found it before it was taken off. It's looking great so far, my friend Edited November 17, 2021 by Olskoolrodder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 Thanks Stephen! They tried to bring back Hunter a couple of times since the original series went off the air. My guess is that people have moved on from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted December 21, 2021 Author Share Posted December 21, 2021 (edited) I have painted my '77 Monaco with Tamiya TS-43 Racing Green. Another coat or two should darken the color some more. I also painted the interior bucket with Tamiya AS-15 Tan. Now to detail the dash and interior and paint up the radio. Hunter will return... Edited March 20, 2022 by mrmike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share Posted December 30, 2021 Spent some time polishing the Monaco today with NuFinish Scratch Doctor. The results were stupendious! The paint is so shiny that you could read the Scratch Doctor label! Hunter will return... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 I have completed the interior. I added the front grille and headlights and I painted the center grille divider. Hunter will return... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWT Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Nice job on the dash and grill... very realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Thanks Jeremy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dann Tier Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Looking cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Thanks Dann! I need to get back to this build soon. So much left to do on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 I have finished my Hunter's 1977 Dodge Monaco and it is posted in Under Glass. I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to view and to comment on my WIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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