AMT 1966 Fairlane 427

[Robberbaron]

Don't think anyone else has started a thread on this one:

 

[Robberbaron]

HPIguy's (Chris's) review:

 

[afx]

A thread on how to improve the look of the kit.

 

Edited March 27, 2022 by afx

[Robberbaron]

Picked this one up myself at Hobby Lobby last week.  Also bought the original AMT/Ertl version when it was first released in the 1990s. I still have it unbuilt deep in my stash, but I'm to lazy too excavate it right now.

Some observations on this reissue:

Good:

Molded in white (although the Ertl gray never bothered me like some people)

Nice pad printed redline tires.

Nice decal sheet with a variety of graphics and logos vs. the almost non-existent decals in the original.  I can't recall if the original actually had any decals at all - if it had anything, it was probably a thumbnail sized set of license plates.  Definitely no race graphics. [EDIT: also had the Fairlane 500 quarter panel decals.]

Hub and lug details in the steelies (if you don't want to install the dog dish hubcaps).  Detail isn't the best, but I thought the original issue had the wheel centers blank (mandating the use of the hubcaps).  I seem to recall AMT/Ertl got quite a bit of grief about this (rightly so), so it looks like they added it at some point (or is my memory failing me, and I'm thinking of a different kit?)

Indifferent:

Despite the race decals, no slicks or any type of mags included to build a proper race version.  I don't think any previous versions have ever included any either, but considering the subject matter it is kind of strange.

Correct "Fairlane 500" emblems are only provided as decals.  You need to sand away the GT style "Fairlane" lettering on the quarters and apply these decals in their place.  I really dislike only having decals for badges, but again, this is the way this kit has always been, and it's what you sign up for.

Bad:

As should be expected, no changes to the body, meaning the shock tower details are still missing and the windshield/backlight openings are still incorrect.  If you're familiar with this kit and it's Fairlane GT sibling, it's what you sign up for, and you need to decide if those issues bother you enough to correct them.

And my biggest (unexpected) beef:

The original issue 427 kit included a complete standard Fairlane 500 interior: front bench seat, matching rear seat, AND base Fairlane 500 door panels (all different from the Fairlane GT kit, and correct for the factory-built 1966 Fairlane 427 cars).

This reissue has the correct front bench and rear seat, but it has the Fairlane GT door panels.  Most people probably wouldn't know the difference, but the main reason I bought this kit was for that completely different interior, so it is a pretty big letdown in my book.

Looking at photos of kit contents and built-ups on line, it looks like some of the earlier RC2 era reissues also had the incorrect door panels.  Wondering if the original issue is the only one with the correct ones?  If anyone has any insight on this, it would be appreciated.

Edited March 28, 2022 by Robberbaron

[afx]

Just checked my AMT/Ertl issue and the steel wheel are the same as shown in the video.

[deuces wild]

Wish the kit would have included a set of headers, slicks and traction bars... No biggie.. I'm sure I have those in my parts stash. Except for the headers..

[Dave Darby]

Besides the necessity of raising the windshield and backlight heights, another huge mistake on the part of AMT/Ertl (and most builders) is the body colored A Pillar. The whole thing is covered with a stainless trim piece.

[tim boyd]

1 hour ago, Dave Darby said:

Besides the necessity of raising the windshield and backlight heights, another huge mistake on the part of AMT/Ertl (and most builders) is the body colored A Pillar. The whole thing is covered with a stainless trim piece.

Dave....thanks for posting and for the observation about the plated vs. body colored  A-pillar configuration.  That's a great reference photo on the subject....TIM 

[espo]

I also bought this reissue last week at HL. I just wanted to buy something different and don't recall ever seeing this reissued. I have sat on an original issue from years ago and they were hard to find at that time as I recall. I did build the GT and thought it was a very good kit and assumed this would be much like that one. The only issue I can recall with the GT was the wheel backs wouldn't allow the wheels and tires to fit under the body. This may or may not be the case on this kit now, but it could be easily corrected. 

[thatz4u]

or you can build way outside the box & make a funnycar....

[Plowboy]

13 hours ago, deuces wild said:

Wish the kit would have included a set of headers, slicks and traction bars... No biggie.. I'm sure I have those in my parts stash. Except for the headers..

The headers from the '64 T-Bolt should be almost a drop in.

[Plowboy]

3 hours ago, Dave Darby said:

Besides the necessity of raising the windshield and backlight heights, another huge mistake on the part of AMT/Ertl (and most builders) is the body colored A Pillar. The whole thing is covered with a stainless trim piece.

Yep. I got that detail wrong on the two I built twenty plus years ago. But, I didn't have the 'net back then and didn't know any better. Something this photo illustrates well is the joints in the trim. Something I now study at foil time. 

[1972coronet]

3 hours ago, Plowboy said:

The headers from the '64 T-Bolt should be almost a drop in.

Both are FE engines, no? I've never had me hands on the Revell Thunderbolt; I have seen the contents of the AMT GT/GT-A.

[Motor City]

7 hours ago, Dave Darby said:

Besides the necessity of raising the windshield and backlight heights, another huge mistake on the part of AMT/Ertl (and most builders) is the body colored A Pillar. The whole thing is covered with a stainless trim piece.

 

I compared my '66 Fairlane promo reissue/retool? with my original '66 Cyclone promo.  Both have windshields and backlights that appear to be the same and are definitely too low, so it isn't a new problem.

[bogger44]

22 hours ago, deuces wild said:

Wish the kit would have included a set of headers, slicks and traction bars... No biggie.. I'm sure I have those in my parts stash. Except for the headers..

 

8 hours ago, Plowboy said:

The headers from the '64 T-Bolt should be almost a drop in.

 

5 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Both are FE engines, no? I've never had me hands on the Revell Thunderbolt; I have seen the contents of the AMT GT/GT-A.

A number of years ago I built a Super Stock out of mine and used the Thunderbolt headers.  It was an extremely tight fit.  I got them to fit fairly decent but it wasn't easy, and took a lot of trimming & filing of them and the front frame rails (best I can remember).  I do believe I had to file down some of the tubes to clear the shock towers (maybe the towers a bit too?).  They ended up hanging down petty low as well.  I'm pretty sure one could get them to fit better than what I did here.

On another note, I had to slide the front spindles a bit forward to get the tires lined up in the wheel wells.

A couple reference pics.  Yes, this was built before knowing the exhaust didn't have to be hooked up to the headers per S/S rules LOL.

 

[Plowboy]

That's a cool build and some good info Tony! I wonder if swapping the frame clip from the T-Bolt would make installing the headers easier? I made a set of headers from copper wire for one several years ago. 

[Bills72sj]

I have two of these in the 1992 issue of the 3 car "Muscle Car" set. Would they have the correct interior parts?

[1972coronet]

16 minutes ago, Bills72sj said:

I have two of these in the 1992 issue of the 3 car "Muscle Car" set. Would they have the correct interior parts?

IIRC, that iteration has the stock GT/GTA upholstery and door cards. 

[deuces wild]

5 hours ago, bogger44 said:

 

 

A number of years ago I built a Super Stock out of mine and used the Thunderbolt headers.  It was an extremely tight fit.  I got them to fit fairly decent but it wasn't easy, and took a lot of trimming & filing of them and the front frame rails (best I can remember).  I do believe I had to file down some of the tubes to clear the shock towers (maybe the towers a bit too?).  They ended up hanging down petty low as well.  I'm pretty sure one could get them to fit better than what I did here.

On another note, I had to slide the front spindles a bit forward to get the tires lined up in the wheel wells.

A couple reference pics.  Yes, this was built before knowing the exhaust didn't have to be hooked up to the headers per S/S rules LOL.

 

Thanks Tony for the pictures... Yes I do have a couple of the Revell T'bolt kits....??

[deuces wild]

How's about the cast iron headers from the '60 Starliner kit?....??

[Bills72sj]

23 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

IIRC, that iteration has the stock GT/GTA upholstery and door cards. 

Thank you fro answering my question. I plan on building one as a dark blue street machine and the other as a bracket racer.

[Plowboy]

I have an original issue and a reissue in the stash. I'll have to check them out when I get a chance. 

[Plowboy]

I got a chance to look at my original and reissue of this kit and both have the same door panels and other parts for the 427 Fairlane. Both have lug nut detail on the steel wheels. It's odd that this issue would have the wrong door panels.

Robert, could you post a photo of the door panels in this issue?

[R.J]

I went way out of the box with the last Fairlane 427 issue.

[stavanzer]

Sure is a terrific build, R.J. 

 I like the Old NASCAR Racers.