MPC 1981 Camaro Z28 ProStreet reissue.

[Mark C.]

13 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Yes, a '80-'81 "rainbow" would be really cool. 

Oddest factory color combo I ever seen in person, on a Z was a '78-'79 in that light puke green with the green stripes. Kinda revolting and fascinating at the same time. 

Ha! I’m kinda digging that, actually.

👍🏻

[mikos]

19 hours ago, bobss396 said:

I have enough kits to keep a few of us going for a long time.

I tend to buy at Hobby Lobby when they are 40% off or at shows. I wheel and deal with people in the club.

Does HL still do the 40% off coupons?  The local store by me stopped doing that a few years ago.

[Keef]

3 hours ago, mikos said:

Does HL still do the 40% off coupons?  The local store by me stopped doing that a few years ago.

Every other week they run all models 40% off, it’s going on this week until Saturday 

[Young iron]

On 2/2/2024 at 5:16 PM, SteveG said:

I did recently get a set of acceptable test shots and I even did a test build to confirm we have the Pro-Street version.  However, it was still decided to move the tooling to another location.  When and where, I don't have the answer yet, so consider its status as planned but on hold.  I'm hoping it will still be a 2024 item, but the clock is ticking. 

-Steve 

The forthcoming reissue of this kit opens many directions to aftermarket parts sellers : Berlinetta decals, 1980 Deluxe wheel-covers (same as 1973 Malibu), 1981 simulated  cross-lace wheel covers, 1976-1977 trtanskits (the Luka Cee 1974 transkit should work), multi-piece 6-slot Rally wheels. 231ci V6 engines, wire wheel covers.

 

Or maybe Round2 will consider them. 😍

[mikos]

15 hours ago, Young iron said:

The forthcoming reissue of this kit opens many directions to aftermarket parts sellers : Berlinetta decals, 1980 Deluxe wheel-covers (same as 1973 Malibu), 1981 simulated  cross-lace wheel covers, 1976-1977 trtanskits (the Luka Cee 1974 transkit should work), multi-piece 6-slot Rally wheels. 231ci V6 engines, wire wheel covers.

 

Or maybe Round2 will consider them. 😍

The multi-piece 6-slot rally wheels already exist in the new MPC ‘79 Nova kit.  

The flat hood can be found in the AMT ‘70 Z28 kit and now the (Stranger Things) ‘80’s Revell Z28 hardtop kit.  

The 231 V6 can be emulated by the V6 engine in the mid ‘80’s MPC Fiero GT kit and the old ‘89 Firebird GTA Pace Car kit minus the turbo.

The simulated cross-lace wheels would have to be new, though.  

The ‘73-‘80 Deluxe wheel-covers can be found aftermarket in resin (non chrome plated) on Ebay.

No way Round2 would give us all those options for the early ‘80’s Camaro Z28. We’ll be lucky to get a semi-stock reissue out of the Pro Street release.  Unless the correct hood is found, we probably get the same ‘78-‘79 style hood like in the Pro Street kit.  Better than nothing, I guess.

 

 

[stavanzer]

I'm not sure either of the Flat Hoods you mention will be a drop fit. The Revell (ex-Monogram) is 1/24 scale, and the AMT '70 kit is an entirely different tool.

It will probably fit with some sanding, but may have other issues.

[Ragtop Man]

The Fiero engine is the 60-degree V6 that mirrrors the Ford "Cologne" engine, not the Buick-based 231 which became the beloved "3800". 

To the bigger question of what is included in the kit, yes all the fixes would be great especially to fit and finish issues (bumper, etc.) 

But I'd rather deal with the small stuff on an individual basis than not see the kit at all. It's pretty much an open invitation to the 3D and resin industry, if they feel there is really a market there to exploit. 

[mikos]

9 hours ago, stavanzer said:

I'm not sure either of the Flat Hoods you mention will be a drop fit. The Revell (ex-Monogram) is 1/24 scale, and the AMT '70 kit is an entirely different tool.

It will probably fit with some sanding, but may have other issues.

I know the AMT ‘70 kit fits.  It actually fits better than the stock hood.  Just a little trimming needed.  To be perfect, you have to sand down a little bit where it meets the character line coming from the center hood dome bulge near the bumper.  However, the headlight pod lines are pretty much spot on.  In the pics, this wasn’t done yet, just a little edge trimming.

 

Edited March 21 by mikos

[stavanzer]

Just now, mikos said:

I know the AMT ‘70 kit fits.  It actually fits better than the stock hood.  Not much trimming if at all.  To be perfect, just have to sand down a little bit where it meets the center dome bulge near the bumper.  In the pics, this wasn’t done yet.

Cool, Mikos! That's good to know. I have two of those AMT 70 1/2 kits in my stash with extra flat hoods. I'd not had a chance to try them on the MPC kit.

 

Also, a good source for some Cross Laced Wire Wheels are the MPC '32 Ford kits. Out most recently as the Coke Themed, Sedan Delivery and a Roadster/Coupe kit.

[mikos]

8 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

The Fiero engine is the 60-degree V6 that mirrrors the Ford "Cologne" engine, not the Buick-based 231 which became the beloved "3800". 

To the bigger question of what is included in the kit, yes all the fixes would be great especially to fit and finish issues (bumper, etc.) 

But I'd rather deal with the small stuff on an individual basis than not see the kit at all. It's pretty much an open invitation to the 3D and resin industry, if they feel there is really a market there to exploit. 

Yeah, I forgot the Fiero was 60-degree V6.

If you had some scratch building skills, you could probably make a 90-degree V6 out of a SBC V8 found in other kits.  That’s what Chevy did on the real first gen 4.3L V6.  They just lopped off two cylinders from the SBC.

The MPC ‘79-‘86 El Camino, ‘79-‘80 Monte Carlo and ‘82-‘92 F-body (and Knight Rider) have some nice SBC’s to make V6’s out of them.  It wouldn’t be the Buick 3.8L, but pretty close.  Did any kits actually come with the Buick-based 231 90-degree V6 in 1/25th scale?

Edited March 21 by mikos

[Can-Con]

3 minutes ago, mikos said:

 Did any kits actually come with the Buick-based 231 90-degree V6 in 1/25th scale?

The one in the AMT [MPC] 30th Anniversary T/A kit is a 3.8 Buick turbo.

[mikos]

7 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

The one in the AMT [MPC] 30th Anniversary T/A kit is a 3.8 Buick turbo.

Okay, that’s what I originally wrote above.  It’s just the Fiero that was incorrect.  Thanks.

Edited March 21 by mikos

[Young iron]

On 3/21/2025 at 2:54 AM, mikos said:

The multi-piece 6-slot rally wheels already exist in the new MPC ‘79 Nova kit.  

The flat hood can be found in the AMT ‘70 Z28 kit and now the (Stranger Things) ‘80’s Revell Z28 hardtop kit.  

The 231 V6 can be emulated by the V6 engine in the mid ‘80’s MPC Fiero GT kit and the old ‘89 Firebird GTA Pace Car kit minus the turbo.

The simulated cross-lace wheels would have to be new, though.  

The ‘73-‘80 Deluxe wheel-covers can be found aftermarket in resin (non chrome plated) on Ebay.

No way Round2 would give us all those options for the early ‘80’s Camaro Z28. We’ll be lucky to get a semi-stock reissue out of the Pro Street release.  Unless the correct hood is found, we probably get the same ‘78-‘79 style hood like in the Pro Street kit.  Better than nothing, I guess.

 

 

-The MPC 1979 Nova wheels are neither multipiece nor accurate. BTW, 1969 Chevy Rallyes are included in the 1969 Chevelle, but Fireball Modelworks offer 21st-century ones with a better look. That's what should happen with the 6_slots.

-Good luck having a 1:24 (almost 1:23) Monogram hood fit a 1:25 (almost 1:26) Mpc kit

-I wish I can use a real well-detailed 231ci from today's 3D-print for 1980 Camaros, Monte-Carlos, Firebirds.

-Modelhaus used to offer very nice wire-wheel covers with 2 spokes spinners. Wish they were still offered by Modelhaus Tires, they would fit dozens of builds.

-I wish we had a link to the Ebay wheel covers seller.

 

Thanks for the help.

[tim boyd]

Seen at the Detroit Area Auto Modelers Show yesterday (click on the link in the first post at this message on the forum).  Not sure if this is "new news" or not but passing it along anyway.....TB

 

[Ragtop Man]

The Pro Street Nova is a little bit tougher fit in the MPC 1/25 Novas than one would first think, mainly due to the interior interface with the chassis - just enough to be frustrating. 

Nothing a good sesh with the dremel can't fix, though. 

Sure would be cool to see the Ventura II surface, and I've seen some Pontiac V8s that are pretty crisp in the aftermarket lately so busting a kit isn't mandatory. 

[RIXprints]

Usually, if you want the bumper to fit flush or mold it in, you would cut a small piece from the center and bring the sides in.

[mikos]

On 3/24/2025 at 9:17 AM, Young iron said:

-The MPC 1979 Nova wheels are neither multipiece nor accurate. BTW, 1969 Chevy Rallyes are included in the 1969 Chevelle, but Fireball Modelworks offer 21st-century ones with a better look. That's what should happen with the 6_slots.

-Good luck having a 1:24 (almost 1:23) Monogram hood fit a 1:25 (almost 1:26) Mpc kit

-I wish I can use a real well-detailed 231ci from today's 3D-print for 1980 Camaros, Monte-Carlos, Firebirds.

-Modelhaus used to offer very nice wire-wheel covers with 2 spokes spinners. Wish they were still offered by Modelhaus Tires, they would fit dozens of builds.

-I wish we had a link to the Ebay wheel covers seller.

 

Thanks for the help.

The MPC ‘79 Nova 6-slot Rally wheels are accurate for a ‘81 non Z28 Camaro.  RPO (ZJ7) 14”x7” Rally wheels were optional on the Camaro since 1970. They were the same wheels optional on the ‘71-‘79 Novas too.  The Chevelle also came with them in certain years.  I mentioned 3-piece design because they are similar to a 3-piece wheel; center cap, trim ring and the steel wheel.  

The Rally wheels that came on the 1969 Chevelle are totally different than the (ZJ7) wheels.  They were the older style where the slots in the wheel were elongated.  The center cap and trim rings, if equipped, were slightly different as well.  GM didn’t start using the later design RPO (ZJ7) Rally wheel until ‘70-‘71.  1969 Chevelle Rally wheel pics…

 

 

RPO (ZJ7) Rally wheel on ‘80-‘81 Camaro…

 

 

I mentioned the Revell hood because you could probably file it down and make it work.  The only problem would be the center hood dome bulge that would be wider in 1/24th scale than the 1/25th scale front bumper grill bulge on the MPC kit.  How much exactly, I don’t know.  It’s a moot point, anyway.  The AMT Z28 flat hood works perfectly fine with a few modifications.

Below are pics of the rims that come in the recent MPC Nova kit (I think same as the old  MPC ‘78-‘80 El Camino as well).  They look fairly close to me.

(Sorry for the editing)

 

 

 

Edited March 31 by mikos

[Can-Con]

The AMT '72 Nova has a great looking set of those wheels.

[mikos]

 

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

The AMT '72 Nova has a great looking set of those wheels.

Yes, I think same as the ones I posted except they look a little more deep dish.

Edited March 26 by mikos

[Can-Con]

16 minutes ago, mikos said:

 

Yes, I think same as the ones that come in the recent issue MPC ‘79 Nova.

They do represent the same wheel but the AMT ones look much better to me.

[mikos]

42 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

They do represent the same wheel but the AMT ones look much better to me.

I agree. I got that pic off Ebay so maybe the seller was mistaken.  I don’t have the recent issue MPC Nova to compare to.  However, it’s not a problem.  Sellers part out kits all the time on EBay and I’m sure you can find the AMT Nova versions quite easily.