Moebius 1964 Nova SS body-fit assembly issue. Help/Advice needed.

[Casson16]

Hi everyone. New here ! Working on a project after several years away from the hobby. The Moebius 1964 Nova is a beautiful kit, but Im having major issue getting the body to fit on the chassis. Specifically, the front chassis pins will not connect with the front body pan. The issue seems to be the front brace between the two fenders is hitting the radiator and cradle. Has anyone else had this issue? Any advice appreciated. Im at my wits end/ about to give up on this one ! 

 

 

[Oldriginal86]

Had the same issue. Trimmed about 1/16” off each end and the brace fit between the headlight buckets. 

[Casson16]

Thanks ?? that’s really helpful. 
Seems like rad also sits too high, as it’s bumping hood up ( won’t close tightly). Did you have this issue too? 

[RichCostello]

I'm building the same kit, and I'm at about the same place in the building process as you are (even the same color). It looks, to me, like your radiator is sitting too high also. The top of my radiator is below the brace, and the radiator hose is even with the top of the battery. I don't know if that has anything to do with your problem, but it makes me wonder if your hood will close tightly.

[Oldriginal86]

Radiator is even with the core support and like was mentioned before, the upper hose is about even with the battery.

[Oldriginal86]

I went back to take these pictures and realized mine was not all the way down in the front either. Body isn’t glued in place yet. I tried to ease it into place but won’t go all the way down. Maybe the valance is too high where I glued it to the body.

[RichCostello]

Aside from the 52 Hudson convertible, I think I've had fitment problems with every Moebius kit I've attempted. I have the 55, and 56 Chrysler 300s, and they look great, so I might take a shot at one (or both) of them, but as far as others that I have, I'm not sure if I'll bother.

[Casson16]

Thanks ! Yes, getting those valance pins to fit meant the rad is now up way too high. 
Now I’m left trying to pull it apart - and that’s tricky with the fan shroud. 
 

Not impressed, I have the comet cyclone, and I hope it goes smoothly. Otherwise these moebius issues are very frustrating.

[Brutalform]

16 hours ago, RichCostello said:

Aside from the 52 Hudson convertible, I think I've had fitment problems with every Moebius kit I've attempted. I have the 55, and 56 Chrysler 300s, and they look great, so I might take a shot at one (or both) of them, but as far as others that I have, I'm not sure if I'll bother.

And don’t forget about the Pontiac Ventura kit, where the front bumper and grill sticks out from the car by a mile. Now I get as modelers, we can fix a mistake here and there, but there is no reason for these types of issues. I guess quality control at Moebius has been fast asleep as these kits passed by? 

[Casson16]

Darn! I was thinking of buying that Pontiac!

[RichCostello]

4 hours ago, Brutalform said:

And don’t forget about the Pontiac Ventura kit, where the front bumper and grill sticks out from the car by a mile. Now I get as modelers, we can fix a mistake here and there, but there is no reason for these types of issues. I guess quality control at Moebius has been fast asleep as these kits passed by? 

Yeah, I've got both of the 61 Pontiacs that I don't know what to do with. I like the Moebius subject matters, but I think I'm done buying them. I've got a couple hundred kits that I can build without re-engineering them.

[RichCostello]

20 hours ago, Casson16 said:

Thanks ! Yes, getting those valance pins to fit meant the rad is now up way too high. 
Now I’m left trying to pull it apart - and that’s tricky with the fan shroud. 
 

Not impressed, I have the comet cyclone, and I hope it goes smoothly. Otherwise these moebius issues are very frustrating.

I built the Comet, and I hate to break it to you, but it's not any better (maybe worse).

[Rodent]

5 minutes ago, RichCostello said:

I built the Comet, and I hate to break it to you, but it's not any better (maybe worse).

I don't like to poop on the model kit companies that post on here, but it doesn't really look like a '65 Comet under the hood or under the car either. It looks like a cribbed version of the AMT/Ertl '66 Fairlane which has a bunch of errors itself, plus not looking like a '65 Comet either.

I have the '66 4x4 pickup in my stash. It looks mostly unwarped, but it may be the only Mobius kit that I ever buy.

Agree on their subject matter being needed in the hobby, but the execution of the Ford trucks, the Comets, and the Novas misses the mark by a bunch.

[Casson16]

This is helpful though. Any fit issues with comet you can heads up me on? I already noticed ride height seems way too high 

[Brutalform]

On 7/7/2024 at 11:45 PM, Rodent said:

I don't like to poop on the model kit companies that post on here, but it doesn't really look like a '65 Comet under the hood or under the car either. It looks like a cribbed version of the AMT/Ertl '66 Fairlane which has a bunch of errors itself, plus not looking like a '65 Comet either.

I have the '66 4x4 pickup in my stash. It looks mostly unwarped, but it may be the only Mobius kit that I ever buy.

Agree on their subject matter being needed in the hobby, but the execution of the Ford trucks, the Comets, and the Novas misses the mark by a bunch.

I don’t think it’s bashing a model company, but how can something be corrected, when you can’t even admit there is a problem? Sadly in this instance, we are most likely talking to deaf ears. I do have a choice in determining who I will spend my money with though. 

[Casson16]

Well, I have everything lining up now, but this has created major issues (messed up paint and overall dissatisfaction with fit and finish).

My new problem is, one of the side 'wings' is broken off the grill, and I cant find one eBay and Moebius isn't emailing me back.

At this point, looking forward to starting the Baja Bronco - (Revell)

 

[Brutalform]

6 hours ago, Casson16 said:

and Moebius isn't emailing me back.

 

That is typical from what I have read from other members on these boards. There was some problems with freshly molded kits not being allowed to cool, being put into the boxes, and being warped. From what I’ve read, they didn’t do anything to help the customers who bought these kits and complained about the warpage. I’ve dealt with Revell on some parts issues, and they promptly replaced the part in question. Maybe Moebius should take a lesson from Revell? 

[Oldriginal86]

I haven’t built any Moebius kits other than the Nova SS and gasser. Both are still on the bench. This may affect whether I purchase the two new Nova kits that are coming out. Probably wait for the reviews. 

[DJMar]

On 7/6/2024 at 11:08 PM, RichCostello said:

Aside from the 52 Hudson convertible, I think I've had fitment problems with every Moebius kit I've attempted. I have the 55, and 56 Chrysler 300s, and they look great, so I might take a shot at one (or both) of them, but as far as others that I have, I'm not sure if I'll bother.

Ditto on this. Their Comet was a letdown, and their Nova gasser was the last kit of theirs I'll buy. It's a shame, too, because they pick great subject matter. I had high hopes for that gasser kit.

 

On 7/9/2024 at 12:40 PM, Casson16 said:

Well, I have everything lining up now, but this has created major issues (messed up paint and overall dissatisfaction with fit and finish).

My new problem is, one of the side 'wings' is broken off the grill, and I cant find one eBay and Moebius isn't emailing me back.

At this point, looking forward to starting the Baja Bronco - (Revell)

Sorry to hear about that. FWIW, I really liked the paint color you picked for that Nova! ?

[Brutalform]

We have been waiting about two years for the release of the 65 Dodge cars, and the last I heard was the end of May. I’ll most likely pass on the 65 Dodge, as I have plenty of kits to build, that will not be built in my lifetime. Too many problems with the Moebius kits, except maybe the 65 Plymouths. I can’t speak for the kits I didn’t build, but that’s the only one that went together pretty well. 

[Casson16]

Well, here is the finished product. Sadly, I kind of gave up on this one after the major issues. Issues to look out for:

Front body pins to chassis and radiator clearance to hood.

Easily snapped one of the door handles removing from sprue (very weak/brittle) and had to poorly repair.

Side wing off grille snapped.

Anyway, here is the finished product, mostly box stock, except for a few mods such as a teenage owner might have made to the car in 1984 (cut off snorkel on air cleaner, paint hood flat black, traction bars, an aluminum intake manifold, and a tachometer on steering column)

 

[Brutalform]

Pretty nice job on your build, even though you ran into some problems you shouldn’t have. Looks like a cool Nova to me. 

[RichCostello]

Mine is still sitting on my bench in front of me, very close to finished. I started on the AMT 60 Ford pickup, and it's so nice to work on a kit that fits together nicely that I'm having a hard time going back to that Moebius nightmare, but I'll get it done soon. I'm trying to decide how to do that chrome trim along the top of the fenders and doors. Should I try BMF, or try to mask it and hit it with the chrome pen? Or maybe I'll  just leave it as is like you did. I'm open to suggestions.

[Casson16]

46 minutes ago, RichCostello said:

Mine is still sitting on my bench in front of me, very close to finished. I started on the AMT 60 Ford pickup, and it's so nice to work on a kit that fits together nicely that I'm having a hard time going back to that Moebius nightmare, but I'll get it done soon. I'm trying to decide how to do that chrome trim along the top of the fenders and doors. Should I try BMF, or try to mask it and hit it with the chrome pen? Or maybe I'll  just leave it as is like you did. I'm open to suggestions.

Hi, I debated on doing that piece of trim....but overall felt like it might distract from the sort of understated look I was going for. That was my reasoning for leaving it. Also...the tail panel should be entirely silver, and I left it body color for the same reason.

[Oldriginal86]

2 hours ago, RichCostello said:

Mine is still sitting on my bench in front of me, very close to finished. I started on the AMT 60 Ford pickup, and it's so nice to work on a kit that fits together nicely that I'm having a hard time going back to that Moebius nightmare, but I'll get it done soon. I'm trying to decide how to do that chrome trim along the top of the fenders and doors. Should I try BMF, or try to mask it and hit it with the chrome pen? Or maybe I'll  just leave it as is like you did. I'm open to suggestions.

I did the BMF under the paint trick.