AMT 1971 Mustang Mach 1 - Diamonds are Forever!

[ModelcarJR]

I picked this up at the last model car contest. I also have just received my order from Model Roundup of the Revell kit. I am going to do them back to back, sort of a comparo, if you will. This one will be box stock as the James Bond movie car, and the Revell kit I will probably do differently with some engine detailing, etc. I've had good luck lately with 1971 models, the Olds 442 and Mustang Boss 351. So why not keep it going! 

The AMT kit needs a lot of prep work. The interior bucket has some severe pin ejector marks, better known as "clrcle thingys". I filled them with some hole punched plastic and putty but I probably should have used some thinker plastic or two thin ones in each hole. So not satisfied with how it looked, I took some white glue and embossing powder and then painted it black to look like carpeting. That'll work! 

Next, I had to do a lot of work on the body, getting rid of all the pesky flash meaning that every edge, wheel opening, and window opening had to be scraped with a knife and sanded down. the bottom left edge of the body looked like somebody had removed the sprue it was on with a meat cleaver. There were also a couple of mold lines at the rear window that had to be filled with putty and I didn't like how the from roll pan mounted so I filled the cracks there with some putty, although it may be covered by the bumper, I don't know. There are no mounting holes for the mirrors and no way to pin them as the stems are too small so I am going to glue them on before paint and I hope they don't cause any painting issues. That's about it for now - thanks for looking! ?

[DJMar]

Wow, those are some serious ejector pin marks on the inside of that interior bucket!

Watching this one with interest.

[slusher]

Many  AMT older kits have ejector pin marks in the interior tubs!

[vamach1]

This kit was at one time the only 1/25 Mach1 but since the Revell kit came out I would be surprise in the MPC/AMT ones are ever issued again given the molds are 50+ years old and there are too many inaccuracies to bother listing again.  Start on the Revell Mach1 kit and you will see what I mean.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, DJ, Carl, and Rex. I appreciate your comments!   Yes, I know that it is a very old kit and its unfair to compare it to Revell. But I think it will still make a nice box stock replica of a movie car and then it will be much more satisfying to build the Revell Kit. Thanks for looking! ?

[mrmike]

Good luck with this build John!  I built the AMT kit years ago as the Diamonds Are Forever '71 Mustang and I had to buy the resin aftermarket wheels to complete the look of the 1:1 car.  I'm sure the newer AMT kit is a little closer to the 1:1. 

[stavanzer]

I think the AMT kit now has Four of the correct wheel covers now, at least.

NIce start to the Build, John. I'll keep checking in.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Michael and Alan! I appreciate your comments! Yes, this kit has the correct wheels.

The body painting is complete as well as the other parts, not pictured. The paint is Dupli-Color Flash Red and Universal Black, 2 coats each followed by 2 coats of Krylon Clear lacquer. Tomorrow, I'll rub out it out with 3.000, 5000, and 7,000 sandpaper. I may add the foil and then spray with 2k clearcoat to give it that show car shine!  Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Great shade of red John!  I  didn’t mean anything bad about your kit.  I was talking about pin marks in AMT kit interior tubs. The coronet I’m building has four pinmarks in the interior tub…

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl! I appreciate your comment! 

I've rubbed out the paint and foiled all the trim. Normally, this is where I would stop and start assembly, windows, grill, bumpers, etc. The interior, engine, chassis, wheels and tires are done so I am ready for completion. But I'm going to add a 2K clearcoat to the body and see how that looks. Waiting till this afternoon for humidity to come down. Thanks for looking! ?

[rickcaps55]

On 8/8/2024 at 10:01 PM, ModelcarJR said:

I picked this up at the last model car contest. I also have just received my order from Model Roundup of the Revell kit. I am going to do them back to back, sort of a comparo, if you will. This one will be box stock as the James Bond movie car, and the Revell kit I will probably do differently with some engine detailing, etc. I've had good luck lately with 1971 models, the Olds 442 and Mustang Boss 351. So why not keep it going! 

The AMT kit needs a lot of prep work. The interior bucket has some severe pin ejector marks, better known as "clrcle thingys". I filled them with some hole punched plastic and putty but I probably should have used some thinker plastic or two thin ones in each hole. So not satisfied with how it looked, I took some white glue and embossing powder and then painted it black to look like carpeting. That'll work! 

Next, I had to do a lot of work on the body, getting rid of all the pesky flash meaning that every edge, wheel opening, and window opening had to be scraped with a knife and sanded down. the bottom left edge of the body looked like somebody had removed the sprue it was on with a meat cleaver. There were also a couple of mold lines at the rear window that had to be filled with putty and I didn't like how the from roll pan mounted so I filled the cracks there with some putty, although it may be covered by the bumper, I don't know. There are no mounting holes for the mirrors and no way to pin them as the stems are too small so I am going to glue them on before paint and I hope they don't cause any painting issues. That's about it for now - thanks for looking! ?

That is a great idea with the hole punch I still have one of those i have to try it.!

[DJMar]

1 hour ago, rickcaps55 said:

That is a great idea with the hole punch I still have one of those i have to try it.!

One of the BEST ways to fill those annoying large ejector pin marks!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Richard and DJ!  It wasn't my idea. I saw it in a magazine years ago. I guess there is actually a tool that has different size punches that you can pick the actual right size to fit the hole and punch it out exactly. I haven't bought that tool yet as you can sand out most of the injector pin marks or ignore them if there in a place where they won't be seen. But these were so deep I thought I should try to fill them. I have been dinged at a contest for ignoring them recently. So I thought I'd give it a try. 

I used the 2K clearcoat and it didn't work out so good this time. Some junk in the finish that I will have to sand out as well as some small circles that formed on the roof and trunk. There is also some orange peel that I thought wasn't suppose to happen with this clearcoat. But I'll rub it all out after I have let it dry awhile and see where it goes from here. Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Coming along great John!

[stavanzer]

Looking Very Good!

Sorry about the finish failing on you.

[nickfzr61]

This is looking real good. I’ve heard this kit wasn’t that great but you doing real good with it. I’m doing the Revell now and it seems like a very nice kit. You’re going to really appreciate it after doing the AMT. 

Edited August 13, 2024 by nickfzr61

[webestang]

Sweet! Been thinking of buying that kit for a future build. 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, All! I appreciate your comments! 

I've been working on the body a good part of the day and my hands are aching! I still have to do the hood and it looks like I may need to do a little more work on the top. There are a few nits and nats that may need a little more work but for the most part I am finished rubbing the body out. The nice thing about the urethane is that you don't have to worry about rubbing out the edges as the urethane is a hard finish. I knocked off the mirrors and actually broke the stems but I can glue them back on. Thanks for looking! ?

[stavanzer]

Wow!

Very Shiny!

[LennyB]

Looking good. And yes I love rubbing out urethane as it is very forgiving as you really have to overwork it to sand thru.   

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Alan  and Len! I appreciate your comments! 

I took Wednesday off to allow my hands to rest, and got back to this one yesterday afternoon. Its done now except for decals and license plate frames. Yes, it is a bit of a turd but the finish looks good and with the hood on it will work for a nice box stock shelf sitter. Some (not all) of the shortcomings are as follows: 

1. Lots of pesky flash and pin injector marks (6 in the interior bucket and 4 under the hood).
2. No radiator hoses for the engine and a poor rendering of the engine. 
3. Inner fender liners that are not tall enough or wide enough to cover the front wheel openings. 
4. No interior mirror or turn signal indicator lever.
5. Exterior mirrors that are hallowed out with a pin receiver but no chrome mirrors to insert. 
6. Poor chassis detail and necessity to drill new holes for the front wheel stems to move the wheel back in order not to rub the front fender. 
7. Difficult to glue the front fenders to the radiator support in order to sit the font end down and level with the rest of the body. 

So, I'll look forward to the next build and I'll be back in "Under Glass" as soon as I have the decals done. Thanks for looking! ?

[slusher]

Great looking Mustang John, even with it’s short comings!

[ewetwo]

You did justice on this kit. Nice build.

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Carl and David! I appreciate your comments!

[TransAmMike]

Hey John....not my favorite Mustang but you did a great job on it.   The red finish is outstanding.  ?

Edited September 3, 2024 by TransAmMike