AMT 1969 Cougar Eliminator

[Duddly01]

6 hours ago, Geno said:

Don, I used the blue as my dad had one in that color, it got rear-ended by a dump truck and totalled sadly. I done mine as a what if. If they'd built them using the Mustang Sportsroof. I can't wait to see yours when it's done. ??

That looks really cool. They Should have made a fastback Cougar!! Sorry to hear about your dads car.

 

[Duddly01]

6 hours ago, David G. said:

Impressive work as always!

David G.

Thank You!

3 hours ago, LennyB said:

Nice details on the chassis Donald.

Thanks, I just added the brackets for the brake and fuel lines that will get added after painting.

3 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

Very impressive work, especially the grille and opening headlight buckets. Don't see a lot of Cougar builds, will be watching this one develop.

Thanks, will try not to let you down.  One of these days I will learn to pick builds with simple lighting. No Pop open headlights or tiny taillights. Nah, who am I kidding... 

[Duddly01]

Modified the front bumper / grill to accept the photo-etch grill. I think it looks much better than the kit grill. In the last image the headlight buckets are set and not glued and pivots using wire to mock up not final.

[LennyB]

Donald I may have to steal some of your ideas here. I have a 67 Cougar I’d like to get to some day.  

[David G.]

The PE grill is a vast improvement!

David G.

[Duddly01]

5 hours ago, LennyB said:

Donald I may have to steal some of your ideas here. I have a 67 Cougar I’d like to get to some day.  

I would love to build an earlier cougar, hopefully they will re-release one some day.

3 hours ago, David G. said:

The PE grill is a vast improvement!

David G.

I know right? ?

[Duddly01]

I have had quite a few people ask me how I create my LED wiring harnesses for my builds so I decided to do a more in depth step by step of how I am creating the harness for the cougar.

Setting up my work space and all the tools and supplies laid out.

set the soldering iron to 250c

trimmed the battery compartment and soldering a small section of wire to the switch. The heat shrink and wire twisting to keep it clean.

I had created the trunk floor and trial fit with the chassis and body and drilled the hole for the switch. Now with the battery holder wired I glued it to the trunk floor panel. Then soldered the switch, taillight wiring and leads to front.

trial fit in chassis, test fit battery cover and glued in switch and wires to back of floor. I already glued the side glow fiber to to taillight LEDs so it will light up the length of the taillights.

twisted front leads to keep clean and test fit with chassis and interior. Dash was drilled earlier for gauges. Added side glow fiber optic for the gauge lights and cut interior tub and test fit.

drilled firewall for headlight leads and test fit. Soldered headlights, gauge lights to rear leads.

finished wiring harness, test fit to build components and check gauge lighting. Once the gauge faces are in I think it will look good.

now that’s it, easy peasy. Now get out there and light up your builds! ?

[LennyB]

20 hours ago, Duddly01 said:

I would love to build an earlier cougar, hopefully they will re-release one some day.

Well, it would probably need to be a new tool as i imagine they modified the early cougar kit for the 69 model year. I’m sure a  lot of people would want to see it also. 

[NOBLNG]

Great work so far Donald!? I have one of these kits and it definitely needs some upgrades in certain areas. I’ve bookmarked your thread so I can reference it when I get around to building mine.?

[Duddly01]

4 hours ago, LennyB said:

Well, it would probably need to be a new tool as i imagine they modified the early cougar kit for the 69 model year. I’m sure a  lot of people would want to see it also. 

Can always hope. ?

[Duddly01]

3 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Great work so far Donald!? I have one of these kits and it definitely needs some upgrades in certain areas. I’ve bookmarked your thread so I can reference it when I get around to building mine.?

Thank you. The Boss 302 engine that came in the kit is actually really pretty nice. Can tell it was a newer add on. The chassis and lack of any real resemblance of an engine compartment is terrible. The one thing it has going for it is the body is nicely proportioned and with a little detail can look nice. About to start the priming, body and paint work next. ?

[David G.]

Thank you for taking the time to post that mini how-to Donald. It's great seeing the work that goes into builds like this.

David G.

[Duddly01]

3 hours ago, David G. said:

Thank you for taking the time to post that mini how-to Donald. It's great seeing the work that goes into builds like this.

David G.

Thank you! Some kits take more work than others, but as long as the body proportions are nice, I find it worth a build.

Older AMT kits I find have a great lack of detail, but their body proportions always seem pretty spot on. Newer ones have gotten much better for the most part, though a couple retools I feel have gone backwards.

Edited August 26, 2024 by Duddly01

[Musclecarbuilder]

Wow that wiring is so much better than mine was!! Thanks for the tip!

[rv1963]

Nice post on how you did the lighting.

[Duddly01]

36 minutes ago, Musclecarbuilder said:

Wow that wiring is so much better than mine was!! Thanks for the tip!

Thank You!

25 minutes ago, rv1963 said:

Nice post on how you did the lighting.

Thank You. I have had a few people ask so I thought I would put together something more comprehensive than in the past builds. 

[Duddly01]

Starting to get color on most components. Got the base coat of Code 6 Bright (Acapulco) Blue on the body and parts.

[Musclecarbuilder]

Wow I am really liking that blue!

[Duddly01]

28 minutes ago, Musclecarbuilder said:

Wow I am really liking that blue!

It is a nice color. Same color as my mother 67 Mustang Fastback. I built a replica of it a little while back.
 

[Musclecarbuilder]

Just now, Duddly01 said:

It is a nice color. Same color as my mother 67 Mustang Fastback. I built a replica of it a little while back.
 

Yeah it is beautiful, I painted my AMT 71' Mach 1 with that color. It came out really nice.

[lordairgtar]

Love the color. Have you considered making the tail lamps go sequential? There has to be a way to do it.

[Duddly01]

3 minutes ago, lordairgtar said:

Love the color. Have you considered making the tail lamps go sequential? There has to be a way to do it.

It can be done, with more lights and batteries. Sadly, that is not the direction I am going, no turn signals.

[iBorg]

Your build up is really enhancing this kit. GREAT job! Your pictures will give inspiration to others who build this kit.

[Duddly01]

4 hours ago, iBorg said:

Your build up is really enhancing this kit. GREAT job! Your pictures will give inspiration to others who build this kit.

Thank you.

[David G.]

That's a pretty looking blue.

David G.