AMT 1972 Nova-the kit so many hate.

[Sledsel]

After hearing a lot of complaints on a Facebook page about this kit I had to go get one and check it out. This was what I consider a quick build for me. Took a few weeks of an hour or so every few days. It is by no means perfect.

It actually went together pretty good, there were a few issues but nothing that made me put it back in the box. My two biggest issues was the chassis not sitting straight when the interior was in. I shaved a little bit off the interior drive shaft hump, and a little off the top of the chassis plate in the same area. Also once the interior was in place the wheels weren't in the wheel wells correct. So therefore I shaved a little bit off of the rear of the interior tub and I shaved a little bit off the rear wheel wells so the chassis could move forward. Those were the biggest issues I had.

The car is finished with Rust-Oleum gloss almond, no rubbing or buffing done. And the interior is Rust-Oleum nutmeg. I wanted this build to look somewhat like a sleeper so I had removed the rocker moldings, hood vents and decided no chrome around the door and quarter glass. I did add a few details to it and used a set of 1969 Chevelle wheels on it. (thank you to pulln4dejr for the trade) It needs a few post build touch-up but I am calling it done.

I actually liked this kit and plan to get another.

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Sledsel

['70 Grande]

I really like your build of this vintage kit! I've also read many comments from those that dislike this kit, but I always thought it captured the look of the 1:1s very well!

Your build has an excellent sleeper-vibe to it, and encourages me to pull the kit I have in progress out of the kit vault and get it finished!

Great work! 

[Evan_N]

That looks great. What are the problems with the kit that people are complaining about?

[Ragtop Man]

You nailed it. Nice work. 

Kinda puts lie to the "you can't build this" complainers. It called modeling, not assembling, for the same reason Fishing isn't called Catching. 

[johnyrotten]

Great looking nova. Nice work 👍 👍

[michelle]

awesome work 

Edited 9 hours ago by michelle

[Sledsel]

4 hours ago, Evan_N said:

That looks great. What are the problems with the kit that people are complaining about?

A lot of complaints about the separate fenders, lack of detail and of course the dreaded mold lines (It is a 50 year old mold.... STHU)

I'll go by order of things I found.

A mold depression at the top of the doors near the fender. Little putty, sanding, done.

With the interior in the body, the chassis sat crooked. I shaved off some of the driveshaft hump from the center to the rear with a sharp knife and did the same to the bottom of the interior tub. Then I could adjust while assembling.

Fender install was pretty easy and done before painting. Rear of the fender sat a bit high to my eye so some sanding to the underside of the fender and it looked good. I taped the hood in place to align the fenders. At this time I double checked fender to door gaps. I may have sanded the fender a bit to have the gap even, not sure though. Once I was happy with gaps, the fenders were taped in place also and glued from below.

After the glass and interior was in place the wheels seemed to far toward the rear. I thinned out the interior tub and rear wheel wells where they made contact. Fixed.

Now, what I considered the biggest dilemma was the front of the fenders seemed tucked in to far and the little pins that align the fenders and bumper/grill would not hold the fenders out. First thing I did was glue some evergreen to the backside of the grill where the little pins are to give a better mounting/aligning surface. Then I took and old sprue piece and placed it between the bottom of the fenders to the correct location. This took a bit of cut sprue/check fit/trim, repeat. Once happy with width I cut some braces from some round evergreen and glued between the frame and fender on each side (very similar to what a 1:1 has) Once dry, remove the spacer and install grill and bumper effortlessly. I attached a photo of the little brace I added.

To me, none of this made it "unbuildable" as I have seen said about this cool old kit.   

Edited 5 hours ago by Sledsel

[Jim B]

Very nice looking Nova. Well done. 

[charger74]

Very well done