The Mongoose has Arrived!

[Hattley]

I started not to answer my cell when I didn’t recognize the number. So, imagine my surprise when it was the local hobby shop calling to tell me the Mongoose arrived this afternoon! Yes!!! BTW I’ve added the hobby shop to my contact list.

[Brett Barrow]

Does this kit have any new tooling, or is it basically a straight reissue of the car that was part of the McEwen double kit from a few years back?

The chassis/motor is the same as the Jungle Jim Vega, et al. The tires are new tooling - one-piece and hollow, both front and rear. I don't know enough about the originals to know if they did a 75 Duster body, I don't remember one, but that doesn't mean they didn't do one. It's not based on the Mongoose F/C that became the "Cop Out"(that was a Monogram kit, anyway.)

[ratnasty]

no new tooling that I can see . It has the 1 peice chassis from the Blue Max Mustang and the same body as before with 1 peice tires and it looks like the tin was reworked over the blower hat making it a little taller . Here is a pic of the body i got .....as you can see quality control is down

thanks Chuck

Edited August 24, 2010 by ratnasty

[ratnasty]

same body no matter what you call it lol

Chuck

Edited August 25, 2010 by ratnasty

[ratnasty]

Ken here is a pic of the decal . My scanner took a dump so i had to shoot it with the camera

Chuck

[ratnasty]

BTW, Chuck, Revell will replace that body for ya ... just go to their website and request a new one ...

thanks I did , just have to wait on it now

LOL

thanks Chuck

I sent them pics of it

[1320wayne]

no new tooling that I can see . It has the 1 peice chassis from the Blue Max Mustang and the same body as before with 1 peice tires and it looks like the tin was reworked over the blower hat making it a little taller . Here is a pic of the body i got .....as you can see quality control is down

thanks Chuck

I bought a Monogram War Eagle kit years ago that had that same problem only over a much larger area. I held onto the body as a conversation piece.

It's nice to see kits like these reissued even though Revell never had this body correct, in the single kit or the double kit. You can make the build a bit more accurate, if you wish, by cutting the greenhouse from the body and sliding it back more towards the rear wheelwells. It takes a bit of work to cut and fill but not so much more than chopping a body, which plenty of us have done before.

Or you can go the resin route, which I believe that Comp Resins has the accurate body for this build. It's also nice to see a revised decal sheet. I will definately buy a couple of them.

Edited August 25, 2010 by 1320wayne

[Hattley]

Well, you guys seem to have said it all, and thanks for doing so. I couldn’t tell you if new tooling was done or not, as I’ve been out of the hobby for so long. The Duster looks great, the decals are awesome and I can't wait to get started! The only selfish issue I have is that I would have preferred the Mongoose Hot Wheels version. But hey that gives me something to look forward to, right?!

Judging the accuracy of a scale funny car body is kind of an inexact science, though, because there were several companies that made 1:1 fiberglass bodies back in the day, and they were not made to any kind of exact specifications.

I know I thought the Revell Blue Max Mustang body was horribly inaccurate, especially compared to the MPC and Jo-Han ones, but several folks pointed out to me that it was actually a pretty good representation of the "bread wagon" Mustang bodies used by several racers.

[Dragline]

If you want to build the Hot Wheels version look no further than here.

http://www.slixx.com/7123.htm?id=4008

This is what I'll be building.

Bob

[1320wayne]

The Hot Wheels decals are available through Slixx and they are designed to go right onto this body.

[Dragline]

Ha Wayne, beat ya to it ^^^^^^^

Bob

[Hattley]

Thanks for the tip. Ive only been able...and lucky enough... to have the only one in Memphis thus far. As soon as I can get mey hands on another I'll p/u those decals! BTW Hot Rod has a great two part interview w/ the Snanke, this month and last.

The Hot Wheels decals are available through Slixx and they are designed to go right onto this body.

[Brett Barrow]

The original issue of this kit (same paint scheme and all) was Revell H-1455 from 1975. There's one sitting about 2 feet from where I'm typing this, it belongs to a co-worker who is a total McEwen nut. I should have just asked him from the start, but this is the first time we've worked together in a while.