Jo-Han '66 AMC Marlin : "Forgotten Build"

[Monte's Motors]

Here's the starting point. I hope I can use the factory modeled color as one of a two-tone paint job.

[Space Cowboy]

Sweet!! I will be watching this build..

[Guest Johnny]

Be a cool color if you can pull it off!

Have seen guys remove seams and flash and sand them down with decreasing grit paper and then polish the plastic and have it come out really nice. I've tried and never could get it to look like anything but plastic!

My Marlin looks just like the one on the box!

[RodneyBad]

A well forgotten car too.

I'll Be watching too.

[charlie8575]

I love Marlins. I have one of these in the basement, too.

Suggestion if I may, Roger. If you go the two-tone route with the plastic, go with the white roof/trunk.

Charlie Larkin

[Chillyb1]

I, too, love the Marlin. Such a cool car from that era. Anyway, can't wait to see more.

[spkgibson]

That is very close to one of the colors AMC used back then,Some of those kits were molded in the same colors as the promos,I had the 66 Rambler Classis Station wagon that was molded in that exact color,It was made by X-El products back in the late 80's ,They were reissued promos!That would look great with the White accents as mentioned,As far as the main color,Clean it up and Clear Coat it with the testors high gloss lacquer,It wont affect the plastic,I have done it numerous times with no issues..

[charlie8575]

The color in question is Balboa Light Aqua, and that plastic isn't too far off from it.

I'm not quite sure what I want to do mine in. I'm toying with two-tone green or two-tone blue.

Here are some nice pictures of various Marlins. Gone fishin'

Charlie Larkin

Edited September 19, 2010 by charlie8575

[Harry P.]

Marlins are cool!

[sjordan2]

Marlins are cool!

Especially when grilled over mesquite with lemon garlic butter.

[Harry P.]

Especially when grilled over mesquite with lemon garlic butter.

Oh yeah...

[Monte's Motors]

Starting to work on this, I happened to notice the detail in casting. After the base engine is glued up, it's time to start painting.

[Guest Johnny]

Roger,

This site may provide you with some inspiration:

Marlin auto Club

Of course, you all know by now that his little fishy is sitting in my garage:

Hey Bart! Does yours have the three speed manual with overdrive that had the twin stick shifter on the consol?

There were two around town here at one point in time they bothe had that option. Plus one of the guys also had a Rambler American with that option too! Made for great conversation!

Edited September 20, 2010 by Johnny

[codie27]

Wow, what a cool looking car. I have never seen or heard of a Marlin. Should be a nice build. I'll be watching for sure.

[Monte's Motors]

Got the radiator in the support and on the frame. Suspension too.

Good and bad with the casting. Detailed brake caliper on just one rotor . Oh well I will survive. When she's sitten on the shelf, no one will ever know .

[Monte's Motors]

Engine finished.

Question for Bart: Is the driveshaft visible under your car or does it run through a tunnel?

The kit frame appears that the driveshaft runs through a tunnel to the rear end.

Any corrections that would be needed, please feel free to post them. Thanks and I hope you guys enjoy.

[charlie8575]

Engine finished.

Question for Bart: Is the driveshaft visible under your car or does it run through a tunnel?

The kit frame appears that the driveshaft runs through a tunnel to the rear end.

Any corrections that would be needed, please feel free to post them. Thanks and I hope you guys enjoy.

I'll step in and answer this having a little AMC experience.

American Motors, until 1966, used torque tube on almost all its cars. I'm not sure if the 1964-up Rambler American went to the Hotchkiss drive (open driveshaft with universal joints like we see today,) but I know that the Classic/Marlin/Ambassador used the torque tube until the 1967 model year.

In a torque tube, the driveshaft runs through a steel tube welded and/or bolted to A-arms, which in turn are attached to the rear axle. The torque tube can be disassembled by unbolting it at the differential and pulling the tube and axle apart so you can service the trunnion, or rear seal. There is no rear universal joint, only up front.

The torque tube should be painted semi-gloss black along with the rest of the suspension.

Charlie Larkin

[Chuck Most]

Especially when grilled over mesquite with lemon garlic butter.

Or...uh...playing baseball.

In all seriousness, this will be a cool model when done. I'd like to see you pull off the bare plastic and paint two tone setup, that molded color is pretty cool!

[Monte's Motors]

Finally got some more done on this one.

A little color and interior may be done.

[charlie8575]

Absolutely beautiful, Roger. What did you use for the interior paint? It also appears to be the stripe on the exterior?

Charlie Larkin

[Jantrix]

Well done sir! Very infrequently see the molded color used. I haven't done so myself in years. Great work.

[Monte's Motors]

Well done sir! Very infrequently see the molded color used. I haven't done so myself in years. Great work.

I always beleived they molded kits in color for a reason.

I'd like to see more kits molded in factory colors besides white.

Thanks, and I'm glad you like it.

Interior is the same paint as ext. Color is from ACE hardware. You have a wide color selection of oil enamels there. Which is the same type as testors enamels.