Best kit - Building "Vanishing Point" 1970 Challenger

[allegheny]

Hey guys,

I would like to build the "Vanishing Point" 1970 Challenger, and I'm wondering what kit/kits you would advise me to purchase? Thanks!

Paul

[SuperStockAndy]

The Revell 2 n 1 Challenger would be my best guess.

EDIT-The AMT one, ehhh, doesn't look too impressive to me. Though I don't really know about the Vanishing Point Challenger, from what it looks like to me it's just a 426 Hemi Challenger painted white...

Edited October 5, 2011 by Android

[Keef]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMT-VANISHING-POINT-DODGE-CHALLENGER-R-T-MODEL-KIT-1-25-/360372999241

[RickRollerLT1]

The recently issued 1/25TH scale Revell 70' Challenger 2-in-1 (which has parts for an RT & TA and is based off a diecast tool) should do if you don't mind the chunky slab-sidedness of the body, and an axle through the engine block.

AMT made a Vanishing Point Challenger from their Matchbox-era kit, but it's still the convertable and has a horrible recreation of a 440 & a 426. Though it has decent body proportions, you could sand the top, glue it to the body, fill the gaps and call it that.

For an engine, i'd source one out from ether the AMT 71 Charger, or the AMT/MPC 69 GTX/Road Runner/70' Super Bee kits.

[Eric Stone]

I have the Revell diecast Vanishing Point Challenger here I'd trade you if you're interested...

[george 53]

The most accurate appearing Challenger to use is an ORIGINAL MPC., or the AMT kit. Glue on the roof, lightly sand off the vynil texture to smooth it out, use the 440 from the 71 Charger kit, and your good to go. The Revell Challenger is a bit large for 25th scale, but maybe it's just me. The Revell kit IS larger than the other two kits to me, that's why i mention it. Hth.

[SuperStockAndy]

Hmm...Now that you say that George, I'm thinking the Revell one is 1/24.

[allegheny]

Thanks guys for all the input! Also, Eric I do not have anything to trade, sorry and thanks for offering!

Paul

[Nick Winter]

There were 2 Revell '70 Challengers, the new 1/25th (junk in my opinion) and the old 1/24th (ex Monogram) the 24th is the most accurate and best to use in my opinion (atleast that's what I'm using) but you'll need a resin R/T hood.

Nick

[allegheny]

Is the current Revell 1/24 scale challenger ok to use, or should I go to Epay for a Monogram one? Also, does anybody know where to purchase a 1/24 scale R/T hood? Thanks!

Paul

Edited October 5, 2011 by allegheny

[Nick Winter]

The current 1/24th is the same as the old Monogram, the current Revell 25th however is not the same, I learned that the hardway and now have both.

Nick

[Jon Cole]

Like Dave said, the Revell die-cast looks good on the shelf. I guess the sides are "slab". I never noticed when I built it.

[Bruno]

Here's one I built a few years ago using the AMT kit;

And here's another one I built recently using the old Monogram kit;

Those 2 kits makes a nice looking Challenger, but the recent Revell kit looks bad IMO.

[allegheny]

Hey Bruno,

Did the AMT kit come with the R/T hood? Also, if it did'nt, where did you get yours? Thanks again everyone for your great responses!

Paul

[Bruno]

There are a few different '70 Challenger AMT kits;

1- The kit with the purple Challenger on the box art, shown with the Shaker hood, only has the Shaker in it, no R/T hood in this kit.

2- The "Yankee Challenge" Challenger kit has the R/T hood, but it has a hole in it, which can easily be fixed. This kit also has the Shaker hood in it.

3- The Johnny lightning kit with the yellow Challenger on the box art, this one has two R/T hoods in it, one with the hole in the center (same as the yankee challenge) and one with no hole. No Shaker hood in this kit.

All of these kits have the separate roof with vinyl roof texture on it. You have to sand the vinyl roof texture, then glue the roof to the body and do some putty and finishing work on the joints, like I did on the purple Challenger pic above. No big deal. Another thing I did on both (monogram and amt), is glue the front end on and do some putty and finishing work on the joints, then rescribe the front valance joints at the correct place.

There are a few other Challenger AMT kits out there but I can't tell, I don't have them.

[allegheny]

Thanks Bruno! That helps alot.

Paul

[RickRollerLT1]

I probably mentioned this allready. But IIRC, AMT/ERTL released an actual plastic Vanishing Point 70 Challenger kit around 2003 or so. The box car had what appeared to be a coupe body w/a flat RT hood retooled from the Yankie kit (which explains it's presence it the JL issue - TNX Bruno) and had a horrible recreation of a 440 in one of the shot photos.

Though the box car showed it asa coupe, the person who built the model modified the convertable top (because being the test shot kit was still a convertable) and a few other things to dispect the movie car.

Though it still was a convertable, it had 2 tops - a newly tooled hardtop and the ragtop (w/boot still included) - So it can be built asa coupe without modfying the ragtop.

Along with the parts for the VP car, this one still had the all the parts from the TA and Yankie Challange kits, which makes this issue a 3-in-1... such as the TA Shaker hood w/shaker, the RT hood with the hole from the Yankie kit, a 425 HEMI w/blown, F/I or stock options, and side pipes/wheels/tires speific to that kit.

The 440 parts are new to that issue I believe, but the problem is they look horrible and are undersized because those parts go over the 425 motor.

If you want the AMT kit to work that has a hardtop you can modify, and a flat hood, this one would be the way to go.

If I missed anything, correct me. I've never built the VP variant, i've heard stuff about it, but only built the JL issue and the 1981 matchbox issue.

But be warned, this issue was only released in very limited quanites makeing it EXTREMELY RARE and commanding huge bucks whenever seen for sale. I know this kit exsists because i've seen a couple appear on ebay here and there, but be prepared to pay $40-100 if ya really one.

Edited October 8, 2011 by V-spec

[allegheny]

Thanks again everyone for your input, I've learned alot! I purchased an AMT 70 Challenger Johnny lightning kit today on ebay. I've heard that the engine in this kit is not that good. I been told that the AMT 71 Charger(Round2 issue or an earlier issue) would have a great 440, but it has an auto trans. I thought that the movie car had a 4 speed manual. Well, maybe I'm being too fussy, and should just build it! Again, it sure is fun getting back into this hobby again after 35 years!

Paul