62rebel Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 is it just me, or are the seats ridiculously narrow in this kit? i've done some detail work on the front suspension using Mustang parts, and am going to beef up the inner shock towers better. the Pacer 6 cyl just fits, barely... i've added some sheet styrene to the sides of the seats to bulk them out a bit more... the chassis plate was straight and no warp noticeable. almost no flash to speak of.... and '70's style F-series tires again (at least they look like the '70's issue, just not as hard as rock).... i think i built this kit ONCE in the '70's... got clumsy and smeared glue on the glass. it's going together like peanut butter and jelly..... the decal sheet is very sharp. i miss decal sheets that had more than a set of Utah plates and "I heart model cars"..... AMT (R2) says that this is a part of an Art Box series in the packaging; any word on what other kits R2 has in mind to dangle before our eyes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I added some plastic to widen the chassis some so it doesn't float is the body...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I picked up my Gremlin kit today! Nice kit! I hung the boxart print on my shop wall in the basement. I'll eventually get a frame for it and move it up to my office! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 How wide were those strips Dave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W-409 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Can anyone take a picture of those inner fenders on the front. Would be very appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad4321 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I picked up this kit from my LHS yesterday. The kit obviously has some issues. But in this case, I say so what. Great job by AMT on the beautiful packaging and the drag options. As far the fit issues and no front suspension, etc - I see some projects as a celebration of the subject and some projects as a celebration of the kit. Rather than trying to build the most accurate Gremlin ever, I'll try to build a great AMT '76 Gremlin reissue. If I do the best job I can do with the ingredients given and it looks cool sitting on a shelf, I won't lose sleep over any inaccuracies it may have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Here is one I have on hand.................. Check the link below for more info on chassis.....thanks http://public.fotki.com/DaveVan51/2012-builds/grem2.html#media Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 cutting away some of the excess drop might help but modifying the tub/chassis interface will affect the engine compartment alignment. i'm working on improving the chassis fit myself, and considering adding wheelwell inner structure at the back to hide the gap between the tub and the chassis. AMC's were all body color on the engine compt and wheewells, so any contrast there sticks out like a sore thumb. the seat modification (added width) helps immensely to correct that problem. the fit of the chassis/tub/body is interlocked, i've found; the firewall "locks down" the tub at the front, at the correct location for the wheels to be centered in the wheelwells and for the glass to fit correctly. i sanded down the bottom edge of the fascia and thinned it from the backside until the molded in mesh pattern fell free; now there's plenty of room to fit it into the front of the body. idea: perhaps adding a short (height) strip along the bottom of the rocker panel and painting it an accent color will disguise the dropoff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Sikora II Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 My family had a 1977 AMC Hornet that was purchased new. The Gremlin used a short-wheelbase version on the Hornet's basic unibody chassis. I remember the Hornet having a vertical flange that hung below the rocker on each side. I think it was about an inch tall, and there were notches front and rear that were locations for the factory scissor jack. I know it looks kinda goofy on the kit how it hangs down, but it might be correct that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 we probably ought to move our further thoughts to individual build threads by now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitswapper Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 here's a cutaway of Wally Booth's Pro Stock Gremlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) Here's a 1976 Gremlin X , project of one of the For A Bodies Only forum : http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/DON%20HUGHES/My%20Documents/Downloads/100_4984.jpg Edited January 24, 2012 by 1972coronet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 connection failed... what is that, then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDean58 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 That means he tried to link to a file on his computer, the "C:/Do...." is a dead giveaway. The file needs to be uploaded to the site for people to be able to see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 they don't have a thread search function, apparently. i'd sign up to read more there, but i'm on too many forums already that i don't have a car for.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) It looks like the grille-to-fenders fit issue is a difference in curvature, as the grille appears narrower than the fenders at the top, yet wider at the bottom. I think Dave's solution is the best way to go, unless you want to completely re-do the grille. Dave, are you planning to add some type of rear wheelhouse? That's the other major missing detail on this kit to my eyes. Edited January 24, 2012 by Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Another heads up.....the chrome grille insert needs to be thinned.....sand the back some for a better fit. FYI!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonioseven Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I picked mine up yesterday; it will look good next to my Johan Comet when I get them both completed. I need a Pinto and a Chevette to go with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluzboy66 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) My boy, Alex, just finished building the new '76 Gremlin kit. It turned out AWESOME. I'll have him post some better pics in the Under Glass section. It's fun watching him at 15 years old.......instead of sweating details, he just jumps right in and gets building! Still a bit of BMF and paint detail left, but it's just about there. Mike Edited January 27, 2012 by Bluzboy66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 you can't ask for much more than that.... that's really pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Sharp build..that green definitely fits the era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluzboy66 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Nice green, huh? Alex snagged that Duplicolor shade from my stash. I was saving it for an R&R Resin '68 Plymouth Fury III I'm working on! Definitely nails the 70's vibe. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Excellent build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad4321 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Nice job. This kit has almost been thrown into a wall a few times. Nothing is close to fitting correctly. One of the sorriest kits I've attempted. But I WILL finish this thing and finish it well. Then no more AMT junk for me for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Nice job. This kit has almost been thrown into a wall a few times. Nothing is close to fitting correctly. One of the sorriest kits I've attempted. But I WILL finish this thing and finish it well. Then no more AMT junk for me for a while. Are you having issues other than those addressed here??? There have been two grille fixes posted here and my chassis fix. I did not get any other fit issues really. It is not a 'modern' kit with fit of the Moebius Hudson....but I am so happy to have it back!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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