Dirk's 1/24 Revell 70 Boss 302 Mustang

[Dirkpitt289]

I know what you're going to say. "How can you start another kit when you have so many others started and not completed?" I whole heartily agree with you but this is for a pre-planned group build on another site so I felt kinda obligated. Besides all that I'm just a very very sick person and can't help myself. On to the build

The 1970 Mustang Boss 302 is is what I call my "Lottery Car." That is a car that if I was to defy all the odds and win the lottery I would buy one no matter the cost.

The History of the Boss 302

What is a BOSS 302? It's a car, right? No, it's an engine. Well, yes, it's an engine and a car. Actually, it's car, a Ford Mustang, named for an engine, a special purpose built race engine. The Ford BOSS 302 Mustang, built for model years 1969 and 1970, is named for its engine.

So which came first the car or the engine? The car. The Ford Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964. In the 1960's, Ford was heavily involved in racing. The catch phrase was, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday." In 1966 and 1967, Ford, with the help of Carroll Shelby and his Shelby-American company, raced Mustangs in and won the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Trans-American (Trans-Am) Sedan Racing series.

General Motors' Chevrolet division introduced their Camaro Z/28 to compete with the Mustang in the 1967 model year. Not only did Camaro compete on the street and in the sales showrooms, it competed in the Trans-Am series as well. In 1968, Camaro won the series championship. It was a dismal year for the Mustang. Mustang's failure to win the 1968 championship was blamed on a new engine known as the "Tunnel-Port." For 1969, Ford had to do something to win back the Trans-Am championship.

One part of the SCCA rules stated the manufacturers had to sell what they raced. It was Larry Shinoda, a former GM stylist, now working at Ford who created the car's unique styling and came up with the name BOSS 302 for the car and engine that would go into production so Ford could race it in 1969 and 1970. The BOSS 302 was offered in the 1969 and 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator as well.

The BOSS 302 Mustang won the Trans-Am championship in 1970 and entered the history books.

The Kit

This is a re-tooled kit from the old MPC 1970 Mustang kit, and it has been re-released several times, this time for the 40th Anniversary of the Mustang.

This kit includes 90 + parts to include clear, black vinyl, chrome, and white styrene plastic parts. The Boss 302 engine can be build either stock or custom version with over 18 parts just to complete the highly detailed engine. The interior accurately represents the 1970 Boss Mustang complete with detailed three-spoke steering wheel and passenger dash mounted clock. The body is warp free and does not have any flash; the front left fender corner panel top edge was a slight sink mark that will need attention. Windshield wipers are molded into the body as is common with most Revell-Monogram kits. The windshield was scratch free and it was wrapped separately in plastic, this was nice to see for once. The wheels and tire accurately represent the Boss 302 Mustang, overall this kit should be an easy build and it will require skill when installing the chassis to the body.

[mrmike]

This sounds like a great project!

This is a re-tooled kit from the old MPC 1970 Mustang kit, and it has been re-released several times, this time for the 40th Anniversary of the Mustang.

This is where I disagree with you on this. The tooling is an original for Monogram and not a retooling from MPC. Model Products Corporation tooling has been 1/25 scale whereas Monogram at the time was 1/24 scale.

Anyway, I look forward to your progress on this kit.

Edited March 26, 2012 by mrmike

[Wagoneer81]

GO, DIRK, GO!!! Personally, I have around a dozen projects in the works right now... and that's not counting the 1/72 aircraft projects... My bedroom looks like a Hobby Shop exploded in it... I look at it this way; Someday, I'll have a really nice collection of newly completed models... If it's a sickness, I don't wanna get well!!!

I look forward to seeing more of this and have to say that I think only the Mustang could make that shade of green look good... I dunno what it is about it but... wow!

One thing I have learned from your Chronic Modelers ADD... I am learning which Mustang kits are worth their salt and which ones to stay away from...

[1zebra3]

I will be watching this one Dirk.

I have to agree with mrmike on the tooling of this kit. I have several of this kits I would like to build cause i love BOSS 302s.This would be my lottery car also, along with 69 BOSS 429 and the new BOSS that FORD is just releasing.

[Dirkpitt289]

Thanks guys

Boss 302 Engine Specs

The Boss 302 cubic inch small block V8 motor was made by taking the heads from the Ford Cleveland and adding them to the 4 bolt heavy duty block of the Ford Windsor. The design of the heads themselves are called “tunnel-port” because of the way the pushrod runs a straight path through a round intake port in its center therefore flowing better. The tunnel port design was used on the 427 FE first then was later adapted for the Boss in 1968.

The heads of the Cleveland were arranged in canted-valve staggered style in order to allow for the extra room needed. The Boss 302 used intake valves that were 2.23 inches diameter and Exhaust valves of 1.72 inches diameter in 1969. In 1970, the intake valves were 2.19 inches diameter and the exhaust valves of 1.72 inches diameter. These heads also featured steel spring seats, adjustable rocker arms, screw-in rocker studs andpushrod guide plates and these head features were actually used on the Boss 302 before the Cleveland was officially developed or introduced to the public.

The Boss 302 stock mechanical camshaft had a high lift and long duration using a solid lifter with an automatic acceleration rate of 2.47. It features intake duration of 290 degrees with an intake centerline angle of 111 degrees and Lobe centerline angle of 116.0. The exhaust duration is 290 degrees with an exhaust centerline angle of 121 degrees and the valve overlap at 58 degrees.

Other specs for the Boss 302 from 1969 to 1971 (Begley, 2002) are as follows:

Bore and Stroke: 4.004 inches by 3.0028 inches (1.1.6 mm by 76.0 mm)

Compression Ratio: 10:5:1

Maximum Horsepower: 290 BHP @ 5800 RPM

Maximum Torque is 290 pounds per square foot @ 4300 RPM

For the time this motor was a monster and is still highly sought after. This particular motor was also place in the 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator.

Here is the beginnings of our Boss 302 motor

One of the most noticeable parts of the Boss 302 motor is the big valve covers. Revell had them chromed. I wanted to make them look more like the real deal so I pained them aluminum.

I also started painting assorted parts

Thanks for looking

[Dirkpitt289]

The interior has been painted and flocked.

Dash panel got some attention.

Also started wiring the 302 motor last night but don't have any photos yet.

Thanks for looking

[Dirkpitt289]

Seats, Instrument panel and the 4 Spd HURST shifter all in place

[Wagoneer81]

Lookin' good!

[Dirkpitt289]

Work progressing on the 302 motor

Drilled out the manifold and installed the distributor

Installed the massive 780CFM Holly Carburetor

The engine has been mounted in the frame. A few touch ups are in order but its getting there

Thanks for looking

[Dirkpitt289]

Time for some color

The body has been prepped and primed

First round of color

Thanks for looking

[cobraman]

Coming along nicely.

[Dirkpitt289]

here are the updated photos of the last applicatcion of paint. Looking better but not there yet.

Here is a bit of an issue. Not sure why but I will address this in another day or so after the body is fully dried.

Thanks for looking

[Dirkpitt289]

Sanded down the fish eyes and other imperfections in the finish

Coat number 3

After a few days of drying time I painted the engine compartment and the inner fender wells

Thanks for looking

[Geordi08]

Nice work on the Boss. This is one I have on the growing list of kits to do. Problem is I keep getting new ones that jump ahead, so this may give me the impetus to get going. Question, what color are the two greens and who's paints, I kind of like the 'day-glow' green.

[rmvw guy]

Maybe it's the lighting but, I can't tell what color this is. I like them all. Hope you keep it going. I also have too many projects started to count.

[Tony T]

Nice work so far...along with the history lesson...It sure would be a fun 1:1!

[Speedster]

Looking good!

[Dirkpitt289]

Masking for the stripes

Decals applied

Under the hood with another coat of clear.

[Dirkpitt289]

Decals and BMF applied

Next its mounting the body to the chassis and adding the wheels ;-)

[Trans Am Erik]

Lookin good Dirk. Nice details, I really like the color, and good job on the bare metal foil. That stuff can be a pain no matter how good you are at it.

[Dave Van]

Looking good so far.......I wish it was tooled off the MPC kit. While a decent kit the RM version missed it as far as capturing the correct grille/front end shape. I owned a 70 1/1 Mustang sportroof and the MPC caught it....the Monogram didn't.

[Dirkpitt289]

All that's left are the side mirrors and some touch ups such as the side marker lights. Other then that I'm calling this one done. I'll take and post some better pictures soon but for now here are two from the bench

[martinfan5]

Nice work Dirk, yours looks alot better then the one I did

[Elliot949]

Great looking Boss... What color did you use on this...

[Malard]

Im working on the Boss 429 Kit now, looking good!