1977/78 Dodge Monaco

[ZombieHunter26]

I'm starting with the Dukes of Hazzard Rosco police car kit from MPC.

Over all not too bad of a kit, plus it comes with all sorts of neat extras.

I won't lie, I bought this kit for all the extras, like the light bar, CB radio, first aid kit, onboard computer, and guns....

But I also like the car.

Never watched Dukes, so I'm not a fan of the show- so I have no qualms using this kit for my own devious intentions.

The way I am going to build this Monaco is basically your run-of-the-mill junker. Different color hood, rusted out body, bad upholstery, old bumper stickers.

This car used to be somebody's everyday beater back in its prime!

I'm building it "stock", none of the add ons from the kit, just the basic car. Once I get some time tomorrow after work, I'll post some progress pics.

Edited May 2, 2012 by ZombieHunter26

[martinfan5]

Do you mean 77/78 Monaco? but either way, cool idea, going to be watching

[ZombieHunter26]

Yeah, that lol.

I was dead tired last night...

Let me fix that

[ZombieHunter26]

Ok, so it's my wife and I's 5th anniversary tonight.

I'll take pics when we get back from our 'date'

[martinfan5]

I figured you meant 77/78, we all have those moments,

[ZombieHunter26]

Ok, so Here's where the build stands.

I've done all the assembly, now I'm working on the paint job-

The body.

I primed in ultra flat black, gave a light coat of flat tan, then put a heavy coat of lacquer on. I intentionally did this, let it dry for an hour, then rolled the lacquer coat off of the body completely- leaving rough spots, "dirt spots" and other random details. I then sanded the body lightly to blend those details just a little bit, then laid down a thin sponge coat of citadel colours bestial brown over the resulting black and tan pattern- resulting in a multi-faceted, believably shaded rust pattern.

I let it dry, sponged on some skull white, black washed the details, and then wet a sponge with warm wet water to scrub the white coat down. this allowed for a more 'scaled down' paint wear.

The process is far from over- I still have to rust the hood, mismatch one of the door colors, rust the steelie rims, and rust the chassis in some parts. After that's all said and done, I still have to apply the proper decals and age/wear those down appropriately.

Edited May 3, 2012 by ZombieHunter26

[ZombieHunter26]

the Interior/chassis.

The Interior was given a moderate brushing of solvent/acrylic paint mixture to give the seats that run down, nasty look. a little bit of dry brushing later, and the detail pops out. I dry brushed the chassis and engine with citadel colours mithril silver/shadow gray. Lots of details left to paint, and add. I'm gonna give the interior some debris... magazines, papers, maybe a blanket being used as a seat cover.... I'll have to find a rearview mirror in my parts box to hang something tacky from

...til next time!

[martinfan5]

Looking good, looks like its had rough life

[JamesW]

Looks believable. I been thinkin about pickin up this kit with the same intentions. I need a beater for the dio.

[ZombieHunter26]

Thanks for the kind words! That's exactly what I'm going for- a car that's been DRIVEN.... well beyond its manufacturer's expectations. That's seen it all, from at least a few generations of drivers.

Lost some parts, gained some parts, and everything in between- I may end up making a dio for it in the end, named "From the junkyard and back again"... paying a slight homage(if only in the name) to mr. tolkien.

[ZombieHunter26]

More progress-

Back seat clutter and dirt has been added. We've got a navy blue woolie blanket covered in soot and rust, with an old wiper blade, brake disc, tow hook, copper plant hanger rod, plant watering bulb, tow chain, old hubcap, and dozens of old napkins, rags, and paper trash items... I think I see an old Champion spark plugs box top in there somewhere too!

The passenger seat has a rough lookin' old Hanes manual and a trunk emblem in it as well.

Still workin' on the body- got the FL license plate, Eelco bumper sticker, southern cross window sticker, hippie racing sticker... and of course a southern cross vanity plate. I might have added a pine tree air freshener in there somewhere....

[ZombieHunter26]

There's that pine tree!

Still workin'. This one's getting a little bit more done to it, but for now, that's the progress!

[Guest Darkside Customs]

This is looking real nice...errr... I mean junky lol.... Good work... I'm not thrilled with the promo style chassis, but I still wanna get one of these kits....

[martinfan5]

That looks like a real piece of junk , great job so far

[bryan_m]

very cool! i am loving the body, and the hood is awesome too...........great weathering

cheers

bryan

[Edsel-Dan]

I have the TJ Hooker version of this kit. As well as the Force 440 2dr Police kit.

I still want this version though

Personally though, I wish MPC would have put their G70 or even F70 tires in this kit

instead of the Nascar ones.

The Generic MoPar chassis is not the best, but does fit & have correct wheelbase.

How many kits has this chassis been in lately????

MPC could have done a better job on the Aero Lightbar too. The actual one has seems

Top & Bottom Not straight through the viewing face!!

Tamiya did a beautiful Aerosonic bar. I have 2 of them.

That wreck is definitely looking the part!!

Not something I could do. My hat is off to your skills!

Edited May 4, 2012 by Edsel-Dan

[ZombieHunter26]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

And yes, i do agree that the chassis is pretty generic, but for all intents and purposes, it's serving its purpose

I haven't put the light bar together just yet- I'm saving the police car elements for a different build...

As I type this I'm sifting through my decal bag for some more visual interest to lay on the body. I've come to realize that I don't have many dodge-related decals! lol.

More progress as it comes!

[bryan_m]

i have the "joker goon car" i believe its the same kit. Been thinking of making it into a taxi!

nice work rob, keep it goin........

cheers

bryan

[Edsel-Dan]

Yes, that is the Same kit.

Just different box art(s)[issued twice] and decals

[ZombieHunter26]

Ok, so I've gotten a little more done... I think I'm gonna leave it like this until I get the diorama done for it.

The Dodge made a friend....

I'll be posting the '57 in another thread

'til next time!

Edited May 5, 2012 by ZombieHunter26

[wraith]

Looks sweet! i like it alot! Still have to pick one of these up for my MOPAR collection! Yours gives me a lil different approach to take with it when I pick one up.

[TooOld]

Looks great ! Did some body sneak in and clean the windshields ? They look pretty clean !

[Bonekrosha]

I know it's weird but I love these cars.

I like the Monaco grill better than the Fury's.

I remember as a kid my Dad had an unmarked 440 77 Fury for his assigned patrol car for several years.

It was my favorite of all of his Po-Po cars.

I actually picked up a 77 Monaco for $500 when I lived in California in 1989.

It was from Universal Studios and was used a alot on the old Simon & Simon show, it was used for the shots in front of the Police Station so every now and then when I find a rerun I get to see my old beasty.

440, no cats, loved it, wish I'd never sold it.

As far as the models go, I did a Monaco version of my Dad's car, a Pro-Street blown hemi version, bunch of others as different Sheriff's Offices, etc.

The frame on those things suck so I normalaly use a frame out of the AMT Road Runner/GTX models, and lengthen the frame slightly so the wheel base is correct.

[ZombieHunter26]

Looks great ! Did some body sneak in and clean the windshields ? They look pretty clean !

Havent dirtied em up for the dio yet!

I try to make the dirt on the cars match the dirt in the diorama.... if possible.

Edited May 6, 2012 by ZombieHunter26

[ZombieHunter26]

Looks sweet! i like it alot! Still have to pick one of these up for my MOPAR collection! Yours gives me a lil different approach to take with it when I pick one up.

I -do- try to think outside the box, when applicable. I've done so many PA/ZH TZH builds this year I thought I'd just switch over to some "normal" beaters to season my creative spark. Thanks for the kind words!

The frame on those things suck so I normalaly use a frame out of the AMT Road Runner/GTX models, and lengthen the frame slightly so the wheel base is correct.

Yeah, the generic chassis kinda threw me off, but it worked for what I did with it. I prefer chassis assemblies where the frame and body are separate and have to be glued together.... but I haven't had many kits like that.