MPC kits with hood fit issue

[wrecker388]

The hood sits lopsided, the problem is the molding on the cowl panel piece, is it supposed to be removed or does it stay?

This is the new Round 2 kit and i just bought it today.Thanks in advance.

I have another bad one, Round 2 MPC Monaco (Roscoe's car). Same deal as Caprice, anyone else had this happen with these two?

[slusher]

l have never built this kit. does the insructions call for it to be removed.? if the hood sts high in the back it may have to be removed...

[wrecker388]

Bump with a new question.

[Erik Smith]

It's an MPC kit, so there are always (well, it seems like always) some small fit issue. These kits have been around the block, and in MPC's heyday, they were molded and modified and molded hundreds of thousands of times. As a result, things don't always line up and small fit issues arise - sometimes the small issues make rather large problems. I am currently building MPC's Gremlin and it is riddled with minor fit issues - mainly because, like so many MPC kits - it was modified yearly to make the new annual kit. You will need to heat and massage that plastic to get the cowl down where it is supposed to be - do it now before you get paint on it or some assembly done. I also have the Caprice kit and mine has some minor body "bends", but I pretty much go into an MPC kit figuring things will be a bit of a challenge.

When I was a kid and bought an MPC kit, it usually took about two hours before frustration set in and I destroyed the kit and moved on. Now I kind of enjoy the pain, um..challenge.

[Erik Smith]

True that Steve - my error on the Gremlin kit - I guess I could have lumped some AMT annuals into my digression.

But...

...look at the picture posted. It clearly shows not only that the bracing is in place (which needs to be removed) but ALSO the cowl is bent on the driver's side.

Oh, my error again. I see my ways...wrong kit for comparison - that kit doesn't have the cowl molded in. So...hehe...I thought bottom shots were the Caprice. BTW, I looked in on one of the Caprices I have:

This is what I thought I saw above - a bent cowling preventing the hood from sitting level. Now, my point? These kits (70s annuals..) are not perfect - expect some additional work.

Edited November 11, 2012 by Erik Smith

[Fat Brian]

For your second question you've got to remove the bracing before the hood will fit correctly. I don't have the Monaco kit so you will have to look in the instructions and see if they show the body with any bracing left in place but it looks like all of that will be removed.