'71 Roadrunners--FINISHED PICS, Pg 3!

Karl, everything is really looking good so far, but, I have to ask...what ever happened to the 34 you were doing. I've been on the roads for the last 5 weeks, did I miss it?

Well, the trick with the sandpaper for mats is a good one ! 

But, your efforts to make this so true to the original is just astounding.  I'll make sure I never post any of my work in here now !  LOL

BTW, nice trick on the tires, too.  Sad that the kit wheels didn't fit the tires any better than that !

Beautiful work on a couple of great cars, Karl. Amazing job.

I have more than a few fond memories that took place in a couple of ol' Mopars.

Art.

Karl, wonderful progress. Your tutorial has be duly saved!

Nice job on the engine, and also nice tutorial!

Thanks, Stynky; I appreciate you looking in.

Here's an update...I was advised to correct the sit of this car--it seems that it;s a little nose-high. To do this, I cut the two locating pins off, and then drilled them and pinned them to get the cooler sit in the photo at bottom. Remember too. the back end has a .040 or so stub of styrene under the rear axles as well

! 

Next, the funky tires--if you try to assemble them as is, the rims sit way-high on the tires. You have to trim out the lip inside to get the correct fit, as seen in the photos below.

The next thing--I corrected the white interior, as the console should have been black:

Some people asked about how I made the matts--in the photo below, you can see my "source"-- a sheet of 800 (?) wet-sand sandpaper that has been used profusely. I just cut out a suitable "mat", and then either trace in a pattern on the paper, or paint a border. Use your imagination! That's all there is to it!

Here's how I do my hoses and wiring; I am using Detail Master's "heater hose". This is really a wire which surrounds about eight strands of thin wire. In1, I cut the end off the wrapping. 2, use some hemostats to pull the wires out a little--you want to leave a space at the OTHER end with no wire in it because, in 3, I take a single thicker wire (forgot the gauge, SORRY!) and bend it to give you some gripping leverage. Then, 4, use some spit on the wire, and twist the wrapping onto the thinker wire. Thia way, after trimming it-5-you have a "hose" which can still be bent and hold a shape because of the wire still inside of it. and the thicker wire can be glued into a hole drilled 6.into the part.

The engines have been wired up. The one is a 440, the other a 383. All those wires sticking out all over are going to go somewhere, don't worry!

I'm busy foiling the car bodies right now. Stay tuned for more exciting updates! Comments and critiques always welcomed!!!

Very nice !!!

modelbuilder,

The "Satellite: kit actually is a Road Runner with the "Decor Group" option. Here's what a member "Fury3" told me from teh Scale Auto" website.

The Monogram 1971 "Satellite" kit is not of a 1971 Satellite, Satellite Sebring, or a Satellite Sebring-Plus. How can that be, you ask? Monogram did not want to pay Warner Bros. (and possibly Chrysler?) to use the Road Runner name and emblems, so it simply and incorrectly named it a "Satellite". The kit IS that of a 1971 Road Runner. That's why they gave you the roof "sport stripe" and hood scoop decals. Notice though that the Road Runner emblems (grille, quarter panel, instrument panel) and names (deck lid, quarter panel, instrument panel are all absent! To get these, you will need to get a decal set from Keith Marks. The proof of what this kit actually represents is within the interior. (I wrote a lengthy dissertation explaining this to fellow member "73duster" a few years ago.) Let me explain. The 1971 Road Runner came standard with bench seats. The kit interior has the optional at extra cost bucket seats, which required the optional Road Runner "Decor Group" option. The Decor Group option utilized the mid-line Satellite Sebring Hardtop door/qtr trim panels which the kit has (no simulated wood graining). The Satellite Sebring was not available with bucket seats (only bench)....only the upscale Satellite Sebring-Plus was, which shared it's entire interior with the GTX (with the simulated wood grain door/qtr trim panels.). So, the interior in the kit is unique to and was available on the Road Runner only.

The hood that comes in the "Satellite" kit is that of the non functional simulated side facing hood scoops. This hood was standard on the Road Runner and GTX , and was never available on any of the Satellite's.

The GTX kit is fairly accurate in that it includes the rocker panel sill moldings, correct aforementioned upscale interior trim, "Air grabber" cold air induction hood, and decals. It also includes a part missing from the original Satellite kit...a wiper motor mounting plate and motor. The downfall of these kits is in the engine and engine compartment detail...especially the Satellite kit. The air filter housing and intake manifold are terrible and do not resemble anything Chrysler put on these cars in 1971, and that's just to start. It's difficult to swap anything onto these engines, as they are 1/24th scale. However, I used Ross Gibson" resin engine one of mine and it looks acceptable, although the air filter housing is again incorrect. The AMT 1971 Dodge Charger R/T kit has an excellent engine and air cleaner...but it's 1/25th scale. .  Fury3 

The Satellite hood has to be constructed from the GTX hood--a somewhat ambitious--but do-able--project, if you're so inclined. As Fury3 mentioned, the hood in the Satellite kit is NOT a "Satellite" hood at all, but a RR hood.

As far as the Elastomer grill surround, that's pretty much all I know--it has to be fashioned like that in order to be correct. Interestingly, it doesn't look like that was an option on the 72 RR's, although you could get color-coded bumper, but without the elastomer cowl? In any case, it wasn't a hard mod.

I was going to "sacrifice" that Superbird kit and make it into a RR, but now that I've learned that this is the actual RR kit as well, I'm going to do that bird up as it is on the box! Probably will stick with the yellow finish too--I always liked a Superbird in "Suzuki colors" ha ha!

More updates as I get something to show! THANKS AGAIN, ALL!!!

Karl

Yes that is the one that I have. I am still unsure as to how I want to build it, the Superbird option would look cool though. Was considering build just the three-- Satellite, Roadrunner, and GTX. Although I am now considering doing three Roadrunners. i have seen several '71s both in model form and the real deal that were down very well. tell me more about the elastimer grill surround.

Thanks, John and Brizio! I appreciate you looking in!

Jim, that interior was indeed offered. This Monogram kit has the "Decor Group" option, which would have been available with this interior. Here's a photo of the actual interior:

Did Plymouth ever put the red-and-black interior inside the black Roadrunner? That would be a cool color combination. I like that red-and-black interior.

LOOKS GREAT !!!!!

That's some mighty fine looking work Doog!

  Thanks, Naran, and modelbuilder! I appreciate your comments! Modelbuilder, I actually have that old MPC "Superbird/Road Runnner kit too--is that the one you have? Are you going to build the RR or the Superbird version? I have another Satellite kit too that I'm going to build into another Hemi Road Runner sometime...

I have an update actually--here's some new photos.

I have finally got a good paint down for the two cars. The red one is Testor's Lacquer; the Black one Tamiya acrylic/lacquer--about 3 coats each, over white primer.. The red car has one coat Testor's Lacquer clear. What really made the difference was Model Car World's "Buff EZ"--a buffing compound that a guy on Scale Auto forums  turned me on to--wow, is this stuff COOL! I have never got such good finishes before! They're not perfect, but better than anything I've done yet, and that's what this hobby is all about--improvement!

The undercarriages painted;

And here's the interiors--I have just learned that the console in the white car should be painted black, so I have to correct that, but basically it will be an easy fix... the Black car's on the left, the red car's on the right. I was kinda disappointed that nowhere could I find that small "Road Runner" & head icon decal that goes on the dash there, so I had to paint it in myself. The wood grain was done by painting the area first tan, and then using oil paints to draw in the grain.

The engines are getting there; call out anything that doesn't look right, guys! The one on the left will be the 440 in the red car, the one on the right i the Black car will be the 383. I couldn't find that air cover in any kit in the right scale, so I had to scratchbuild it out of a wheel part. The exhausts are not painted right yet; I want to make them a little more "used" looking, but I got the color wrong painting in room light.

A close up of the red car's interior:

The matts are wet-sand sandpaper, like maybe 800 grain or so? The are actually old, used sheets, cut into shapes and painted. The lines are drawn in with pencil.

That's it for now. I'll be wiring up the engines and fixing decals next.....thanks for looking in, and for any comments!

Nice work so far Karl. I have all three kits in my stash, the Revell GTX from a few years ago, the Monogram Satellite, and the original MPC Roadrunner with Super Bird option. Also like you the 71 Roadrunner is probably my favorite muscle car. I will be watching this build closely

You've really captured the look of the originals Karl. Nice additions in the right places, like inside the wheel arches, those little details add up. Can't wait to see these progress. Watch out for Wile E Coyote.

Thanks, James, Jim, and Wayne!!

I appreciate it---I have an update, but not enough time to post it! Stay tuned, and I'll be giving a progress report soon!

I think I've got a pretty good gloss coat on both finishes so far--I'm trying two different painting methods on each respective car.

Wayne, I wish I could have driven that baby! My cousin had a "blown" '71 Charger and took me down to Philly to see KISS at 100mph with that big motor just purring--I think that's when my love for Mopars started! Wow!

Looking good Karl.

Jim

Nice start! I'll be watchin also one of my fav cars!

Thanks, guys!

I love old MOPARS!!!

Nice job!!! I will look forward to it!

Nice looking work on those Karl! Gotta love them old MOPARs!