This kit has been in my stash for a while and I plan on making some mods to it. The kit is an AMT '69 Barracuda and it will be backdated one year to 1968. I removed the peak on the front panel and I will replace the hood with a hood from Modelhaas, I replaced the trans with a Torqueflite short tail trans from Competition Resins and I partially assembled the engine, the wheels and tires are Pegasus Shuey’s, the interior console is from the Revell '68 Dart Hemi kit. I haven’t decided on a body color yet, but the interior will have white seats and side panels. The body has engine compartment side panels from an old AMT Charger chassis and it will have side markers made from shirt pins.
Is it going to be in a McNally story? I sure hope so. Like him trying to find a stolen treasure fo a client? This is without a doubt my all time favorite Barracuda. I thought that Chrysler had come of age in the " Pony Car Wars" It looked fast just sitting still. Now it also had potential as a small tourer with the right set-up. Chrysler missed the boat there!
I hope you paint it that Beautiful Metallic Blue some came in. Later Cuda’s looked to flat sided for me. But they still had Panache!
A McNally story? Sorry, not this time. He needs a rest from all the excitement I generate for him.
I started working on the chassis by drilling out the exhaust. I will add some styrene and put on some aluminium tubing for exhaust tips. The engine has been painted with Mopar Street Hemi Orange Engine Paint. I need to drill the distributor cap and the heads for ignition wiring. Since the paintbooth was up and running, I painted some engine parts with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black.
Thanks Lee! I have heard of others using the AMT '71 Duster chassis and the Revell '68 Dodge Dart chassis in place of the kit unit. As much as I would like to use a different chassis, I can’t afford buying a model kit just for the chassis alone and so I am building this kit with the kit chassis.
My first new car was a 68 Cuda fastback 383- 4 gear Formula S. It was a great driver. I should have kept it. My engine was Chrysler blue with factory chrome valve covers. I built a replica from an MPC 68 kit. I’ll be following your build with interest Carl
Now, be warned, See that Eagle on the rooftop? That’s my Drone transmitting photos of you working on this, to me.You have heard of " Eagle-Eyed" vision right?
I went to drill the distributor for plug wires and the distributor broken off the water pump. I used my cordless drill on a slow speed and routed a groove for the replacement shaft made from 1/16th inch styrene. I enjoy adding plug wires to my engines! I was thinking of replacing the water pump with another unit from my parts box, but I decided to stay with the kit unit. I found a better detailed set of exhaust manifolds and I will use those instead.
Other than some touchups and a few decals, the engine is done. This is a high performance 383 CID with a four barrel carb. A test fit in the chassis shows that some mods are necessary.
That’s a nice one!Tell me,how do you clearcoat engines?They have a lot of chromed parts that don’t need to be clearcoated.Do you just not clearcoat or brush a coat on?
I don’t clearcoat my engines. Usually, any chromed parts are valve covers and air cleaners. I give them a very light brushing with a very soft cloth and that’s it.
I’ve been painting and detailing this afternoon. The interior and the seats got an initial coat of white primer and the instrument panel, console and the rear seat backcover got a coat of Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black. I’ll paint the interior floor with the Semi Gloss Black followed by a generous coating of clear embossing powder. If the black paint doesn’t cover the embossing powder, I’ll paint over the powder with flat black paint with a brush. The chassis got a coat of grey primer followed by a coat of Model Master Bright Calypso Metallic. I drilled the body for side markers, although the holes are difficult to see.
More Barracuda to come…
You do know that there were colors that were so close, a lot of folks couldn’t tell them apart. This was a scene of Light comedic proportions for me. As a Body Shop Operator /Owner, I thought it was funny. Comparing the colors in cups made of clear glass there was only a light difference between many colors.
It’s still a gorgeous color anyway! A shade of it is found in a very ordinary place. Unfold the paper in your pocket! It’s there on that Money!
Well, it’s like this…this color is close, but not quite the color I want. It is a tad darker than what I want, but it is close. But, you know what they say…close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
I detailed the chassis this morning and added the engine. If you look closely, you can see the engine mounts I made from square styrene stock.
