Hey all, I usually hang in the dio forums, but I do cars as well…I need some help. My girlfriend and I went and saw the Dukes of Hazard on Sat (shudder), and now she wants me to build her the General Lee car. I’ve found and bought the old Ertl kit, which thankfully has the roof flag decal!
Is there a particular colour to paint the body? Instuctions say Orange, but I know that definately ain’t right.
Any mix combos or is there a straight colour I can use? Looking at pics, it looks like the body may just be straight up Hemi Orange?
Thanks
Kelly
From a Mopar site that features the General Lee,
“The first and probably most often asked question is, “what color is the General Lee?”
There is one page out there that says the General is most definitely “Hugger” orange. That answer, while partially correct, is mostly wrong. You ask, “how can that be?” Well, let me explain. The first Generals were painted Hemi-orange, a real life Mopar color that a '69 Charger could have come from the factory with. However, over the years they used quite a few different oranges to paint the General Lee, Hugger probably being one of them. Also, depending on how much paint they had available, how quickly they needed a car to be ready, etc, etc., they would mix whatever oranges they had on hand so a General could have ended up Hemi or Hugger or a number of other oranges or any mixture thereof (all of them being fairly close to the original Hemi-orange). So while some Generals were Hugger orange, “the” General was not. If you have to pick a “the” General Lee color, I would go with the original Hemi-orange. But since Warner Brothers didn’t care, you shouldn’t either. For authenticity, all you need to do is pick a color close to Hemi-orange. Wayne informs me that Street Hemi orange engine paint is an exact match for the color on his General.”
Here is the site: http://pages.prodigy.net/tcwinfk/
Wow, didn’t even know that Gino, thanks for the info…Hemi Orange it is!
Even though the AMT/ERTL/whoevertheyarethismonth kit doesn’t show the flag, it’s still in the kit.
Yah, that was my biggest worry when I bought the kit…no flag on the box art! I was assured by my friend who works at my LHS that indeed the flag was inside, he’s had to open many a box for customers with the same concerns!
i know the first thing I’ll do is put all the chrome parts in oven cleaner and then apply Alclad Chrome.
Just out of curiosity, looking at pics of the car, it looks like the wheels aren’t chorme but more like a aluminum colour, is this the case?
If you’re going for total accuracy, the AMT/Ertl/RC2 General Lee isn’t a good choice. The kit inside is actually a Charger 500, which has the smooth, blended-in rear window. The “standard” Charger (as used for the GL) has a “tunnelback” rear window. I’d combine the GL decals with Revell’s Charger kit (no. 85-2546). It has the correct body, and is a much better kit.
Matt Usher @ FineScale Modeler
Thanks for the info Matt, I’ll check out my store again the next time I’m in. Looks like I’m in luck, both are 1/25th scale.
I am actually building the General as well. Several things you need to know. The AMC kit is CRAP. I recommend the Revell 69 Charger. Absolutely the best level of detail I’ve seen in a car kit. Very impressive engine compartment. As far as the paint goes, I used Pactra Competition Orange and it looks great. Also, the link below was invaluable on producing an accurate General. Good luck!
http://www.generalleefanclub.com
Under the model car directory, there is a “how-to” section that is very helpfull.
When I did mine i used Peugeot ''seville ‘’ orange
as Matt says the revell is the best option ,
i did the ERTL kit the fit was lousy
thanks for the link, jsherrow7, some very cool info. I’ll be on the lookout for the Revell kit, hopefully the bumper from the ertl kit fits!
Wow
your girlfriend works in a model shop, that is cool
Ha ha Jon, I wish she did! No, she doesn’t our club Prez does, he’s the one who said that the GL’s flag was in the Ertl kit!
just re-read it, sorry
why isnt the flag in the new film? or is it
It is still there. Big as day. You can see it here in the trailer.
http://promo.warnerbros.com/dukesofhazzard/video.html
Wow its so nice to see somebodys work of the general lee with out it being edited or banned - wink wink scaleauto.
seanrgb4 - yours looks great to me. I but the same kit and i like how it turned out.
Yah it’s in the movie, it was kinda funny how the boys discovered that it was on the car!
Here’s a good reference pic for ya. This one is just five blocks from my home 
[:D]
Mopar Nat’ls were just in town (Prolly THE most exciting event in Reynoldsburg) and of course, there was the general. But the door’s weren’t welded shut. I was disappointed. It had the horn though. The guy was a stickler and wouldnt do a burn out. Sad face.
hi all,
the Revell monogram 69 charger is a very realistic protrail for the General.
I had read an old article where you would need to sand of the vinal roof and to becareful not to remove the detail. I have done what was recominded .it turned out very cool. as for the 500 body i cut it up into repair panels for a body shop or flat bed truck. as one would take precautions for aplying bare metal foil. you need to do the same forsanding the roof.
here is a link to a restoration page i found on the general:
Click here: Muscle Car Restorations - Gallery :: 69 Charger (General Lee)
Sorry not the like i wanted … but click and drag then select the page that matches … sorry i’m not that good witha pc. models grate :>)…
It’s pretty good.
i do have a need. I wish to make more generals but i do not have the printer needed. dose any one have a suggestion ?
My need list is : 6 decal sheets. for 6 cars .
and on the other side if any one has a Fall guy truck decal link?
i need to / or want to get 4 sheets of them.
any help would be grate .
later guys.
The General Lee Looks Good SAean