AMT's Boss Nova drag car kit. I've always liked this kit and I've been meaning to build it for a long time. I stripped the chrome parts with oven cleaner a few years ago, but other than that it's been sitting in its box for ages.
It's a mixed bag, really. Most of the chassis is simplified to the point of being toylike, and the tires really deserve to be replaced. But the engine has nice detail, and I really liked the "Chrysler Firepower" engraving on the hemi's valve covers. It also comes with a variety of induction schemes, including a blower and crossed fuel injection, but I selected the eight-carburetor setup because I like that "forest of carburetors" effect (and the carbs aren't bad - all I did was drill out their throats).
I wired the distributor, but routing spark plug wires in a realistic manner isn't my strong suit. I added a few other details - some entirely bogus fuel tank plumbing, a coil, and a tank of some sort I found and glued to the back of the firewall. It could have used better seat belts and cans/wiring on the back of the instrument panel, at least, but I didn't get that far. Most of the decals are what came with the kit, the only exception being the Goodyear tire markings that I got from a Slixx sheet. I also drilled out the headers, but otherwise they're as they were supplied by the kit.
The paint is mostly Testors two-part lacquer spray paint, with various metallic paints on the engine (burn iron metalizer on the headers and Humbrol bronze on the carburetors), brass metalizer on the wheels, and Bare-Metal Foil for the window trim and rocker panels. I tried to save the chrome plating on the grill and bumper parts, but I ended up having to strip, sand and repaint the grill insert.
The best part of the kit is the Chrysler hemi engine; the rest is downhill from there. But it was still fun.
2 comments:
The cars of AMT are really courious, I remember when they are united to Matchbox, from these years is very difficult to find here in Spain. The model, is really nice, and different with its central engine.
AMT and Monogram made a lot of very strange car models, like the Boot Hill Express and the Lil Stogie. I like them, and I'm glad they reissue them from time to time. They're probably still hard to find in Spain, even after they've been reissued, which is unfortunate.
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