AMT 1970 Challenger R/T - USPS Tin Boxing

 This is the car I am going to build for the '26 model show. I bought it, mainly because it was the last tin boxed kit HL had, plus the fact I kept passing it buy when I would go to the store. The more I thought about it, I wanted to build it out. After persuading (bribing) my brother to try to build one for the show, I decided I'm going well outside my comfort zone for a auto build.

I did settle on Purple. So it will be painted with a combination of Createx's Pearlized Plum Purple and a few drops of Candy Blood Red. After some thought, I decided to go black and purple for decals and highlights. Mixed with the red, the purple is actually dark, with a tiny tint of green, depending on the light. Almost a natural color shift.

I mixed up a bit of paint, one just the purple and the other the purple and red. Sprayed a few spoons. Two with Mr. Surfacer Black and the other two gray.

 The top one is the purple and red over black (car color), second one is purple and red over gray. Where as the third one is straight purple over black and the last is purple over gray. 

 But it isn't just about the painting, I've decided with building the armor and using PE, that I need to really build out. I ended up picking up from the Model Garage, a set of PE challenger upgrades, along with some battery cables and pre-wired distributor from Hobbylinc.

 

    Oddly, this kit didn't come with a convertible cover, just the detached hardtop. Thankfully, a fellow modeler on the book of face had a spare or two that has sent me free. There's still a few things I am trying to find or figure out building. But I figure with the battery wires, extra heater hoses, plug wires and photo etch, I should have a great start on a show build.

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On This Episode of "It's Only Plastic, What's The Worse That Can Happen?"

 This has been a really messed up year. With losing my wife in early summer, going through changes at work and trying to find myself. It's had a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of thinking and wondering and many nights of not caring. But through everything, I tried to stay building something to keep from going truly insane.

I did spend a bit of cash back in June at the model show, so I have some things to build. Spending time at Eric's working on my first ever plane to building at my kitchen table, I've slowly stayed going.

Finished up a pair of siblings to a bit ago. 

AMT '25 Ford T 

AMT '25 Ford T Chopped

I stopped by HL a few weeks ago to what they had. Ended up grabbing the '70 Challenger R/T USPS Tin box. Kind of think I really bought it because I like the packaging. Looking through the paint, I decided on Createx's Pearl Plum. 

This will be my auto build for the 2026 model show. I have a few more pieces I need to pick up, but I think I will start with testing the paints. I've learned a lot working on armor and other things. I want to try to level up my builds beyond box stock.

Which leads me to the second art of this post. Back in the late 80's early 90's, my brother and I built a lot. Mainly NASCAR but the occasional monster truck or classic car. At one point, we had so many cars we built replica tracks in the basement using a slot car tracks and cereal box fences, signs, stands, etc.. 

I talked (bribed more like it) him into doing another build. I even bought him the kit he wanted. He has until January to complete it for the show. The rules are simple;

- He has to build it himself, no help from anyone.

- Show up and register at the show.

I did give him a list of steps to do, a few tools I had extras of.  Thing is, he doesn't have the patience. I told him I would give him $100 if his build placed. There's five chances at this. Best in Show, Best in Class, Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Things have come along way since we built kits back in the day and building for a show is a whole lot different than a weekend slap paint on it and call it done build. SO, Is he up for the challenge? Will his patience wear thin and plastic flies across the room? Will he give up?

Stay tuned for the next episode of "It's Only Plastic, What's The Worse That Can Happen?"

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