Finally finished this one. Started with kitbashing the MPC Dodge Monaco Police Car with the AMT 1971 Dodge Charger since the MPC chassis, suspension and engine are almost worthless, my opinion.
Added to that:
-rebuild grille with fine mesh
-resin cast headlights and bumpers, the latter heavily improved/modified
-resin cast wheel hubs and caps
-scratchbuilt CB antenna and side marker lights
-completely rebuilt/redesigned lightbar. Started with an aftermarket on which sadly turned out to be only a slightly improved copy of the kit's.
-Good ol' Flash patiently awaiting Rosco

Build thread is here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=290295&pid=2812572&st=0&#entry2812572

And, here she is:

 

Edited July 4, 201610 yr by Andrew D Charger Chaser
photo mistake

http://http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m247/AndrewDtheJollyRogersguy/3_1.jpg[/IMG]

Edited July 4, 201610 yr by Andrew D Charger Chaser

Oh, wow. Awesome! Flash finishes it. You have a close-up of the engine and Flash?

I'm trying to upload more photos, but I obviously don't know what I'm doing....the choose files option now says I can only upload another 81+ kb. So I tried a Photobucket link and no-go.

 

Biggest mistake I think car builders make is making the undersides look clean; fine if it's only for the showroom. Needs a good dusting of Hazzard County dirt

22 minutes ago, Andrew D Charger Chaser said:

Biggest mistake I think car builders make is making the undersides look clean; fine if it's only for the showroom. Needs a good dusting of Hazzard County dirt

I can agreeing THAT!

Great job!

Nice work, Andrew. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Thanks Mark & Hoss! I'm just glad I could figure out the posting-photos thing....

Excellent job Andrew!  The chassis looks much better than the MPC chassis.  

These MPC Dukes kits aren't that detailed.  The MPC General Lee is also a very crude kit.  I recently built and modified an MPC General Lee kit.  

http://hazzardnet.com/forums/topic/6049-orange-clunker-car-mpc-general-lee-build-finished/?page=1

I'll have to check out your build thread on ARC.  BTW, my user name on ARC is 'crowe-t'

Edited July 5, 201610 yr by Boss JD Hogg

Heya! Yep I remember we signed on in here at close to the same time IIRC. I answered your post in ARC regarding the lightbar nightmare....

Always a pleasure, my friend!

That was great Andrew! I especially liked the one with Flash in the passenger seat.

Well y'all, due to the recent Photobucket revolution, I'm re-posting the photos of this build. After these I'll post some of the in-progress shots since this was a somewhat complicated build, not out-of-the-box by any means.

 

The story behind: The MPC kit itself is very crude other than the generally good outline of the body itself. 

The AMT '71 Charger kit provides a FANTASTIC chassis/engine/suspension which can easily be adapted for many Chrysler products from this time period. In modelmaking lingo, this is called "KITBASHING." Only challenge was having to remove the floor of the MPC interior to fit onto the Charger chassis, but it works well. Then some scratchbuilding of the radio/electronic equipment.

A modified 1/25 resin basset hound makes it complete.

 

HOW TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTS:

The molded-on side marker lights were sanded off before the body was painted. Then simply taking the clear sprue for the clear windows and red lights, file/sand it very thin (less than 1mm), cut to the correct length, then cut the other way to the correct width. Then paint using transparent acrylics, attach with superglue and the result is 1) realistic, 2) stunningly improving and 3) FREE.

How to improve the grill:

Model car grills are notoriously unrealistic. First remove the chrome with a soak in bleach. Then thin from behind until it can be opened, everything removed that shouldn't be up to the bars. 

Then cut appropriately sized pieces of fine metal mesh to attach behind. Prime, paint, highlight and install. Major improvement.

Only other points is to remind that the combination of the AMT '71 Charger chassis/engine/exhaust/suspension/tires with aftermarket wheel hubs under the MPC Monaco body and most of the interior is a fantastic combination. For those who have tried to tackle the MPC kit as it was, you will recognize in this photo the vast improvement in appearance and "stance".

Nice attention to detail, great idea with the grille.

I just love threads like this! Thanks so much for sharing.