NCIS 1971 Dodge Challenger Hemi R/T

My newest project is a car that has not been seen since Season 7 Episode 15 of the long running TV series NCIS. The Challenger has only been seen a couple of times with its last appearance in the Season 7 episode "Jack-Knife". This Challenger has a 426 Hemi engine, rear deck wing spoiler, Rallye wheels and blackwall tires. There is very little known about this car, so I am using some creative license building this. The Challenger was first seen near the end of Season 6 Episode 4 Heartland.
I am using the AMT/ERTL kit #6466 for this build and I am replacing the shaker hood with the dual scoop hood, much of the chrome since it looks like it was dragged through sand before being chrome plated and I am using the Revell 426 Hemi from the recent issue '70 Hemi 'Cuda, Rallye wheels and a rear deck wing spoiler from my parts box. I sanded off the texture on the roof and glued it on. I assembled the 426 Hemi engine and mocked it up to the chassis for a prefect fit. The body will be painted with Tamiya TS-16 Yellow with a black interior and the engine will be painted with Mopar Street Hemi Orange Engine Paint. The decals will be a combination of the kit decals and Keith Marks decals.



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I had this kit and I wondered what to do with it, especially with a shaker hood scoop. I had watched an episode of NCIS on USA network called Jack-Knife and I knew what and how to build the Challenger as. I knew I had the extra parts in the parts box that I needed and I can make this one. I have my suspicions about the 1:1 car used. The first one used in Heartland has the 426 Hemi scripts on the hood and the one used in Jack-Knife does not and the paint is a different shade of yellow.
I got out my Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty and I puttied the roof joints. Then I got out the rear deck wing spoiler and assembled the stanchions to the spoiler and set it aside to dry.



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Cool build.

Thanks Chris! I know that I have to finish those other projects. I have to tear myself away from my stories.

Good start Mike but I'm puzzled why you needed to use filler?

Al. wrote:Good start Mike but I'm puzzled why you needed to use filler?

I believe the texture on the vinyl roof was sanded off then the roof glued on as it was a separate piece. Going for the smooth hardtop look I guess. Nice work by the way Mike.

Thanks Alan and David! David is correct! I glued the roof on and puttied the seams for a seamless look. This kit can be built as a convertible or a hardtop. I need a hardtop and the seams are too prominent without puttying them up.

After letting the Bondo dry for several days, I started sanding this morning. More sanding is needed to remove the sanding marks from a 120 grit sanding stick and then a coat of primer.



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It was suggested that I remove the rain gutter moldings while I sanded the texture off the roof and replace the moldings with thin strips of styrene. I started knowing that I didn't have enough .010 X .030 strips for all the windows in the Challenger. A trip to the Hobby Emporium in on the adjenda for today to get some supplies.



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Nice job in re-adding the rain gutter after sanding off the vinyl roof.

Thanks Chris! It was easier than I thought it would be.

Armed with my new package of 0.10 X .030 Evergreen styrene, I added new moldings to the windows of the AMT '70 Challenger. A little more sanding and the body will be ready for primer



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Ah! Now I understand.

Rain gutters are looking good Mike.

Thanks Al! The rain gutters were at most, undersized IMHO. I just needed them to be a little bit bigger for the BMF.

I added the front suspension to determine what clearances would be needed. Since I am using a Revell 426 Hemi, the AMT chassis would need to be clearanced for something. Something being the front of the oil pan and the oil filter. I went a little too far clearancing the K member and I removed part of the front sway bar. I'll replace it when I can find a piece or round stock the same size as the sway bar.



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A little time spent on Gibbs '71 Challenger Hemi R/T. The front and rear suspension has been painted with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Glosss Black. I painted the exhaust system with Model Master Aluminium Spray and after a few days of drying, a coat of Model Master Acryl Semi Gloss Clear. The exhaust tips were painted with Alclad II Gloss Black Base in prep for some Alclad II Chrome. On the chassis, I added a piece of 1 1/2" wide painters tape and I'll spray directly from above some Tamiya TS-16 Yellow for overspray.



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I got the chassis and engine mostly assembled. I have to wire the engine, distributor and the ignition coil. I placed the engine in the chassis and I expected the engine mounts to interfere with the exhaust headers. Behind the right side header is a tab on the engine that is supposed to fit into the slot on the engine mount. I'll clearance the engine mount until the tab fits into the slot.



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I clearanced the engine mount for the right exhaust header and I clearanced the left engine mount a little just for the Hell of it. I then paint detailed the mounts and the upper A arms.



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I decided to strip the hood since I didn't like how the primer coat went down on it. I also decided to strip the from valance panel, too. I painted the interior bucket and the interior pieces with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black. Now for some detailing!



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I have detailed and assembled the interior.



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Wow, stunning interior

Thanks Dirk! I am trying for a cleaner looking build and the interior shows it. I'm hoping that the rest of the build is just as clean!

After leaving the front panel and the hood in 91% alcohol for over a week, I washed them this morning with Dawn Dish Detergent. The alcohol did its job of removing the old paint. Now to primer and paint them both after a good sanding.



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Been working on the C pillars of the Challenger roof today. Still needs more work. I also primered the hood and front valance.



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Since the wheels and tires have been sitting on the bench for a while now, I went and detailed them with Model Master Metalizer and then some Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color. This morning I put the wheels and tires together and mounted them to the chassis. Then I found out that the chassis has a slight twist to it.



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Another coat of primer on the Challenger body to check my work. Looks like I need to do more sanding. These lines still doesn't look right.



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It has been a few months since I worked on the Challenger R/T and I decided to get back to it. I painted the hood, front valance and grille and the body with Tamiya TS-16 Yellow. Now to let this dry.




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I coated the old decals with Microscale Liquid Decal Film with the hope of saving them We shall see...




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Yes, it has been a while since I worked on Gibbs Challenger R/T. Last night I started assembly of the Challenger and I must say this is a challenge for me. Everything I touch on this model goes bad for me! I got the body, interior and chassis installed as one. The Revell 426 Hemi has been installed and fits the chassis perfectly. I am trying to find out if the Challenger had dual chrome side mirrors or just one and I need to paint the rear spoiler flat black.




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I painted the rear spoiler flat black. I added the front bumper from the Revell '70 'Cuda but it is wider than the AMT Challenger bumper and the shape on the ends are different. I guess I'm going back the AMT Challenger bumper and I have to rechrome it. The rear bumper and taillight panel have been installed.




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It's looking great MIke.

How did it go getting rid of the lines around the rear pillars?

Thanks Al!  I got rid of those lines by constantly filling with putty and a lot of sanding!  More putty and more sanding.  And, even more putty and sanding.  Then I had a crack open up on the windshield top.  I reglued the crack from the inside and pushed it all together until the crack lines disappeared.

I dig it. Great tip re the masking tape for overspray on the floor pan too! Consider it stolen!

Thanks Webby! The tape on the chassis was something I had thought would make the job of overspray easier for me. Just make sure that you spray your paint lightly.

WOW, that is sharp. I was a watcher of NCIS when it first came out but due to life issues it fell off my radar. That said I recently stumbled on the show again and was dumbfounded to learn it was still running. So I decided to revisit the show and started watching it from the beginning. I'm just in the early throws of season 3 after the Ari story finished. Because I was so into it I started looking at the other renditions of the show such as LA, New Orleans, and now Hawai'i. What I like most about the show as opposed to CSI is the military feel. I was looking forward to watching NO because I'm a big fan of Scott Bacula.While I only watched one episode I feel it lacks the military component I get from the original NCIS and now the Hawai'i show. I have yet to delve into the LA one.

Didn't you do another NCIS car before? Charger?

Yes, I did. 2006 Dodge Charger R/T in Tamiya Midnight Blue Pearl.