Reviews : AMT '70 Dodge Challenger USPS

According to Scalemates, this kit harkens back to a 1981 AMT tooling. So it's not quite 1960's classic vintage, but still not new. It's a decent kit and the USPS-themed tin box is very nice with some attractive artwork, though it'll cost you a premium over the other releases of this kit. The kit is molded in white with rubber tires and some clear parts and some chrome parts. The 70 Challenger is such an iconic body style and you can have fun as nearly any color looks good on it. The kit also includes the engine with some customization options. The instructions don't always give you direction on the custom options, but upon seeing the extra parts, an experienced modeler should be able to figure them out. I went with a burgundy body and black top and hood. The kit goes together pretty well, though getting the body over the interior and engine can be a bit tricky as it often is with car kits. I also had to be careful installing the rear bumper. But once done it looks pretty good and I didn't have the fit issues I did when I was a kid building older AMT kits. The hood opens and the wheels turn, if you want them to, the doors and trunk are fixed closed. If you're budget constrained, there are other options of this make and model available but if you can afford it, collecting the USPS series is fun. I dropped one star for the cost and the old tooling, but if that doesn't bother you, this is a good Challenger kit.

Dodge Challenger is one of my favorite cars and I couldn’t wait to build it. However, the fitment and tooling show its age throughout the build. The roof, front, and rear end don’t fit correctly and throws off how the car sits. The roof is off by a 1/4 to 1/3 inch and I had to warp the plastic to make it work. Detail is another weak area. The engine lacks the level of detail many builders expect today. I ended up replacing the entire engine with a 3D-printed 440, scratch built half the chassis, and spent significant time time building the interior tub. That said, the kit does have one redeeming quality: it is very forgiving as a platform for customization. The simple engineering makes it easy to modify. Builders can create a hardtop, vinyl-top car, or convertible, there’s room to drop in almost any size engine, and after-market tires, If you’re looking for a highly detailed, modern kit with excellent fit, this isn’t it. However, if you specifically want to build a 1970 Challenger R/T, this is essentially your best - albeit below average - option.