AMT/ERTL'S
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After years of waiting for an accurate Duster kit, Mopar modeling enthusiasts have reason to celebrate with the release of the new AMT/ERTL '71 Plymouth Duster 340. From start to finish, this kit is a fine example of what modelers have recently been enjoying from the company which seems to be rising out of the ashes to prominence in the industry.
Engine
The 16-piece basic block/manual transmission assembly is pretty accurate for the 340 Mopar engine. Two intake/carburation options are included...a two-piece single 4-barrel carb and intake plus the venerable "Six-Pak" tri-carb setup with two-piece tri-carbs and a nice two-piece air cleaner. Both setups share the same distributor and coil. Decals for both type air cleaners are included in the decal sheet. The instruction sheet calls for this engine to be painted Chrysler Engine Red, but sources with whom I've spoken indicate the color should be Hemi Orange.
Chassis
As is their trademark in recent releases, AMT/ERTL has separate floorboards and frame rails, at least in the front suspension. A four-piece exhaust system with two chrome exhaust tips traverse between the 6-piece rear axle assembly and the 9-piece front suspension. The idler arm was a bit tricky to squeeze between the upper frame and lower gravel shield. Separate king pins afford the choice of poseable steering. The chassis assembly looks great when completed. The only drawback (to me, that is) is the gas tank molded into the floorpan. The top of the floorpan comprises the interior floor, which has become a staple of new kit engineering nowadays. One caveat: the lower transmission crossmember, which is a separate piece, should not be glued onto the upper frame until after the engine assembly is installed. I made the mistake of attaching the crossmember before the engine was installed, and had to saw off the tranny boss on the crosspiece in order to slide the transmission through. Also, curiously the instruction sheet calls for the driveshaft and lower engine brace unit to be painted exterior body color. I painted both pieces satin black. The tires are the usual Goodyear Polyglas GT belted units with brake drum detail on the wheelbacks, and stock Duster sport rims. I detailed the center portion of the rim with Testor's Titanium metallizer and the outside with Testor's magnesium metallizer. Trim ring and center cap remained chrome.
Interior
The 13-piece, platform style interior consists of two well-engraved side panels, rear seat/package shelf, two front seats with separate backs, dash, separate steering column with turn signal stalk, shifter, stock Duster three-spoke steering wheel, and an underdash air-conditioning vent unit. The interior unit assembles well, but one irritation is the fit of the seat backs...they leave large gaps when installed due to being much smaller than the cavity they fit into. Some filler putty closes the gaps adequately. I painted my interior white with satin black dash, steering column/wheel, and floor.
Body
The Duster shape has been captured rather accurately for the most part. The very few mold lines that exist are easily eradicated with a couple swipes of a sanding stick. Unfortunately, the door handles and wipers are molded into the body, and the receiving holes in the rear decklid for the wing spoiler must be puttied closed if one does not wish to install it, and the chrome wheelwell trim strips are a bit thick, but other than those minor annoyances, the body looks good. Hood scoops are an option, and the holes in the hood should be opened with a #61 drill bit to receive the scoops. I opted to utilize the scoops and wing spoiler on my model, only because they were an option for the Duster in '71. Separate chrome dual outside mirrors are a nice touch. The engraving on the body survived an airbrushing of Rainbow Products' Plum Crazy metallic. I blacked out the grille using a wash of flat black paint and colored in the in-grille front turn signals with flat aluminum. A separate filler piece between the front bumper and grille was a thoughtful addition. Headlight lenses are clear pieces, and I use Elmer's School Glue Gel for attaching them for a realistic look. Separate red lenses make up the taillights, which attach from inside the body. Front and rear windshields, as well as rear quarter windows, are separate pieces. Like most newer AMT/ERTL automotive kits, the glass has ample contact points but seems a tad thick. Engine compartment goodies consist of battery, washer bottle, heater hoses, washer motor, master cylinder, and a/c compressor and hoses. The decal sheet contains both black and white stripes for sides and rear, hood and air cleaner emblems, "Plymouth" and "Duster 340" with "Twister" figure, and California 340-WDG license plates.
Final Thoughts
Despite its few minor annoyances, the Duster kit is a most welcome addition to AMT/ERTL's growing line of muscle car kits. Modelers will go hog wild building this beauty, and I snatched up three of them myself...all to be built factory stock using Chrysler's wild late 60s muscle car colors. Panther Pink is next on the list, and perhaps Sassy Fras Green will grace the third one. One of our club members who we rely upon to bring the club the newest kit releases sold out of the Dusters in less than an hour at our last meeting! This kit is sure to be wildly popular with any builder, from stock to radical custom to drag. Thanks, AMT/ERTL, for filling a large void in our Mopar muscle car collections with the '71 Duster!
