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Lon Moer
Lon Moer
US

MPC Air Racers

Album image #1
In 1970 MPC started re-boxing Airfix kits and added some "extras"; race plane decal option, chrome parts sprue and a disc to represent a spinning propeller.
I got started with the Mustang for the decals, but the kit was too too terrible so I pulled something from my old projects that had a race wing.
Everything else is MPC, with some help. 
 

Album image #2
Academy/Minicraft Mustang with Contrails Models race wing. 
 

Album image #3
Mustang registration is N2345Y, race #5, "Cleveland Miss" 
 

Album image #4
Warhawk registration is NX40R, race #90, "City of Denver".
 
 

Album image #5
Added decals for the instrument panel and seat belts. I was able to fit the chrome spinner and propeller.
I also added the chrome football antenna. 
 

Album image #6
Mustang registration is N2345Y, race #5, "Cleveland Miss" 
 

Album image #7
The box art suggested a red color, but I thought the green/yellow checkerboards looked ugly against the red. 
 

Album image #8
German registration; D-109R, Race #74.
In the cockpit I added front and rear bulkheads.
Added decal instrument panel and seat belts PRO MODELER.
And used antenna from the chrome sprue.. 
 

Album image #9
Line-up growing 
 

Album image #10
Hellcat is N1000M, Race #12, "CITY OF ATLANTA"
Added decal instrument panel and seat from Monogram F8F Bearcat kit. 
 

Album image #11
Box art suggested blue but that was too warbird. The black shows off the yellow better, but is hard to photograph with all the reflection.
Cartoon cat nose art came from the decal spares stash. 
 

Album image #12
Line-up growing 
 

Album image #13
Went with box art Brick Red but added the black engine nacelles and tail to break it up. 
 

Album image #14
Added British registration (Skeeto) and race #6, because its a Mosquito F.B.VI. 
 

Album image #15
There was no interior, just pegs to mount the pilot figures. I installed a floor and added a couple Pavla Models seats.
Football antenna from chrome sprue 
 

Album image #16
Line-up growing 
 

Album image #17
I added the registration; NL38R and race #78.
Lightning nose art from the kit decals. 
 

Album image #18
Box art is curious, special decals suggest red on red, except the decals are really orange, and the classic "YIPPEE" in green colors(??)????
I went with silver but added the black panels to highlight the white/orange decals, 
 

Album image #19
The cockpit was just a bench for the pilot figure.
I added a decal instrument panel and a seat from a Monogram F8F Bearcat.
Under wing engine air scoops from chrome sprue. 
 

Album image #20
Air Race line-up is complete. 
 

Comments

7 8 September 2020, 00:27
Jay Dubya
I don't know if these are based on real or imagined entrants in the Reno Air races, but they all look fantastic !
10 October 2020, 02:37
Lon Moer
In 1970 MPC started re-boxing Airfix kits and added some "extras"; race plane decal option, chrome parts sprue and a disc to represent a spinning propeller.
I got started with the Mustang for the decals, but the kit was too too terrible so I pulled something from my old projects that had a race wing.
Everything else is MPC, with some help.
10 October 2020, 06:14
Lon Moer
This is also the completion of this project . MPC made more of these special kits but these are all that would fit the classic air race category.
It would have been great if MPC had done the special kits for the P-39 Airacobra, F4U Corsair and Spitfire Mk IX, but they didn't pick-up those kits until 1973.
16 October 2020, 02:33

Project info

20 images
1:72
In progress
1:72 Mustang P-51 D (MPC 7005-70)1:72 P-40 Warhawk (MPC 7012-70)1:72 Hellcat (MPC 7007-70)6+
North American P-51D Mustang
US Reno Air Races

1969
 

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