AMC Rebel Machine - "Rebel Yell"

[Merkur XR4Ti]

I'm very happy with the way this one turned out. It's not quite done (a few small details to add yet, like REBEL decals front and rear and silver striping on the hood), but yesterday was finally a sunny day and I had to jump at the chance to take some pictures.

I started with 2 built up kits that I stripped and combined into one final kit that you see here, along with numerous parts from my parts box. Given the age of the kits I started with I'm pretty happy with the results although at times I thought I'd never get it done. The rear bumpers on both kits broke on me and I had to spend a ton of time patching and filling them before rechroming them with AlClad.

The engine in the original kit is inaccurate, so I used the engine from an AMT '76 Matador which was more correct and added as many of the wires and hoses as I could in that simplified engine compartment.Of course, now I have no idea what to do with the Matador kit sans engine. I also added a washer bottle and alternator from my parts box. The battery was on the original built up and merely detailed a bit.

The chassis is taken right from one of the built-ups and didn't get much modification besides paint. The wheels are original kit items but the tires are not and I don't know where they came from; the wheels and tires were so firmly glued on I didn't dare remove them and used them as is.

I don''t have any good shots of the interior (forgot to take them while building, dumb mistake), but I added detail to the dash like more buttons, added stalks to the steering column, flocked the interior, and painted the center armrest with a RWB stripe. I also added seat belts and a THE MACHINE decal on the glovebox door and BMF'd the doorpanel lines for the chrome trim.

The original kit body was poorly painted so I stripped it with brake fluid and filled a few sinkholes. The kit hood had a hole cut in it for the optional velocity stacks (like most of the older builds do), so I had to patch it with sheet styrene and fill with lots of putty and sanding. Fortunately most of that work is hidden by the hood scoop which was in good shape. The paint is Duplicolor white lacquer for the body and MCW AMC Electric Blue Metallic for the lower panels and hood. The RWB decals are from Keith Marks (I used 2 sets), the RWB strip on the grille was done with paint, and the RBLYELL license plates were made with Acme Platemaker with some details added in a paint program.

So this one's done. I have enough left over to build a second one, and the Modelhaus is now casting the hood so I have one without a hole in it, so I'll likely build a mainstreamer model out of it using the straight-6 from a Pacer kit. Maybe I'll add a vinyl roof and paint it pea soup green, like a proper AMC.

[MrObsessive]

As an AMC Muscle fan, I had to do a double take as I thought it was an actual car you posted! No Lie!!

What an outstanding job on a model never seen anywhere! All the details are just right on the money!

I'm actually kinda jealous as I've been looking for and accurate AMC motor to restore a couple of AMX's (a '69 and a '70). No one casts one unfortunately that I know of.

[novadose71]

Very cool, that's a really nice build of a kit I have been waiting (and waiting, and waiting) to get my hands on. BTW Time Machine Resin carries the Rebel wheels if you need a set for your other Rebel or for Bill's 70 AMX(yet another AMC kit that eludes me)

[george 53]

WoW Steve, that sure came out nice! I just got one off the Bay, and it was kinda reasonable,considering it was still in the box! Thanks for the info on the engine,cause I'm not that astute on AMC's.Yours looks great! I should be so lucky with mine!

[Harold]

Jiminy Christmas- that is great. Seriously- did you just shrink a real car and say you built it?

[MrObsessive]

Very cool, that's a really nice build of a kit I have been waiting (and waiting, and waiting) to get my hands on. BTW Time Machine Resin carries the Rebel wheels if you need a set for your other Rebel or for Bill's 70 AMX(yet another AMC kit that eludes me)

Thanks for the info about the wheels Rob! I just checked 'em out a second ago and they look great!

....................now if I could only find that engine.........

[Harold]

As an AMC Muscle fan, I had to do a double take as I thought it was an actual car you posted! No Lie!!

What an outstanding job on a model never seen anywhere! All the details are just right on the money!

I'm actually kinda jealous as I've been looking for and accurate AMC motor to restore a couple of AMX's (a '69 and a '70). No one casts one unfortunately that I know of.

I remember Revell's Jeep Pickup that was reissued in the mid- nineties had an AMC eight that looked close to what I had in my Matador. How accurate is that one?

[MrObsessive]

I remember Revell's Jeep Pickup that was reissued in the mid- nineties had an AMC eight that looked close to what I had in my Matador. How accurate is that one?

Probably pretty close............IIRC AMC's V8's changed very little through the late '60's into the '70's. The 390 that was in my 1:1 '69 AMX was really a bored out 290 which ran up through to the "big" 401.

[cruz]

Very cool man!!!!!

[Zoom Zoom]

Stunning! Great model

[mikemodeler]

That is a verrrrrrrrrrry nice model. I don't remember seeing that one before so get that other one done and quick!

I was back in Kenosha WI last week and there were several cruise nights at some of the drive-ins and I saw at least 6 or 7 AMC's-mostly Javelins but a couple AMX's and I think 1 Rebel!

Not sure how accurate the V-8 is in the Revell Jeep CJ-7 kit but that could be a source as well.

Mike

[Nick F40]

What an outstanding job on a model never seen anywhere! All the details are just right on the money!

Which is EXACTLY why I love it. I always loved AMC and this is right on the money and very well done, it turned out great.

I knew you would have posted.

[Merkur XR4Ti]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I took a bunch of modeling risks I normally don't try in order to get this thing built and it was gratifying to see them actually work.

I'm really falling in love with Jo-Han's kits. The chassis are usually under detailed, but the bodies are spot on and look great.

[mikelo]

Just thought I would jump in and say great job also. Very clean. definately don't see this one very often.

Mike

[Modelmartin]

I thought this was Harry messing with us - "real or model?". Very nice job on a cool car!

Even rarer was the Jeepster with the Rebel machine paint job and scoop on it. I don't remember what it was officially called but I actually saw one parked on a street one day back in the early 80s and I remember seeing little press release articles in the car mags when it was introduced. It wouldn't be too hard to kit-bash that one.

Andy Martin