AMT Piranha Super Spy Car - Original Art Series

[ea0863]

Hello All! Having just finished a Corvair, I was in a mood to stay with the same theme and decided to build the reissued AMT Piranha "Super Spy Car". Having never seen Man From Uncle, I was not interested in the spy gadgets, but I did find the history of the actual Piranha cars fascinating. I decided to build mine as close to the box art as possible - including the body color. I think I came really close with Tamiya TS-58 Pearl Light Blue, and TS-13 Clear.

There is much online already about the quality and difficulty level of this kit, so I won't belabor it much. I would agree that the kit is based on old molds, thus there is substantial work to prep pieces and line up mating parts. Also, the greenhouse is a bear to put together and even under best of circumstances the gullwing doors do not quite shut all the way. But in terms of novelty and the "fun factor", it is a great kit to play with.

 

As a side note, for those looking to build a Piranha like the one in Man From Uncle, there is a beautiful color booklet that comes with the Original Art Series edition that can be very useful to refer to. It also includes a lot of pictures of the spy gadgets - particularly on the dash.

Interestingly, the engine shown in the booklet is not turbocharged as the one in the kit, and the decals have nothing to do with the Spy Car at all. The engine can be more accurate with kit bashing any number of other models, which would also yield the appropriate belt system driving the fan from above.

To get accurate decals, along with photo-etched door hinges and gadgets, you would have to look at part number PGX192 at Paragrafix. 

Enjoy!

Edited June 5, 2022 by ea0863

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[bisc63]

Good job getting this one together, it really looks sharp. You definitely got the box art look. Very well done!

[ea0863]

13 minutes ago, bisc63 said:

Good job getting this one together, it really looks sharp. You definitely got the box art look. Very well done!

Thank you Rusty. This is one of those models where I definitely could have used four more hands!  

[Ace-Garageguy]

Really nice work on this one.   

[ea0863]

18 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Really nice work on this one.   

Thank you much Bill. It means a lot coming from a pro like you  

[Oldcarfan27]

I've heard this is a tough kit to build. I have a few parts of one and I can see how the multi-piece body would be tricky to get right, but looks like you overcame the obstacles and completed a very clean rendition. 

Very nice!

[Spottedlaurel]

That's fantastic. I know nothing about the 1:1 but your perseverance, workmanship and colour choice have really worked out there.

[Rich Chernosky]

Nice to see this kit built.  You did a great job. Recently pulled mine out and its ready for painting.  I have the PE kit for it and the hinges and some magnets should solve the door problem. They don't fit too badly. I have had the original  AMT kit for years as a glue bomb. Also just finished a Corvair project so I have plenty to spruce up the engine. Hope mine turns out as nice as yours.

[David G.]

This is the first Piranha I've seen built up and I have to say you've done a spectacular job!

David G.

[bh1701]

I built one of these when I was a kid in the 60's. I am certain that mine did not turn out as well as yours did!

Looks great!

Bart

[TNT]

Nice work. Looks like box top.

[ChrisR]

Awesome!

[espo]

Great clean looking build. The engine detailing looks good, and I like the air duct to thew engine cooling fan, good idea. 

[ea0863]

10 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

I've heard this is a tough kit to build. I have a few parts of one and I can see how the multi-piece body would be tricky to get right, but looks like you overcame the obstacles and completed a very clean rendition. 

Very nice!

 

9 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

That's fantastic. I know nothing about the 1:1 but your perseverance, workmanship and colour choice have really worked out there.

 

2 hours ago, David G. said:

This is the first Piranha I've seen built up and I have to say you've done a spectacular job!

David G.

 

1 hour ago, bh1701 said:

I built one of these when I was a kid in the 60's. I am certain that mine did not turn out as well as yours did!

Looks great!

Bart

 

1 hour ago, TNT said:

Nice work. Looks like box top.

 

51 minutes ago, ChrisR said:

Awesome!

 

19 minutes ago, espo said:

Great clean looking build. The engine detailing looks good, and I like the air duct to thew engine cooling fan, good idea. 

Thank you all for your kind words and feedback. Now I'll be off to the opposite end of the spectrum by building something or other with an Allison V-12 in it!  

[ea0863]

On 6/5/2022 at 5:26 AM, Rich Chernosky said:

Nice to see this kit built.  You did a great job. Recently pulled mine out and its ready for painting.  I have the PE kit for it and the hinges and some magnets should solve the door problem. They don't fit too badly. I have had the original  AMT kit for years as a glue bomb. Also just finished a Corvair project so I have plenty to spruce up the engine. Hope mine turns out as nice as yours.

Thank you Rich. I remember your two Corvairs, they were great! I can't wait to see your Piranha when it's done!

Edited June 6, 2022 by ea0863

[Ulbo]

Nice and sharp built?

[spencer1984]

That looks great, nicely done!

[slusher]

Beautifully done!!

[drodg]

Great looking build.  I bought the kit a few years ago for the great Goodyear blue line tires.  

[happy grumpy]

What a cool project, your efforts obviously paid of seeing it complete like this. Great job on assembly and finish. ?

[Plastheniker]

Odd vehicle, looks like a merger of Lotus Elan and Lotus Europa.

Perfect execution!

[ea0863]

2 hours ago, Plastheniker said:

Odd vehicle, looks like a merger of Lotus Elan and Lotus Europa.

Perfect execution!

I couldn't agree more Jürgen - - - I love the oddball vehicles, especially ones you can't find ready-made as a diecast. This one is most interesting because it was a real car that AMT the model-making company actually offered to the public. It was in essence a kit car based on Corvair mechanicals, and a number of them have survived to today - including the "Spy Car" itself. 

[jaymcminn]

I'm guessing your door fitment is probably better than most of the 1:1 that actually got built. Great clean build of an unusual subject.

[ea0863]

2 hours ago, jaymcminn said:

I'm guessing your door fitment is probably better than most of the 1:1 that actually got built. Great clean build of an unusual subject.

I suspect you're right Jason. Fiberglass manufacturing industry was still working the kinks out back then.