Revell’s new 1/25 scale 1971 Mustang Boss 351 kit is an outstanding effort (
read our review here). Given the interest surrounding this offering, here are assembly tips and ideas for adding detail, authenticity, and getting the most out of this landmark kit.
At the start of production, the Boss 351 was restricted to these 11 factory colors: Black (Code A), White (M), Bright Red (3), Light Pewter Metallic (V), Bright Blue Metallic (6), Dark Green Metallic (C), Grabber Lime (I), Grabber Yellow (D), Grabber Blue (J), Grabber Green Metallic (Z), Medium Yellow Gold (E).
Detail the engine with metallic gray and gold on the fuel pump; a misting of rust-colored primer on metallic gray manifolds; flat yellow for the ignition coil front cap; flat aluminum and a dark wash on the alternator; metallic green/blue mix on the steering pump; and metallic gold on alternator pulley and air cleaner vacuum module.
The complete Cleveland V8 is installed in the engine compartment. Paint the V-shaped shock-tower reinforcement semigloss gray. This replicates the paint Ford reportedly made from collected overspray from the paint booths and mixed together for reuse on some components. Generally gray, there were hints of other colors in it, including green, blue, purple, and pinkish red.
The optional Boss 351 Interior Décor Group was offered in 11 color combinations: single-color Black, Medium Blue, Medium Ginger, Green, and Vermillion (as seen in the cutout); black with vermillion, gray, or white front seat accents; white with black carpet, lower doors, and instrument panels and white front seats with either black or gray accents; vermillion interiors had black carpets, lower doors, and instrument panel and vermillion front seats with black accents.
If you do a White or Vermillion Décor interior, this is where you mask for the black lower doors and the contrasting seat accents. It’s important to note the seat accents appear only on the front buckets, not the rear seat.
The Revell wood-grain decals go on well with the help of Microscale Micro Set and Sol. Before applying the gauge decals, paint the recessed areas around the gauges silver. For the chrome accents throughout the interior, use a fine-tipped Molotow Liquid Chrome paint marker.
In Step 19 of the Mustang instructions, the locator pins for parts 38 and 39 fit tightly to the underbody (Part 8). Drill the locating holes (shown with toothpicks) with a slightly larger bit to ease assembly. Make sure the parts are fully seated and flush along their mating surfaces when you glue them.
Most 1971 Mustangs wore a rust-colored primer on their underbodies. Mist the exterior body color along the outer edges of the underbody for paint-booth overspray. Simulate partial factory undercoating and front-end, wheel-well, and lower rocker-panel blackout by airbrushing flat black a bit haphazardly in the areas shown and along the outer edges of the underbody.
Replicate factory component markings: A) gold and white stripes on the front suspension coil springs; B) yellow and apple green paint dabs on the front stabilizer bar; C) narrow violet/red/yellow stripes (in that order, front to back) near the center of the driveshaft; and D) orange dabs on the rear shocks.
While it's convincing out of the kit, you can improve the simplified front suspension by cutting the tie rod assembly away from the cross member and by replacing the kit brakes with photo-etched metal disc brakes, calipers, and backing plates.
Sand the tire treads to simulate wear. Then mask the treads and spray Tamiya Semigloss Clear (No. X-35) on the sidewalls before applying the Raised White Letter (RWL) decals. On the wheels, paint the recessed areas flat or semigloss black and carefully brush semigloss clear on the slightly less shiny spoked areas.
Revell includes a scale illustration of the hood blackout area. Use Tamiya Semigloss Black (No. X-18) for this area. The edges are included as a glossy decal in the kit. Cut the border decal into three pieces (slicing at the hood pin locations), apply the front, followed by the two sides for better alignment.