Polar Lights 1/25 scale Holman-Moody Torino Talladega

Manufacturer: Polar Lights, distributed by Playing Mantis, P.O. Box 388, Mishawaka, IN 46546, 800-626-8478
www.polarlights.com
Kit: No. 6602
Scale: 1/25
Price: $17.98
Comments:Injection-molded, 137 parts (4 vinyl), decals
Pros:Long-awaited subject, well equipped interior, alternate 427 and 429 engines, excellent decals
Cons: Soft detail, poor fit in spots, 429 engine won't fit into the engine bay, alternate markings on decals not shown in instructions

In the late 1960s and early '70s the competition on the NASCAR Grand National (now Winston Cup) Series was as intense as it is today. Factory involvement was crucial to the top teams as big corporate sponsorship was years away. At that time Ford and Chrysler were at the front battling each other with cubic inches and horsepower. The '66 Charger was an early user of the fastback design, and Ford fired back with the introduction of the Torino. Dodge came back with the second-generation Charger in '68 and modified it with a flush grille and rear window in '69 to create the Charger 500. Ford then went a step farther and sloped the nose of the Torino to pick up a few extra MPH. Thus the Talladega, named after the world's fastest speedway, was born.
Since this is the first kit ever produced of a Talladega stock car, I was really looking forward to it. Polar Lights' kit comes in a sturdy two-piece box, and the body is packed in its own box inside to keep it from getting crushed. In a pre-build inspection I noticed its detail was somewhat soft, and the castings of the engines were rough. As I started building things got challenging.


I spent nearly two hours working with the 429 cubic-inch engine before it was ready for paint. The heads and oil pan mounted OK with a little sanding, but the alignment tabs for the front cover had to be removed for proper mounting to the block. The water pump received the same treatment so I could turn it to keep it from interfering with the fan/pulley assembly. The lower pin on the pulley had to be trimmed because it didn't line up with its mounting hole. I also had to enlarge the hole on the top pulley and water pump to accept the fan.


The 429 heads have a notch on one end that isn't shown on the instructions - mount them with the notches facing the front of the engine. When gluing the bell-housing halves together, remove the alignment tabs and match the surfaces. The optional 427 engine was better, but the water pump outlet ports interfere with mounting so I trimmed them off.

As I proceeded to the chassis I encountered more problems. The cage back (part No. 61) left-side mounting pins don't line up with the holes in the cage side. The V bar (60) and roll cage front bar (44) needed trimming to fit properly. The dashboard support (37) should be glued to the back of the firewall, not on top like the instructions show, and then fit between the cage sides. The dashboard should be mounted to the top of the cage sides, not directly to the support. This allows the proper fit of the body and windshield. The rest of the chassis goes together pretty well with the usual cleanup. I did have to clamp the lower front suspension (34) in place until the glue set up.


There are a few glitches in the instructions to overcome. The front shock set (39 and 42) are numbered the same for both sides but they're clearly a different shape for each side. Also the "detail of front shock assembly" drawing in step 3 shows the lower front suspension upside down. The radiator mounts on top of the support bar, not in front like the arrow shows.
The instructions show only the two side drawings of one version of the car, the same that's pictured on the box, even though several versions can be made. The excellent SLIXX Decals provide two designs of door numbers, two Torino Cobra scripts, and several East Tenn Motor Co. logos.


Unfortunately, the instructions don't mention or show anything about the alternate versions. In the limited time I had to build this I couldn't find any reference material on the car, so I had to use only the pictures on the box. That would be the 429 version that was run most of the year. The instructions do provide excellent color notes on the body exterior, interior, and chassis. The paint color guide gives Model Master paint numbers.


The most glaring problem I encountered was that I could not get the 429 engine to fit into the chassis. To get it in, you would need to trim the heads and valve covers, or remove the cage supports that the front shocks mount to. I understand that the 427 does fit, but I was too far along to change at that point.


The really good news is that when it's all done, this car looks great and all four tires are on the ground! I spent about 25 hours on the project. You'll need a lot of patience, test fitting, and modifying to get it all right. This is definitely not a kit for the beginner, and knowledge of stock cars is certainly a plus.