The AMT 1/25 scale 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T plastic model kit with a 426 Hemi engine and N96 Ramcharger hood includes a new decal sheet and nicely illustrated box art. The instructions list factory exterior and interior colors and are full of large illustrations to aid in assembly. There are no exterior decal placement guides, so you will have to refer to the box art or find photos of a real car for reference.
The 426 Hemi engine comes in halves, but a separate oil pan hides most of the seam. The automatic transmission also has a separate fluid pan. Individual starter and oil filter parts make painting easier. While everything fits well, the kit doesn’t provide a factory-stock 426 Hemi. By way of engine swapping between different kits, this is a Stage V Hemi head conversion with an AC unit—not something you’d find on a factory-stock car. You can get a factory 426, but you’ll have to do some work with donor kits.
You’ll find ample detail on the chassis. I detailed the molded fuel and brake lines with Bare-Metal Foil after painting. Paint the molded body plugs for even more detail.
The carpet and interior floor are molded to the top of the chassis/underbody. I painted those before painting the bottom of the chassis/underbody.
You get an 8¾-inch rear end that assembles with a small insert at the axle. The whole suspension and axle assembly attaches to the chassis via positive locators. Up front, I think the kit spindles sit too high. Spindles from the AMT ‘71 Duster should provide the correct ride height, or, if you’re experienced, you can move the spindles yourself. If you don’t make the adjustment, the front end still assembles without any issues.
The kit provides one-piece, all-chrome Mopar Rally rims that needed a bit of sanding to fit into the tires. The tires appear a bit tall to my eye but look good all the same with printed Firestone or Goodyear logos on the reverse sides.
The platform interior provides plenty of detail. Both door panels, steering wheel, and dashboard have molded-in wood grain inserts in the proper spots. Decals dress the gauges, radio, and climate controls, and a Charger R/T emblem decal goes on the glove box door. Be sure to take note of the instructions to remove the raised, molded one on the dash prior to painting for a better fit.
Gluing the separate sides along the dash can be a bit tricky, but with patience, the interior comes together nicely. The molded headliner, sun visors, and dome light offer more chances for detail painting.
The body is fairly clean, but I found a light mold line just behind the side quarter windows. I also sanded off the Charger R/T badges on the front fenders and trunk lid before painting—decals replace them! I found the plastic to be on the thin side, so be cautious not to warp the body during cleanup.
I deviated from the instructions and attached the front fascia to the body prior to primer and paint for a cleaner look. But that meant I had to also trim the frame rails by about ⅛ inch for clearance to fit into the body. The rear valence should have two half-round recesses for the exhaust tips to fit into. I made them on mine with a round file.
The glass fit OK, but be careful when applying the glue—there isn’t a lot of room for error. The front and rear window glass has two positive posts at the bottom that help as guides. The side quarter windows do not, making them a little more difficult to attach.
Fitting the chassis into the body was nerve-racking. Everything fits, but it’s a tight squeeze to get the completed chassis and interior into the body. Go slow and you’ll get there.
The sprue gates left visible attachment marks. Body-colored bumpers were an option on the 1971 Charger, so you might decide to go that route instead of repairing the chrome. A realistic, clear red taillight panel looks good in back.
There’s lots to look at in the engine bay, but there was no washer fluid reservoir, and the AC line over the radiator core interfered with the hood sitting flush. I made a small notch at the radiator to make the needed clearance for a better fit.
All the decals laid down nicely, but aren’t matte like Mopar markings. Also, one of the door blackout recess decals was short and not quite the same shape as the other three. Make sure to have references when applying the R/T stripe down the sides. I taped the hood in place and started on the driver's side, working my way around to the passenger side. I used the recess of the driver's side mirror as a guideline to keep the stripe up far enough to follow the body line. Then I just worked my way around the car. As intimidating as the hood decal was, it went down with careful placement. Make sure to apply the decal before installing the N96 hood scoop.
If you are looking for a kit of a 1970s muscle car, the AMT 1/25 scale 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T plastic model kit is a great example. If you are looking for factory-accurate, the foundation is there, but it’ll require some extra work to achieve. Overall, I would suggest this kit for advanced builders with a little more experience due to detailing and assembly. With all that said, it does build into a great looking Mopar muscle car, but you’ll have to use some modeling know-how to get there.