The AMT 1/25 scale 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye widebody plastic model kit is a welcome rendition of the supercharged V8-powered, 797 horsepower sedan in scale.
That Hemi V8 kicks off kit assembly and is, in my estimation, the most impressive part of the model. Well-engineered to be simple to build, it maintains a high level of detail. Block halves, cylinder heads, two-piece exhaust manifolds, supercharger, belts and pulleys, power steering pump, oil filter, starter, and oil pan are all separate parts. You rarely see an alternator that attaches to the engine in a kit, yet, here one is.
Included, too, are the coolant reservoir for both the supercharger and engine, fuse box, air cleaner with separate filter, and a four-piece radiator with separate fans. There’s even a window washer filler neck! So much detail and fun to build.
Underneath, you’ll find an individual driveshaft assembly, well-molded exhaust, skid plates, heat shields, and plenty more. The suspension parts appear authentic and you get posable front wheels. I had no issues with fits at all.
The interior matches references, and I couldn’t have been happier with the level of detail. It seemed like everything was included, from separate dash and door panels, to bucket seats and the pedals. Decals provide color for the instrument cluster, infotainment system, climate control, and steering wheel. And you get duplicate markings for the steering wheel in case you mess one up. On the steering wheel, the decal includes a chrome border, but the SRT badging doesn’t appear.
While the instructions provide interior color options, it suggests consulting the internet for more references. The kit molds the B-pillars into the interior side panel with an opening for the seat belt adjustment. It’s a nice touch if you want to add seat belts, although none are provided. The completed tub interior attaches to the chassis with four large attachment points.
Five components comprise the body, whose lines look realistic and the panel lines are cleanly molded. I performed minimal sanding to prep for paint. There are no hinges for the hood — which you could view as a plus or minus depending upon preference. I like it because I can easily remove it to see the whole engine.
AMT provides a list of Mopar colors for the car, but no suggestions for paint companies to use or how to otherwise replicate the choices. I wanted mine Jailbreak F8 Green and tried my hand at mixing it with Tamiya acrylics. I think I got pretty close. Two top coats of Testors Wet Look Clear and a few hours of polishing later and I was happy with the body.
The windows attach from inside the body and fit well. However, the clear plastic was a bit scuffed in my sample. Nothing you can’t polish out, though.
The chassis with completed tub fit into the body without difficulty. Basically a press fit, you just align four attachment posts and let the kit do the rest. Similarly, the fascias, grille vents, and headlights all press into place. You don’t have to use glue if you don’t want to.
By the time I got to the wheels, I was pretty spoiled. The kit is so cleanly molded, that it came as a surprise that i needed to clean up flash on the wheel spokes.
Decals provide the marker lights and all the badging. You get duplicates for these in case something goes wrong. There seems to be an opacity problem as some of the decals didn’t show up clearly or disappeared entirely when applied to the model. The SRT badge for the front grille is black, so added to the black grille, you don’t see it. Chrome edging would help it stand out. Also, there are no SRT decals for the prominent brake calipers or center wheel caps. The tire sidewalls look a bit tall to me, giving the look more of a regular Dodge Charger than the enhanced Hellcat. But perhaps I’m picking nits.
I loved building the AMT 1/25 scale 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye widebody plastic model kit. Round 2 did an amazing job of replicating this car and engineered the heck out of this kit. Truly a step forward for the AMT brand. If you’re into modern American cars, this is a kit you’ll want.