1971 Hemi Cuda 426

The Cuda has to be one of the best kits for some extra detail and mild customizing of the suspension to accommodate aftermarket tires and get the right stance your looking for. The engine bay is large and easy to add details like plug wires, vacuum and fuel lines. The molded details in this kit are perfect and can be highlighted very easily. THE HOOD and the FRONT GRILL/BELLY PAN ARE THE ONLY ISSUES YOU WILL DISCOVER. The hood will not close flat and I had to shave the bottom of the Shaker and remove the rubber lip off the plate the shaker sits on. I also found the bellypan kind of clips over the bottom of the frame during final assembly but after it was in place, the sides of the belly pan DO NOT meet the bottom of the front fenders. I ended up with a small noticeable gap. I feel the belly pan should be cut to fit around the front of the frame and not over causing the part to be warped slightly.

This is a great kit. Molding is fantastic...very little flash and everything fits together nicely. Instructions are detailed and simple to follow. This is one of those kits that you're probably going to want to build 2 or 3 times...the stock version comes together beautifully, and is a legendary muscle car icon. But it's a fun kit to modify as well, either just slightly or all out. I just finished building a very slightly modified kit (dog dish wheels, hot rod black paint, black on black on black trim), and am getting ready to order a few more to add to my build queue so I can have a completely factory build, and a pro-touring inspired one too.

It has been twenty some years since I have built a model, this one was the second I had done since I started building again. Hardly any flash to remove, pieces went together easily and the finished product was outstanding. I used a metallic silver primer with a Testors custom candy purple and it turned out quite nice. The only downside, at least for me, is the molded in exhaust, made for a fun time trying to detail the chassis. Other than that, it's a good, quick model to put together and I'd more than gladly get a few more just to do different variations on it in color and do some kit bashing with it.