2003 Jeep Rubicon

This jeep looks cool. However, the lack of detail is disappointing. There is no engine and none of the doors open. I have bought several of these kits however. I like the highly detailed Mickey Thompson Baja claws offroad tires. I use the transfer case, axles and tires for other projects. The rest of the kit I throw into my parts box - you never know when you get fun ideas for what to do with spare parts.

This is a good kit with lots of detail..... but very little choices. You can paint it any color you want and you get a choice of decals but beyond that any changes will require advanced skills and material. The hood ,doors, and tailgate do not open. The model has no engine at all....just an oil pan moulded into the frame and an exhaust system that is separate part. The kit has real coil springs that give the model working suspension..... sort of. The springs have to be located by thick (scale size) plastic cylinders that simply do not exist on the 1:1 (real) Jeep. No shocks are included and all the steering components are molded together with the front axle and suspention. Not very realistic at all. If you like the huge aftermarket bumper and winch in the picture you are in luck because the kit has no option to build with bumpers. Same thing with the odd roll bar and pocket style fender flairs that completely cover the big tires......you guessed right.....no choice of stock parts including wheels and tires No top at all either. If you don't want a goofy air snorkel on the side of your model you have some little holes to fill. Is this a good kit? Considering the fact that kits to build a 1:25 scale two door Jeep are very rare, I would recommend this kit . Keep in mind that if you have any plan to replicate any existing 1:1 Jeep that does not look just like the picture on the box, you have a lot of scratch building to do. Even kit bashing will not be easy considering the scarcity of authentic 4.0 Jeep engines and non-functional hood on this kit. My build is giving me long hours of fun. I am replacating my own 1991 Jeep YJ so I have filled the round headlight holes to build rectangular headlights, filled ,and narrowed the with of the fender flairs,added extentions to the flairs to match the YJ, and I am scratch building bumpers,roll cage, from plastic and brass rod to match the custom work I did on my own Jeep. I bought a second kit that I plan on building with no modifications just to show how much work I am doing on my replica. Bottom line, buy and build this kit and you will have a cool looking Jeep to park with your other models.....just dont expect it to look just like the 1:1 Jeep you know and love!

The 03 Jeep Rubicon is a nice model. I purchased 3 of these to build with my 2 Sons. I have years of experience while my Sons this was their first model. We all enjoyed the build. I found on this model it was especially important to plan your parts painting (IE - The radiator behind the Jeep body grill). Pro's; The Jeep has a good design and looks mean. Tires are real rubber and model uses metal axles so the Jeep rolls which my boys Love. There are 2 sets of decals for a different look on multiple models. Well Designed/Engineered assembly that adds to ease and overall looks of completed model. Cleaver way the headlights are designed and assembled that give this Jeep a Real looking front face. Con's; 1/25 Scale - Never liked these, but seems that is where most car models are now a days. Hood doesn't open, and no engine, just a bottom end molded into the chassis. Some details are lost in the molding a little - overall not a deal breaker though.