Looks okay to me, Randy. You're doing a great job!

Thank you Russell. I appreciate the kind comments.

I hope to have all of these bits and pieces looking like an automobile in the next few days. I hope to get some base coats of paint applied as well. That is if this Wyoming weather will cooperate. I do most of my base coat painting outside but today we had snow and we are supposed to have more damp weather for the next few days. So I guess I will see.

Thanks,
Randy

Great job randy. I am building this kit as well. except i'm detailing it a bit ore, like I've cut out the glove box, cut out the radio, cut up the kit glass as there are no door glass fitted. and a few other bits and pieces

Nicely done so far Randy. I didn't realize so much came with this kit, definitely on my wish list now.

I'm following this too Randy.

Nice...I'll follow...

Thank you Matt, I appreciate the kind comment. I would like to detail the kit more so it would be like in the movie but I am going to build the kit pretty much out-of-the-box with the exception of the photo-etched brass for the review. I wish the kit didn't have the glass for the doors as well. It would have been nice without it. Maybe once it is built and the final pictures are posted I might go back and cut them out.




Thank you James, I always like the positive comments. It is a pretty nice kit other than my few small gripes. The small extra pieces, like the explosive device, do make it a worthwhile purchase if you are fan such as I am.




Glad to have you KoSprueOne.




Welcome, the more the merrier.

Thank you everyone.
Randy

Step 10. Step 10 dealt with the assembly of the interior of the vehicle. There are a total of twenty pieces, including the dashboard assembly from Step 8 and the roll cage assembly from Step 9. All of the pieces were easy to remove from the sprue and contained very little flash and seam lines and contain nice detailing. The instructions for the step are brief but detailed for the construction of the interior of the vehicle. All of the pieces fit together well without any sanding or filing needed. There are small gaps at the bottoms of the door panels (Parts 101 and 102) where they attach to the floor (Part 90) but these will be hidden when the kit is fully assembled. Roll bar Part 106 attaches nicely to the pre-assembled roll cage from Step 9. The assembled dash from Step 8 fits well with the two door panels, Parts 101 and 102. The gear shift is a very fragile piece so extra care will be needed when cleaning of the attachment point and seam line. I bent mine but left it as it was as I didn’t want to break it trying to bend it back. So I guess my kit will be in 4th gear. When I attached the “dog seat” Part 83 to Part 102, I couldn’t get it to fit as shown in the instructions. It fits okay but not as shown. Note – I forgot to put Part 83 with the other pieces when I took the initial photograph for this step. That is why there are only 19 pieces shown and not 20 as I mentioned. Instead of using Parts 93 and 105 I used Part 1 from the photo-etched brass fret. The bottom of the shelf on Part 93 was easy to remove with my razor saw and the photo-etched brass shelf attached nicely. Speaking of photo-etched brass, when I installed the dog seat I realized that I had placed the photo-etched light mount from Step 8 too far to the left so I had to remove it and move it to the right. I also noticed that I had left Part 97 out of Step 8. I have no idea what the part is but it attaches to the dash near the light mount. It looks like a shrunken head or dogs toy or something like that. I didn’t remember seeing it in the film. However I went ahead and attached it. Other items pointed out in Step 10, that I won’t install until later, is Part 79 which is a can of dog food, Part 78 which is a small bucket that comes with a photo-etched brass handle/bail (the bucket can be seen hanging from roll cage in the movie, see attached photo), Part 98 which is the famous shotgun pistol and Parts 94 and 95 which when assembled make a case of dog food. I plan on not using the plastic version of the box and will instead using the printed paper one. Note – decal number 2 is listed to be used on the plastic dog food box. This is a mistake in the instructions as it should actually be decal number 3. Specific painting details are pointed out with a number designating the correct color to use from the provided painting guide.






















The small bucket that Part 78 represents. Wow, how big of a fan geek am I for knowing that was the bucket and where it went just from the number of times I have watched the movie!!!! Sad but true.......I have no life!!!!

Well faithful followers, that’s it for Step 10.

Thanks,
Randy

looking good randy.

if anyone wants one, get them when you can, apparently the next lot of interceptors due will be the last produced.

Well I was finally able to get some work done on the kit. I am to the point now where I have to jump around to different sections of different steps. I needed to do that to get certain items assembled so that I could get everything painted. So I ended up doing parts of Steps 11, 12 and 14.

There wasn't anything difficult at all with these steps. They mostly consisted of removing the police radio from the sprue and cleaning it up for painting for Step 11, installing the side view mirror and windshield wipers for Step 12 and the assembly of the fuel tanks, jerry cans and addition of the tail end sections of the trunk (boot) spoiler for Step 14. For installing the side view mirror in Step 12 I should mention that there isn't and type of locator marking where the mirror is to be installed. So the modeler will have to do like I did and eyeball it and call it close. Step 12 features photo-etched brass pieces for the windshield wipers. Lacking proper tools for photo-etched brass and also due to failing eye-sight I didn't construct install these and used the styrene wiper assemblies instead. I have included a picture of the brass pieces so that you can see them. If I had tried to construct and use these pieces I am only too afraid to think of what the end result might have looked like!! Everything else went together well and didn't cause any issues other than there are lines to fill and sand where the two fuel tank halves connect. Hopefully the final painted set will look fine. Throughout all three steps specific painting details are pointed out with a number designating the correct color to use from the provided painting guide
























Well I guess that is about all for this post. I will have more to follow soon.

Thank you,
Randy

This is a step that isn't called out in the main instruction sheet. It is a photo-etched brass piece which represents the leather strap door handle on the driver's door of the interceptor. There is only the photo-etched brass piece and not a companion one made of styrene. It is shown on the photo-etched brass instruction sheet and not on the main sheet. Anyway it was a very straight forward step without too much work involved.



A still form the movie "The Road Warrior" showing the leather strap door handle.







That's all folks.
Randy

While waiting for the previous items from the last two posts to dry I decided to go ahead and assemble the extra items that came with the kit. The crowbar, bolt cutters, the small bucket I pointed out in Step 10 and the two cases of Dinki-Di dog food.





The assembly was pretty much straight forward for the items. After assembling the crowbar and the bolt cutters I tried to figure out why they did not include the same items made from styrene. The boxes went together well and I am happy with the final product. I made them to look as though one has been opened and then closed again and the other is still unopened. I only glued down one end of the bucket handle as I want to place it over the roll bar inside of the Interceptor as shown in the movie.

So I guess that is about all for this time.

Thank you,
Randy

Thank you Matt. I appreciate the kind words.

I think that I need to order one or two of these kits to add to the stash. I really hate it when production stops on a kit that I like. Thank you for the news.

Thanks,
Randy

Well after several weeks of delays for one reason or another here are the main components patiently waiting to get masked and then painted.



Thank you,
Randy

It looks really nice, Randy. Have you thought ahead to a base for it?

Coming along nicely, Randy

Great work Randy. The movie is not one of my favourites but your build and blog are fantastic. Can't wait to see the finished model.As asked will this be put into a diorama including Mel's character.I am a late follower but after seeing this I am going to check back daily. Hope all your problems in life and work are sorting themselves out.

Looking very nice indeed Randy, great progress !

Just to make you guys a little jealous, we had a Muscle Car Show here in Melbourne last weekend, and the Mad Max Museum came out to play. Here's a teaser . . . . .





Once I get all of the photos sorted I'll post a link to my Photobucket album, there were quite a few XB Coupes on show, and a few more vehicles from Mad Max as well.

Cheers, D

looking good. i'm just about at the same stage. just a point, the radio wasn't fitted In the roof of the car for the second movie, though it is shown in the instructions.
I am looking at getting some gun blue cream to try and darken the chain with the kit. and also looking for a set of the tasca 1/24 jerry cans to replace the ones in the kit. they are a good shape, but the filler points are crap

Thank you Russ. I hadn't really thought of a base for it. However after you asked I have been thinking of one. It will be kind of contradictory as it will be more from Mad Max and not The Road Warrior. I will have to see how it turns out.




Thank you Russell, I appreciate it.




Thank you Darrell. Not one of your favorite movies.....say it isn't so!!!! I am going to try and build a base for it. Just something simple but I think it will look okay. Not too sure about a figure. Glad you are going to follow along. This is my first build blog and I don't normally build car kits. So this is basically a complete first for me. As far as my life.....it still sucks......but things could always be worse. Tomorrow the sun will rise.




Thank you Damian. I appreciate it.




Totally not fair!!!! Thank you for the pictures. I look forward to seeing the rest of them. I have wanted the Interceptor since I first saw the movie back in the 80s. I read the history of the Interceptor and I couldn't believe that after the second movie it just sat for sale with no interest in it by anyone. If I had known that I would have gone to the expense of buying it and having it shipped here to the states!!!! Several parts of Wyoming look like Broken Hill, Australia. I could have had a lot of fun with it!!!!




Thank you Matt. I am getting pretty close to have the build portion of it completed. I actually got most of the painting done on it yesterday. Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures of it later today. I know the radio wasn't used but I am going to go ahead and place it in the car as I want to use the parts provided so that I can do an honest review of everything. I agree with you about the jerry cans....they aren't very good. But like I mentioned, I want to use the kit parts. After I am finished with this blog I am thinking about going back and correcting a few things to make it correct for The Road Warrior and also removing the side windows like you are doing. Maybe damaging the front end as well...

Thank you again everyone for your interest, observations and information. I really do appreciate any and all feedback. I am pretty close to finishing this project up. Sorry it has drawn out as long as it has.

Randy

great work randy. i'm keeping the radio and some other parts to go on another car, possibly based on a Monaro kit I have

Thank you Matt.




I have decided not to bother with the radio. I thought I should use it so that I could speak of it but I don't see the point as it is really just a spare piece that should be left out of the kit.

I have these pieces that weren't needed as well as the photo-etched windshield wipers. I also going to have the left over decals minus the 3 gauge faces and the dog food can label. The rest won't be used. If you have any interest in any of these items let me know and I can mail them to you. I don't need them and would rather someone get some use out of them.



Thanks,
Randy

Here are a few more in-progress photos. I have most of the painting done and I am getting close to the final assembly and completion of the kit.













Now on to the final painting details and the decals.

Thanks,
Randy

A few more in-progress photos from this morning.







Everything is in place and looking more lived in. The decals were easy too place on the 3 dash gauges. The decal for the can of dog food fits okay but I had it tear in three times while placing it. To me it seemed a little too fragile. However the end result looks nice. The painting instructions for the shotgun pistol are incorrect. They show the forward half of the weapon as all steel and the back half of the weapon, including the breech, as all wood. I don't think I would want to pull the trigger on a weapon where the strongest part is made of wood instead of steel. So I painted it correctly as can be seen in the photo. I repainted the small bucket to look more like it does in the movie. It has a scorched look to the bottom half of it to look as though it was placed over a fire at one time. Another note on the bucket. Due to the height of the kit roll bar the bucket will not hang as shown in the picture from the movie that I posted in a previous post. I didn't notice that the roll bar was incorrect in height until I added the bucket. The actual roll bar was well above the seat and the kit roll bar is barely above the seat. Not a huge deal but still, something I felt should be pointed out. Anyway I guess that is about all for this post. I should have pictures of the completed kit posted later today.

Thanks for looking,
Randy

Well I am going to call this build complete. The final construction went pretty smooth for the most part. I did have to do some trimming of the holes where the running lights on the right and left rear quarters were inserted. Not too much needed to be removed, but some none the less. I also had to trim the front headlight covers to make them fit as well. Again, not too much, but just a little. I used the photo-etched brass pieces on the headlight covers instead of using the decals. After a slight run in with the glue while attaching them I was thinking I should have went with the decals. However, once it is dirtied up with dirt and dust those glue spots and few of the others will be well camouflaged. The body and the chassis went together very nicely and clicked into place without the need of glue. Just a heads up that the rear of the chassis needs to be inserted into the body first for ease of assembly and the body needs to be bowed out slightly on the sides to get it started down over the driver's area of the chassis. The front of the chassis went into place very nicely and there are two clips that hold the two parts together. The dual fuel tank assembly went into place with no problems whatsoever. Once it was in place I added the jerry cans which sit nicely in their assigned areas and then added the spare tire. And that was all there was to the final assembly. So....without any further delay....here are the final pictures with everything finally assembled and ready for the wasteland.









I never did get the seam lines completely filled on the tanks. And now I can see I need to do some more clean up on the jerry cans and repaint them.







Another nice glue "oops" when I installed the spare tire. Glad I have my pastel set to dirty everything up and hide that one as well!!

Other than the few issues I mentioned throughout the build I did enjoy building this kit. I have no hesitation at all to recommend this kit to others as it is a nice kit. I am thinking about getting a couple more for myself. If you are a fan of the movies or just of the car itself you won't be disappointed with this kit. Thank you to Jim Starkweather (STAFF_JIM), Fred Boucher (JPTRR) and Aoshima Models for the kit. Obviously I am not a model car builder and this was something a little different from my normal areas of interest. However I love the movie "The Road Warrior" and so when I was offered this kit to review there was no way I was going to turn it down. So please forgive my less than perfect paint job and my goofs in the construction such as seam lines and poor clean-up of some of the parts. Please also forgive my poor photography skills. I took Man Cave pictures and outdoor natural light pictures and the Man Cave photos won out.

And most importantly....Thank You everyone for your patience while I took my sweet time finishing this up. I apologize for letting my personal issues get in the way of this project. There were several days where I had the will to work on it but could not find the motivation to do anything with it. And of course the longer it sat without anything being done to it the worse I got about not working on it.

I appreciate all of you following along and I really appreciate the kind and positive comments and the helpful information that you provided. You guys are the best!!

I do plan on dirtying up the Interceptor and placing it on a base. When I get that done I will add some final pictures to my blog.

Thank you,
Randy


And so began the journey north to safety to our place in the sun. Among us we found a new leader: The man who came from the sky, the Gyro Captain. And just as Pappagallo had planned, we traveled far beyond the reach of men on machines. The juice, the precious juice, was hidden in the vehicles. As for me, I grew to manhood and in the fullness of time, I became the leader, the Chief of the Great Northern Tribe. And the Road Warrior? That was the last we ever saw of him. He lives now, only in my memories... *


* Closing narrative from the movie "The Road Warrior".