AMT F&F Eclipse build up

Here we go, I know a lot of people are curious so I'll take a stab with a building tour. I'm building this as a race car or some really serious street car. The engine will be modified to look more like, well, an engine. If you're thinking of buying this kit you'll be making good use of your parts box. It has no windshield wipers, gauge decals, suspension springs, or engine accessories (that's right, no alternator, power steering, or any belts for that matter).

First the engine. Let's not all laugh at once. The turbo (not in the pic) is indeed placed "correctly", but it doens't look like a turbo nor does it connect to anything. That, and the exhaust manifold is incorrect being placed behind the engine. In the real car, the exhaust manifold is in front. I will scratchbuild a turbo manifold later. The kit cam covers (not in the pic either) are also wrong because it only has one. How's a DOHC engine have only one cam cover?
http://images3.fotki.com/v37/photos/4/43509/412645/P9230031-vi.jpg

I'll place the exhaust and turbo correctly, but it leaves no room. I made a cut in front of the engine where I want the exhaust to go and put some styrene bracing. Whether or not this looks like the real car, I don't know as I don't have reference. It'll look better than AMT's attempt that's for sure.
http://images3.fotki.com/v36/photos/4/43509/412645/P9230032-vi.jpg
http://images3.fotki.com/v37/photos/4/43509/412645/P9230034-vi.jpg
http://images3.fotki.com/v37/photos/4/43509/412645/P9230033-vi.jpg

Interior mock-up. The kit has no gauges (???) so some painting is in order. The "gauges" on the airbag cover (!) also point the wrong way and it makes the large gauge look like a cupholder. It's Dremel time.
http://images3.fotki.com/v36/photos/4/43509/412645/P9230035-vi.jpg

Most dash detailing is done now. Steering wheel still needs painting. Most of the detail paint on the gauges and buttons were done with a pin dipped in paint. The gauge needles were drawn using the pin method as well. It has blobs at some points but inside a built model nobody will notice much.
http://images3.fotki.com/v37/photos/4/43509/412645/P9250037-vi.jpg

Body is already painted but no pics yet. Interior will have a rollcage and whatever I can throw in it. More later!

I look forward to it as I was able to purchase one but was disappointed when I opened the box. Great progress so far! :smile: :smile:

You handpainted the gauges :eek:. nice.... can't wait to see more .

When I built my AMT kits they too came with no gauges so I scaled some down and printed them.I look forward to seeing more progress.:bigthumb:

When I built my AMT kits they too came with no gauges so I scaled some down and printed them.

Which ones? My 300C came with blank gauges but it included decals at least!

I was attempting the scaled down gauges but my printer is too old. I actually found a graphic for '95 Eclipse aftermarket gauges. I could've asked my friend to print it for me but I thought I'd try just doing them by hand.

The F&F models are made off the real cars. The green Eclipse (in real life) isn't turbocharged. Thus the engine you're building isn't the 4G63 DOHC turbo.

Who does AMT think they are kidding!? :swear: :cya:

Great job 008, can't wait to see more. :thumbsup:

Yeah, i bought this kit, im not happy with it. I'll sell it, i've painted the interior (black), filled in the side door handles (this thing cant take heavy coats) (still needs to be sanded.) It was orgionally dark red, now its dark red with primer.

The F&F models are made off the real cars. The green Eclipse (in real life) isn't turbocharged. Thus the engine you're building isn't the 4G63 DOHC turbo.

I'm not trying to build a 4G63 turbo, or any "real life" engine for that matter, really. The engine AMT is trying to duplicate is this, and they have failed horribly. All I'm trying to do is correct it as best as possible, then add a turbo. The largest mistake is having the exhaust on the wrong side of the engine while hanging the "turbo" on the opposite side.

WOW!!! Thats a lot of detail painting. Keep us posted on how this one goes.

WOW!!! Thats a lot of detail painting. Keep us posted on how this one goes.

No joke...

Your build up looks good considering AMT totally fudged the engine.

does this kit or the supra have nos bottles and racing seats?

The Supra has 2 NOS bottles. I don't know if the Eclipse does. The racing seats that ome with the Supra are weak.

I have this kit to Im pretty happy with it sense the body looks ok the engine isnt to great and yes it comes with a small NOS nitrous bottle Im happy with the kit and im planning on entering it in a contest.

You handpainted the gauges :eek:. nice.... can't wait to see more .

Friggin' awesome!!! Can't wait to see the rest!!

Wow! Great job! I've gotten AMT Corvettes and didn't like them at all! How did you berid yourself of the "cupholders" on the airbag?! You should give a tutorial for detail painting because I suck at it! :biggrin:

this is turning out to be a very nice build up. cant wait to see more of this!!

yes it comes with a small NOS nitrous

didn't the ECLIPSE have 2 HUGE tanks in the back. i mean remember in the movie when he said "i need 1 of the big ones, no you what make it 2"

The F&F models are made off the real cars. The green Eclipse (in real life) isn't turbocharged. Thus the engine you're building isn't the 4G63 DOHC turbo.


Correct motor in the actual movie car is a 420A dodge/chrysler motor.

I saw this kit at Wal-Mart when I went. It was $25 freakin dollars. I decided to save it towards a Tamyia model.

I saw this kit at Wal-Mart when I went. It was $25 freakin dollars. I decided to save it towards a Tamyia model.


wow, thats rediculous. the wal-mart I bought mine in was selling it for $9, so what the hell, worth it at that point.

didn't the ECLIPSE have 2 HUGE tanks in the back. i mean remember in the movie when he said "i need 1 of the big ones, no you what make it 2"


Yah I know I think that kinda sucks,but im lucky that my supra kit broke and I have 2 HUGE bottels of Nitro so I can replace them

Rollcage before and after.
http://images3.fotki.com/v36/photos/4/43509/412645/P9270042-vi.jpg
http://images3.fotki.com/v36/photos/4/43509/412645/PA010044-vi.jpg

V6 with scratchbuilt transaxle on the way. Putty is Milliput 2-part, great stuff for scratchbuilding. Works just like clay, doesn't stink, and hardens in 2 hours. I hope this engine works out and actually fits when it's done.
http://images3.fotki.com/v37/photos/4/43509/412645/PA010043-vi.jpg

wow, thats rediculous. the wal-mart I bought mine in was selling it for $9, so what the hell, worth it at that point.



Dang, I can't believe that there is that much price differece, and its from the same store too.

The interior looks good. Keep us posted on how the build goes.

any work on the body yet?

Any updates on this caR?

errr the eclipse did come out with a 4G63T in it as my mate in australia put an eclipse 4G63T into his hyundai

uhhh, yes they did. I owned a 90 gs eclipse auto with a non turbo 4g63 dohc 4cylinder.

i think theres a lot of confusion that surrounds this kit. ive read a lot of critisum about various detailling, like huge gaffs such as missing roll cages wrong dials ect ect. From what i can tell from the referance material ive gathered the film car (one used in filming) is very different 2 this

http://www.speedoptions.com/articles/1790/logo.jpg

the kits exterior detailing appears to be almost correct, the film car did have all red rear lights no front indicators rear wing doesnt have winglets ect

if i remember the flim correctly the car doesnt feature a roll cage

man Im glad I didnt buy this kit. make it sound like AMT just took a dump and out came this model.

that is gonna be a cool turbo. good job man

Is this done, or at least further along than before?

i look forward to this being done, although the kit (it seems like) sucks

yeah, I'll be building one eventually. just, will be rwd, loosely based on a drag car.

man Im glad I didnt buy this kit. make it sound like AMT just took a dump and out came this model.

hahhahha thats tooo funny, lmao :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Hey guys, thanks for the interest. The glass just plain ticked me off so I threw the kit back in the box for now. I'll get back to it eventually, but I was hoping I would get it done before NNL West in January and it doesn't look like it.

Great work on that car!! after see your work and work slk020 I will start my Revell éclipse

That's cool 008. We've all had models that have done us that in our life before. Heh, before you know it, you'll be working on it again.

Correct motor in the actual movie car is a 420A dodge/chrysler motor.

just a note to clarify on this .. the 420A is not a dodge / chrysler motor ... it is the engine that is for the NA eclipse ...

the dodge verson of the engine has a completly different head .. with the exhaust on the rear .. and intake on the front ... (the shortblock is the same design tho) ...

just a note to clarify on this .. the 420A is not a dodge / chrysler motor ... it is the engine that is for the NA eclipse ...

the dodge verson of the engine has a completly different head .. with the exhaust on the rear .. and intake on the front ... (the shortblock is the same design tho) ...


Hey flea thats why I can go buy all the parts I need for my wifes GS from my local MOPAR dealer... If you would like to play this game come on and jump.....

95-99 Eclipse GS's came with Chrysler manufactured motors and transmissions, true the neon head is ack basswards compared to the Eclipse, but its still the same chrysler motor. Oh yeah and guess what when I ordered her first race motor it was being built by a neon specialist, coincidence I THINK NOT! If you would like to further this argument the block used in the elcipse neon is also the basis for the PT crusier and SRT-4.

the dodge verson of the motor is

D4RE (dual cam)
S4RE (single cam)

the 420A was for the eclipse platform

the 'shortblock' is the only thing alike on the motors .. and even it has some differences...

The bore x stroke of a DOHC neon is 3.44 x 3.27
The bore x stroke of a 420A is 3.23 x 3.68

and the head is completly different ...

yes parts are interchangible .. but it is still two completly different engines ...

as for you buying parts at the mopar dealer .. yeah, since they share platforms and parent companys .. you can do that with any auto manufacture ...

the SRT-4 has a completly different design on its block from the others that share the 2.4 engine ... (still the same overall design for the shortblock but with enough differences to be its own motor ... dont beleive me .. check out the ECU and sensors esp in the crank area)

as for getting a neon specialist to build the engine ... well they know more about that engine style .. and i am guessing you didn't want to do a swap like others did so you went to a reliable source for the engine work nothing wrong with that ...

i jumped, i cleared ... and i am onto the next hurdle .. ;)