Last of the V8 Interceptors…. Aoshima 1/24 Mad Max 2
One of my favorite Moving pictures has been Mad Max 2, The Road Warrior. I saw this one in '81 when it came out, and was bowled over with the nasties, machines, a young Mel Gibson at full tough, and overall atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland. The best part of course was the CAR, a supercharged mean machine our hero, with his companion "Dog", uses for cruising and scavenging in the harsh world of future shock, in continuous search for the "juice", precious gasoline.
Turns out the vehicle was based on the 1974 Ford Falcon GT351, an Australian muscle car. In the original "Mad Max" it was a custom, blown, shining hot rod for pursuit, or "intercepting" the marauding gangs that were taking over. By the time of this 2nd movie, the Interceptor looks quite different. Gas capacity is all important and 2 40 gallon tanks have been installed where once was a trunk lid and rear window. A complete coating of munge and dust make it look more like a Panzer IV than a car. THIS is the state Bill likes it in, a cool machine in need of a weathering exercise.
The model's base is the <a href="https://imodeler.com/tag/124/" class="st_tag internal_tag " rel="tag" title="Click for the 1/24 database at iModeler">1/24</a> scale kit from <a href="https://imodeler.com/tag/aoshima/" class="st_tag internal_tag " rel="tag" title="Click for the Aoshima database at iModeler">Aoshima</a>, recently re-leased, and I spotted it on an IPMS website review. The only way, it turns out, to get it is off E-Bay and I paid too much for it, but I hadda do this. The new release contains a nice photo-etch fret, spare tire and two paper boxes to fold into "Dinki-Di" Dog food cartons, a staple cuisine of the wasteland. Some modifications were made, cutting out the side windows as they are never seen in the film, adding hood scoop screens, a paper headliner, springs and for the gas tank covers, and adding welds and spouts to the jerry cans. The interior features a scratched crowbar, the double barreled sawed-off, the dog's jump seat cover and camo net bed, and his bowl and bone. The whole thing is covered in pigment dust. Outside, the formerly shiny black finish is coated with Aussie outback dirt and dust, sprayed on acrylic gray and Orange Ochre, knocked back with Windex for a patchy look, and well scratched up. The etched windshield wipers are things of beauty, if you have the patience for the tiny parts. I got through it. Of course I tried to mimic how it looks in the few clips in the movie that give us a look at the car standing still. Underneath, are the Booby trap (touch those tanks and...pooohhhhmmm) and machete. A 'Road Warrior" needs a road, eh? One was made up on the usual Micheal's plaque, given some white lines, sand and foliage. A search was made for a "Max" figure, to no avail. No "Dog" either. Liscencing issues I suppose.
I had a BALL with this one, my first real car build since age...12? I kind of liked it in it's shiny stage. Might haveta get myself a 'Vette...or an AMC Javelin? Do they make those?
