Since I’ve already built several Moebius model cars, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from this new 1952 Hudson Hornet convertible. Based on Moebius’ popular ’53 Hudson Hornet, the new convertible version is just as enjoyable to build as previous offerings from this company.
Moebius’ latest Hornet is characterized by gorgeous box art, highly detailed instructions, and a well-packaged kit. Most of the parts are spread out over several gray sprues. Clear parts for the windows and marker lights and a nice set of preprinted wide whitewall tires are also provided. The decals are improved from earlier efforts, with the air-cleaner decals showing up much better than they did in the first run of kits. The instructions mention several options as the build goes along, so it’s important to read through them a few times before you start to build to make sure you don’t run into problems later: Things like drilling holes for the hood ornaments or removing the taillight housings are much easier to do before painting the body than after. There are also lots of helpful notes and research information about the full-size cars, including paint recommendations.
Obviously, the main difference between this kit and the earlier Hornet kits is the new convertible body. A new interior boot across the back seat is added, as well as some subtle changes to the interior door panels. Virtually everything else remains the same. There are also a few parts left over from the racing version, and a set of chrome “steelie” wheels to go along with the factory set. The front and rear suspension mount on a separately molded frame and are designed to make sure the completed car sits flat. The interior builds up on a floor pan, with separate inner door panels and bench seats. Although it seems somewhat simple in terms of parts count, everything is beautifully detailed and molded.
The body has a few small mold lines, most noticeably on the front fenders and across the rear trunk. Once the body is prepped, it and the hood, dash, fire wall, and sun visor can all be painted in your color of choice. I used House of Kolor Maltese maroon on the review model. This body doesn’t require quite as much Bare-Metal Foil as the standard version. But be prepared to spend some time foiling — there is a lot of chrome on this car.
My preferred method when attacking these kits is to get all the body panels prepped and painted. Then I paint all the individual parts in their respective colors. Once the metal foiling is done, all the individual parts and subassemblies can be brought together very quickly. The design of the kit and the detailed instructions make assembly go smoothly.
I did have one small issue with the front window, though. It is made to snap into the front window frame, rather than just sit behind it. Without paint or foil, it fits in place perfectly. But once the body edges have been foiled, it is easy to damage the delicate foil when the window is snapped in place. The marriage of the body to the chassis/running gear goes exactly as it should, with the chassis snapping into the body perfectly. The final bits of chrome, such as the bumpers, mirrors, and wipers, can now be added.
All in all, another home run by Moebius. These kits really are a joy to build. They look great, aren’t overly complicated, and fit together perfectly. Even if the subject matter isn’t of interest to you, it’s worth building one just for the fun of it!
A version of this review appeared in the February 2013 FineScale Modeler.