This 1:8 scale Ghostbusters Ecto-1 partworks build-up model used to be purchased in two ways. In many countries, it was available for purchase directly at local newsagents. But, here in the US and a few other countries, it was only available by signing up for a monthly subscription service via the now-defunct Eaglemoss. Then, in January 2023, Fanhome resumed the subscription service. Everything here is based on the subscription version.
Over the span of almost three years, we are shipped 140 ‘stages’ that contain a few parts of the model along with magazines explaining the build instructions, images, and information about the movies. These are weekly stages, but after the introductory shipment of the first two, they are delivered in groups of four stages about every four weeks (at least here in the USA).
The subscription is perpetual and automatically charges your credit card every month when the stages ship. If necessary, however, the subscription can be suspended or cancelled at any time. This subscription version includes some FREE gifts and some ‘extra cost’ Special Issues along the way, which I will include below.
I created this site to share my own build progress and hopefully offer hints and tips I discovered along the way. It is not intended to be a step-by-step replacement for the instructions, so please read the magazines carefully! Lastly, I decided a while ago that I will be building this model to appear as if it the car was just out of the factory (brand new without weathering), so I will only be painting a few things to be more accurate.
Below are links to the articles for my build:
- Getting Started – If you are new to the model, begin here!
2020
February 2020
- Issue 1
- Stage 1 – Hood, Hood Rims, Front License Plate, Ghostbuster Sticker, Air Inlets
- Issue 2
- Stage 2 – Front Grille/Strips, Strobe Lights, Headlights/Housings/Lenses
March 2020
- Issue 3
- Free Gift #1 – Collector’s Binder
- Stage 3 – Front Bumper, Fog Light Casings/Frames/Lenses
- Stage 4 – Left Front Tire, Hub Cap, Center Cap, Outer/Inner Wheel
- Stage 5 – Bell Housing, Bell Housing Connector/Plate, Gearbox Housings/Connector, Oil Pan
- Stage 6 – Left Engine Block/Cylinder Head/Cover/Support, Dipstick, Left Exhaust Manifold, Ignition Wire Junction
April 2020
- Issue 4
- Free Gift #2 – License Plate
- Stage 7 – Timing Belt Cover, Water Pump, Oil Sump, Engine Top/Cover, Distributor, Intake Manifold, Right Engine Block/Exhaust Manifold
- Stage 8 – Right Cylinder Head/Valve Cover, Ignition Wire Junction/Coil/Spark Plugs, Fuel Pump/Filter, Dipstick, Starter
- Stage 9 – Fast Idle Cam, Fuel Inlet/Pipe, Choke Cap, Carburetor, Air Filter, Air Filter Side/Inlet/Cover/Screw
- Stage 10 – Generator, Generator Supports/Connectors/Pulley, Water Pump Housing, Oil Filter
May 2020
- Issue 5
June 2020
- Special Issue #1 – Proton Packs, Ghost Trap
July 2020
- Issue 6
- Free Gift #3 – Baseball Cap
- Stage 15 – Front Right Suspension/Brake Drum/Tie Rod
- Stage 16 – Stabilizer Bar/Links, Idler Arm, Steering Column/Gear/Case/Base, Pitman Arm, Steering Hoses
- Stage 17 – Right Front Tire, Hub Cap, Center Cap, Outer/Inner Wheel, Brake Hoses
- Stage 18 – Front Chassis/Parts/Skeletons
- Issue 7
- Special Issue #2 – Poster
- Stage 19 – Front Middle Chassis, Oil Pipe Covers
- Stage 20 – Middle Chassis, Oil Pipes/Splitters
- Stage 21 – Middle Chassis Frame, Propeller Shaft/Cover, Slip Yokes, Universal Joints
- Stage 22 – Rear Chassis Frame, Leveling Valve, Battery Box Frame
August 2020
- Issue 8
- Free Gift #4 – T-Shirt
- Stage 23 – Rear Chassis, Rear Fender Liners, Shock Absorbers/Bracket
- Stage 24 – Front Fender Liners, Radiator Front/Rear/Cap/Tank, Overflow Tube
- Stage 25 – Radiator Beam/Struts, Engine Front Walls, Horns/Bases/Brackets, Junction Box/Cover/Cable
- Stage 26 – Control Box/Lid, Battery/Base/Terminals, Oil Reservoir/Cap, Ground Terminal, Battery Cables
September 2020
- Issue 9
- Issue 10
- Issue 11
October 2020
- Issue 12
- Stage 39 – Glove Box, Steering Column Cover, Control Panels
- Stage 40 – Dashboard Upper Panel, Ammeter, Clock, Spotlight Handle, Hydramatic Quadrant
- Stage 41 – Radio Receiver, Instrument Panel/Box, Switches, Dashboard Trim, Radio/Display
- Stage 42 – Gentec Antenna, Fuel Gauge, Battery Indicator, Switch Panel, Emergency Brake Pedal
November 2020
- Issue 13
- Free Gift #5 – Display Base
- Stage 43 – Dashboard Support Walls, Speakers
- Stage 44 – Front Inner Floor, Headlight Dimmer Footswitch, Gas Pedal
- Stage 45 – Speakers, Front Carpets
- Stage 46 – Front Seat Base, Front Seatback Support/Bracket
December 2020
- Issue 14
- Issue 15
2021
January 2021
- Issue 16
- Stage 55 – AN/PRC-41 Radio/Control Panel, H-33 Handset/Cord/Receiver/Diaphragm
- Stage 56 – Jump Seat, Jump Seat Connector/Support/Base/Sponge/Interior
- Stage 57 – Jump Seat Seatback, Jump Seat Seatback Frame/Interior/Sponge
- Stage 58 – Martin Marietta UHF Signal Base, Power Control Unit Sides/Cylinders/Supports
April 2021
- Issue 17
May 2021
- Issue 18
- Stage 63 – Rear Left Component Station, Latitude/Longitude Processors, AN/UNH-6 Sound Reproducer
- Stage 64 – Telefunken SB-329/AR Control Boxes, Control Box, Ferno-Washington Model 22 Gurney Floor Rails
- Stage 65 – PCB, Speaker/Bracket, Chassis Supports, Roof Light Wiring, Sticker
- Stage 66 – LEDs (Headlights, Tail Lights, Ceiling), Door Switches
- Issue 19
June 2021
- Issue 20
- Issue 21
July 2021
- Issue 22
- Stage 79 – Sun Visor Front/Rear/Adjuster/Supports
- Stage 80 – Left Front Door, Rear View Mirror Support, Door Handle, Hinge/Cover, Ghostbuster Logo
- Stage 81 – Left Front Window Frame/Support/Top Cover/Skirting, Quarter Light Window
- Stage 82 – Left Front Window, Left Front Door Trim, Door Side Panels, Lock Base/Bin/Spring, Stickers
- Issue 23
- Stage 83 – Left Front Door Inner Panel, Window Lever, Gears, Window Arm, Crank Handle, Arm Rest, Stickers
- Stage 84 – Left Front Door Inner Skirting/Lock/Catch, Left Rear Door/Handle/Hinge/Hinge Cover
- Stage 85 – Left Rear Door Window/Top Trim, Door Side Panels, Lock Base/Pin/Spring
- Stage 86 – Left Rear Door Window Frame, Window Frame Skirting, Sticker
August 2021
- Issue 24
At this point in the build, it was discovered that the original Right Front Door supplied with Stage 91 is incorrect. A replacement door is expected to arrive with Stage 107. Since then, I have received Stages 91-106, but I am waiting for the new door to continue the build.
In July 2022, Eaglemoss declared bankruptcy and basically disappeared overnight. This left me and many other builders with unfinished models and no sign that we would ever be able to finish them. With Fanhome’s resurrection of this Ecto-1 subscription in 2023, I do plan to finish the model.
The following stages are next to be built…
- Issue 25
- Stage 91 – Right Front Door, Rear View Mirror Support, Door Handle/Hinge/Cover, Ghostbuster Logo
- Stage 92 – Right Front Window Frame/Support/Top Cover/Skirting, Right Quarter Light Window
- Stage 93 – Right Front Window, Right Front Door Top Trim, Door Side Panels, Lock Base/Pin/Spring, Stickers
- Stage 94 – Right Front Door Inner Panel, Window Lever/Vent Crank, Gears, Window Mechanism, Arm Rest, Stickers
- Issue 26
- Stage 95 – Right Front Door Skirting/Lock/Catch, Right Rear Door/Handle/Hinge/Hinge Cover
- Stage 96 – Right Rear Door Window/Top Trim, Door Side Panels, Lock Base/Pin/Spring
- Stage 97 – Right Rear Door Window Frame/Skirting, Sticker
- Stage 98 – Right Rear Door Inner Panel, Gears, Stickers
- Issue 27
- Stage 99 – Gears, Window Lever, Interior Door Handle, Right Rear Door Inner Skirting/Catch/Lock, Switch Cover
- Stage 100 – Right Rear Window Frame/Skirting
- Stage 101 – Window Frame Center Skirting, Right Rear Windows
- Stage 102 – Rear Door, Rear Door Outer Handle/Hinge
- Issue 28
- Stage 103 – Rear Window Frame/Skirting, Rear Door Air Vents
- Stage 104 – Rear Window, Rear Door Lock, Lock Pin/Spring/Base
- Stage 105 – Rear Door Inner Panel/Handle/Panel/Trim, Rear Door Upper Panel, Rear Door Hinge Cover
- Stage 106 – Right Rear Fender/Skirt
- Issue 29
- Stage 107 – Right Rear Fender Crown/Trim, Right Rear Outer Light Housing
- Stage 108 – Right Rear Reflector Cup/Lenses/Housing, Right Rear Outer Light Lens
- Stage 109 – Right Rear Fender Crown Inner, Right Rear Inner Light Housing/Lens, Right Rear Fender Rear Panel/Wheel Cover
- Stage 110 – Left Rear Fender/Skirt
- Issue 30
- Stage 111 – Left Rear Fender Crown/Trim, Left Rear Outer Light Housing
- Stage 112 – Left Rear Reflector Cup/Lenses/Housing, Left Rear Outer Light Lens
- Stage 113 – Left Rear Fender Crown Inner, Left Rear Inner Light Housing/Lens, Left Rear Fender Rear Panel/Wheel Cover, Gas Cap
- Stage 114 – Rear Bumper/License Plate, Left/Right Skirting, Indicator Stalk
- Issue 31
- Stage 115 – Unity 46 Deck Lights/Bases, Windshield Wiper Blades/Arms/Bases
- Stage 116 – Cockpit Ceiling Panel, Sun Visors/Panels/Stalks/Retainers
- Stage 117 – Midland 77-859 CB Radio/Buttons, Microphone/Wire
- Stage 118 – Central Ceiling Panel, Interior Light Bases/Lenses
- Issue 32
- Stage 119 – Rear Ceiling Panel, Partition Wall Rear Panel/Speakers
- Stage 120 – Partition Window, Partition Wall Panels
- Stage 121 – Wing Mirrors, Retaining Brackets, Blue Tubing, Center Cap
- Stage 122 – Kick Plates
- Issue 33
- Stage 123 – Gurney Bed/Upper Frame/Brackets, Grille/Brackets, Casters, Caster Legs
- Stage 124 – Gurney Lower Frame, Wheel Lock Pole Bases, Left Front Leg/Fixing, Wheel/Lock
- Stage 125 – Gurney Left Rear Leg/Fixing, Wheel/Lock, Proton Pack Supports/Brackets
- Stage 126 – Gurney Right Front Leg/Fixing, Wheel/Lock, T-Racks
- Issue 34
- Stage 127 – Gurney Right Rear Leg/Fixing, Wheel/Lock, Proton Pack Supports/Brackets
- Stage 128 – Front Lightbar Base/Supports/Foots/Foot Supports/Rotators/Gears/Gear Covers/Motors, Lubricating Oil
- Stage 129 – Front Lightbar Underside/Separator Panel/Trim/Front Lens/Motor Retainer/LED Covers/Sticker
- Stage 130 – Rear Lightbar Base/Supports/Foots/Foot Supports/Rotators/Gears/Gear Covers/Motors, Lubricating Oil
- Issue 35
- Stage 131 – Lightbar Undersides/Trims/Rear Lens, Separator Panel, Motor Retainer, LED Covers, Wire Retainer
- Stage 132 – Federal C5GB Siren, Whelen HRDF-200 Strobe Light, Federal 19 Propello-Ray, Roof Frames
- Stage 133 – Roof Frames, Marine Radome Antenna/Mast/Decals
- Stage 134 – Roof Panel, T.U. Antenna/Mount/Base, Warning Decals, Pipe
- Issue 36
- Stage 135 – *Roof Fan/Motor/Wire, Roof Control Box/Switches/Tubes
- Stage 136 – *Roof Box Panels, Roof Intake/Cover
- Stage 137 – *Roof Box Bottom/Panels, Blue Tube Strip, Wires
- Stage 138 – *Yellow Storage Cylinders, Pressure Gauges/Covers/Wires
- Issue 37
- Stage 139 – *Heatsinks, Half Dome/Base, Directional Antenna, Green Storage Tube/Mount, Labels
- Stage 140 – *Left/Right Whip Antennae/Bases/Clamps, Blue Tube Holders, Grey Hose, Ladder
* = Exact part names may vary