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“In this stage, you fit the antenna and front bumper section to your model.”

This is going to be a long stage, so grab a beverage and get ready!

Contents

Parts

Materials: While the Front Right Fender is metal, the Inner Plating is plastic.

Build

Antenna & Base

Step 01

Retrieve your Body Frame assembly from Stage 75. Fit the three posts of the Front Right Fender Plating into the matching holes of the Body Front Frame, as shown:

Since we need to turn the Body Frame upside down to fasten this, I recommend securing this part (and the Hood) with painter’s tape or similar:

Secure the Front Right Fender Plating into place from below with three (3) BP screws:

Step 02

Retrieve your Chassis assembly and disconnect the long Front Right Door Switch (66I marked ‘W’) wire:

Fit the switch of this wire into the matching cavity at the right front door of the Body Frame assembly, as shown:

Fit the Switch Cover over the switch and secure it in place with two (2) EM screws.

Note the notch in the Switch Cover is facing towards the front of the car. This is also your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:

Step 03

Retrieve your Front Right Fender from the previous stage. Slide the tab of the Right Rear View Mirror Base into the slot on top of the Front Right Fender, as shown:

Secure the Right Rear View Mirror Base to the Front Right Fender with one (1) GM screw:

Before installing this Front Right Fender, I wrapped the wires for the Front Right Door Switch around the Body Frame to keep them clear of the fender mounting holes, like this:

Retrieve your Front Right Fender from the previous stage. Fit the four posts of it to the matching holes on the right side of the Body Frame assembly, as shown.

I used the painter’s tape keeping my hood closed to also hold this fender in place:

Secure the rear of the Front Right Fender to the Body Middle Frame with two (2) JM screws…

… and the front of the Front Right Fender to the Body Front Frame with two (2) LM screws:

Step 04

Push the pin of the Antenna into the tiny hole on top of the Antenna Base:

Fit this Antenna assembly up through the round hole in the Front Right Fender:

Secure the Antenna assembly to the Front Right Fender from below with one (1) EM screw:

Step 05

Open the Hood and fit the Front Upper Intake to the matching recess between the windshield and hood openings.

The ends of this Front Upper Intake need to slide under the chrome Fender Platings on either side:

On my model, this required bending the Front Upper Intake up in the middle. But, this caused the screw posts underneath not to line up correctly:

I needed to use my tweezers to slightly push the posts sideways and down into the matching holes of the Body Middle Frame. This allowed it to sit flat:

Secure the Front Upper Intake into place from below with three (3) EP screws:

Step 06

Retrieve your Front Bumper assembly last worked on in Stage 69. Run the headlight wiring between the two tall Body Front Frame posts and the Front Right Fender, as shown:

Fit the Front Bumper assembly to the Front Fenders.

There are two posts on each fender that fit into matching holes in the Left and Right Grille Strips (parts 02D and 02F) of the bumper:

The bumper should sit down flush against the fenders:

Secure the Front Bumper assembly to the shorter posts of the Body Front Frame with two (2) LM screws, one on each side.

Once attached, pull the slack of the headlight wiring through. It should now look like this. You may notice the two sets of tiny silver wires in these photos – these are the wires of the Strobes Mod I was testing out for Model Modz and are not part of the stock model:

Secure the Steel Wires to the Body Front Frame Left and Right with two (2) BP screws, one for each.

These Steel Wires should be fairly straight. If you see a bend in them, just loosen the screws to allow them to straighten up and re-tighten:

From above, secure the Front Body Frame down onto the Right Headlight Base with two (2) GM screws:

Finally, secure the Front Body Frame down onto the Left Headlight Base with two (2) more GM screws:

With that, the front of our Ecto-1 (and this stage) are complete. It is looking great!

Thoughts

Adding the Front Bumper assembly in this stage helped align the front end pieces. I do wish the chrome trims attached to the front of the fenders lined up better. My Hood fits well, but it does rub a bit at the rear sides. Also, when I close it completely, the rear edge likes to stay ‘up’ a small amount. I just push it down and it sits correctly. I believe this is due to the hinge design.

Next Up

Stage 78 – Front Window/Frame