Let's Build the 1/24 XW Ford Falcon

If you grew up around Aussie muscle cars or have a love for classic Fords, then the XW Ford Falcon probably holds a special place in your heart. Thanks to Diecast Distributors Australia (DDA), we can now build this icon in 1/24 scale.

Here’s a breakdown of my experience building and painting DDA’s XW Falcon kit.

The Build

Having already built both of DDA’s earlier Holden kits, I went into the Falcon build expecting a familiar experience. And while many of the core techniques remain the same—especially the screw-together chassis system—there were a few key differences worth noting.

As always, I started by removing all the parts from the sprues and doing a dry fit. This helped me plan the paint sequence and get a feel for any fitment quirks (spoilers : there were no issues at all!)

One big improvement over the Holden kits is the window assembly. Instead of four separate pieces fitted from the outside, the Falcon’s windows come as a single clear insert that drops into the interior shell. Much cleaner—and less risk of glue fogging up your clear parts. A dab of SMS Extra Thin Cement was all takes to lock it in place.

With the wheels, DDA uses large tabs to seat the rims inside the rubber tyres—great for holding them in place, not so great for painting them. The solution? I trimmed the tabs with nippers, put them into a drill, and sanded them smooth using a coarse sanding stick. This allowed me to pop them in and out of the rubber tires easily throughout the painting process, saving me the hassle of masking them off.

 

Painting the Falcon: Candy Apple Red Perfection

I wanted to stick with a factory colour for this build, and Candy Apple Red from the SMS Auto Colours range was the perfect choice. It’s a rich, deep red that plays beautifully against chrome—especially when paired with the right base coat.

To dial in the perfect tone, I tested three base colours:

White gave a very bright red

Black turned it into a dark maroon

Medium Sea Grey nailed the look I was after

So Medium Sea Grey it was!

 

Spraying & Detailing

Since the kit plastic was in excellent condition, I skipped the primer and laid down the base coats directly.

Body: Medium Sea Grey + Candy Apple Red

Interior & Chassis: SMS Chassis Black (great for simulating black leather)

For chrome parts, I used SMS Chassis Black topped with SMS Super Clear as a high gloss base, followed by SMS HyperChrome Cold Tone sprayed in light, controlled coats. Letting each coat dry with airbrush airflow helped avoid build-up and ensured a mirror-like finish.

 

Decals & Final Touches

The stripe decals along the sides and bonnet went on easily, though their one-piece design took a bit of nudging to sit right. I used Mr. Softener decal solution to set them in place.

Interestingly, the bonnet pin details were printed onto the decal—but they looked flat. So, I turned to Cults3D, grabbed a file, and 3D-printed proper pins. These were glued on and finished with a HyperChrome Marker.

Clear Coating

To finish off the body, I layered up the clear coat in stages:

1. Light tack coat – helps the next layers adhere

2. Medium coat – after half an hour and repeated until I was happy with the gloss level

3. Heavier coat the next day – and repeated as necessary

4. Final heavy coat after a further 24 hours of curing

Between coats, I kept the parts in a sealed plastic container to avoid dust—this little trick makes a big difference in achieving that glass-smooth finish.

Final Assembly & Result

With everything painted and detailed, I brought the build together. I used HyperChrome Markers to touch up the trim and added wire to the bonnet pins, just like the real deal.

And that’s a wrap—the XW Ford Falcon is done and dusted! This kit builds up beautifully with a few thoughtful tweaks, and the end result is a striking tribute to an Aussie icon.

Final Thoughts

DDA has once again delivered a solid, builder-friendly kit with a great mix of detail and flexibility. If you’re into Aussie muscle or just looking for a rewarding build with strong display presence, the XW Falcon is a must.

 

Keep on modelling!

- Scott