1/24 Revell '79 ('81?) Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

[Fat Brian]

1 minute ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Probably a variation, but look - no spats or fender vents. Definitely not a Z28.

Yeah, they've had labeling issues for a long time. Personally, I hope we get the 3n1 kit, it's just odd that the pictures look like a kit that hasn't been seen for over 30 years. 

[Oldcarfan27]

More like 40 years!

[keyser]

CHP decals would be fun. 

[Robberbaron]

On 1/17/2022 at 12:48 PM, Casey said:

A (blurry) image of the forthcoming 1/24 (originally Monogram) 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 reissue:

 

Tires look a bit too chunky/tall, no?

 

21 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

I think I found it!

Revell kit from 1980.

 

The gray build that Casey posted is absolutely the same tooling as the CHiPs kit pictured above.  Should be 1/25.

The same kit was also available with factory style graphics:

I received this version as a X-mas present from my grandparents probably around 1983-ish.

Here's what I recall: tires were hard plastic Goodyear GT Radials.  In the top picture (gray build), the centers of the wheels looks incorrect because the center cap is really the retainer pin that holds the wheels on (each wheel has an open center).  The Monogram Monte SS kit has correct versions (albeIt 1/24 scale).

Kit has an opening hood and a fairly detailed engine (for a snap kit).  Leaf springs/rear axle are separate assembly, I think driveshaft is also molded with it.  I think exhaust is molded into the chassis, but exhaust tips are molded onto the rear bumper to create the illusion of the exhaust being separate.

Headlights and parking lights are all molded into the front bumper/grille assembly.  Likewise, rear lights are molded onto the rear bumper assembly.  No front side markers molded into the body, which always annoyed me whenever I looked at it.  Fairly good looking sport mirrors.

Being objective, Revell put quite a bit of effort into this, and it was above average compared to most snap kits in the early '80s.  However, if this is really what is being released now, I'm not sure how well it will be received by adult modelers in 2022.  Maybe it doesn't matter - it will be the only '81 Z-28 kit available.

I've still got my build packed away somewhere.  I'll have to exhume it and take some pictures (but it won't be pretty, trust me).

[Casey]

Let's keep in mind the blurry image is merely a placeholder for one website, so even if the pictured built model is a 1/25 Revell '81 Z28, we are supposed to be getting the 1/24 Monogram '79 Z28, per James' comments in August when he reported from the IPMS event in Vegas:

"So first up on the 4 kits just added to the Revell German site. The "1981" Camaro is in fact the venerable Monogram 1979 Camaro 3n1 kit, last released in 2011."

 

 

Not sure why Revell-AG removed the images and content they had up a few months ago, but let's just say the web side of Revell has some room for improvement. It would help alleviate much confusion and speculation from interested potential customers.

The 1/24 Monogram isn't terrible, and at least looks like a '79 Z/28 Camaro. Stock version doesn't look half bad, either:

 

[stavanzer]

Alex Kustov did a great article in the Other, now Defunct Magazine and accurizing and fixing up this kit to look better. I believe he even molded in the T-tops. He painted the car silver, and used Keith Marks decals. It was a helpful write-up and is worth hunting down if you want to build this kit.

[Casey]

40 minutes ago, alexis said:

Alex Kustov did a great article in the Other, now Defunct Magazine and accurizing and fixing up this kit to look better. I believe he even molded in the T-tops. He painted the car silver, and used Keith Marks decals. It was a helpful write-up and is worth hunting down if you want to build this kit.

http://italianhorses.net/Gallery/Plastic/RevellZ28/Z28.htm

[stavanzer]

That's wonderful, Casey!

Thank you very much for finding this and posting it.

I hope it helps future builders of this kit.

[Oldcarfan27]

On 1/19/2022 at 7:52 AM, Casey said:

Let's keep in mind the blurry image is merely a placeholder for one website, so even if the pictured built model is a 1/25 Revell '81 Z28, we are supposed to be getting the 1/24 Monogram '79 Z28, per James' comments in August when he reported from the IPMS event in Vegas:

Well, that leaves me out. I've already got too many of the 79 Camaros.

Snap kit or not, I was interested in the 80-81 Camaro. Another go-round of the same 79 is a big bowl of 'meh'. ?

[P51Mustang]

79 z/28, yes...please.

[Young iron]

I dig the Camaro too !

 

If it happens to be rather a toy, maybe resin caster will take the best of it, and offer a Transkit for the 79...

[Daddyfink]

Some CHP decals and voila! The missing CHiP's Camaro! 

 

[gray07]

wasnt there a camao this year called night  prowler, blue with big fender bulges on the side, i cant remember who made it, its been so long since i seen one

[stavanzer]

 

MPC Kit

[mikemodeler]

On 5/10/2022 at 7:09 PM, stavanzer said:

 

MPC Kit

This kit actually builds decent and those tacky looking flares are separate from the body. I have one to build and it will be built stock as I grabbed some decals from Keith Marks

[Jantrix]

On 5/10/2022 at 1:09 PM, stavanzer said:

 

MPC Kit

I'd love to see this one reissued. I know it's all kinds of tacky by todays standards but very likely, so am I. I throw this one on a NASCAR chassis.

[stavanzer]

It is a decent kit, but it suffers from "MPC Fit Issues". 

Needs much massage or "Fettling" as our British friends, say. And the engine intake options have always been weak.

But, I like it.

[stavanzer]

Well, now we know for certain. It is the Revell Snap-Kit with better decals. I still want one.

[StanGlover]

Just picked one of these up from HL today. Decals look beautiful. The plastic tires… not so much. I’m a little disappointed they didn’t provide rubber tires. Some flash but nothing too bad. No warping. It’s definitely a snap kit but the box doesn’t mention that at all. HL has it listed for $34.99 in my area which is frankly way too much for what you get. Luckily this week is 40% off, so I only paid $21 which is what this kit should start at to begin with… Overall it should make a fun quick build/slump buster. 
 

Edited November 2, 2022 by StanGlover
Rotated one image

[Oldcarfan27]

Well the decals alone are worth the $21 cost as some vendors are selling decals like these for the same price. So consider the rest of the kit as a bonus.

[RichCostello]

16 hours ago, StanGlover said:

Just picked one of these up from HL today. Decals look beautiful. The plastic tires… not so much. I’m a little disappointed they didn’t provide rubber tires. Some flash but nothing too bad. No warping. It’s definitely a snap kit but the box doesn’t mention that at all. HL has it listed for $34.99 in my area which is frankly way too much for what you get. Luckily this week is 40% off, so I only paid $21 which is what this kit should start at to begin with… Overall it should make a fun quick build/slump buster. 
 

Yeah, I bought one too. I should have looked a little closer at the box, 37 parts(8 of those are the plastic tires) no chrome, headlights and taillights are decals. It's not worth the price even with 40% off.

[Robberbaron]

8 hours ago, RichCostello said:

Yeah, I bought one too. I should have looked a little closer at the box, 37 parts(8 of those are the plastic tires) no chrome, headlights and taillights are decals. It's not worth the price even with 40% off.

All I can say is read these review threads before purchasing.  Tried warning everyone in January.

I still find it really odd that they're not describing this as a snap kit on the box.  I suspect there will be many more people feeling they got a "bait and switch" with this one.  For what it is, it was a nice, above-average snap kit when it was released in the early '80s for kids. Marketing it forty years later to adults that are used to full detail kits is a questionable move.

Exhibit A is the plastic tires you mentioned.  (One silver lining of this tooling being out of use for forty years:  Revell-Monogram never wiped the Goodyear branding off of them like they did for all of their vinyl tires.  Since these are molded in white, it will be fairly easy to sand/scrape the black paint off to get the white-letter effect.)

Exhibit B is the top half of the "engine" which snaps onto the chassis.  As you can see in Zack's picture above, it resembles a Buick Nailhead more than an SBC.

I will admit the decals look outstanding, which may be the saving grace for this release.  Will be interesting to see the first build of this using those decals.

Something tells me a lot of these decals will end up getting used with the upcoming MPC '81 Camaro reissue.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Robberbaron

[mikemodeler]

I will grab one for the decals and will likely use the rest of the kit to practice some new painting ideas on. If I decide to build it I have plenty of tires to choose from to replace the plastic ones.

[Tabbysdaddy]

I'll be getting one. It won't be the first simple kit in my stash. 

[Hawk312]

I`ll be getting one too. Not too many options if you want to build an `81 Z28. I can get real tires from another kit in the stash. 

Edited November 3, 2022 by Hawk312