Ron Hamilton

Don has done some fantastic builds in the past, and this '62 Fury looks like it will be quite good too. I wouldn't want to have that one next to me at a traffic light.

M.A.M.A. is Norm's home club. After all, he founded it. We are truly blessed to have some of the best builders in the country in our club, as well as Norm Veber & Harold Bradford, who are (IMHO) the best resin casters in the business. The meetings are really good when the PA. & VA. club members come down (They are M.A.M.A. members too), as I know most of them, and there are some great builders associated with the clubs there too.

The track on the rear axle is a tad wide too (about 1/16" on each side). I found that out when I started building mine. Everything else seems to be falling together. Any tire wider than the kit tire & wheel combination is going to be a little tight.

I like that one!

What I am building is a model of a car that the guys at the factory did (or could have done) in their "skunkworks" dept. The car is could have possibly been built on the assembly line, as it has all factory parts on it (289/271 engine in a '64 Falcon Sprint), but for some reasons, the bean counters wouldn't let them do it, or it would appeal to a fringe group. Some of the parts either didn't show up on the particular series of car during the year of the car, but offered in the future (within a couple of years)or offered on another model within the division. I'm not telling you what the car I'm building is, but it's going to be something not seen every day, and is built from a rare (old) kit (really). It will be painted in a factory paint combination, using factory upholstery, but not necessarily from the division. (Think of a Ford LTD, with a Lincoln exclusive paint color and leather upholstery). Think of the one-of-one 1968 Z28 convertible the factory boys built for Pete Estes at GM, or one of Henry Ford II's Mustangs. All stock parts(the best factory pieces available), not customized a lot (interior trim/material upgrade, maybe), and possibly could have been done on the assembly line if a customer was crazy enough to pay for it. I'm quite sure someone could have did one at home, or through a dealer with enough of an imagination, or cubic bucks)

The red Modena was done by Don Crone (I hope I spelled his name right), one of the best painters in the club. He's been away for a while, but it looks like he's back with avengence. Did you see that '62 Fury Street Machine he's building? It's NASTY!

I'm going with a big block in mine too.

‘69 Nova SS Revell Kit # 2098 New Tool- 140 Pieces and Decals It seems that there is a market for a model kit of just about any kind of car. Such is the case with Revell’s latest kit, the 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS Coupe. Now up until about a year ago, AMT marketed a similar kit, the 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS, which has been in constant production since the1970's, but not as an original annual kit marketed when the car was new. In this review, I am going to contrast, and compare the two kits. In the mid 1970's AMT issued a kit of the 1971 Pontiac Ventura II. I, among other modelers who purchased the kit wondered why not a Nova instead of the Ventura II? The Nova was a pretty popular car at the time, and it seemed to me that it was always a worthy subject to do a model kit of, since there were kits of the competing cars of the compact segment at the time, such as the Ford Maverick/ Mercury Comet, Plymouth Duster 340/ Dodge Demon 340. Even the AMC Hornet was available in promo form, but there was no Nova in model form since 1965. Well, AMT decided to market a 1971 Pontiac Ventura II instead of the Nova. When I opened the box, I was amazed that the front fenders cowl and rear tail light panel were omitted from the body, much like a real car. I figured that a Nova was forthcoming, and it did come, with a few modifications of the original Ventura II kit, which ironically has not returned to the AMT line as a kit. What we got was a Nova SS, with two basic building versions, a supposedly “Factory Stock†car, and a “Drag Race†version of this car. The biggest complaint concerning this kit from most modelers, was that the front fender unit and cowl were very ill fitting at best, and it took quite a lot of work to make them look right. Jimmy Flintstone resin even went to the trouble of marketing a body with the front fenders and cowl attached properly. There were also a set of decals were marketed by Fred Cady for different variants of this series Chevrolet Nova, such as the 1969 Yenko S/C, the 1970 Yenko Deuce, and the 1971-72 Rally Nova, and Keith Marks does a beautiful set of scripts and pin stripe decals for the kit, as well as the aforementioned sets formally marketed by Fred Cady. Model car garage produced two different photo-etch sets, which made it possible to build a model of just about any variation of a 1968-72 Chevrolet Nova, or Acadian. A Dick Harrell and a Motion Performance stinger hood was available from Drag City Casting , as well as a Chevy 6-cylinder engine from Replicas and Miniatures Company of Maryland, and Perry’s Resin were also available. From time to time, a resin conversion set to do the ‘71 Ventura II like the original kit was available from Tim Powers, and Time Machine Resins does a resin transkit of the 1971 Ventura II, with the fenders attached. With these aftermarket products, we were virtually unlimited in what we could build in this car. Now, let’s fast forward to the present time. I, among other modelers, for one reason or another, who wanted to purchase a 1968-72 Nova model kit for these projects were told that AMT was going to permanently discontinue this kit, due to the molds being worn out, and un-repairable. Fortunately for me, I found a couple of new-old stock kits and snapped them up for the projects. Ironically, a couple of months later, the kit was re-released with new box art, which turned out to be a very limited production run. In the mean time, Revell announced that they were going to market a “brand new tool†of a 1969 Nova SS. With the various modeling “Message Boardsâ€, we were able to see “test shots†from the Chicago Hobby Show and the NNL East, and even a step by step build up of the un-released kit thanks to Bill Coulter and Len Carsner. The feeding frenzy started to build when the preliminary release date of the kit was announced. We waited, and waited, until finally, the kit is here. I was able to get my kit in early July, and this is my impression. In looking over the parts, Revell did a wonderful of engineering this kit. Everything fits well, and it looks to be a pretty good representation of a “Restified†1969 Chevrolet Nova SS, but not a “Factory Stock†automobile. A “Factory Stock†1969 Chevrolet Nova SS can be built from this kit, but only with the addition of a few parts from the old parts box, or the aftermarket. A very nice “Drag Race†or “Street Machine†version can be built from this kit with the optional parts included from the kit. AMT’s kit is similar in scope, but different, in that the optional parts selection for the drag race car represents a 1970's style car. Believe it or not, the AMT car is accurate for a 1970 through 1971 car, but not a 1972 car as depicted on the box. More on that later in the review. Engine: The Revell kit includes a Chevrolet 350-4 Barrel V8 Engine/4-Speed Transmission. The engine is very well done, and will build into a very accurate 350 LT-1 V8, needing only a little wiring, plumbing, and linkages, and proper painting toâ€super detail†it. Nice for a “Restified†car, but not as a “Factory Stock†1969 Chevrolet Nova SS. The reason that this kit is not buildable as a “Factory Stock†car straight from the box, is that the LT-1 version of the Chevrolet 350 engine was not available in the Nova, or any other Chevrolet until the 1970 model year. In 1969, the standard engine in the Nova SS was the L-48 350 V8. To do a correct L-48 “Factory Stock†engine, a set of smooth valve covers, such as the ones from the AMT 1972 Nova SS, and a carburator and air cleaner from the AMT 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. To be a correct “Factory Stock†build, the valve covers should be de-chromed, and the engine assembly should be painted Chevrolet Engine Orange, with a Semi-Gloss Black air cleaner, starter, coil, distributor, alternator bracket, fan and pulleys, a gold anodized carburator and fuel pump, and aluminum fan clutch, alternator and smog pump. The transmission should be a natural steel color, as well as the exhaust manifolds. The “Drag Race†engine option in the Revell kit is a group of high-performance substitutions to the 350 V8 engine, consisting of a high rise manifold with twin 4-barrel carburators and mini air cleaners, a simplified fan belt assembly, along with a nicely rendered set of tubular headers and collectors. In the case of the Chevrolet Nova, the LT-1 engine included in the kit was only available as a C.O.P.O.(Central Office Production Option), not normally seen on a normal Nova SS, but on a specially ordered car such as the “Yenko Deuce†and other “high performanceâ€specially ordered Chevrolet Novas from a dealer, as a R.P.O. (Regular Production Option) on the Corvette, and the standard engine on the 1970 ½ -1973 Camaro Z28, as well as an over the counter “Service†package as a replacement engine for customer/ or dealership installation. The AMT kit includes two engine options. A L-48 350 V8 Engine and Turbo 350 Automatic Transmission for the “Replica Stock†version. This is also an excellent rendition of the Chevrolet V8 engine available in the Nova SS and is very accurate. The only changes I would make to it would be the aforementioned air cleaner and carburator from the AMT 1970 Monte Carlo SS kit, and de-chroming the valve covers. Not as well done as the Revell engine, but pretty nice, as it is one of the few small block/Turbo 350 combinations in scale. The “Drag Race†engine option consists of a complete separate “454 V8" engine and 4-speed transmission. Other items includes finned aluminum valve covers, a tunnel ram high rise manifold with twin 4-barrel carburators and ram tubes, a simplified fan belt assembly, along with a not-so-nicely rendered set of tubular headers and collectors. A ‘70's style drag race engine application if ever there was one. Very good, but sorely needing an update to today’s technology. Interior: The Revell kit’s interior starts with the floorboard, consisting of the front inner fenders, rear seat bulkhead, and rear package shelf on one side, and the chassis detail on the other side. The rear seat, side panels, console, shifter, two-piece bucket seats, dashboard, steering column and steering wheel make up the “Factory Stock†rendition. Most of the parts are very well engraved and represents the real car very well. Decals are supplied for the various gages in the dashboard and the center console. To me, the “scale upholstery†on the front and rear seats are a little on the flat side, in that there is no definition to the pleats, nor is there no texture in the center pleat in each seat. The AMT kit builds from a tub, which incorporates the floorboard, interior sides, rear bulkhead, and package shelf. While there is detail engraved on the side panels, it is faint, and nowhere near as well defined as the Revell kit. As a matter of fact, with the exception of the seat upholstery, all of the engraving is faint, making any detailing difficult at best. There are no decals furnished for the gages. However, the Keith Marks’ decal sheet has most of the markings to bring the assembly out. Ironically, while AMT has seen fit to market this kit as a 1972 car, it is actually a 1971 car, as the bucket seats in the 1972 car were the “High-Backed†style, as found in the Camaro and the Vega. The 1971 Nova was the last one to have to have the “Strato Styled†bucket seats with the separate head restraints. Both kits includes a “drag version of the interior, which is basically a 4-point roll bar, and the removal of the rear seat. The Revell kit includes a separate floor shift with a boot of the builder cares to omit the console, and a complete gage cluster rendered in decal form. Wheels and Tires: The Revell kit includes an excellent set of Rally Wheels, which mounts onto a set of no-named black-wall tires, with no side wall detail for the “stock versionâ€. A set of Center Line “Convo-Pro†wheels, and no-named drag slicks are provided for the “drag version†A set of “Hoosier†decals are furnished for the slicks. Wheel backs with metal pins are furnished to mount the tires onto the front and rear suspensions. Both sets of wheels are well defined, and represent the actual product well. The AMT kit includes an excellent set of Rally Wheels, which mounts onto a set of Good Year “Polysteel†radial black-wall tires, for the “stock versionâ€. A set of no-named 5-spoke wheels, which look like Cragar S/S wheels, and Good Year drag slicks are provided for the “drag versionâ€. Wheel backs with plastic axles are furnished to mount the tires onto the rear axle. Both sets of wheels in this kit are also well defined. Chassis: Both kits have separate exhaust systems and rear axles and springs, as well as pretty well defined floorboards. Revell’s is better defined in most cases, as the separate front suspension unit has good steering linkage detail, and a separate front stabilizer bar. The Revell kit furnishes a rear stabilizer bar, part of the F41 Sport Suspension package from the factory. The AMT kits have very little detail in the front suspension area, and no separate stabilizer bars, front or rear. Both kits have a separate rear axle, separate leaf springs, and shock absorbers for its “stock†version. However, the drag race oriented rear suspensions are in both kits are interpretations of different eras of speed equipment. The AMT kit’s “drag†rear suspension consists of a set of chrome-plated Gabriel “Hi Jacker†air shocks, chrome-plated ladder bars, and a set of 6" shackles, designed to raise the rear end of the car high enough for the massive rear slicks to clear the rear wheel wells. The Revell kit takes a more modern approach to raise the rear of the car, using raising blocks at each spring perch, and a set of slapper type traction bars. It has been brought to this writer’s attention that the fuel tank on the Revell chassis is upside down, as the deep part of the sump is toward the rear of the tank instead of the front. Body: Both of the kit’s bodies are instantly recognizable as a 1968-1972 Chevrolet Nova. The Revell body represents a standard 1969 Nova SS, with all of the emblems and trim of the standard car. The AMT body represents a 1971-72 Nova SS with the Custom Exterior Package lower rocker panel mouldings. Both kits include the Nova SS hood, with a scooped hood as an option, the Revell hood having a 1969 Camaro “Cowl Indiction†styled scoop, and the AMT having a strange looking “Mailbox†type scoop with a front opening. With one minor exception, the Revell body comes off much better than the AMT offering, which is at best a compromise. The Revell body is crisp, the parts fit on it better, is well engraved with sharp details, and just plain looks good with one exception, the wheel openings are the wrong shape. Period. The AMT kit, in spite of its aforementioned ill-fitting front fenders has the correct wheel opening shape. Every other angle of the Revell kit looks spot on the real car, and the parts fit well. The Revell kit includes separate chromed windshield wipers and door handles, even includes an accurate round manual style outside mirror for the left door. The wipers and door handles are moulded in on the AMT body. Both decal sets are well executed, but the Revell kit has better registration, and a better product selection. In my opinion, Revell has a definite winner here. I did some preliminary measurements of my aftermarket parts, and it looks like the Model Car Garage PHOTO ETCH sets for the ‘68/’69, and the ‘70 -‘72 will work if one want to either enhance their build, or change the year. Same goes for the Fred Cady and Keith Marks decal sets. The aftermarket hoods meant for the AMT kit is NOT interchangeable with the Revell kit without modification. Is the wheel well shape issue enough to brand the kit as poorly executed? Not in my opinion. If you are a fan of this car BUY this kit, BUILD this kit, and ENJOY this kit. By the way, if you want to get some information about the Chevrolet Nova, hit this link for some brochures. http://www.classicnovas.net/brochure/index.htm Ron Hamilton

###### skippy! Those look marvelous!

Welcome. I can't wait to see your work, as we like pretty much the same thing. Ron

And now you know why "The new Chrysler Corporation" would NOT put their "Lifetime Warranty" on such a beast. That plan is going to bankrupt them, as well as the $2.99 per gallon gas gimmick. Build a better car with good looks, mileage, performance, and good dealer practices, and they will come.

AMT did the '69 GTX as both a hardtop and a convertible. which should get the parts for the convertible rear seat, side panels, and boot, if you want to do a '69 Road Runner Convertible. The convertible rear seat will not work on a hardtop.

I can help you on this. I have an original set of seats from the JoHan 1969 Road Runner, as I have both an original Johan 1969 Road Runner and GTX in my collection. Here's a suggestion for you, and it should be quite inexpensive if you want a set of correct 1969 Road Runner Bucket seats in your project. Get The AMT '69 GTX Hardtop kit, that builds as the stock version. While the Johan seats are nice, the AMT seats are more accurate in the shape of the seat, and the upholstery pattern is still correct. The Johan seat, while the upholstery pattern is correct, is too boxy. My GTX is an unbuilt original, and I do not want to take the parts off of the sprues until I start construction, while the 1969 Road Runner is in a place of my basement where I cannot get to it at the present time.

With all of the vintage unbuilts in my collection, this is the most expensive kit I own, and worth every penny! I watched Harold did the work researching and creating the master for this kit. The product is what Bill, Bob, & Darin wrote about it, and more. Gordon Holsinger normally does the exquisite buildups for Harold, and the one he did is flat out gorgeous. Gordon is a great modeler, and having this great kit made his work that much easier. I'm sorry that I do not have a picture of Gordon's Finished model, other than the one on Harold's package, which is shown in Darin's photography at the top of this thread.

Beautiful work on both of those.

I'm still waiting for the power windows.

Excellent save on that one!

See Bill? I told you that I could make something out of this one, not to say I have seen others do some decent work with the kit also. The whitewalls are the kit tires, with whitewalls drawn on with my trusty bow compass. I used the same techique when I did the Vogues. The double stripe whitewall was the standard tire used by the big 3 in 1970-71 across the board on bias ply tires above D78-14, unless they were 70 series tires, which recieved the pin stripe whitewalls. I was originally going to do the car with Rallye Wheels and Goodyear Polyglas GT White-Lettered Tires' but the bow compass was sitting there, and one thing led to another. Thanks for the compliments.

Looks great to me.

I told ya it wasn't so bad!

I built this one from the much maligned Revell 1970 AAR cuda kit I reviewed on this forum a few months back. I made a few modifications to the body, such as re-working the "hips" on the quarter panels. I also removed the hood scoop, and added a peak down the center of the hood, as well as removing the indentations in the front fenders where the spoilers mounted, and I added the vinyl roof seams and mouldings. The interior was re-done to replicate one of the Gran Coupe trim packages. The car has: The Gran Coupe Package (Model Car Garage Photoetch Emblems) and re-done interior to replicate the white leather with black trim, Special Paint (1968 Dodge Turquoise Metallic(Testors Lacquer)), 383 4bbl V8 w/ 4-speed trasmission (Revell 1969 Charger/and 1969 Dart GTS), 14" Rallye Wheels (AMT 1969 GTX) on Whitewall Tires (Parts Box with stripes painted on with bow compass), White vinyl roof (Testors Vinyl Roof Lacquer Paint) This build is to represent a well equipped 1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe, ordered by a Miami Dolphins fan. http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg59/Ro...mview=slideshow

I think those builds are so cool. I'm not a big fan of Donks, but love Lowriders. I've been gathering up as many of the Lowrider versions of this kit as I can. I plan to do one as a Hess & Eisenhardt conversion in the next few years.

Magnificant!

This is what we call "separating the men from the boys". Excellent work so far, as usual Luis. I love your work. RH