Quick Overview: Revell Starsky & Hutch Torino

[DaveM]

Thanks for showing us what's in the box.  I don't buy new Revell kits until I have seen the contents first.  For Months we have been speculating about what might be in the kit.  Now, we get to see what's in the kit...  it's not as bad as we were afraid it was going to be, but it's not as good as it could have been.  This is one of those subjects that would have needed to be an  awesome kit,  for me to buy a bunch.  I like muscle era and older stuff, more than I like the bloatmobiles of the Seventies.  Still, I grew up in this era, and when I started driving in 1981, these were the types of cars we could all afford.  (Or the cars we were able to borrow from our parents.)  I never had a Torino of this era, but I drove my share of Volares, Mavericks, Futuras, Magnums, Cutlasses, New Yorkers, Electras, and other assorted barges and blimps from the same period.  I knew several people who had Torinos, and I have some memories that would be jogged by  having one on my shelf.   Plastic from this era is pretty scarce, which is too bad.  Most annuals are long O.O.P., and reissues have been few and far between.  I tend to build Musclecars and earlier stuff, but I have built a few disco era cruisers.  ('77 Dodge, Monte Carlo Snapper, Johan Olds Cutlass Supremes, a Pacer and I am starting a Gremlin.)  None of the kits from this era can be described as engineering marvels, and they all have some warts and boo boos.  Most, with some extra care, can be assembled into decent shelf models. That, more than anything is why I was kind of excited to see a new tool of a polyester era pavement pounder.   I am surprised at how retro the tooling is on the Torino  kit.  It looks like it would fit right in with the simpler Monogram kits of the day.  I am not sure if this is good or bad. It probably suits the intended market for the kit.  (Which is not anybody on a model car building forum)   I hope Revell still makes more detailed tools (Like the '29 Ford) in the future.   

Someday, I might snag one of these from the bargain bin and build it up just for fun, but It doesn't have the curb appeal to make me run out and buy one at retail.  I'm still trying to find the time to finish my '29 Roadsters!

[Dave Darby]

What the empty spots on the interior tree?

[mike 51]

What the empty spots on the interior tree?

door panels and the hood

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Side panels for the doors.

Big empty space in the top sprue is for the hood, as you might have guessed.

[Danno]

Now that Revell has done the radio and red beacon, does that the Kojak '70s 4dr Regal is not far behind?

 

We could only hope.  By the way, it was a '74 Buick Century.  

 

 

 

[Merkur XR4Ti]

Is this kit actually out in shops yet?

[Brett Barrow]

Is this kit actually out in shops yet?

Revell Preferred Partner (RPP) shops get a limited number 2 weeks ahead of the regular release schedule.  Use this page to find RPP shops near you - http://www2.revell.com/cgi-bin/WRCS57505P.pgm?v=RV2

RPPs usually get stuff around the 20th, everybody else around the first of the next month.  Revell has a very predictable and reliable schedule.   Just remember that when they say "September Release" this is what they mean, it comes the end of the month.  

[Junkman]

Looks like I have to wait.

Apparently the first batch is sold out already, and most who take preorders put in an order stop.

[Luc Janssens]

Looks like I have to wait.

Apparently the first batch is sold out already, and most who take preorders put in an order stop.

Hope Revell Germany adds this one to it's 2016 lineup.

[kingiguana]

Is this kit actually out ? Or are these pre-releases some of You are getting ? I  asked my LHS and he said both his distributor and revell claim its not out yet ? So, what gives. As I'll use this for a slot car drag body, the flaws wont be a deal breaker, as I'll most likely do it as a beater car anyways.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

The kit featured in this thread came from Fundemonium Toys, Hobbies & Games in Rohnert Park, California; and at least one other participant here has gotten it from his LHS.

The difference is whether or not your LHS is a Revell Preferred Partner (the RPP reference I made in post 1).  The RPP shops tend to get the klits earlier as Brett explained before, and "It's not out yet" might just be the company line from the shop, the distributor, or Revell.

[Brett Barrow]

As I said before, RPPs around the 20th, everybody else around the 1st.  Not all shops participate in the RPP. The way it works is you basically have a standing order for all the new kits each month, reissues and new tools, it's a standard package, like 3 of each except bigger, more expensive stuff might be 2 or 1. It's all the new kits out that month - cars, trucks, planes, ships, whatever. You don't get to pick and choose, you get them all. It ships direct to stores  from Revell HQ.  Then they ship the full shipment to their network of distributors and they become available to everybody at whatever quantities they want and they can skip the tanks or ships or whatever they don't want that month. 

TL;DR -RPP means you get a new kits first, but you have to buy all the new kits in fixed quantities in a set package.

[mchalal]

Well I used an unexpected day off (Thanks to the Pope's visit, I live 5 minutes from where he is staying when he gets to Phila) to track one down. Found a hobby shop that had one and picked it up. Put it right on the bench.  I'm certainly not going to rehash the past reviews, but some observations. I like it, not going to do it as a S&H, so I will be dropping the ride height and using AMT lettered tires and Magnum 500's. doing a single carb and somewhat more stock valve covers. 

While the part could is low, They seem to have hit the main parts. I don't see what more they could have done. (separate springs, a battery maybe?)  I cant wait to see it as a NASCAR. I am curious how it will fit over the 1/24th scale NASCAR chassis. its nice that it is 1/25th. a lot of differing views, I personally wanted this one and am glad I got it early.

[Dave Van]

I got mine today. First this...........

 

The following is MY OPINION ONLY.  Does not mean you are wrong or I am right. 

I have wanted a 1974-76 Gran Torino kit since 1974. I love movie and TV cars. I love 70's era NASCAR racers which this kit lends itself to. 

 

SO........

I like it. Now that I can hold it in my hand and see it from the angles I am most familiar with....I think it's better than what comes across in photos only.

It is a difficult car to get correct.......and there are not any manufacture provided data files to use. Given all the constants around this kit  I think they did a good job. Simplified?? A little. But the suspension, downed by some, is pretty well done. The front has fine detail that is complete other than spring detail which I will never miss up inside those control arms! The rear is about the same. Includes shocks. Again no 'spring' detail......but a nice, sturdy assembly that is EASY to alter for ride height if you want.....super easy and still maintain it's sturdy assembly.  

Parts count is a nice compromise between a snap kit and a high detail multi-version glue kit.    

There are a few very minor body issues....most of which will disappear when I convert to a racer.....and even when I build the S&H version or the 'Dude's' four door and maybe a mild stock version........when completed.......I feel I'll be happy with the results. 

So after wanting this car for 40 years.....and a wait of a year after it was to be out......I am happy with it. NOT everyone will be. That's OK.....the Revell 29 Ford has not blown me away like it has some....good for them. And if the long wait has blinded me to it's warts.....I'm all the happier....ignorance is bliss I guess.  And from what I hear from folks in the wholesale biz....it looks like Revell will be happy too. 

THANK YOU Revell for doing this car.  I have 7 of them.....may need more!! I give it a B+......Separate bumper guards and molded in white....an A.

 

Edited September 26, 2015 by Dave Van

[mike 51]

saw 2 of em in paint today (but unassembled)...it was quite striking how much better they looked.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Good show, Dave!

If it works for you, the rest doesn't really matter, does it?

[Dave Van]

Good show, Dave!

If it works for you, the rest doesn't really matter, does it?

Thanks to you for my Torino fix....I was about to go crazy!!!

Edited September 26, 2015 by Dave Van

[Luc Janssens]

Thanks to you for my Torino fix....I was about to go crazy!!!

12 more days....

[Tom Geiger]

 

All in all, it looks pretty good to me, and 90% of buyers probably won't ever notice the proportion and line flaws.

and any product that pleases 90% of the target audience is pretty much a home run!

It just hit me that with all the talk, I haven't seen any build threads nor any finished models. For instance, how does that famous white stripe work out?  It's three part,  how does it hug the body and piece together?  Would that be easy for the casual modelers?   How does the white stripe work over the red body?  And thank God they put decals instead of stickers in the kit!

[spencer1984]

One other comparison I haven't seen here yet...this is what it looks like next to our only previous option for a '74 Torino, the MCW resin body:

[Ace-Garageguy]

LOTS of proportion and line differences between those two ^^.

Definitely both of them got some things right, and some not so good. Revell looks significantly better overall to me.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

The earliest releases of this kit have been out barely a week. It might be a bit soon to expect a full build just yet.

[Dave Van]

I think they got 90% or better......I resized this to the same size as the model.....not very scientific....but shows how close to me!

 

[Danno]

Interesting, Dave.  I think you're right.  At least in that profile shot, the new kit looks better than I thought.

I thought Revell blew the window/roof line . . . just from memory.  But, looking at this pic, and looking at the Revell body, I realize my mind's eye wanted the Revell contour to be wrong.  The MCW body has a smoother, more eye-pleasing contour.  But it's not as right as the new Revell body.  

Interesting how our eyes and our minds massage our perceptions.

[Luc Janssens]

How does that famous white stripe work out?  It's three part,  how does it hug the body and piece together?  Would that be easy for the casual modelers?  

Think, first do the roof part, then the sides