GMC/Chev van kits. I have questions...

[iamsuperdan]

I need some advice/thoughts from the kit experts here.

I know Revell has a Chev cargo van, late 70s era, and it's a stubby van.

However, that one I believe has molded in fender flares.

Has any manufacturer produced a similar kit, but without the flares? Preferably in GMC form?

Ultimately, I need a GMC kit, stubby van, no flares, round headlights. 

I know I could take the DIrty Donny kit and cut it down to fit, or take the Chev kit and shave the flares, just hoping there was a kit that didn't require modification!

Any thoughts?

 

 

[mikemodeler]

Not that I can remember, but if there was, it is probably fairly rare and would be expensive. Most vans were tooled up with the longer wheelbase.

You might be better off starting with the Revell Chevy Van and make the modifications needed. Not sure how well the old A-Team Van grille would fit, but it is a GMC.

[Rob Hall]

No short wheelbase GM van without the flared fenders was kitted.  AMTs vans were all long wheelbase.  The A-Team version of the AMT van had an 1983 or so GMC grille w rectangular headlights. 

[Lordmodelbuilder]

I would start with the latest Revell issue 77 Chevy van or an older Revell Chevy van that had the trailer.

Those kits are basically the old Monogram Chevy van. Street Van, Vanpire, Off Road van, etc.

They are the short wheelbase,but they do all have the fender flares so they would have to be reworked some.

Not sure what vintage of GMC van you are building, but if its a 71-77,the only difference in the grill is the bow tie emblem.

 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Lordmodelbuilder

[MoparWoman Jamie]

The A-Team Van does not have the wheel flares molded in, they are to be glued on when building the van. As for the grill in the kit.. I believe there was two grills in the kit. There is a hobby shop out in town ran by my cousin that has a very big parts only bins of all kind of parts and what not. He probably has the part/s your looking for, not sure if he be willing to look though or help out if asked. I know he surf this forum time to time.

[Rob Hall]

Never said the wheel flares were molded in on the A-Team van, that was in reference to the Revell Chevy van, which is the only short wheelbase GM van kit...

[Lordmodelbuilder]

That is correct. The A-Team GMC does come with the two different grills.

Would be a bit of work to make it into a short wheelbase van as the van has to be shortened in the mid & rear section.

Please let us know what you decide to do.

What year of GMC are you trying to replicate?

[iamsuperdan]

Thanks guys!

Everyone came to the same conclusions I did, so I feel better about that.

I have the A-Team van, but it will be a lot easier to grab the '77 Chev posted above and just shave the flares off. I considered grabbing the AMT Rescue van and shortening it, but not sure I want to do that. As was said, would need to remove sections both in front of and behind the rear wheels. 

Will crack open that A-Team van box and see what the second grille looks like. Has to be round headlights.

Shouldn't be too hard to shave the bowtie off the grille that comes with the 77 Chev kit.

Definitely want to do the 71-77 era, as the 1:1 I'm planning on replicating is that gen. 

 

Thanks everyone!

 

 

[Edsel-Dan]

The second grill in the A-Team kit should be the Classic Chevy grill

I have 2 of the original issue A-Team kit and Both have the Chevy grill as seen in the Rescue

And Dirty Donnie versions, just Not chromed

There were NO chrome plated parts in the A-Team issue I have

No Missing parts, Just the trees Chromed in other releases were Not plated in the A-Team issue

 

[iamsuperdan]

I picked up the 77 Chev van and will be tweaking that one. Shaving the flares and the grille bow tie, stripping the chrome. And some of the leftover parts from my Dirty Donny van should help me finish the look I want.

Definitely not stealing parts from my A-Team van that's in the stash.