Revell 1968 Chevy Chevelle SS 396...........My take

[MrObsessive]

OK, we've heard the rumors, we've seen the test shots and now this one is FINALLY in our hands! Mine arrived about an hour ago and upstairs it went immediately to my build room and off came the plastic. I usually don't open up models out of the bags ('cept for the body) till I'm ready to build it. It saves a lot of grief as far as lost parts and scratched up glass/chrome.

So............here are some pics I took (Superbird McMonte took some good pics too) along with a description of what we're getting.

From what I can see of the body and comparing it to pics I have on my hard disc, the body lines are pretty much spot on. Chevy fans might pick out a thing or two which might be questionable, but to my eyes Revell did a fantastic job of capturing the new for '68 A-Body and it simply blows AMT's '69 away as far as scale fidelity.

Interesting what they did to the taillight end caps. Could there be a '69 in the works? I'd sure hope so as that seems to be the more preferred model among some. I personally like the '68 a bit better as I like the vent windows------a feature GM got rid of starting with the '69 A body hardtops.

One thing I do see that I know a little something about is the wiper placement. Seems as though if you ordered a base model 300, your wipers were exposed due to the shape of the hood. Malibu's and SS models had the hood shaped that the wipers were more hidden. As we'll see the hood has the correct shape, but Revell chose to mold the wipers on top of the cowl at what would be the be the very base of the windshield.

Not a hard fix at all, but once again it comes to mind if there's a future version we're not aware of and this is a cost cutting move.

NICE chassis! Very good engraving and as we'll see, there's separate frame rails which is a bonus when it comes to painting.

The tree holding the separate frame and exhaust.

Interior bits and pieces on this tree.

Engine parts. Looks like there's just one version of this engine......a 396 with a four speed transmission.

The cowl type hood with nice engraving for the faux vents.

Nice pad printed redlines and on my example here, the redlines are on nice and are concentrically done.

No 'drunken' mishaps with circles that aren't concentric in the least!

Nice chrome tree.......I didn't take this out of the plastic as I want this to stay put when the time comes for me to build this. Anything that can ward off scratches is a major plus.

Clear red taillight lenses with metal pins no doubt for mounting the wheels.

Forgot to take a pic, but there's separate glass for the front and rear and separate vent windows which is a good idea in case there's a '69 coming.

I think this kit (along with the '69 Mustang) will be major sellers for Revell and one can only hope they stay on a roll with accurate, well proportioned kits to keep us lunatic fringers happy!

Thanks for lookin'!

Edited December 22, 2018 by MrObsessive
Had more pics to post with descriptions

[Mr. Muppet]

Pretty nice looking kit.  Thanks for sharing, Bill.

[1972coronet]

Thanks for the photos and text , Bill !  Looks like a homerun for Revell and for its customer base ; it's about time that someone tooled-up an all-new 1968-1972 Chevrolet A-body . I , too , was "perplexed" by the presence of above-cowl-resting-pose wipers (in addition to moulded-on  wipers !) . But , one can hope for a 300 Deluxe when the 1969 follow-up is tooled...

The Mark IV engine looks nice ---I only wish that a TH-400 was included as an option.  Otherwise , it's nice to see a 396  / 427  without an A.I.R. Pump ( this'll be a candidate for the Nickey Camaro that I've got waiting in the rafters ) .

[Mr mopar]

Thanks Bill for the Photo's  , I guess i'll have to get one now !!!

[<profile removed>]

Hey Bill, thanks for the time and effort you put into this!

[Mr mopar]

Bill what's your take on the second set of rims look kinda like Cragar s/s ?

[MrObsessive]

3 minutes ago, Mr mopar said:

Bill what's your take on the second set of rims look kinda like Cragar s/s ?

That's what I was thinking as they were quite common on those back then. If/when I get around to building this, I'd have to build it with those Chevy 'hubcap' mags which I think '68 was the last year for those. With redlines of course! The Rally Wheels are nice, but IMO they're just too common and seem to be everywhere.

[Straightliner59]

Thank you, Bill. Now, I'm going to have to find one, and see how well it mates with their '70 snapper body, and the firewall and cowl I installed in it. Looks promising!

[mikemodeler]

1 hour ago, 1972coronet said:

Thanks for the photos and text , Bill !  Looks like a homerun for Revell and for its customer base ; it's about time that someone tooled-up an all-new 1968-1972 Chevrolet A-body . I , too , was "perplexed" by the presence of above-cowl-resting-pose wipers (in addition to moulded-on  wipers !) . But , one can hope for a 300 Deluxe when the 1969 follow-up is tooled...

The Mark IV engine looks nice ---I only wish that a TH-400 was included as an option.  Otherwise , it's nice to see a 396  / 427  without an A.I.R. Pump ( this'll be a candidate for the Nickey Camaro that I've got waiting in the rafters ) .

I agree and will add that the 70 Monte Carlo would be a good source for a big block'TH-400 combo.

 

Thanks for sharing Bill, now I have to get my butt to my work bench and clean up the pile of WIPs so I can get this one started soon!

[Len Woodruff]

Not to be a naysayer (I have 2 to be delivered on Monday) but the exhaust tips are wrong for the factory car. There were no chrome tips for 68 (I know because I had a 68 SS396 4-speed that I bought new).

But they would be correct for a 69 although a oval shape instead of round.

[Dave Van]

2 minutes ago, Len Woodruff said:

Not to be a naysayer (I have 2 to be delivered on Monday) but the exhaust tips are wrong for the factory car. There were no chrome tips for 68 (I know because I had a 68 SS396 4-speed that I bought new).

But they would be correct for a 69 although a oval shape instead of round.

As a 1/1 owner....you should know.......

The AMT 69 side window shape SEEMS better to me. Is it the AMT is wrong but we have had it forever??? Or is it better?? Or am I just seeing through worn out eyes??? Thx

 

[Ron Hamilton]

I'm quite happy with mine. I didn't get the Mustang today as I am overwhelmed with Ford builds right now. I did order the 69 Mustang for a later purchase.

[MrObsessive]

Here's a dead on side view of the DLO..........

And the new Revell...........

Hmmm.........I dunno but I'd say Revell got that dead on right as far as the window shape.

 

[Snake45]

1 minute ago, Dave Van said:

As a 1/1 owner....you should know.......

The AMT 69 side window shape SEEMS better to me. Is it the AMT is wrong but we have had it forever??? Or is it better?? Or am I just seeing through worn out eyes??? Thx

 

I kinda thought so, too, and maybe even the shape of the rear roofline, but the Revell is darn close, and it's not a deal-killer for me. Maybe when I get mine I can take pics of both bodies together. 

That rear axle w/springs is a new one on me. Might make for some interesting mold cleanup. Looks to be easy assembly, but maybe not so easy to alter the ride height. 

Am I the first person to realize that this kit now makes the Revell Snapper '70 a full-detail kit? All you have to do is cut the hood out. Who'll be the first to do it? 

[Snake45]

3 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

Here's a dead on side view of the DLO..........

And the new Revell...........

Hmmm.........I dunno but I'd say Revell got that dead on right as far as the window shape.

 

Looks like they got the wheel openings darn close to right, too, for a change. If the window opening shape isn't perfect, it's HELLA closer than the old Testor 1/24 diecast, and at least one or two "nice" diecasts I can name. 

[Ron Hamilton]

It looks good to me. And sorry Bill, mine is getting a vinyl roof. A friend of mine had a yellow one with a black vinyl roof and interior that was simply gorgeous.

[Dave Van]

The Revell 68 looks good...I'll get a few....just wondered!!! thx

[hvymtl]

Yup gotta  get a case of these for that chassis and put it under a 71 body to do the 1:1 that my father has 

Oh well now I have to scrap the olds donor LOL

thanks for the look at the kit '

Michael

[martinfan5]

Looks like Revell did a good job on this one, and if I had any sort of interest in this subject I would be very pleased with this kit.  Kudo's or props to them for making the frame railing a separate piece .

Edited December 23, 2018 by martinfan5

[Motor City]

Thanks for the review, Bill.  It looks like another nice model.  The included rally wheels were available on non-SS Malibus through at least 1970.  I used a set from an MPC Corvette kit to replace the wheelcovers on my '68 Impala SS427 convertible kit, so they will make good upgrades to other kits.       

I didn't see any engraved emblems on the fenders or trunk.  Is this another case of Revell substituting decals for emblems?  Are there any photo-etched emblems available in the kit or from the aftermarket?

[MrObsessive]

11 minutes ago, Motor City said:

I didn't see any engraved emblems on the fenders or trunk.  Is this another case of Revell substituting decals for emblems?  Are there any photo-etched emblems available in the kit or from the aftermarket?

I knew I was forgetting something..............the decal sheet! Here it is and yes, the scripts are on it.

I tried to check Model Car Garage's site to see if he makes PE for the AMT '69 for example, but his site is shut down for the holidays. If not, no doubt with the apparent high popularity of this kit they'll be one for it sooner or later.

[Don Sikora II]

Thanks, Bill!

[cruz]

I am getting ten of them now that Bill says is pretty good......

[mk11]

Great review, Bill. Here's the best pic I could currently find of the MCG fret for the Chevelles...

 

 

[br67]

Thanks for the 2 Revell reviews Bill. Just ordered my Chevelle and Mustang but will only get them in January