Revell ‘29 Model A Roadster

[Richard Bartrop]

1 hour ago, CabDriver said:

I wonder if a roadster pickup might be a variation, further down the road?  Once they’ve done the coupe again, what other Model A variants are there that they could do?

 

There is the okd '29 pickup that's been around since the sixties, and it's still a pretty decent kit.

[Snake45]

8 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said:

There is the okd '29 pickup that's been around since the sixties, and it's still a pretty decent kit.

Yeah. And of course it can be kitbashed with the newer one. 

[Jantrix]

11 hours ago, CabDriver said:

I wonder if a roadster pickup might be a variation, further down the road?  Once they’ve done the coupe again, what other Model A variants are there that they could do?

 

 

1 hour ago, Snake45 said:

Yeah. And of course it can be kitbashed with the newer one. 

Yes very easily. I posted my RPU built with the first version of this roadster, on the third page of this thread. There's things I'd do differently in hindsight, but overall it was not a difficult kitbash. 

[Casey]

13 hours ago, CabDriver said:

I wonder if a roadster pickup might be a variation, further down the road? 

Unless they dumped one or both off on Atlantis, Revell has TWO '29 Ford Roadster pickups already, in 1/25 and 1/24 scale, so I doubt they'll create a third. I don't think any additional variants are necessary, really. I think these two (four if you count the parts cross-mixing) can fulfill most demand for many years to come.

[tim boyd]

15 minutes ago, Casey said:

Unless they dumped one or both off on Atlantis, Revell has TWO '29 Ford Roadster pickups already, in 1/25 and 1/24 scale, so I doubt they'll create a third. I don't think any additional variants are necessary, really. I think these two (four if you count the parts cross-mixing) can fulfill most demand for many years to come.

Personally, I'd like to see a '30/'31 Roadster and a '30/'31 Roadster pickup.   These bodies are different enough from a '28/'29A Roadster to make it a major kitbashing/bodywork project to make accurate replicas from existing kit sources.  (Remember that the Monogram 1/24th '30/'31A is a Cabriolet, which is a significantly different body than a Roadster).  

I'd also like to see a '26/'27 T Turtledeck to be used with the channeled chassis in the '29A Roadster hot rod kit.  

TIM

 

[stavanzer]

I'd Second the '27 T Turtledeck. The '27's are just different enough that Everybody wants them.  I'd really like to see a '31 Phaeton though. You can never have enough Tubs.

[Richard Bartrop]

Of all the things you could do with the new Model A chassis, the version I would like to see most would be a '27 T Roadster.  Go with a track nose and bellypan, so even if they can't do anything about that non traditional rear end, at least people don't have to look at it.

[Casey]

23 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Personally, I'd like to see a '30/'31 Roadster and a '30/'31 Roadster pickup.   These bodies are different enough from a '28/'29A Roadster to make it a major kitbashing/bodywork project to make accurate replicas from existing kit sources.  (Remember that the Monogram 1/24th '30/'31A is a Cabriolet, which is a significantly different body than a Roadster). 

Yes, true, but does the general model buying public know and/or care enough about the differences to make it worthwhile for Revell to invest in such a project? Maybe I'm being cynical and pessimistic, and perhaps you and others have information which I'm not privy to, but I suspect the existing kits are close enough for the vast majority of buyers.

Seeing how much pent up demand there is for the '30 Coupe to return, I doubt Revell needs to do anything but reissue it for the next decade as is.

[Tom Geiger]

50 minutes ago, Casey said:

Yes, true, but does the general model buying public know and/or care enough about the differences to make it worthwhile for Revell to invest in such a project? Maybe I'm being cynical and pessimistic, and perhaps you and others have information which I'm not privy to, but I suspect the existing kits are close enough for the vast majority of buyers.

As a lifelong car guy and model builder I had never looked all that closely at Model A’s and a few years ago I would’ve told you they were all the same.

Then maybe two years ago I got into the old Monogram 1/24 Model A series and that’s when I learned  more about the different models and year differences. I suspect others will do the same. 

Thats part of the fun of this, I get to learn new stuff all the time!

Edited May 15, 2020 by Tom Geiger

[tim boyd]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

Yes, true, but does the general model buying public know and/or care enough about the differences to make it worthwhile for Revell to invest in such a project? Maybe I'm being cynical and pessimistic, and perhaps you and others have information which I'm not privy to, but I suspect the existing kits are close enough for the vast majority of buyers.

Seeing how much pent up demand there is for the '30 Coupe to return, I doubt Revell needs to do anything but reissue it for the next decade as is.

Actually, among the street rod/hot rod kit builders out there, there is enough difference in the real '30A/'31A cars to justify future kit variants. 

But I totally agree with you that getting the the '30A Coupe back on the market first is where the effort should be placed, and it alone should generate sufficient volume to satisfy Revell's new owners for several years before another kit spinoff is developed.  And if/when it is developed, I would bet on the '27Turtledeck and a '27T Roadster pickup as a much higher priority for Revell than additional '30/'31 A variants.   TIM    

[peter31a]

Every time I go by Revell’s booth at a show, I stop and mark down 30/31 Model A closed cab pickup. I have best model parts conversion kit but I would love to have this in a regular plastic kit.

[Snake45]

On 5/14/2020 at 11:05 AM, tim boyd said:

I'd also like to see a '26/'27 T Turtledeck to be used with the channeled chassis in the '29A Roadster hot rod kit.  

TIM

 

I've never liked the '26-'27 roadster body, and have never seen a "good looking" car built on one. 

And then, this morning, I saw one that really caught my eye, in a 2013 Hot Rod Deluxe. If one appears, I'm in! 

[mrm]

I would like to see any of the "long bodies". A '28/'29 and '30/'31 sedans would be great. Also add a full fender version.

Whichever body they decide to go with, please update the rear end with a quick change. 

[OldNYJim]

On 5/15/2020 at 12:11 PM, tim boyd said:

I would bet on the '27Turtledeck and a '27T Roadster pickup as a much higher priority for Revell than additional '30/'31 A variants.   TIM    

Those sound even better than the ideas I had - put me down for at least one of each

The main reason I wondered if there WOULD be future variants of this kit was those extra parts in the kit like the fuel cell and the battery box...they don't make much sense in the current kits because they're hidden when your build is done anyway, so my suspicion was that they might make more sense in a future version at some point....or Revell was just being generous and including a couple of cool extras for everyone's parts box with a spare couple of spots on the sprue.

Either way, I've got two of those kits here and 5 more on order for future builds so you can definitely count me as a fan - and I really hope that these do well enough that the Coupe reissue will be a certainty further down the line.

[stavanzer]

Tim can say more, but from what I know space on a tool is at a premium. Therefore, when the tool was first laid out, somebody on the design team had to fight to get those parts into the tool. Those parts, not something else that was also talked about and planned for. So, Revell planned for and wants those pieces there. For now, they are a great bonus. Someday, they'll be needed for a version of the kit, that was planned into it before the first steel was cut. I hope I live long enough to see what that kit is.

P.S.  For You Hallibrand Rear Axle Fanboys. I get it. NO ROD IS REAL, WITHOUT A QUICK CHANGE!!!  As has been stated before, The Design Brief for this kit was a Modern, Daily Driver Type Rod. While I'm sure it was discussed, the QC rear end was nixed at the highest levels, as it did not fit the "Vision" this kit was aimed at. Revell might (or might not) have plans for a QC in the Future. We will not know until we see one in this kit someday. So Scratch Up your QC, and have fun.

 

[Bernard Kron]

I'm finishing my second project based on the Roadster version of this kit and I thought I'd summarize my impressions. The new variations of the roadster and coupe, with the swapped engines and bonus Halibrand mags in the roadster won't have any impact on my assessment. I also have a '30 coupe which I'll do later this year, and based on my experience so far I suspect I'll handle it the same way.

First off it should be obvious that these are Must-Have Parts Kits for any hot rod builder. Most of the stand-out parts are difficult to find in any other kit, let alone all in one box. Here are the highlights, IMHO.

• Excellent classic hot rod engines - Both the Small Block Chevy (originally in the Coupe but now in the Roadster) and the Nailhead Buick are extremely well detailed and can be used in any hot rod project as well as drag subjects, etc. The top side options of multi-carbs, injection (for the Buick) and GMC blower (SBC) will never be wasted and are top notch in execution.
• Best I-beam dropped front axle setup out there - Finely detailed axle with a generous drop and a strong well-engineered cast-in front spring that stands up well to cutting and shaving for dialing in the stance. The front shock mounts and tubular shocks are unparalleled in any other 1/24-1/25th kit. Somebody should re-pop them. Ditton the beautifully executed split wishbones.
• Nice, useful, well detailed Ford 9" with a well-executed pumpkin.
• Great multiple interior options, including 3 different tuck 'n' roll options between the roadster and coupe, as well as the "rat-rod" style buckets seats and bare interior in the coupe. Also really nice Bell steering wheel.
• Excellent multiple headlight options.
• Excellent wheel and tire options with steelies and Halibrands and superb blackwall big 'n' littles.
• Finely detailed and well proportioned, believable bodies, though really, from a parts kit perspective these and chassis options are the least important items in the box.

My negatives for this kit are pretty much the same as everyone else, and after two projects I've got my modifications drill pretty much worked out. Things I (really) don't like include the mile-high stance, the modern coil spring rear suspension with the huge chromed traction rods which show down under the chassis (ugly!), and the stretched front half of the chassis (to accommodate the big Nailhead I assume) which screws up the proportions from a side view (this last gripe is only an issue if you swap in a smaller motor like a flathead V8). And I'm no fan of the raised real wheel well arches. But as I said my start-up drill for this kit is now dialed in and includes lowering the stance by dropping the front suspension (flip the front cross member and shave the spring) and replacing the entire rear suspension with a proper hot rod transverse leaf rear suspension (usually a '32 or later Ford cross member and spring).

In my opinion the ultimate A-V8 can be built using the front suspension, interior, wheels and tires and windshield from this kit, the AMT '29 Roadster body and a set of Revell 1/25th Deuce rails. I'm delighted the Roadster is once again available and look forward to the upcoming re-release of the coupe.

[mrm]

This is what I think Revell should release based on their '29 kit next. Basically new body and interior with full hoods

 

 

 

Picture is from the Detroit Autorama by Tim Boyd. 

Edited May 24, 2020 by mrm

[OldNYJim]

On 5/20/2020 at 11:13 AM, Bernard Kron said:

But as I said my start-up drill for this kit is now dialed in and includes lowering the stance by dropping the front suspension (flip the front cross member and shave the spring)

Great tip!  Thank you!  I’ll be trying this on the next one I build!

Unrelated, but has anyone else had the alternator bracket broken on their kits right out of the box?  I have 3 here now and they’re all like that - one of them has chrome OVER the splits.  Not the end of the world, but a minor annoyance anyway...

[OldNYJim]

Question that someone might know the answer to - is the Small Block Chevy included in the kit based on a particular era or version at all?

I’d like to do a little research and see what I can do to build these better than just box-stock but there’s SO MANY variants of the SBC it’s hard to know what to use as a reference.  Any ideas on year/version/specific parts that are in the kit?

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Question that someone might know the answer to - is the Small Block Chevy included in the kit based on a particular era or version at all?

I’d like to do a little research and see what I can do to build these better than just box-stock but there’s SO MANY variants of the SBC it’s hard to know what to use as a reference.  Any ideas on year/version/specific parts that are in the kit?

Long story short...in 1/25 scale, pretty much any Chevy smallblock engine can pass for any other Chevy smallblock (with the exception of the first 265s that had no boss cast on the block for an oil filter).

If the block and heads are well rendered, swapping ancillaries like valve covers, intake and exhaust manifolds, and accessories like generators/alternators and AC units, you can period-date a smallblock Chevy engine anywhere you want.

In fact, much the same is true in the real car world. For instance, a 1998 350 can easily pass for a 1962 327, and only the most knowledgeable Chevy engine aficionados will ever spot it.

Find a photo of an engine of the era you want, and swap bits to get the right look to match.

EDIT: the 3-carb, open header setup shown on the box was a popular setup as far back as the late 1950s, and still is today.

Edited May 25, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[OldNYJim]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Long story short...in 1/25 scale, pretty much any Chevy smallblock engine can pass for any other Chevy smallblock (with the exception of the first 265s that had no boss cast on the block for an oil filter).

If the block and heads are well rendered, swapping ancillaries like valve covers, intake and exhaust manifolds, and accessories like generators/alternators and AC units, you can period-date a smallblock Chevy engine anywhere you want.

In fact, much the same is true in the real car world. For instance, a 1998 350 can easily pass for a 1962 327, and only the most knowledgeable Chevy engine aficionados will ever spot it.

Find a photo of an engine of the era you want, and swap bits to get the right look to match.

EDIT: the 3-carb, open header setup shown on the box was a popular setup as far back as the late 1950s, and still is today.

As always, super helpful and knowledgable Bill - thank you!  I’d like to do a more modern take (slightly anyway, in terms of wheels and paint) on this kit but didn’t want to inadvertently do the equivalent of an all-billet street rod with a stock Flathead in ?

I really appreciate the info - thank you so much!  

[Plowboy]

Regardless of how you feel about the Revell '29, it makes a pretty nice little hot rod right out of the box.

Then you can take the leftovers, another '29 body, engine/trans, front end, rearend, wheels/tires and build another hot rod. How many single kits can you do that with?  

 

[alan barton]

Dead right, Tm, Bernard and Plowboy.  Yes it has issues but the quality of the parts far outweighs them. Put it another way, it is easier to fix the issues mentioned than replace all  those parts if they weren't there! I bought six roadsters and two coupes will probably buy one more of each, even at the RRP of $65 here in Australia.( if they get here!)   Have already built two of the roadsters and one of the coupes, have another coupe and roadster and Tudor like the one above on the bench and did a great little kit bashed coupe using the leftovers like Plowboy said and a Jimmy Flintstone 29 coupe body.  Too much fun!

The QC is not a deal breaker to me.  Yes, a Q/C AND a 9 inch would have been awesome but there are Q/Cs out there already but there WASN"T a good coilover rear end.  Go to any rod run and the coilover rears will far outweigh the transverse spring rears. The Q/C in the AMT 25 T is a very easy fit. I wont be showing my finished coupe until it has been published in my magazine column but here is a sneak peak of the rear end conversion.

By the way, love your roadsters, Plowboy!

Cheers

Alan

[Plowboy]

Thanx Alan! The green '29 has the QC from an AMT '41 Woody along with several other parts. 

[OldNYJim]

I was playing with some stuff from my parts box today - looks like the 32 frame from this kit lines up REALLY nicely with the fenders and body etc. from the line of Deuces that Revell did.

I know they SHOULD, if they’re both based on 32 parts of a variation of them, but that’s not always the case.  Opens up some interesting kitbashing opportunities if the frame from the 29 kit will practically slide right under any of the 32 parts!

Of course, the range of 32 kits come with perfectly good frames anyway, but that doesn’t stop me thinking “oh cool!  Haven’t seen anyone do THAT yet!”