Help with Revell Thunderbolt hood

[Fat Brian]

I've finished the Revell Thunderbolt and the hood is hitting something on the engine and won't close all the way. Everything is box stock and has fit well up to this point. Has anyone had this issue and know what I need to do to get the hood to close that last 1/16"?

[espo]

The first thing I would look at is the Air Cleaner. Even the 1:1s had issues. May have to just shave the bottom of the Air Cleaner and or the Carbs. 

[Plowboy]

Another option is to just leave it loose. Take it off when you want to install the hood. Put it on when you want to take the hood off.

Another issue is the fitment between the breather and induction pipes.

 

[Fat Brian]

4 hours ago, espo said:

The first thing I would look at is the Air Cleaner. Even the 1:1s had issues. May have to just shave the bottom of the Air Cleaner and or the Carbs. 

 

2 hours ago, Plowboy said:

Another option is to just leave it loose. Take it off when you want to install the hood. Put it on when you want to take the hood off.

Another issue is the fitment between the breather and induction pipes.

 

I think it might be one of the intake tubes, I'm going to shave the bottom of the air cleaner and see if it helps.

[gtx6970]

Ive built about 6 of these. And not one do I have hood fit issues

[Brutalform]

Also, check to make sure the ends of the tubes fit into the holes in the radiator support wall flush. 

[Fat Brian]

Thanks guys, I got it figured out. I had initially not gotten the interior up into the body far enough so when I put the chassis in the drivers side didn't sit correctly. In fixing that evidently the engine popped up a bit so when I fitted the intake tubes they sat too high and interfered with the hood. All fixed now, this is the first one of these I've done so I didn't want to chase my tail if this was a common thing.

[Brutalform]

After building 14 TBolts, everyone of them I had to fiddle with the interior tub in order to get the floor level with the rocker panels, and the door panels to match the doors properly. So it is pretty common.  I add a piece of tape to the underside of the package tray in order to stick it to the underside of the trunk. And I leave it there. I never glue the tub in with the tape holding it. That way I can move it to get it all set right. After 14 builds, I must admit this still rears it’s head. Glad to hear it worked out for you. Post some pics when it’s all done. 

[Fat Brian]

12 hours ago, Brutalform said:

After building 14 TBolts, everyone of them I had to fiddle with the interior tub in order to get the floor level with the rocker panels, and the door panels to match the doors properly. So it is pretty common.  I add a piece of tape to the underside of the package tray in order to stick it to the underside of the trunk. And I leave it there. I never glue the tub in with the tape holding it. That way I can move it to get it all set right. After 14 builds, I must admit this still rears it’s head. Glad to hear it worked out for you. Post some pics when it’s all done. 

I didn't realize the interior tub fit so poorly until it was already painted but I had to sand the outside edges of the tub down where the door panel meets the window opening to get it to fit. I didn't get it enough the first time leading to the chassis not sitting deep enough in the body and all that fun.

[Brutalform]

I’ve never had to sand it, but it did take some coaxing into place. It’s really easy to build a lop sided Thunderbolt. The floor pan will sit below the rocker panels, and when you look in the windshield, the tub will be really crooked. The very first one I ever built, I glued the tub in place, and I never glued another one after that one. 
 

It’s one of my favorite kits to build, and I’m not In no way, knocking it. I still have a couple more planned, with the Reynolds car, and Atwater car. Actually I was working in the Atwater car, and I need to get another body, so it’s on hold. 
 

[Brutalform]

On 4/26/2020 at 3:08 PM, Plowboy said:

Another option is to just leave it loose. Take it off when you want to install the hood. Put it on when you want to take the hood off.

Another issue is the fitment between the breather and induction pipes.

 

Roger, this is still one of the nicest builds around. 

[Fat Brian]

1 hour ago, Brutalform said:

I’ve never had to sand it, but it did take some coaxing into place. It’s really easy to build a lop sided Thunderbolt. The floor pan will sit below the rocker panels, and when you look in the windshield, the tub will be really crooked. The very first one I ever built, I glued the tub in place, and I never glued another one after that one. 
 

It’s one of my favorite kits to build, and I’m not In no way, knocking it. I still have a couple more planned, with the Reynolds car, and Atwater car. Actually I was working in the Atwater car, and I need to get another body, so it’s on hold. 
 

It's a great kit and all in all an easy build, that's why I was surprised when I got to a snag that far into it. I'm going to build at least one more, probably a 289 hipo road race version.