Anyone built the repop Revell now Atlantis 57 Cadillac hardtop ?

Dave G. · June 17, 2022

I don't care about tons of detail etc but how bad do those body side panels actually fit ? My very serious lady friend ( probably gonna end up marrying her) believe it or not wants a "first build" pink 1950's era Caddy hardtop to build and I don't know of any other from 53-57. I'll buy the kit for her if it's not outrageously terrible to fit. And of course help her with it.

I barely remember this kit in Revell that I did myself decades ago.

Dpate · June 17, 2022

2 hours ago, Dave G. said:

I don't care about tons of detail etc but how bad do those body side panels actually fit ? My very serious lady friend ( probably gonna end up marrying her) believe it or not wants a "first build" pink 1950's era Caddy hardtop to build and I don't know of any other from 53-57. I'll buy the kit for her if it's not outrageously terrible to fit. And of course help her with it.

I barely remember this kit in Revell that I did myself decades ago.

Don't know about that one but i can tell you DON'T BUY the 57 chevy bel air that just brought out recently. It's the worst excuse of a kit I've ever seen lol they should be ashamed of even releasing it. I'll never buy anything else from them even if it is a re release.

Classicgas · June 17, 2022

15 minutes ago, Dpate said:

Don't know about that one but i can tell you DON'T BUY the 57 chevy bel air that just brought out recently. It's the worst excuse of a kit I've ever seen lol they should be ashamed of even releasing it. I'll never buy anything else from them even if it is a re release.

Here we go again. That Chevy is a very old tool. There is no comparison to modern revell kits. And for what it's worth, with patience and tlc, that kit can be done quite nicely. No one seems to want anything but shake and bake. Might as well just buy a diecast if you don't want to invest a little time into building a miniature.

StevenGuthmiller · June 17, 2022

57 minutes ago, Classicgas said:

Here we go again. That Chevy is a very old tool. There is no comparison to modern revell kits. And for what it's worth, with patience and tlc, that kit can be done quite nicely. No one seems to want anything but shake and bake. Might as well just buy a diecast if you don't want to invest a little time into building a miniature.

Been saying exactly that for a very long time.

But it almost always devolves into “a garbage kit”, versus “a poor modeler” argument which never accomplishes much.

Steve

Dave G. · June 17, 2022

I know this Caddy isn't the greatest kit going, don't think it was in Revell either but the chrome and interior are supposed to be decent and if the body glues up half well and some primer paint will make it presentable then it could be a go.. I know it Has plastic wheels and tires said to paint up pretty decently actually. My concern really is the body panel fit on each side.

Dave G. · June 17, 2022

4 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Been saying exactly that for a very long time.

But it almost always devolves into “a garbage kit”, versus “a poor modeler” argument which never accomplishes much.

Steve

True enough and I'm trying to avoid that to get to the info on what it might take to get that body presenting decently. This will be a first time kit for her but I will be there to assist. I don't want a 200 pc kit for her first model and thought this might fit her pink Caddy niche as a first time build. I know I did this one as a kid but so long ago I really don't recall a lot about it. And I doubt she will care about the engine compartment so any loss of detail there won't matter.

I suppose I could just order one and see for myself, if it looks like too much build it myself for nostalgia purposes. But it wouldn't be pink lol. By the way, she already has a pre built die cast 53 pink caddy !

stitchdup · June 17, 2022

bbowser · June 17, 2022

I would look for the Arii '58 Cadillac for a first time project. One piece body, low parts count. They're a bit pricey on ebay but I think I've seen both a hardtop and convertible.

MrObsessive · June 17, 2022

This is my own personal solution to the forever inaccurate Revell 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. I came across this super excellent file on a site called Animium.com, where you pay for certain "level" 3D files and you're allowed so many downloads per month. I don't know who the creator of this file was, but I will say they have certainly done their homework as this is THE MOST accurate version of this car I've yet to see in any scale.

Now granted, quite a bit will need to be done to the files to make them printable, as this as I have it now is in a .obj format. I don't know when this will be first a digital WIP, and then a physical one. A number of projects in mind have priority, but this is definitely in the lineup.

MrObsessive · June 17, 2022

26 minutes ago, Dave G. said:

True enough and I'm trying to avoid that to get to the info on what it might take to get that body presenting decently. This will be a first time kit for her but I will be there to assist. I don't want a 200 pc kit for her first model and thought this might fit her pink Caddy niche as a first time build. I know I did this one as a kid but so long ago I really don't recall a lot about it. And I doubt she will care about the engine compartment so any loss of detail there won't matter.

I suppose I could just order one and see for myself, if it looks like too much build it myself for nostalgia purposes. But it wouldn't be pink lol. By the way, she already has a pre built die cast 53 pink caddy !

Somewhere on this forum, there was someone who did build a rather nice version of this car despite all its foibles. I don't remember the builder's name, but it was not bad at all.

I tried to attempt to correct and build this one many years ago, but after the third time when the body broke, it went into the "forever never finished" pile. It can be built, it just takes more time and patience than a newer kit. I personally can't get past the car's very inaccurate body shape.

Dave G. · June 17, 2022

9 minutes ago, bbowser said:

I would look for the Arii '58 Cadillac for a first time project. One piece body, low parts count. They're a bit pricey on ebay but I think I've seen both a hardtop and convertible.

She says she would do a 58, that would be fine since it's her birth year lol.

Ace-Garageguy · June 17, 2022

EDIT: I have two of 'em. I'll be using them as bases for fairly radical customs, as I can't get past the wonky lines and proportions of the model as it comes. That said, the multi-piece body doesn't bother me at all.

Try the threads below for what you can actually expect with effort as opposed to whining.

The proportions and lines are weird (though some folks can't see anything wrong), it's an old kit dating back to the late 1950s, but it can become a nice model.

Here's the history of the thing, for anyone who's interested. https://hotrodbunny.com/the-history-of-the-revell-57-cadillac-eldorado-brougham-model-kit/

Edited June 17, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

Ace-Garageguy · June 17, 2022

Build thread...

Dpate · June 18, 2022

2 hours ago, Classicgas said:

Here we go again. That Chevy is a very old tool. There is no comparison to modern revell kits. And for what it's worth, with patience and tlc, that kit can be done quite nicely. No one seems to want anything but shake and bake. Might as well just buy a diecast if you don't want to invest a little time into building a miniature.

I don't mind little work here and there, and for what i paid for the kit it should of been much better molding than what i got old or not. The worst flash I've ever seen on a kit so far, dents in the body, even the hood had major gaps etc etc. It's not worth the effort when there are better versions of the same model lol. I'll use the kit for testing paint on and etc. Also saying saying "invest a little time" is a understatement lol. I'm just not going to torture myself like that and if that doesn't make me a skilled modeler than so be it. I rather invest my time in other skills in the hobby than waste my limited time on a box full of badly molded plastic that they even had the audacity to release.

Ace-Garageguy · June 18, 2022

Edited June 18, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

bisc63 · June 18, 2022

6 hours ago, Dave G. said:

wants a "first build" pink 1950's era Caddy hardtop to build

Unless she wants her FIRST build to be her LAST build, don't tackle this one. It can be done, it's just not "first build" friendly. Is she firm on the 53-57 dates? The Monogram/Revell '59 Cadillac is a beautiful kit, detailed nicely, modern tooling, and one version even comes with the body molded in pink, and chassis parts are molded in a nearly black metallic looking plastic.

bobthehobbyguy · June 18, 2022

15 minutes ago, bisc63 said:

Unless she wants her FIRST build to be her LAST build, don't tackle this one. It can be done, it's just not "first build" friendly. Is she firm on the 53-57 dates? The Monogram/Revell '59 Cadillac is a beautiful kit, detailed nicely, modern tooling, and one version even comes with the body molded in pink, and chassis parts are molded in a nearly black metallic looking plastic.

I concur. It is simply not the kit to choose as a first kit. Due to limitations in molding technology the body was made in sections. It will definitely take some finessing to build.

I think the m8nogram 59 is a good choice also.

Dave G. · June 18, 2022

Don't know on the 59, she accepts the 58 idea but I went on Ebay and the only 58 hardtop I saw was $63. Convertibles were more $30ish. I'll find a 59 photo and run that by her today. Monogram is at least solid and familiar territory for me.

As to her heart, originally it was set on 53-55 but found the lines of the 57 nice, to which I agree myself even. Would accept the 58 mentioned within the thread here. 59 is really moving on, not sure on that one but we shall see.. One thing is true from a few videos I watched, that Monogram 59 builds up really nice.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Dave G.

Can-Con · June 18, 2022

Apparently Atlantis Models has also re-released this 1/32 kit too. I see it listed at several on line vendors. I've never had one so I can't say as to the quality but I do think it's another multi-piece body kit.

There's also this Gunze kit in 1/32. Harder to find but it has a 1-peice body and better proportions then the larger Revell/Atlantis kit. I've had their '59 Caddy and these kits are pretty easy to assemble and look good finished.

StevenGuthmiller · June 18, 2022

5 hours ago, Dave G. said:

she accepts the 58 idea but I went on Ebay and the only 58 hardtop I saw was $63. Convertibles were more $30ish. I'll find a 59 photo and run that by her today.

Don't get hung up on the hardtop vs. convertible thing on this kit.

They are the exact same kit with either a separate up soft top, or a separate hard top, neither of which look good proportionally.

Your best bet with this kit is to build the convertible with the top down.

That said, this would be an excellent starter kit!

It's fairly well detailed without being fiddly, it's a little larger at closer to 1/24th scale, and the engineering seems to be pretty good as far as parts fit.

It has a few nice details, such as separate chrome windshield and vent window frames, separate chrome fin moldings, and real springs for the suspension.

It's actually a pretty nice kit.

Steve

Dave G. · June 18, 2022

2 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Apparently Atlantis Models has also re-released this 1/32 kit too. I see it listed at several on line vendors. I've never had one so I can't say as to the quality but I do think it's another multi-piece body kit.

There's also this Gunze kit in 1/32. Harder to find but it has a 1-peice body and better proportions then the larger Revell/Atlantis kit. I've had their '59 Caddy and these kits are pretty easy to assemble and look good finished.

Hmmm, 1/32 might be a good starting point for her. That's the scale I first started building in back around 1957- 1959 or so. Looks good !

Dave G. · June 18, 2022

20 hours ago, bbowser said:

I would look for the Arii '58 Cadillac for a first time project. One piece body, low parts count. They're a bit pricey on ebay but I think I've seen both a hardtop and convertible.

Nice looking kit. So we have options !

stitchdup · June 18, 2022

I'd go for the arai 58 convertible if it was me. I've built the hardtop and the roof was a couple of mm too short and didn't fit the screen rail. Its also available in imai boxings as well as a few others. I think italeri or heller had it out within the last few years so that version might be cheaper than the japanese boxings

StevenGuthmiller · June 18, 2022

1 hour ago, stitchdup said:

I'd go for the arai 58 convertible if it was me. I've built the hardtop and the roof was a couple of mm too short and didn't fit the screen rail. Its also available in imai boxings as well as a few others. I think italeri or heller had it out within the last few years so that version might be cheaper than the japanese boxings

The more I look at this kit, the more I wonder why I never finished mine.

Very nicely detailed kit with such features as a quite nicely detailed engine with separate parts such as valley pan and air conditioning compressor.

A very nicely detailed chassis with a multi piece steerable front suspension with real springs, well detailed rear suspension, (also with real springs) separate exhaust, and 3 piece radiator assembly with shroud and air conditioning parts.

The interior has a bench seat with separate rear seat back with chrome speaker grille, separate door panels, separate power window panels and door handles, and a 3 piece steering wheel/column assembly.

The body has clear lenses for the head lights and back up lights, hood front molding and hinges, separate fin and rocker panel moldings, sun visors, chrome windshield and vent window frames, as well as separate wipers, door handles, bumper bullet cones, clear parking light lenses, and a 2 piece mirror.

All in all, a very nicely detailed model!