Kit varieties and heirachy

[MILD]

I understand the title may be a little confusing so let me elaborate.

My first kit was a Revell California Wheels Impala, my second kit the Revell Special Edition Black Widow. Both are level two kits, however just looking at the sprues I think that the Black Widow is going to go together with much less fuss largely just through better designed components.

Is this simply a matter of the later tooling of the Black Widow kit or is there some kind of heirachy within the Revell lines. If so how does it sit with the various Street Burners, California Wheels etc types of kits.

I'm curious as to why there are so many different lines but am sure someone here will be able to explain it.

Thanks guys.

[highway]

Well, Mick, I don't know the reason for all the different lines, but I'd be willing to guess it probably goes no deeper than marketing. That's just like those horrible "Donks" editions, and one in particular I remember seeing from that horrid line, the Buick Grand National. Even though I never bought the "Donks" version, as I would NEVER have those idiotic wheels in anything or anywhere near my collection, I would say it is a safe bet that kit is identical to the newly issued Grand National with the Monogram trademark and "Monogram Muscle" on the box, with the exception of not having the horrid "Donks" modification parts.

As for the Black Widow kit, I don't know how new the tooling is for it or if it's even a brand new tool, but again the "Special Edition" branding on the box really doesn't mean much in my opinion. I have found with the 09 Challenger kit, though, being a complete brand new tool, it has some very nice, and tight, fit tollerances and does go together very nicely, at least what I have completed on it so far. On the other hand, I also have the 70 Mach 1 Mustang and the 64 Fairlane "Special Edition" branded kits and have seen that the newly tooled parts in those kits look much better than the nearly 25 year old kits they are based from. That's clearly apparent, in my opinion, if you compared the newly tooled parts in the Mach 1 kit, the frame is even stamped with the 1981 copyright date from the original release, but the Mach 1 parts are new tools. The new interior tub has separate door panels that it's 30 year old counterpart does not, as well as much better engraving. The same is true with the new 351 Cleveland engine, with the biggest thing other than better detail being the separate oil pan compared to the 302's split down the middle pan.

In my honest opinion, I feel that the "Streetburners", "Californa Wheels", and "Special Edition" branding is just like I said, for marketing. When it comes down to the buildability of the kit, no matter the branding, if it is one that has been through the molds a dozen or more times and had issues in previous versions, you'll more than likely to have the same problems in the newer issued kits. The more modern toolings, whether fresh new tools or even tools from the mid to late 90s, will tend to go together with less issues and probably have much tighter fits between the parts as well.

[charlie8575]

The Black Widow was substantially-new tooling last year, mostly the chassis carried over from their very nice '55 Bel Air Sport Coupe, and the just-released 1957 Bel-Air 2-door sedan is based on the Black Widow tooling, with a new body and I believe interior to correctly replicate the Bel Air seat pattern.

Beyond that, I get as lost as everyone else.

Charlie Larkin

[MILD]

Thank you very much for the taking the time to reply, Matthew. I had an inkling it was simply marketing with maybe a couple of different bits thrown in to fit the theme whether that be Street Burner, being street / strip racers, or California Wheels being cruisers.

Thanks again.

[highway]

Thank you very much for the taking the time to reply, Matthew. I had an inkling it was simply marketing with maybe a couple of different bits thrown in to fit the theme whether that be Street Burner, being street / strip racers, or California Wheels being cruisers.

Thanks again.

You're welcome, Mick.