LAV25 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I've just started modeling, after a break of something like thirty years (and I'm something like 40 years old), and I was thinking back to some of the last models I built when I was a kid. Not that I was big on patience then, once I discovered superglue I actually enjoyed building cars even more, I could be done in an afternoon. But there was one car that I spent quite a bit of money (for a ten-ish year old) on that my dad and I were going to do right. Until we found out that nothing fit. The lowered suspension was so low that the car didn't rest on the wheels, but on the axles or steering knuckles (it's been a while). The doors didn't close properly, the chrome didn't fit. I'm pretty sure that that was when I lost interest. I was pretty surprised, when I looked it up, to find that it was a Revell kit, since I've just gotten back in, starting with a Revell '65 Chevy Stepside. Things seem to fit much better. Just rambling. -val
Greg Pugh Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 That is so funny....I absolutely HATE that kit. That was my first model ever when I was 8 years old and my dad helped me build it. We had the same problems. I tried to build another one later in my teens, when my skills got better but I could never bring myself to finish it. It just didn't look right. I have one now....but it's a parts car!!
hemi Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 That kit will destroy the dreams of the most patient modeler,as will most of the revell kits from that era,I had them all as a child and teenager so now I buying all the older ones like that so I can do them justice now.I have a hot rod version of the 57 you posted + the 54,55,56.All of them have opening panels but the 54.Thanks for show that version.
Longbox55 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 That's actually one of my absolute favorites! That one and it's '55 and '56 brothers, and all of the other opening everything Revell kits. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment?
dougp Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Yea I hated that kit too. It caused me so many problems during the build I finally lost it and threw it at the wall. Boy did I feel better then...
Greg Pugh Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 That kit will destroy the dreams of the most patient modeler,as will most of the revell kits from that era,I had them all as a child and teenager so now I buying all the older ones like that so I can do them justice now.I have a hot rod version of the 57 you posted + the 54,55,56.All of them have opening panels but the 54.Thanks for show that version. Got any pics of those? I've always wanted to see one put together. I'm currently working on the '54 Sedan Delivery. I don't think it's quite as bad as the '55-'56-'57 as far as difficulty. The other ones I hate from that era....the '41 Willys coupe, the Henry J and the Anglia Gasser just to name a couple.
ChrisPflug Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 The funny thing is I've found myself picking up a few of those old Chevy kits just to have another try I remember getting the late 70's "Lowrider" version of the Revell '57 (molded in a pink-lavender plastic)when it was new
LAV25 Posted February 12, 2011 Author Posted February 12, 2011 Wow, I'm glad it wasn't just me. I was a little worried about posting this, thought that maybe I was just too young and got ticked off too easily. -val
Longbox55 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I just pulled out that exact '56 Chevy kit to tinker with. Is it just me, or does every issue of that kit have a warped body that bows out in the middle?
hemi Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 long box it must be just you,the one I have bows in in the middle.LOL
Longbox55 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Hmm, intersting. Both issues of that kit that I've had, which were produced about 15 or so years abairt for each other, have the same bowed out condition in the body.
Nick Notarangelo Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I did the hot rod 57 version back in the early 90s and didnt have any problem with it that I remember.
brett Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Althoughboth were changed a little all the body stuff is straight out of the box and strangely enough the 56 that I haven't done yet is bowed out in the middle. more pis page 2 and 3 here http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v392/awesome55/tri%20fives/ don't think they are really any worse than the Henry j or possibly the others that I haven't built yet (Anglia etc).
CAL Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 It is an evil kit. I have 2 57s 2 56s 1 55 and 1 Nomad.
Jantrix Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 On the other hand (if there's no warped parts) it does lend itself well to drag car builds. I built one with a full chassis & roll cage (in my photobucket) years ago, that was made that much cooler for all the opening doors & whatnot. If you want to build a prostockin' doorslamin' racin' 55-57 this IS the kit for it.
lordairgtar Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I have the Nomad in my collection waiting to be built. I can remember the 56 being quite tedious with all the separate chrome trim bits. I could never quite master the "gluing without smearing" thing trying to attach them.
Hawk312 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I`ll just add that I remember building that kit in the `80`s....it was the custom version as show in Bluesman`s collection. It was awful. If I remember correctly, it had weird, undersized, skinny two piece tires. I remember building other Revell kits at that time. The f-bodies (Camaro`s and Firebirds) with posable wheels were miserable as well. The struts in the front were always too short and would take some modification for the wheels to actually stay on the car. Now, today`s Revell kits are a completely different story. I just built the `55 and `56 kits, and they are awesome!
torinobradley Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I have some of these in my collection in various stages of being built. The latest is the black '57 done in monochrome metalic graphite black with lime green wheels, tuned port engine with nitrous and all kinds of fuel and brake lines. Last time I picked it up, I repainted the chassis and started trying to assemble this thing. The front fender liners wouldn't go into the body without major modification and being they are painted that lime green metalic from many years ago, they will probably stay off the car. Lots of fit issues to be sure. The last one I did get together was when I was about 16 back in the late 70s. It was the '57 Nomad. It was painted Testors Saphire Blue and was jacked to the sky with the spoke wheels from the '65 Riviera. The rear wheels were widened to fit the real wide radials available at the time and the grill was the buick grill from another '57. Did win 2nd place with it so it must not have been that bad...lol
Joe Handley Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I was pretty surprised, when I looked it up, to find that it was a Revell kit, since I've just gotten back in, starting with a Revell '65 Chevy Stepside. Things seem to fit much better. Just rambling. That '65 stepside is a nice kit and have thought about buying one, Did you buy it in Chicago by chance?
LAV25 Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 That '65 stepside is a nice kit and have thought about buying one, Did you buy it in Chicago by chance? Yes I did, or Chicagoland at least, I was back home about a year ago and got it at a big hobby and craft store on the south side of Rt 38, in Lombard maybe? Strangely enough, I saw the same kit two weeks ago in Kyoto (yup, that Kyoto, in Japan) for twice the price, which, all things considered, isn't horrible. I've been working on it for a week or so, I'm pretty happy, the thread is here -val
LAV25 Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 That '65 stepside is a nice kit and have thought about buying one, Did you buy it in Chicago by chance? Hmm, just twigged to the name Joe, I may have gotten this one at your store. Yup, this is the same LAV25 from the RC sites.
Guest Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I have the '56 Chevy built and it was a pretty bad kit also. Mine was bowed in in the middle and it had the quarter panels warped so badly that I had to glue the trunk in to get it to semi hold it's shape. It was also warped badly around the driver's door area. I should have cut the posts off of the doors and quarter window and made it a hardtop. It might have not looked so bad then. Someday I want to blast it apart and build it exactly like the one I had when I was a kid.
Joe Handley Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Hmm, just twigged to the name Joe, I may have gotten this one at your store. Yup, this is the same LAV25 from the RC sites. You're working way quicker than me, it took me a few days and I had to re-read you first post a second time before I started to connect the dots
jimnohio Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 The funny thing is I've found myself picking up a few of those old Chevy kits just to have another try I remember getting the late 70's "Lowrider" version of the Revell '57 (molded in a pink-lavender plastic)when it was new We just got one of these today. I thought it odd as I don't remember "Lowrider" themed cars from the 70's. Its molded in pink as you say.
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