Rick Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/rdworniczek/_57.jpg Am I the first to open this kit? Definitely a new tool kit, with a parts count and similar detail to the great Tamiya '66 bug kit. I don't think it's a '68.The body looks like a '67, while the engine is at least a '71 because of the oil cooler set up and dual port intake manifold. The interior has an inaccuracy with a panel between the back seat and back window that was never there, and I believe the dash was supposed to be padded like a '69. Otherwise everything looks great! Waiting for the convertible kit to be released, so maybe I can combine the two to make a '69 like the two I had back in the day. Other than the inaccuracies listed, looks like it'll build into a great model! Thank You Revell! Rick
FASTBACK340 Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 From what I've seen, that doesn't look like a `68 to me either. There's subtle differences in the engine covers shapes as there's up to `66, `67 is a one-year only, then `68 & up. This appears to have the `67 deck lid & european bumpers, pre-65 front fender turn signals, and who knows what else mixed in. I know.... I'm being too critical. What I'd like is a good look at it. Could you post some pictures of the body? I used to eat, sleep, breathe these things 30 years ago....
FASTBACK340 Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 Pictures of the door handles too. `67 was a one-year only too for doors. I built a `67 Cal Look back in the 80's....
Foxer Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 I've been really interested to see these two kits as it seems with both an American '68 or '69 could be built! I believe the one shown here must be the German '68 with those bumpers. The other kit released does have American '68 bumpers, at least on the box photo. We have a few VW experts on the forum and I'm hoping they will go through the parts for us.
niteowl7710 Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 Keep in mind guys it's just a re-box of the Revell of Germany kit that was in the works before Hobbico purchased them. So like so many older cars Revell U.S. have made with funky option set-ups, non-stock engine parts, and other things that weren't quite prototypical it's quite possible the car that Revell AG measured looks exactly like this hodge-podge of parts from various model years.
Rob Hall Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/rdworniczek/_57.jpg Am I the first to open this kit? Definitely a new tool kit, with a parts count and similar detail to the great Tamiya '66 bug kit. I don't think it's a '68.The body looks like a '67, while the engine is at least a '71 because of the oil cooler set up and dual port intake manifold. The interior has an inaccuracy with a panel between the back seat and back window that was never there, and I believe the dash was supposed to be padded like a '69. Otherwise everything looks great! Waiting for the convertible kit to be released, so maybe I can combine the two to make a '69 like the two I had back in the day. Other than the inaccuracies listed, looks like it'll build into a great model! Thank You Revell! Rick The '70 convertible has been out for a month or so...has an uptop, looks pretty good. Keep in mind being Revell of Germany kits, these are German-spec cars, so the details may differ from US ones of the same model year.
gasman Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 I bought the convertible last week, and it's nice, light years better then the old vw beetle convertible
Mike Kucaba Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 Someone on another forum said that this was a replica of a Beetle never sold in the U.S .
Luc Janssens Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 It's a European spec kit, so the kit doesn't represent anything which was sold in the US via the official dealer network.
Craig Irwin Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 X2, it's a home market spec car. 100% correct 1968 euro standard.
Harry P. Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 X2, it's a home market spec car. 100% correct 1968 euro standard. A 100% correct euro spec "California Wheels" car? Somebody at Revell needs to wake up...
Craig Irwin Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 A 100% correct euro spec "California Wheels" car? Somebody at Revell needs to wake up... Who in their right mind would "California Wheels" a VW ?
Rob Hall Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Who in their right mind would "California Wheels" a VW ? If they had included optional parts to do a 'Cal-look' Beetle, that could have been cool...maybe something like this: or this:
Rob Hall Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) A 100% correct euro spec "California Wheels" car? Somebody at Revell needs to wake up... Yes, and as with the California Wheels Mini, they included US state license plate decals, but no license plates to attach them to. I can understand reboxing RoG kits, but this was such a half hearted effort...they call it a 'California Wheels' kit, but no optional wheels and tires? Edited November 25, 2013 by Rob Hall
Craig Irwin Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 "Cal Look" Beetle = good! "California Wheels" Beetle = wrong!
randx0 Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 You get mad props for doing a kit review of a kit that you have in hand . A few pics of the kit content would be cool .
Rick Posted November 25, 2013 Author Posted November 25, 2013 Sorry, just got home. I'll snap a few pics and get them asap...
FASTBACK340 Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 `68 had the larger 2-yr only tail lights before they grew in `70. Those are pre-68 tail lights. Those are also pre-68 European bumpers. That kit looks more like a European `67 with the wrong doors. No way that's factory-correct Beetle, and I welcome proof otherwise. Like I said, it was years ago, but I was really into these things. I still say it's a Hodge-Podge mix....
FASTBACK340 Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 BTW: Look at the non-fresh air 36 horse fan shroud....
rmvw guy Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Who cares what year I am happy to have another tool. VW owners have been mixing up parts since the beginning. This kit has a lot of potential and I want some. Mine in my avatar is a '70.
FASTBACK340 Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) Ok...Ok... I'm picking it apart. Granted, it is a new kit, but it's just not accurate to call it a `68 as it doesn't even have fresh air heat! Edited November 25, 2013 by FASTBACK340
mrknowetall Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Are the windows flush fit, or inserted from the inside?
Brett Barrow Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Supposedly, the reason Revell has the "series" thing is so that buyers for the chains like Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. can purchase assortment lots of kits that relate to each other without having to pick them individually. The problem, though, is that kits like a bone-stock Beetle, Mini Cooper and '65 Impala convertible don't really seem to fit the spirit of the Cali Wheels line (because none have optional custom wheels, like the other kits in the series, for one thing). Seems to me it kind of defeats the purpose of having the series if Revell can't group related subjects together. The series are also grouped by price point.
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