Revell 1984 Olds 442

[1930fordpickup]

I hate to be "that guy" but , , , What do you guys think about the sculpting around the wheel openings?

But, yea, I'll be getting at least one.

FE3X anyone?

The car in this Picture they do not look stock. They look flared to me. Went and looked at some more photos and the black makes them look flared more than other colors. 

 The test shot look great, but paint will change the looks some. 

 

Edited January 23, 2016 by 1930fordpickup

[Can-Con]

The car in this Picture they do not look stock. They look flared to me. Went and looked at some more photos and the black makes them look flared more than other colors. 

 The test shot look great, but paint will change the looks some. 

 

Yes,Andy, that car does indeed have small fender flares added , goes along with the air dam and rear spoiler. I wasn't suggesting it was how a stock Cutlass should look, just what I would be doing with mine.. If you look real close, you can see the seam where the flares meet the body.

[Bob Ellis]

I am glad they are actually making this kit. It will be easy to modify to people's likings.

[Robberbaron]

Photo from Angelo Valenti,

Very happy to see the nose as a separate piece from the body shell - leaves open the possibility of a future 87-88 version.

[Danno]

Very happy to see the nose as a separate piece from the body shell - leaves open the possibility of a future 87-88 version.

And a Pontiac and a Buick . . . 

 

 

[Robberbaron]

 

And a Pontiac and a Buick . . . 

 

 

At a glance, all the '80s G-bodies might look similar, but each GM make actually used mostly unique sheetmetal, bumpers, taillights, etc.  About the only shared body parts are the roof skins and most of the glass, but even the quarter windows are unique to each brand.

For the Regal we already have the Monogram Grand National/GNX kits as a starting point.  For a Grand Prix, your best bet is to bash the Monogram NASCAR body with either the Monogram Monte SS kit or the GN kit.  That GP body is pretty close to stock, and I've seen a couple people turn out pretty nice conversions doing this.  Biggest hurdle would be making a correct Grand Prix interior.  Just like the bodies, each make's interior had a unique dash, door panels, upholstery, etc.

I know, another drawback to the above is that the Monogram Monte SS and Grand National kits are 1/24 scale vs. 1/25.  If you can look past that, they really are very good kits with good detail.  They were designed right when Monogram was finally hitting their stride, as far as body accuracy, separate interior side panels, etc.  Don't think we'll ever see 1/25 versions of those cars from a different manufacturer.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Robberbaron

[martinfan5]

Instructions for the Olds

http://manuals.hobbico.com/rmx/85-4317.pdf

[blubaja]

Still designed like a toy:/

[Danno]

[1972coronet]

Instructions for the Olds

http://manuals.hobbico.com/rmx/85-4317.pdf

Thanks for the link , MartinFan .

Is it just me or do the instructions call for installing the windscreen and backlight from the outside of the body ? Looks like a winner either way !

[niteowl7710]

It's a 1/25 scale Oldsmobile version of the Monte Carlo SS is what it is...so those plans that Casey found way back when were correct.  Not a deal breaker I suppose...

[Rob Hall]

 

Yes, it looks like a typical 80s Monogram kit...very similar to the Monte Carlo SS or Grand National parts breakdown...nothing wrong with that. 

Edited January 29, 2016 by Rob Hall

[Robberbaron]

Thanks for the link , MartinFan .

Is it just me or do the instructions call for installing the windscreen and backlight from the outside of the body ? Looks like a winner either way !

I was thinking it kind of looked that way in that test shot picture, but I couldn't tell for sure, so I didn't comment for fear of looking like a dunce if I was wrong.  Those instructions sure seem to indicate that, though (thanks also, MartinFan).  Looks like Revell is keeping a close eye on Moebius' methods.

It's a 1/25 scale Oldsmobile version of the Monte Carlo SS is what it is...so those plans that Casey found way back when were correct.  Not a deal breaker I suppose...

 

Yes, it looks like a typical 80s Monogram kit...very similar to the Monte Carlo SS or Grand National parts breakdown...nothing wrong with that. 

Sure seems like that's the case, very similar to the Starsky Torino.

Since I have a soft spot for both the Monte SS and GN kits, I also have no problem with that.  As far as I'm concerned, 90% of the credit for a kit hinges on whether or not it looks right sitting on the shelf.  If this H/O kit does that, I'm all good.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Robberbaron

[Zoom Zoom]

I was thinking it kind of looked that way in that test shot picture, but I couldn't tell for sure, so I didn't comment for fear of looking like a dunce if I was wrong.  Those instructions sure seem to indicate that, though (thanks also, MartinFan).  Looks like Revell is keeping a close eye on Moebius' methods.

Revell has been designing glass to install from the outside like this for several years, long before Moebius. Moebius needs to learn from Revell, not the other way around, when it comes to this style of glass.

[monza77]

The  chassis looks the same as the Monte SS and Buick GN. No upper front control arms, rear control arms and sway bar 1 piece. The underhood area also looks like those kits, accessories like the AC assembly are extended to the bottom of the firewall. Are we sure it is 1/25 ? I was never sure about the GN and SS as I have many of those and I thought I've seen both scales on the boxes. Could be wrong. It would be nice if they were the same scale as the others. I will buy multiples. as long as they don't screw up the body like some kits I won't mention. 

[Jordan White]

From what I can see, does it have one piece wheels? I am disappointed that they are still using the simplified front suspension though.

[Casey]

From what I can see, does it have one piece wheels? I am disappointed that they are still using the simplified front suspension though.

Yes, but that's been S.O.P. for most new Revell kits since the '50 Olds appeared. The cylinder heads and valve covers molded as one piece is the most disturbing thing, IMHO. Hopefully that's just an error on the instruction sheet...

Here's the exploded view drawing James mentioned which is still up on one of the G-body Olds forums at last check:

 

I'm disappointed based on what I see on the instruction sheets. Maybe this is the type of new Level 3 we should expect from Revell moving forward, but it feels like they took two steps backward. 

[Chuck Kourouklis]

No, Casey, don't think the instructions are mistaken on the heads and valve covers.  The pieces look very deliberately depicted that way, and they aren't the only differences between exploded plan instruction sheet. Total parts count in the plan is 72; in the kit, it's apparently 91.

It seems we've gained a bunch of separate lenses up front, reflectors for the side view mirrors, a separate brake booster and another segment in the exhaust, axle pins, a steering column, front quarter cladding, and some other separate under-hood ancillary in trade for those separate valve covers.

Backwards and forwards become a little more relative this way in the big picture, but parts counts in the 90s - low 100s for a level 3 of 5 make a certain sort of sense.

Now as for the scale: in a flyer that takes care to differentiate the 1/24 of the Duallie and the Chevy SS stock cars, I find it highly unlikely the Olds is misprinted as a 1/25. For what must be easily my seventh or eighth time pointing this out online, history is littered with examples of different-scale offerings from a root set of masters between Revell and Monogram - 1/12 Camaros and '57 Bel Airs down to 1/25, 1/24 '70 Mustangs to 1/25 '69s, 1/24 '64 GTO chassis to 1/25 Chevelle, 1/24 '87 street/Glidden Thunderbird to 1/25 Matt & Debbie Hay T-Bird, et cetera et cetera ad nauseam infinitumque.   

Revell knows its audience at least this well: a misplaced exhaust port here and a 10% roof chop on a supposed factory car there can make it out the door not only with relative sales impunity, but also with a built-in squad of loyalists ready to lynch anyone who dares breathe word of those flaws.  But venture even to dream of a new non-NASCAR kit in 1/24 instead of God's Own Decreed 1/25, and there will be pitchforks, torches, and maybe even a little brain-eating at the door in Elk Grove Village.  

So 10:1, anyone here, just about any amount, that the new 4-4-2 WILL not only be listed 1/25 on the box, but also noticeably, verifiably smaller than the comparable Monogram SS or GN in practice, I promise you, could we just PUT THAT TO REST, pretty please with body-painted Sports Illustrated girls on top.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Chuck Kourouklis
syntax

[charlie8575]

From those instructions, the only real wart I could find was the missing oil filler tube- a trademark of an Olds V8, and fairly easy to replicate. 

With only very minor massaging, this car can be built into a Cutlass Calais (name used 1981-84, then the Cutlass Salon when the N-body Calais was introduced,) so that's a plus. 

Charlie Larkin

[sfhess]

Hopefully this chassis will fit under my SMH 79 Malibu.

[kelson]

Just curious,since this kit probably won't be available for a couple more months,how come the instructions for this kit and the nickey Camaro are available to view?

[Luc Janssens]

Just curious,since this kit probably won't be available for a couple more months,how come the instructions for this kit and the nickey Camaro are available to view?

Was wondering the same..

Or someone did some copy and paste with stock numbers and URL's and found that the files were online already..

[Exotics_Builder]

Was wondering the same..

Or someone did some copy and paste with stock numbers and URL's and found that the files were online already..

It was an error on Revell's part, I found them on their normal site.  Anyway, I did see a test shot today but was not allowed to take any photos.  Although not a fan of that generation of cars, regardless of manufacturer, the test shot looked pretty decent.  Hoping to get approval to get some shots soon.  I will try.

[Bob Ellis]

 

This 84 Olds 442 looks pretty good to me already. The '81-88 Cutlass Supremes were great looking cars.

I might buy one extra to attach the 1/25 MPC Grand Prix Southern stocker parts on this 442. And voila, an '84 GP. 

[Rob Hall]

Actually, it's an '83 Hurst/Olds.  They haven't announced a 442, but the rumor is they will do an '85 442 version eventually...and putting the MPC Grand Prix front on it wouldn't give you a Grand Prix, but a Cutlass w/ a Grand Prix nose...the body and interior are different.  (the Southern Stocker kit was a Regal race car body w/ different front ends).

Edited January 30, 2016 by Rob Hall