Amt 1958 Impala Vs Revell 1958 Impala

[Sledsel]

All I know is that if it was converted from a diecast, I do not want it. Therefore I vote for the AMT. I have a few and they are nice. As for BMF for the trim, when done looks better than the added trim on the diecast converted kits.

Now the old Revell kits that the trim was thin and glued on the body (namely 55 and 56 Chevies) I believed looked good. Tough to install but done right it looked correct.  

So glad I read this board because it has informed me enough to avoid certain kits and helped be to better some kits. 

[Sledsel]

MrObsessive............... that is stunning! 

[59 Buick]

I love these big old cruisers, and owning a four door Biscayne they are close to my heart.

I personally prefer the AMT version as I enjoy the extras that came with these kits. Custom tube grille, front and rear options, Frenched aerials, and hubcaps to name a few.

I only really bought the Revell kit for the continental kit and cruiser skirts but still a nice kit.

oops I voted twice

[Atmobil]

I voted for the AMT kit for much the same reason as Martin says above, all the extra goodies. I got both kits, I have not built any of them yet but I think they both have good and bad sides and it is difficult to really pick one that is best without having built them both.

[Danno]

Bill's '58 'vert is probably THE single most spectacular '58 model ever built.   

[christian-w]

The convertible is a w e s o m e !!

 

I've voted for the AMT. I don't mind, that the trunk at Revells Impala can be opened. but I don't like the separated chrome parts. In my point of view, it looks to fat on the body and the passage from trim to body looks for me cheap. There is always a to big gab - except, you work on it.

 

I've built the AMT

Edited October 21, 2015 by christian-w

[samdiego]

Another vote for AMT. Even with the door alignment issues. 

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2017 by samdiego

[gtx6970]

I have an original issue AMT hardtop,I like it overall . Cant speak about the revell kit ( dont have one )

BUT, been looking for an original issue 58 Convertible to build in case anyone has one they wish to let go of

 

 

[MrObsessive]

Thanks so much guys for the nice words about my Impala!  Hard to believe that after nearly 15 years since this was built, everything still works!

Windows, suspension, steering, latching doors and trunk..........all still functional! I have the Revell hardtop as well, and may build it someday, just as a contrast to the convertible. I don't mind the chrome pieces and such, as I would have a way to fit those and not look like an afterthought.

[tim boyd]

Guys....I have built the AMT and concur with all comments above.  (Granted...it was buit nearly 40 years ago, but I remember the experience very well.) ..(more pix of this here) . 

As for the Revell kit, I have built only the engine at this point, but let me assure you, it is amongst the finest of all "W" Chevy engines ever found in a 1/25th scale kit.  Count me surprised, astounded even.  If the rest of the kit is half as good as the engine is, you really need to buy and build both kits.  Please do not dismiss it due to its DieCast origins alone (which I did for years myself)...there's much to like here as well as the AMT kit.  

Cheers...TB 

PS - congrats to all who posted your pictures of these built kits, they look really, really sharp.   And as for yours, Bill....truly spectacular.  TB   

 

..

 

Edited October 22, 2015 by tim boyd

[horsepower]

Just amazes me that people who are willing to spend countless hours making a forty year old kit into a spectacular model will on the other hand put down the newer kit because it might not be as nice out of the box as their corrected kit, and the reason I say MIGHT, is because many of the people making those statements say in the post that they've never had the new kit because they saw on line it came from a die cast lineage, one even states he built the die cast and didn't like the engine, so the plastic kit can't have as nice an engine as the other kit, when on all accounts of people who actually have the new kit place the engine as possibly the best W series engine produced. I think if you are going to make a statement about something, and compare it to another item like it that you should actually have BOTH items in your possession, and be looking at the contents of the boxes, not just making statements based on conjecture and what you've read on line about what someone else thinks of the kit. One point in particular is that one person stated how much they liked the '55 & '56 Chevrolet kits that Revell made with the separate chrome parts and options and all the opening doors and such, when it's generally said in the community that these are almost impossible to build correctly without a lot of work, just a great example of how other people have their own opinions of something, the best way to find out if you like it or not is to get one for your own personal enjoyment, and form your own opinion of if you like it or not, your ideas of what you want can greatly differ from other people's ideas, it's just natural.

Edited October 22, 2015 by horsepower

[Edsel-Dan]

I have built a couple of the AMT

Last one coverted to a Convertible

(Added moveable Sunvisors!)

Still Want the Revell kit.

Not been lucky enough to get one yet!!

[Deathgoblin]

I just pulled out my AMT 58 Chevy to build after the Mustang disaster.  Gotta say, I had forgotten how nice of a kit this is.  The molded detail is good, The engine and engine compartment look very good, especially compared with other AMT kits.  And the tires look great, they're actually the Firestone Supremes on this version, so they have nice molded detail too.  

[ERIK88]

I voted for the amt 58 impala as well. I have the revell and amt, however the amt model looks much more realistic to me and I love the extra parts!!,!

[unclescott58]

I too voted for the AMT kit. It's a good kit. Good enough for me to not see a need to add the Revell version to my collection. I have the same problem/reason for not buying Revell's '63 and '64 Chevy Impalas. The old AMT kits of same subject matter have always been good enough for me. The Revell kits in all three cases maybe better kits. But, I've never been unhappy with the old AMT versions. Plus I like the nostalgic feelings I have when building those old AMT kits. Sorry Revell. Since AMT's old '59, '60, '65, and '66 Chevys are long gone I have purchased those from you.

Rather than repeating what AMT all readily has available and is okay. How about somethings they don't have. Like a '68 or '69 Impala SS? Or one of my holy grails. A '72 Impala? (This I don't really don't expect to see.) Or a nice buildable and good looking '57 Nomad.

Edited December 23, 2017 by unclescott58

[Casey]

Box art may not exactly have been Ertl's strength, but they sure knew how to put those powder blue polystyrene pellets to good use.  Here's a look inside the '83 reissue of the 1/25 AMT '58 Chevy Impala Coupe kit: http://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/116/25-amt-58-chevy-impala

 

[unclescott58]

Interesting, despite my comments above, about two or three month's ago I bought a copy of Revell's '58. I really can't say it's any better or worst than AMT's Impala. I like them both. I just lean towards the AMT a little more because of nostalgia.

[Robberbaron]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

Box art may not exactly have been Ertl's strength, but they sure knew how to put those powder blue polystyrene pellets to good use.  Here's a look inside the '83 reissue of the 1/25 AMT '58 Chevy Impala Coupe kit: http://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/116/25-amt-58-chevy-impala

 

I might be one of the few here that has warm fuzzy feelings for this box art (awful as it seems 34 years later).  This version was one of my first glue kit builds, completely independent of my older brother's help.  Even at 8 years old, I don't recall having any major issues assembling this one.

This was right when Ertl started hitting their stride reissuing a lot of the classic AMT kits that hadn't been seen in years.  I was overjoyed when I saw these hit the shelf, because I'd only recently learned what a '58 Chevy looked like, and I thought they were the coolest looking cars ever.

I've built several since and have a couple more in the stash, probably ranks as my all time favorite kit.

[Mike999]

13 hours ago, Robberbaron said:

This was right when Ertl started hitting their stride reissuing a lot of the classic AMT kits that hadn't been seen in years.  I was overjoyed when I saw these hit the shelf...

Me too.  I even remember the first time I saw those early-1980's reissues:  at the GEMCO store in North Hollywood, CA (where I lived at the time; GEMCO was a big membership store that sold everything from shoes to groceries, sort of like an early Wal-Mart). 

It was like seeing old friends again:  the '58 Chevy, '40 Ford coupe, '32 Fords, '41 Plymouth etc. etc.  I still have some kits in those boxes, that I've been dragging around for several decades.

As for that W engine, I'm guessing it's the same as the engine in the Revell '64 Chevy.  Just yesterday I went looking for a 1/25 scale Chevy fuel pump, needed for a project where the engine will be visible.  Recently I found a box of random parts at a flea market that included some Revell '64 Chevy stuff, with no body or chassis.  But it did have a beautiful Chevy fuel pump.  Along with a separate coil and other useful bits.

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, Mike999 said:

at the GEMCO store in North Hollywood, CA (where I lived at the time; GEMCO was a big membership store that sold everything from shoes to groceries, sort of like an early Wal-Mart). 

 

I miss GEMCO ( Government Employees' Membership COmpany , if I remember its acronym correctly ) . I used to frequent the Downey , Ca. , location (opened in 1969 , I believe) as well as the La Mirada store (don't recall when that one opened) with my parents . I bought countless AMT and MPC kits there with my allowance !  Perhaps it was the times , but I remember GEMCO being clean and well-maintained , as opposed to the seizure-inducing , greasy , obnoxious environment of Walmart .