Trumpeter Pontiac Bonneville

[HotRodaSaurus]

Ok not quite a new kit but what are the problem areas with this model I have read some things but nothing specific.

I have had the kit about 2 years , it looks great in the box but ???

Thanks, John

[Mr. Metallic]

Satiny chrome was a problem with the first batch of kits. If you contact Stevens International you should still be able to get a new chrome tree since it is still in their catalog.

The intake on the engine is a mess, but the rest of the engine is OK. The size and shape of the hardtop is not correct if that's what you have. if you have the convertible the interior is not stock, but very nice. It's an underated kit that can be built up very nicely if you spend some time correcting flaws. Here's the kustom that I built, having a nonstock interior actually worked in my favor with this build.

Whether or not these flaws should have made it into brand new tooling in this day and age is a debate that has been beaten to death since the kit came out. Be your own judge.

[HotRodaSaurus]

Satiny chrome was a problem with the first batch of kits. If you contact Stevens International you should still be able to get a new chrome tree since it is still in their catalog.

The intake on the engine is a mess, but the rest of the engine is OK. The size and shape of the hardtop is not correct if that's what you have. if you have the convertible the interior is not stock, but very nice. It's an underated kit that can be built up very nicely if you spend some time correcting flaws. Here's the kustom that I built, having a nonstock interior actually worked in my favor with this build.

[ Whether or not these flaws should have made it into brand new tooling in this day and age is a debate that has been beaten to death since the kit came out. Be your own judge.

I have the hardtop, was looking forward to the build up, but what you say about the roof issues , maybe sometime but when? Who knows.

Tanks, John

[MrObsessive]

Here's the original thread by Peter Lepold.............some of the finished pics are missing unfortunately, but the bodywork pics that he did are still there.

This should give you an idea of what it takes to make that car look right!

[Harry P.]

Holy ######!!!

It would have been easier to build your own space ship than to correct the body on this thing!

[Zoom Zoom]

I got my Bonneville HT for about $16, and it was still too much considering I have to do a roofectomy from a Revell kit to even begin to make it look right. From subject matter to execution, Trumpeter just didn't get it when it came to model cars.

[Mr. Metallic]

Craig, what kit did those mags come from? You captured a really nice "eary 60's" mild custom look with that build!

Those wheels came from the AMT "custom" 60 starliner. They are mounted on the trumpeter kit tires

[Mr. Metallic]

Would you be upset if I built a custom hardtop companion to your very nice custom convertible?

Imitation is the sincearist form of flattery, so knock yourself out.

Sorry, I'm sure I just butchered the spelling on a couple of those words.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I assembled a hood hinge from one of the Bonnevilles and honestly did not find it that difficult. The copper wire they supply is malleable enough that you can thread it through two of the PE pieces, trim it down to around half a milimeter on either side, then mushroom both ends just by squeezing the new joint between a pair of needlenose pliers.

The resulting hinge is a little tight in its action, but you can loosen it pretty easily just by working it some.

It's enough to leave me wondering if people have actually tried building 'em, or they're just intimidated by the prospect...