Right On! Replicas

RoR SnapShot Review 20120130* – 1959 Chevy El Camino AMT #6897 Review
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SnapShot Review by Marty and Stephanie Oberman

The AMT 1959 El Camino kit (#6897) has always been one of my favorite subject matters to build, and this is the third time I’ve built this particular kit.

Despite its aged tooling the kit is remarkably detailed, especially the engine and chassis components. It offers three building versions: stock, drag, and custom. I chose to build mine stock in a Testor’s “50s Aqua” scheme with white roof. Assembly overall was accomplished without a hitch. The poseable steering is a nice touch. The stock 348/409 V-8 (depending on whether you believe the box art or instruction sheet) assembled nicely and looks great. There is also an optional Cadillac 390 supercharged engine included for the drag/custom version.

 There were no major issues encountered during the build, although I wasn’t pleased with the location of the mounting points for the chrome pieces…they interfered with the finished look. Again though, this is an old tooling, so these types of issues are to be expected. I built mine according to the instruction sheet with little deviation. However, this modeler suggests leaving the large “double-snorkel” air cleaner off the engine until the upper radiator hose has been installed. Other than that, the build went smoothly.

 Final impressions: I give this model a rating of 3 1/2 stars out of a possible 5. The age of the tooling and chrome tree contact points prevented it from obtaining a perfect score. Would I build  this kit again? Absolutely. I love the ’59 El Camino, and it’s a shame the aged AMT kit is the only one available. Revell makes both a modern-tooled ’59 Impala convertible and hardtop…why can’t they go a step further and tool an El Camino version? I would give my eyeteeth for one of those!

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RoR Step-by-Step Review 20120117* – 1958 Chevy Impala 2n1 kit #85-2073 Revell Review
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See the Step-by-Step Review by Todd McWilliams 

Timeline 1958: Yes, I remember those days as an ornery 9 year old at the time and the 1958 Chevrolet Impala was my most favorite car of all time! It was also the very first year for the Impala badge that is even in use today by Chevrolet. I had the pleasure of owning a 1:1 1958 Chevrolet Impala Sports Coupe in 1983-85. It was a dream come true! The Revell ’58 Impala pictured here in this review is a 99% correct replica of the actual vehicle I owned; only difference is that my Impala had a single 4-barrel carb whereas the kit has a tri-power setup. I chose to build this kit as a stock offering to represent my car.

For The Modeler: – This Revell 1958 Chevy Impala 2 in 1 kit #85-2073 is a skill level 2 with over 143 parts count in white, clear and red colored plastic.  This particular kit has more than enough parts to build an accurate stock vehicle or a beautiful crusin’ low-rider custom version. This plastic model kit was originally a diecast offering by Revell. In doing this crossover from diecast to plastic, Revell had to change a few parts to accommodate the plastic construction. For accuracy – trunk modifications are detailed as well.

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RoR AfterMarket Review 2012014* – Decals by Lucas & Sadewater (RL-51009 ’49  Ford #333 Rose) and (RL-54934 ’50 Ford – #27 Florian) Review 1/25 scale   Click Here to Buy These Decals

 

See the AfterMarket Review and Photos by Tony & Martha Gibson

Split paint/decal jobs can be a lot of fun, especially when you’re combining two historical cars. After market products have become an important and much appreciated addition to the modeling community. In order to construct truly unusual or interesting models the builder has to use his own skills and equipment but that isn’t easy. Fortunately, there are small companies out there like Decals by Lucas & Sadewater that fill the void and provide excellent products for the discriminating hobbyist.

 For the Modeler: – This review takes a look at Decals by Lucas & Sadewater; an up-and-coming automotive aftermarket decal maker. All aspects of the decal’s appearance and suitability are examined. In the process – an excellent tutorial is provided on the proper methods for decal preparation and application.

 

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*All Registered trademarks are the property of their respective brands.