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RoR SnapShot Review 20140421* Review
1965 Chevy Impala (Foose Design) 1:25 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-4190 Review

 Review & Photos by Alan Mann     

Totally redesigned in 1965, the Impala set an all-time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units in the U.S., which has never been bettered. The full-size Chevys replaced the “X” frame with a full-width perimeter frame, a new body which featured curved, frameless side glass (for pillar-less models), sharper angled windshield with newly reshaped vent windows, and redesigned full-coil suspension. Engine choices included the inline six-cylinder as well as the famous Chevy small-block and big-block V8s. Automatic buyers were given the option of the three-range Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission with the Mark IV big-block 396 engine. The old 409 “W” engine was discontinued early in the 1965 model year, so early-production ’65s got the 409, as well as the 396 big blocks. Two-range Powerglide, as well as Synchro-Mesh 3- and 4-speed manual transmissions were available also. As with previous years, Impalas featured more chrome trim inside and out, with pleated, tufted upholstery and door panels.

The Designer: In a relatively short career, Chip Foose has created a legacy of designs and accomplishments that are well beyond his years. Chip’s first job was working for his father’s company, Project Design. By age twelve, Chip already had five years’ experience under his belt. 1990 brought about the beginning of a relationship with Boyd Coddington and Hot Rods by Boyd, becoming a full time position in 1993, where Chip eventually became the President. Chip’s venture with Boyd however, ended in 1998. The split was not pretty as many of Boyd’s best builders left with Chip. At this time Chip and his wife Lynne started their Huntington Beach, California based company Foose Design, an automotive and product design development company that is still in operation.

 

For the Modeler: This review is based on Revell # 85-4190; it is the 1/25 scale Foose ’65 Chevy Impala. This kit is skill level 2 for the intermediate builder and contains 142 parts. The kit is molded in White, Chrome, Clear and Clear Red and has Vinyl Tires. This kit has seen multiple box-art packages over the years and is a Reissue (Re-Pop), Revell calls this a “conversion”. The chassis is stamped 1996 so it has been around at least 18 years. The only parts special for the “Foose Designed” kit seems to be 2 new trees plus tires. You get Tires and Wheels, Valve Covers and Air Cleaner, Front Suspension and the custom decals. But you do get all the original kit parts from previous issues. You get a nicely detailed 409 V8 Big Block although the real car had a Small Block. The chassis is simple and clean. You get 2 wheel choices, Stock and Foose. The interior is nice with a multiple part tub. The body is crisp and nicely detailed, but to do the Foose version you must remove the molded on Stock emblems. The decals are extensive and give the Foose stripes and tags. The interior decals include all dash gauges. This is a great kit that begs you to go hit the aftermarket and super-detail it. Overall dimensions of the finished build are: Length: 8-1/2″, Width: 3″, Height: 2-1/4″.

 

Overall Impressions: The ‘65 Impala is a cool build. The kit assembles easy and is pretty straightforward. As for the “Foose” part of this kit, if you were to repackage it as a “California Wheels” edition and other decals there would be nothing to claim it a Foose design. This is a  simple  repackage with a few limited new parts. Not to say that is a bad thing but the actual car is real and Revell did not try hard to replicate it. Even being an older kit the build is really nice. Details are great on the motor and give a nice 409 build-up. The chassis is simplistic but looks good finished. The interior detail is crisp and easy to see, older kits usually have a tub interior, but this one is a multi-piece which makes detailing the door panels easy. The body lines are crisp and details well defined. Molding lines are hidden and there is very little clean up needed on the body. Overall fit and finish is good, this is a solid build. Some aftermarket details will really make this one shine! I like the model and think this was one of Revell’s better kits. That being said on a scale of 1 to 10 I’d give this kit a score of 9.

  

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Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20110804*
German Panzerspahwagen Sd.Kfz. 232 1:32 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-7856 Review

 

Review and Photos by Pat Ackerson  

The Panzerspahwagen Sd. Kfz. 232, known for its large frame antenna, was an eight wheeled armored car used by the German Army in every theater of operations during WWII. Primarily used by Reconnaissance Squadrons, the Sd. Kfz. 232 was used for the traditional cavalry missions of reconnaissance and screening. These vehicles and their crews would scout ahead of mechanized units to find enemy locations, and then report their findings back to the friendly units behind them. Their primary task was to observe and report rather than to fight, although they were expected to fight enemy reconnaissance elements when required.

For the Modeler: This is a review of  the German Panzerspahwagen Sd.Kfz. 232,  a 1:32 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-7856. You can still find these kits at online hobby stores and auction sites. It is a skill level 2 model kit consisting of 129 tan injection molded parts, eight rubber tires, eight clear parts for lights, and 1 sheet of water slide decals for two different versions of the vehicle used by the German Army in the African and Polish campaigns of WWII.  Also included are kit instructions that are nicely illustrated and easy to follow.  Sd. Kfz. 232s were usually armed with a 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 auto-cannon and a 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun. Kit features the choice of a Sd. Kfz. 232 communications vehicle with an overhead frame antenna, or the Sd. Kfz. 231 armored car without antenna. This kit includes soft black tires, three crew figures, a campfire, a fly tent with poles and decals with markings for the Afrika Corps and the Polish Campaign.  The overall dimension of the finished build is: 8.0” in length.

Covered in this Review: Basic construction, glue, paint and material selections; correcting assembly instruction errors; methods for prepping the parts for adhesion and finishing; enhanced turret detailing; highlighting external features with dark washes; drilling out gun barrels and air horns for realism; identifying and removing and repair techniques for unwanted seams, gaps, and sinks; improvised intake grills for authenticity; application of decals; suggestions for increasing accuracy and detail; exhaust detailing; frame and body alignment; making and using dark washes for detailing; methods for making realistic wheels and tires; decal setting solution use; alternate construction sequences for ease of finishing; adding some spare parts details; optional parts considerations; handling fragile parts; extensive weathering techniques; expanded information about the real vehicle, are all fully examined in this pictorial 17 page, full-color Step-by-Step review in PDF format. 

  

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Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20140414*
YB-49 Flying Wing 1:200 Scale Cyberhobby (Dragon) Model Kit #2012 Review

Review and Photos by Frank MacKay

The revolutionary ‘Flying Wing’ aircraft concept was conceived by aviation pioneer Jack Northrop, founder of Northrop Aircraft, as early as the 1930’s. The unusual aerodynamics offered obvious advantages but the design was plagued by difficulties throughout its entire development. The US Air Force evaluated a Northrop propeller driven flying wing called the YB-35A during World War Two but it was never put into production. Captured Nazi research showed that jet propulsion was the wave of the future and with knowledge gained from the Horten project, jet engines were fitted to the flying wing design. It was designated the YB-49 and first flew in 1947. It set an unofficial endurance record for staying continually above 40,000 ft (12,200 m) for 6.5 hours, and was very popular with its test pilots despite many performance issues. The first prototype disintegrated and crashed in 1948 killing its crew of 5, one of whom was Capt. Glen Edwards, who subsequently had an air force base named after him. In 1950, the second prototype burst into flames and was destroyed during a routine taxiing test, giving rise to suspicions of industrial sabotage. Jack Northrop outright accused competitor Convair of complicity because he had refused to merge with them. Convair got the contract to produce the unspectacular B-36 bomber as a result. The flying wing contracts were cancelled and all materials ordered destroyed. The US Government even denied a request from the Smithsonian for the last prototype to be put on display and ordered it melted down before the heartbroken Northrop’s very eyes. He had the last laugh when the flying wing design was finally produced as the B-2 Spirit, perhaps the finest bomber ever made. He passed away in 1981, eight years before it entered service with the USAF. The original Northrop YB-49 PR movie is available for viewing on www.youtube.com and may be the only reference you’ll need for this project. It’s highly recommended, informative and also very entertaining. 

For the Modeler: This is a review of YB-49 Flying Wing 1:200 Scale Cyberhobby (Dragon) Model Kit #2012. It is a skill level 2 for intermediate builder.  I must admit that I was a little uneasy when I drew this assignment; experimental aircraft are not really my thing and frankly, I’ve always been wary of 1:200 scale. It doesn’t have the detail of 1:48 or even of 1:72, and I rarely even bother with 1:144. However, this kit was a very pleasant surprise, almost a shock. It’s a real masterpiece and has forced me to change my long-held opinions. It is ingeniously molded with finely engraved and accurate panel lines and has an intricacy of detail that I have never seen on any kit in this scale. It comprises only 50 parts in light gray styrene and is a relatively simple build apart from a few difficulties and their remedies which will be discussed in this article. This may very well be the finest kit of this historically important aircraft ever produced in this scale. Overall dimensions of the finished build are: Wingspan 10.5”, Nose to Tail 3.0”.

Covered in this Review: Basic construction, glue, paint and material selections; adding internal counterbalance nose weights; correcting omissions in the assembly instructions; flattening wheels to represent weight pressure; enhanced cockpit detailing; masking fuselage openings; application of black primer and painting with Alclad II metalizing paint; highlighting panel lines with tempera paint; drilling out thick areas; identifying and removing unneeded injection pin tabs; winglet tab modifications; using blackwash to enhance feature details; making a paint finishing fixture; application of decals; suggestions for increasing accuracy and detail; exhaust detailing; cautionary notes regarding decal setting solution use; adding some spare parts box decal details; making your own title plaque; handling tiny parts; canopy handling techniques; expanded statistical information about the real aircraft, are all fully examined in this pictorial 13 page, full-color Step-by-Step review in PDF format. 

 

100% money back guarantee!

Click the Buy Now link below to purchase the full Step-by-Step review for $4.95 USD.

 

 

Important – You MUST click on the “Return to Right on Replicas, LLC” link after you’ve made your purchase to download your review!

 

 

Right On Replicas, LLC ©2014 All rights reserved.

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