This is a review of the Revell 1970 Plymouth RR Superbird kit# 4921

This is the first time I tried to make this model. Many years ago I tried to make an AMT Daytona – Superbird’s brethren – and… let’s just say it didn’t get very far. The AMT was NOT a good kit, and I was much less experienced to work it in the first place. I HAVE always wanted to do one, though, since they are one of the most expensive and famous muscle cars of the era.

Holy wing, Batman!

The above kits, save for the Jo-Han, are all basically the same animal. I have not seen the “Richard Petty” version, but I assume you can still use the same decals as the others. Most are in the same price range too, but the Jo-Han is otherworldly priced because of its rarity (I would guess). MPC also made a 1971 Roadrunner model that includes parts to make a Superbird – directly taken from the prototypes, but I cannot speak to its quality. It also seems to be molded in yellow and is shaped very differently from the true ’70 version.

CAR BACKGROUND :: The Daytona was created specifically for NASCAR in ’69, and in ’70, the Road Runner was given the same treatment. Using a wind tunnel (the first in American history), the 2 cars were as smooth as a boxy muscle machine could be. The aero looks weren’t just for show either, as the cars were equipped with both the 440ci and 426 Hemi engines. Though it used the same engines as the ’70 Road Runner, the Superbird was actually a tad slower in the ¼ mile because of its heavier curb weight. That said, the ‘Bird could still fly through the traps in less than 14 seconds at over 100mph. More than that, the Superbird was much more stable at speeds over 70mph due to its aerodynamics and would likely have been an entirely different car at speeds over 100. The top speed of the two cars was said to be close to the 200mph mark. What a marvel.

BUILD NOTES : As I said before, the AMT Charger Daytona is a lousy build. Much worse than the Charger kit they make, and even worse than the REALLY bad Dukes of Hazzard model they make.

This Revell kit is tremendous in comparison. The nose fits well, the tail wing has pre-drilled holes, and the finish is just plain better. The decals are typically good quality, and I cannot think of a big problem with the kit. There are very few “street” parts, but this isn’t a car for “hot-rodding”. There are enough parts and decals to make a “Petty” stock car, but that isn’t what I decided to make.

On that note, the NASCAR decals are also a bit B.S., since they include 426 c.i. decals for the hood, and the kit ONLY includes the 440ci engine.

Didn’t I just say this kit doesn’t come with a Hemi, and yet here it is? Well, unlike most kits I build, I decided to give this kit the upgrade it needed. This kit – and I believe all Superbird kits – come with the standard 440-6 engine. This bad boy has a 426 Hemi nestled inside. This 426 is out of a failed Revell kit and fits PERFECTLY in this car. I affixed a date-appropriate Hemi decal I made and wired it properly. Like most Revell kits, the firewall is bland, so I added a wiper motor to help. The battery and washer bottles are both molded into the body of the car – so tougher to paint properly – but I managed.

This model’s engine bay is also slightly flawed since the washer reservoirs aren’t the same as the real one (pic right). I think the 2-bottle setup is from the ’70 Road Runner that Revell makes, and they just transferred the same body over to this kit. I love me a Hemi, but love it more in the Superbird.

It just belongs there.

This car is painted Big Bad Blue – an AMC color that very closely resembles Corporation (Petty) Blue from 1970. I added the front light, back panel, and my own Road Runner Superbird decals on the rear wing (as they weren’t included). Because the top was textured, I went with a black vinyl look. I really like the fit and finish of this kit – save for the hood. It took a long time to bend it enough to fit it flush, and it still isn’t as perfect as I’d like. This is a LONG model as well. At 221in (real life), this car is as long as a ’72 New Yorker, and with it being 1/24th scale, it’s just GIANT.

Like most Revell Mopars, the interior is well detailed. I went with straight flat black and a pistol shifter. I forget if I had to add a directional stalk, but I don’t think so. Rear-view and side mirrors are included, however. It is also 100% better than the AMT Charger’s interior, as it is dreadful.

You’d think the bottom would be a mess with the non-stock engine, and you’d be mistaken. You see, because both the model and replacement engine are Revell make, they match up rather well. The remainder of the bottom is very much Revell goodness. It is well detailed, and the axles/wheels work fantastically. Truly, there is a lot to further detail if that is your thing, but I stay with the nondescript chassis since all of the models I build have varying degrees of detail. I like my creations to be uniform, and this look works for 99% of what I build.

This model is great, and is only lessened by the cokamaimee decals and lack of engine choices. In any event, you have one of the better models manufactured AND one of the better muscle cars on the planet. It is starting to become a good collectible kit as well. The prices are already on the rise, and they are getting harder to find by the minute. Better get one while you can still afford it. You surely can’t afford the $200,000 for the real thing, anyway!

8.75 – Very Good