This is a review of the Revell 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS kit#7457

My first Camaro was a ’68 by AMT and I really liked the kit. Since then I have built two of the Revell ones and can say they are better kits by a good margin. This kit is both good and cheap but THAT wouldn’t matter… if it wasn’t a Camaro.

As you can see from above, there is no shortage of Camaro kits. Convertible, 427, 396, Yenko, SS, RS… the list goes on. The above kits are all of the same quality and give a lot of options. Obviously the 427s and convertibles are a step further than the straight coupe, but they all will give a good finished product. Most are molded white, have a slew of extra parts and are relatively inexpensive.

Beyond the Revell armada is the AMT fleet. I think that the discrepancy between Revell and AMT is least skewed with the Camaro than any other model kit. The AMT Camaros are very good. That said, I’d still opt for the Revell when possible.

CAR BACKGROUND :: Well, the Mustang completely destroyed all competition in one foul swoop. GM and Chrysler were playing catch-up in a way that has never happened since. Thankfully for Chevrolet that the Camaro was a gorgeous, potent, inexpensive alternative to the Stang, and ate up the Pony’s sales faster than Pac-Man swallowed ghosts. With 302, 396, and even a brutal 427, the Camaro was a match speed wise as well. The 302ci in my Camaro would have developed 290 underrated horses and would launch past the ¼ in high 14s without too much effort. Sure, you could opt for the 427 from the Yenko boys, but that behemoth under the hood meant that the Camaro cornered more like a Volare than a muscle car.

You’re not going to find too many models built with this scheme, but I love the damn thing. I’ve recently seen one at Rash’s Auto Repair (great set of mechanics/pros here in the Pittsburgh area) and I fell in love with the look. The Maroon and white is just mesmerizing. This is Tamiya Maroon, and though a tough paint to use (kept spotting on me), it shines like a diamond in the middle of a desert. I kept the cowl hood, but lost the spoiler, aftermarket rims, and kept the tires simple. Yeah. It really helps that this is a good kit and doesn’t give many problems, but I still love the look.

So the other half of the equation is the white and black interior. I cannot think of a muscle car scheme that sets the paint off more spectacularly. Revell did a nice job detailing this one too, but the two-tone brings it to life. I used the stock shifter and made the steering wheel wooden.

The engine bay on this one is a good one as well. There is plenty of detail, plenty of chrome, and nothing to add. I have to admit that the 302 looks kinda lost in the big engine bay, but it IS handsome. I am looking to purchase a 1969 427 Camaro to build, so I’ll have that engine bay as well.

This is a Revell kit that does have me a bit torn when it comes to the underside. The headers look too big for the rest of the pipes; the muffler is the wrap-around type that I’m not a fan of; the exhaust ends typically end too low to the ground; and the overall fit is just average. Some sports stars have an Achilles heel of sorts and the undercarriage is the Camaro’s. Not near enough to ruin the kit, however.

In the end, this is a great kit and a favorite color scheme of mine. The kit itself has very few flaws and needs nothing to build right. Best part about this kit (and the other 20 mentioned earlier) is that it is cheap. I cannot say any of the 1969 Revell Camaro kits are better than the rest, but I can say that this one will work big-time.

8.75 Very Good