The Model Car Showroom
Reviews, pictures, hints, and links 1/24, 1/25 car kits
X-RAY: 1956 Chevy (Bel Air) 1/24, Monogram
This X-Ray is for a Monogram ’56 Chevy. This kit includes:
1 set of tires and 2 sets of rims; V8 motor; well detailed interior; modest decal sheet. Good: Nice set of speed parts; decent fit build. Bad: Terrible light blue mold; speed parts but no slicks?, lackluster chrome; lots of flash.
Price: $25+
Review : 1966 Pontiac GTO, Revell 1/25
This is a review of the Revell ’66 GTO kit #854479
This is a redo build, but I didn’t get “before” pics. Sadly, I forgot all about it, but never mind. This Revell kit is substantial, has lots of quality parts, has a lot of chrome, and is easier to build than 90% of kits out there. No lie, this “goat” is definitely one of the GOAT kits out there.
Revell has been busy reissuing this one, so there is no shortage of good kits out there. The 2 “Royal” kits refer to the Royal Bobcat racing treatments that some of these got back in the day. They include a wealth of racing decals and such, but are otherwise little different from the other ones. I can honestly say you will not find a bad kit in this group, they are high quality and super good builders.
CAR BACKGROUND :: Beyond the Italian counterparts that give it its name (and are better than this car by light-years), the ’66 GTO is the best GTO ever made. The styling, the speed, the panache, the sales… this car really had it all. It was a colossal improvement over the plain-jane ’65, and though the ’67 was a close facsimile, it still didn’t carry the skin quite like this tiger did.
Carry a GTO, indeed.
The 389 tri-power was strong enough to throw this car to 100mph in the upper 13-second range and would still pull for plenty above that. Even regular 4-barrel versions would probably scare granny’s knickers off her, and it couldn’t look any better doing so! Pontiac wasn’t done there either, as you could then get the “Bobcat” treatment, which added all kinds of performance tweaks. The car didn’t need it bone stock, but if Ford’s 427s and Chevy’s Yenkos were gonna be looking for fights, you might as well sport a Bobcat to give em a run for their money.
Painted with Tamiya Gold and a smart black pinstripe, this was heads and tails better than the Testors Aztec gold I used in my other build. It was smoother and easier to blend. This kit comes with all the goodies, too – nice side mirror; 3 different colored pinstripes; redline tires – just about as complete as you can get out of a box.
Easily one of the better interiors you’ll work with, the Revell ’66 GTO is highly detailed, needs nothing added, and looks fantastic even for the worst modeler. I added the wood-look wheel and kept the console chromed up. The gauges are decals and make for an easy good look. The only way this could be sharper is with a white/two-tone look.
The engine bay is awesome, too. I cannot say enough about the presence of the tri-barrel atop the big block. Say what you like, but it looks pretty nasty. I added the wires and some small details here and there, but with NO work, this is still a fanatically good engine to display. The only downside is that you have to paint the entire bay black after you paint the body so it matches GM style. It is a LOT of cut work and is tiring. It sure “pops” when done, however.
The underside is a blessing to work on, too. The wheels are easy to make and affix to the axles perfectly; the engine and exhaust mate well; there is a good amount of detail; and plenty to work on if you like to OVER-paint the bottom of your kits (tank, shocks, cross-member, etc.). I DID add my own exhaust tips, but the originals were really decent to begin with as well… I just wanted more chrome.
Red turbo-style mufflers help the bottom POP as well. Why Not?
This is one of my favorites kits and, I have to admit, one of my favorite muscle cars. The ease of putting it together after working tirelessly on the engine, interior, trim, and such will put such a smile on your face. It has very few faults and is still among the mid-range-priced kits. Because of the reissues and plentiful supply of kits, it isn’t much of an investment, however.
It is one of the best kits you’ll ever build, for sure!
10 – Astonishing
X-RAY: 2006 Dodge Charger SRT Super Bee 1/24, Lindberg
This X-Ray is for a 2006 Dodge Charger Super Bee by Lindberg. The kit includes:
1 set of tires and rims; SRT Hemi V8; well-detailed interior; small decal sheet. Good: Only full model kit for the Charger that doesn’t include Lambo doors and 25″ wheels; good fit and finish; nice rims. Bad: Overall cheap feel; Less attractive “truck-front” Charger; only one color trunk stripe limits paint choice.
Price: $20
’68 Dodge Charger R/T (custom)
This is a review of the Revell 1968 Dodge Charger R/T #85-4202
I didn’t build this one until recently, and I can say that, aside from the detail work in places, it is a fun kit to work with. It has low/no flash, tons of parts (including speed parts), and it assembles well. This was another kit I had trouble with getting JUST RIGHT in past attempts, but in the end, I just needed it to look sharp, and I wanted it to be a smidge custom.
I got both…
Thankfully, for all you who appreciate THIS Charger over the “redneck” cousin ’69, the kit I bought was recently reissued. The other two include the older Landy’s drag version and the rarer Euro version, but both are every bit as fantastic as mine. The “Landy” version comes with decals for the build driven by the famous drag racer. The blue one is – I think – the same as the one I purchased. I have never bought or seen it in person, but given Revell’s track record, it must be close.
CAR BACKGROUND :: Ok, so everyone AND the Pope knew this review was going here, but that is the legacy of this classic muscle. Bullitt increased the popularity and collectability of this beast more than any of its achievements ever could. The stories of this car being so powerful that McQueen’s 390ci Mustang had to be modified “heavily” just to keep up are pure muscle-car adrenaline.
The ’68 Charger was more than just the movie, however. The dramatic reshaping from the heavier and less muscular ’67 was something the country couldn’t ignore. The “coke-bottle” styling and dramatic move away from the hatchback made this car look like it meant business. Not that the ’66-67 Chargers weren’t fast – as the Hemis of the muscle car era were pretty much the same speedy goodness – but the ’68 made them look the part as much as a Lamborghini does amongst exotics. The 426/440 versions of this car could rip the ΒΌ mile in the mid-13s at over 105 miles per hour. These were STUPID fast cars and could easily rip the rear tires – even at speed! The most iconic muscle car chase in history is a good place to be for a car… and this one deserves it!
Yup… orange was NOT a stock color in ’68. I don’t care! I LOVE an orange Charger, and not just because of the good ole’ boys. I think my orange/Charger liking actually came from the Dixie Challenger (a ’71-74 Charger) Matchbox car, but I think the look is VERY Mopar nonetheless. I used Tamiya Orange, and it is just stunningly glossy. I also went with the hood scoop and slick tires (that ARE a bit too big, LOL). This kit comes with everything you could want, and I only added/changed things because I wanted to customize it a bit.
The interior of this one is a carbon copy of a great many Revell Mopar kits and that means it is legit. Lots of details, decals for gauges if you like, and more to detail than I certainly care about. There wasn’t a TON of speed stuff for the interior, but a trip to the parts bin could certainly get you the look you want.
You won’t see this engine bay in many places! I chose to FORGET the 426 Hemi and, instead, went with a nice-looking 383.
Whaaat??
Yup. The motor fit nicely and looks the part. I get that the Hemi would look more apropos in this bay, but I was TIRED of making Hemi-powered Mopars, and the 383 was a really good engine in its own right. The ’68 made some 335hp and would surprise many of the bigger engines out there with its quickness. Again… nice change from the same old thing. The rest of the bay is typical Revell and needed nothing.
The 383 matched up well under the car, and the turbo mufflers add to the menacing look. I really love the tips that come with this car too. The rectangle ends these Dodges had looked great and added to the kit’s quality. No real fabrication was needed, and there wasn’t a lot of frustration here. You have to be careful with the front valance when assembling, as it hinders the radiator if you attach it too early, but otherwise – it is just awesome!
Yeah, this isn’t the Bullitt Charger… it isn’t even the Charger from the Blade movies either (though you could build either with ease). It is what I could see myself liking and potentially affording easily – what with 440s commanding upwards of $80k (let alone the Hemis!). This kit is REALLY good though, and not just because of the famous movies the car has starred in. It is one of the better kits out there and, with the reissue, costs a lot less than you’d expect. Not the BEST investment with the reissue, but you can make a lot of legendary builds with this kit… and that’s the point!
9.5 Excellent
X-RAY: 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix 1/25, Monogram
This X-Ray is for a RARE 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix from Monogram. This kit includes:
1 set of tires and 2 sets of rims; fuel injected V6 ; well-detailed interior; smaller decal sheet. Good: Fantastic reproduction of the popular coupe; Monogram quality; good tires. Bad: Molded in red = tougher to change color and paint pieces; decal sheet has no stock decals; NOT a very fast/exciting vehicle to build; cost.
Price: $30+
X-RAY: 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Thunder Z 1/25, MPC
This X-Ray is for a very rare MPC Thunder Z Camaro. This kit includes:
1 set of tires and 2 sets of rims; 305ci, V8; custom exterior skirts/effects; modest decal sheet. Good: Awesome custom Z28; crazy finished look. Bad: Awesome custom look still has lousy stock 305; orange decals make for few paint choices; few other speed parts (tach, seats, hurst shifter, engine, etc); few parts period.
Price: $60+
X-RAY: 1968 Chevrolet El Camino SS 1/25, AMT
This X-Ray is for a ’68 Chevy El Camino by AMT. This kit includes:
1 set of tires and custom rims; 396, V8 engine; well-detailed interior; decal sheet. Good: One of AMT’s better kits – with a lot of parts and great detail; Separate bed for easy painting; reasonable price. Bad: Decals sheet is TINY/useless; ZERO custom parts.
Price: $25+
Performance Book-ware!
Well, I’ve been at this a while and I figured it would be a good time to advertise my book. I have been studying cars for the better part of my life, and to that end, I’ve written a book about the best performance cars! It is a great deal on Amazon and I hope you give it a try! Get a copy here :: BOOK
HUMBLY,
–Kev
1986 Ferrari 288 GTO
This is a review of the Testors Ferrari GTO kit #221
I was young… really young when I saw a picture of this Ferrari. It was in a book that my brother-in-law gave me for Christmas. I was floored with its look, its speed and its name. This is a kit I’ve done some four times and I can say, that with a few exceptions, this is a heck of a kit.
There are a BUNCH of 288 GTO kits, but only a few in 1/24(5)th scale. These two above I’ve NOT done or even seen in person. The Fujimi was typically more expensive and only recently have I found Italari kits to be good.
CAR BACKGROUND :: Well, here we are. My absolute favorite car ON THE PLANET. I know I might get a lot of flak about that tid-bit of knowledge, but there it is. Looks just like a 308, right. Well.., no. The 308 design was widened, given fender flares, a bank of large headlamps, and a snarl that is every bit as intoxicating as you’ll find. The 2.8 liter V-8 has been twin IHI turbocharged and given a raucous 400 horsepower. In 1984, there was NOTHING on the road faster. With a top speed of 190 miles per hour, the GTO was an amazing leap from the 308/328 regime. R&T (to the left) timed the ΒΌ mile in a lethargic sounding 14 seconds at 113 miles per hour. The shift point is at 112 for this car and I think gearing was the culprit for the loss of time here. A Motor Trend article during the same time span ran the car to 60 in 5.0 seconds, and through the quarter in a blazing 13.2 seconds. Now, I’ll say that there are quite a few cars today that will butcher that, but back in ’84, there wasn’t much that would be quicker… and nothing that would out-last it. The car was more than just specs, however. The design was done by Pinninfarina and it was a masterpiece. It took the best of the 308 and made it more… more everything. More muscular, more squat, and more aggressive. Inside there wasn’t a lot to ogle about, but when the engine climbed to red-line, you wouldn’t have cared if you were sitting in a bucket of piranha fish. Glorious.
This is another re-do model build. I’ve remade many model cars, but this could be the best of them – and not because of the car, but the improvement. I kept a LOT of the other car, but the body’s detail is where I improved – using tape to do the black grove through the middle of the car and took more time throughout.
What remained was a true tribute to the car’s glory. The Tamiya Italian Red came out just fabulously. The original red I used – I believe – was just a Testors “red” and it was NOT a good paint job at all. The paint seemed to not cover the red molded plastic for some reason and it looked very flat. The only “fix” I did with the whole car were the exhaust tips.
I didn’t try to do any photography for the interior as this kit has 360 degrees of glass and trying to make out anything with a photo becomes folly. I can say that the interior looks correct, has most of what you need, and has good ridge detail. The instrumentation is a bit on the light side, but looks very accurate.
The engine is another story altogether. The twin-intercooled V-8 looks like something out of a sci-fi movie and is nicely detailed. There are enough parts to make anyone happy and it all fits very easily to the chassis. The lid is a bit of a mess, however, as you have to cut it out and then add four tabs to hold it in place. It would seem Testors could’ve done a better job getting it in place, but when it’s done, it looks damn good anyways.
I don’t usually do underside pics of newer cars, but the GTO shows off a lot of detail from below. The pieces fit easily and it looks pretty tidy. I added tips off some other exotic kit (as the ones for this car were weak-kneed) and I think it helped the look a lot. One thing of note : the tires look great and are very textured, but over time can split BADLY. I had two from the last one I made split so badly, one was 7/8 ripped and the other had fallen off the rim completely! Not all tires will do this, but these did for some reason, so beware.
They say never to drive your heroes and I can happily say that doesn’t apply for building em. This is a honey of a kit and doesn’t have the typical fit/finish issues that some exotics have. The side mirrors are grey (instead of the red that like the other body pieces); the tires can be explosive; the full glass makes the interior all but useless; and the growing cost will make you think twice. It is still a really good build. With numbers thinning more by the day, it should make an excellent investment too. You know what I’d do.
9.0 Excellent
X-RAY: 2009 Aston Martin DBS 1/25, Tamiya
This X-Ray is for a VERY RARE Aston Martin DBS kit by Tamiya :
1 set of tires and rims; detailed interior; small chrome decal sheet w/etched parts; Good: VERY RARE model kit of a Aston Martin; decent amount of pieces; etched parts. Bad: Engine is mostly cover; molded in an odd black-purple color; EXTRA EXPENSIVE!
Price: $125+