Quick Overview: Revell Starsky & Hutch Torino

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Normally I'm not so ahead of the curve on picking up new releases, but it looks like my local RPP pusher got 'em in early this time:

And what I find most fascinating about this is the distinctly retro-Monogram flavor about the design, straight down to the colored parts:

So we're back to molded stanchions instead of coil springs for the front and rear suspensions, upper radiator hose only, engine bay/battery/partial firewall molded to the body shell, distributor molded to the intake manifold, two-piece wheels (with the old Goodyear Speedway tires first developed for a variant of Monogram's 427 Cobra and more recently shorn of their license-bilkable logos), that sort of thing. Two key characteristics of current Revell kits still retained are separate interior door panels and metal pin axles. The strobe light is part of the transparent red parts tree.

The empty space in the top-most red tree is for the hood, which has huge hinge shanks settling into oversized cowl slots, but fits pretty nicely.  21-piece 351 looks fair; one-piece oil pan is separate.  Mocking up the interior shows very positive location between it, the body, and the chassis, although the way the rear of the chassis inserts is so tricky and tight, you might be advised to leave the foil off the lower rear-quarter moldings till you get it in place.  Chassis needs tweaking to settle in fully (as always), but the locating surfaces front and rear are generous and well-defined.

Proportions and details like the exhaust system and wheels are exactly as you've seen in previews, and I'm going to stop my commentary right there, until I've had more of a chance to research and compare.  Parts count is 88 as the website and box cover describe, and the decal sheet is comprehensive down to the front marker lights, dash gauges and woodgrain, steering wheel spoke graphics, under hood markings, all body scripts (also in raised detail on the body shell), and of course, those iconic stripes.

Q & A, if you like...

Edited September 21, 2015 by Chuck Kourouklis
minor corrections/working photo links beaten into post thru source code

[Dave Van]

A long time ago when this kit was announced I thought it may have had it's roots in the die cast world. Even if it was only an idea during that period Revell was doing so many TV and movie related vehicles.  Revell's 58 Chevy comes to mind. I always felt it was going to be in the American Graffiti line as Steve/Toad car.

I myself can't wait to see and buy my own copies. BTW yor pics are not working for me.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

How 'bout now? Just hammered them in thru the source code, 'cause I can't get the more straightforward linking feature to work.

[Dave Van]

thank  you....yes!

 

can we see the hood hinge set up and decals??? plez!

Edited September 21, 2015 by Dave Van

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Sure thing!  One bit I'd have to note is that a feature the die casts always seemed to have was the engine bay molded with the interior floor, where this one is more like a straight reversion back to '80s design practice with the engine bay molded to the body.  The chassis/body interface would also have to have been radically different, 'cause you really need to flex those rear quarters out to get the rear floor pan in place, thanks to the way it locks in under the rear bumper fill panel.

Stranger things have happened, though...

[Dave Van]

Agree.....doubt any tooling was done for a die cast....but I bet some planning was done toward it back in the day. thx

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Hereya go:

You can always count on Revell for a good decal sheet these days.  Hood hinge design (which actually does look like it'd work for a die cast):

[Dave Van]

You are right....it's as if  it time traveled from the 1980's Monogram shops.....not a  bad thing really. thx!!

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well there are modern tells - the sliding molds to get you the dash top detail and the axle pin bosses for the front and rear suspensions  - but yeah, there's a distinctly retro flavor going on here.

We may see this sort of thing again if those '80s Cutlass kits ever surface as we saw in those plans a while back...

[Rob Hall]

Interesting...definitely has a retro kit feel...I see two license plate decals..are there license plates for the decals to attach to?  (missing plates have been an issue on some recent US Revell boxes of RoG kits).

Edited September 21, 2015 by Rob Hall

[afx]

Not at all what I was expecting.  I thought we would get a detailed chassis and real nice engine.  And molded in red plastic to boot!  Looks like they are trying to target young builders (??)

[Chuck Kourouklis]

And with a subject from a 40-year-old tv show? Got me, JC.

Just the one plastic plate frame for the rear, Rob. Left on your own for the front.

[FordRodnKustom]

Excellent, objective review. Very helpful. Thank you.

[Sledsel]

Holy smokes!!! Look at those hinges!

 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2015 by Sledsel

[Tom Geiger]

  And molded in red plastic to boot!  Looks like they are trying to target young builders (??)

And with a subject from a 40-year-old tv show? Got me, JC.

 

This kit is targeted to the TV and Movie Memorabilia  community, more than to the serious model car builders.  Same premise as many of the recent Round 2 licensed kits.  This is a much larger market than model car builders and many to most of them won't even break the shrink wrap. And for those who do, they'd be expecting to see a red car.

[freakshow12]

Could I see the valve covers? Are they stock 351 covers or the aftermarket units like in the mach 1 kit? I gotta get this to see if I can do a full detail on my minty 72 Torino 

[Junkman]

I wish they did a lot more kits like this - and don't bother with an engine. It's the least interesting thing in a 70s Amerobarge.

[Dave Van]

I wish they did a lot more kits like this - and don't bother with an engine. It's the least interesting thing in a 70s Amerobarge.

RUMOR has it........the pre-orders are way up on this kit....so there is a demand for American 70's era cars.....hope we get a 77 Thunderbird out of this tool.......it'd sell even better.

[keyser]

I like it. 

Will get built by people, maybe sell 2 to memorabilia collectors. Maybe part done back when, and finished now? Around time of one of the company sales?

LeMans cars should be easy, Nascar too. Tires perfect for S&H.

So far, not a disparaging word here, Chuck. Handbag fights < post 25 my call. Start pool now. 

[slusher]

I plan on buying one i just wish it was molded in white ...

[mchalal]

How long to somebody reports on the fit to Johan's 72 torino. Thats my plan for this one

[Brett Barrow]

RUMOR has it........the pre-orders are way up on this kit....so there is a demand for American 70's era cars.....hope we get a 77 Thunderbird out of this tool.......it'd sell even better.

We have tons of pre-orders for this one, but I don't read anything more into it than there is demand for Movie/TV cars.  No straight-stock 70's car without a tie-in would generate this much interest.  

[Dave Van]

We have tons of pre-orders for this one, but I don't read anything more into it than there is demand for Movie/TV cars.  No straight-stock 70's car without a tie-in would generate this much interest.  

I think it's a little more than S&H demand......

The fact that this car was the first NASCAR Cup ride for folks like Bill Elliott and DE Sr, raced the 24 hours Le Mans and can be the basis for other builds is driving sales. I'll be building a Big Lebowski  Torino among 6-7 others.

[keyser]

I think it's a little more than S&H demand......

The fact that this car was the first NASCAR Cup ride for folks like Bill Elliott and DE Sr, raced the 24 hours Le Mans and can be the basis for other builds is driving sales. I'll be building a Big Lebowski  Torino among 6-7 others.

Agree. When the other thread got dumped, an excellent link to the LM cars disappeared, I hadn't bookmarked it yet. 

Your pics of DE BE and another I forget were cool too. 

Could you please post or PM me links if anyone has them? I've Googled but haven't found them. You can even use "Let me Google that for you" on me. 

 

[Casey]

Could you take a post a close-up shot of the wheels, please?

Can you confirm the tires are the Monogram Revell Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Specials with the wiped sidewalls?

Edited September 21, 2015 by Casey