Just '56 Chevys

[Greg Myers]

For those that missed the point on the '55 vs '57 Chevy poll. 

Edited April 28, 2018 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

and if those weren't bad enough 

Edited April 28, 2018 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

OK a few that are a little better. 

[Greg Myers]

and finally  

[Snake45]

I built the Revell around 1969 or 1970. A few years ago I restored it. Gotta do a post on it sometime. 

Tried to build another one in the '80s or '90s but by then the molds were shot and that kit's unbuildable today. But with the lovely Del Ray, we really don't need it, do we?

[oldcarfan]

I got the old Revell kit as a kid. I never built it as all those fiddly parts and the opening doors and trunk defeated my 8 year old fingers!

[SfanGoch]

The old "H" and "Hot Rod" series kits are a lot cheaper and easier to come by than the newer Del Ray. Plus, the older kits have separate side trim options allowing one to build A Bel Air, 210 or 150. I now have four of them, two of which will be built as NYPD RMP's. This was the only Chevy used by the NYPD during the 1950s.

[bubbaman]

i would love to build the 55 or 56  but all i see is the  nomad in 1/16 scale -  if some one can sell me a 1/25th scale i`ll buy it

[1972coronet]

Revell has certainly come a L-O-N-G way in the quality of their offerings ! It wasn't until the c.1988 merger of Revell and Monogram that Revell's kits improved ---- especially since the tooling was shared with Monogram ! 

The 'Tri-Five' kits from Revell were always "attractive" purely by their box art , and I constantly got suckered-in by the allure oft he finished product on said box art  only to be defeated time-and-again by the impossible-to-build contents . Lord knows how many times I attempted to build the '57 ( from the c.1976 era ) , and never successfully .

All of that archaic Revell tooling needs to be sent-off , Valhalla-style ...

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

The old "H" and "Hot Rod" series kits are a lot cheaper and easier to come by than the newer Del Ray. 

 

That should tell you something right there. 

You're going to actually build two of them? Good luck to you. 

[SfanGoch]

Rich, the old '55 and '56 Chevys aren't that bad.I've built plenty of them in the past; and, I have a '55 with working suspension right now that needs completing. You know, from your experiences, all it takes is a bit work to get a kit to look right. The ones I have don't suffer from flashitis, which makes things a lot easier.  

[Mike999]

4 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

The old "H" and "Hot Rod" series kits are a lot cheaper and easier to come by than the newer Del Ray. Plus, the older kits have separate side trim options allowing one to build A Bel Air, 210 or 150. I now have four of them, two of which will be built as NYPD RMP's. This was the only Chevy used by the NYPD during the 1950s.

The Los Angeles PD also used Chevies in 1956 (and '58).  The '56s were 4-doors and several companies make resin bodies to fit the new Revell Del Ray.  Some conversions include the 4-dr. body, corrected interior door panels and non-split front seat.

For those who like to build police cars, here's a bunch of photos and a list of all LAPD vehicles used from 1956 on.  Including non-fossil-fuel powered vehicles (horses).

http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lapd.html

 

[ATHU]

I've got several of those '56 Chevys in my stash, I'm actually building the Nomad right now and it's not a bad kit imho!

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

Rich, the old '55 and '56 Chevys aren't that bad.I've built plenty of them in the past; and, I have a '55 with working suspension right now that needs completing. You know, from your experiences, all it takes is a bit work to get a kit to look right. The ones I have don't suffer from flashitis, which makes things a lot easier.  

It's not a matter of "flash." The one I built in 1969 was bad enough but it was do-able. But the Hot Rod ones...Get yours out, cut the doors off the trees and stick them in the bodies. Tell me if the door and body posts all line up with each other. Then check the fit of the rear windows into the bodies. If you ever do build them, I'll bet the thought occurs to you at least once that it would be worthwhile to get the Del Ray kits, sand off the 210 trim, use the chrome 150 trim from the Hot Rod kit, and throw the rest of the HR kit away. 

Couple decades ago at a swap meet I scored a glue bomb '56 body that was old enough that the inherent warpage wasn't a problem and at least the doors and windows come close to fitting. I MIGHT use that body and a Hot Rod kit to build another one someday...if I absolutely run out of everything else to build. Meantime, I've got a couple of the Del Ray kits to do. 

[SfanGoch]

It's not like I never built these Tri-Five kits before. I did state that I built plenty before. As to the four on hand, three are 1978 vintage H-1391's and one "Hot Rod" version 7133 in white from 1986. I checked all that when I got them and the doors, hood and trunk fit perfectly. Ditto with the windshields and back windows. There's also no warping of the chassis or bodies in any of the kits either. You don't have to take my word for it. I'm just telling you what I have. Since you're not satisfied with the quality, I'll be more than willing to take any off your hands if you have some laying around. 

[espo]

The '56 Chevrolet is one of my all time personal favorites so I'm biased. I have a few of the early Revell  Tri-Five kits and have only half heartedly built the '57. The '56s body proportions are off and the hardtop the roof is just wrong. The newer '56s offered by Revell are very good kits and I have built several and really have enjoyed them. I notice that now they are hard to find on the shelves at Hobby Stores and I'm glad I bought them when they were available and at much better pricing than what we see today. I have a future build planed with the 210 2 door and changing the side trim to make it a Bel Air as that's my favorite body style. I have built a couple of Nomads with one being a custom style. A Sedan Delivery using a resin body and 2 of the 210s.     

[MrObsessive]

41 minutes ago, espo said:

The '56s body proportions are off and the hardtop the roof is just wrong. The newer '56s offered by Revell are very good kits and I have built several and really have enjoyed them. I notice that now they are hard to find on the shelves at Hobby Stores and I'm glad I bought them when they were available and at much better pricing than what we see today. I have a future build planed with the 210 2 door and changing the side trim to make it a Bel Air as that's my favorite body style. I have built a couple of Nomads with one being a custom style. A Sedan Delivery using a resin body and 2 of the 210s.     

Why the '56 Chevy hardtop has been ignored as a modern glue kit is beyond me. Doing a correct one based on the '56 Del Ray and the '55 Bel Air hardtop is a dream project of mine since I don't expect Revell to ever kit this car now. Another one that's conspicuous by its absence is a REALLY GOOD '57 Nomad. We've got the '56, but for whatever reason they ignored the '57.

Revell's newer tool '57 Black Widow (and Bel Air) just seem off to me particularly in the rear quarter windows. I've compared those to the Del Ray I have, and it just doesn't look right to me. Looks like another fix job is in order for that one if I ever decide to build it or like my '59 Impala, just swap the entire roof!

Edited April 29, 2018 by MrObsessive

[Greg Myers]

With this whole industry based on how many different versions they can get from one subject it's really not too hard to come up with many other no brainers. 

The possibilities are endless and not hard to see success regardless of the naysayers .. 

[espo]

14 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

Why the '56 Chevy hardtop has been ignored as a modern glue kit is beyond me. Doing a correct one based on the '56 Del Ray and the '55 Bel Air hardtop is a dream project of mine since I don't expect Revell to ever kit this car now. Another one that's conspicuous by its absence is a REALLY GOOD '57 Nomad. We've got the '56, but for whatever reason they ignored the '57.

Revell's newer tool '57 Black Widow (and Bel Air) just seem off to me particularly in the rear quarter windows. I've compared those to the Del Ray I have, and it just doesn't look right to me. Looks like another fix job is in order for that one if I ever decide to build it or like my '59 Impala, just swap the entire roof!

I have to agree with you on the Revell '57 Nomad. These were very handsome cars and deserve a little love. I have one of the old Revell Nomad wagon kits but have been put off by the shape of the body. I have a '56 Nomad body and have thought of combining it with one of the Revell '57s. Your idea of using the Revell '55 hardtop roof on the '56 Del Ray would be a perfect fit with a little side trim change.  I followed your '59 Impala build and this switch might even be easier than that build, which wasn't easy, but turn out beautifully.  

[Snake45]

12 minutes ago, espo said:

Your idea of using the Revell '55 hardtop roof on the '56 Del Ray would be a perfect fit with a little side trim change. 

You'd also have to change the doors, the rear quarters, and maybe the whole rear deck too. The '55-'57 hardtops and 2 door sedans were completely different bodies from the cowl back, not just the roof. 

[MrObsessive]

3 minutes ago, espo said:

I followed your '59 Impala build and this switch might even be easier than that build, which wasn't easy, but turn out beautifully.  

Thanks David! I don't think I'll attempt that one again...........at least on a '59!

If you ever decide to do a Nomad conversion, I'd think Revell's '57 Bel Air convertible would be your best bet. There's no roof to whack off, the side trim's already there, just some minor body work on the beltline (no dip) and take the roof off the '56. At least that's what I had in mind!

[espo]

Just now, Snake45 said:

You'd also have to change the doors, the rear quarters, and maybe the whole rear deck too. The '55-'57 hardtops and 2 door sedans were completely different bodies from the cowl back, not just the roof. 

Good point. I hadn't thought of that. While a little more intensive body work maybe just graft the '56 front end and the rear quarters to the '55 body. You would still have to creat the correct side trim, but after the body work that should be easy.

[espo]

1 minute ago, MrObsessive said:

Thanks David! I don't think I'll attempt that one again...........at least on a '59!

If you ever decide to do a Nomad conversion, I'd think Revell's '57 Bel Air convertible would be your best bet. There's no roof to whack off, the side trim's already there, just some minor body work on the beltline (no dip) and take the roof off the '56. At least that's what I had in mind!

That is kind of what I had in mind as I has the convertible but I'm not intending to build a convertible. I just bought it since it was out there and you just don't know for how long.  

[MrObsessive]

2 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

You'd also have to change the doors, the rear quarters, and maybe the whole rear deck too. The '55-'57 hardtops and 2 door sedans were completely different bodies from the cowl back, not just the roof. 

Yup! I know all about that. Hardtop roofs are shorter thus a longer tulip panel----likewise the rear deck is probably a tad longer. Doors would need a steeper "dip" on the hardtop's beltline. Side trim on the '56 Bel Air would just be a matter of using proper Evergreen strip and crafting those. Quarters I think are the same between the two 'cept for the upper part of the beltline----I'd have to take a closer look at those in scale.

[Snake45]

Any '56 body trim you want can be found as separate chrome pieces in the old Revell 2DS kit. Probably way easier than trying to create it out of Evergreen or whatever.