Revell 69 Chevelle SS396

[randyc]

I took some pics and made some progress on teh Chevelle.  Here we go.

Incorrect wheels.   I found a set that may be more accurate in an AMT Roadrunner/GTX/Coronet kit.   Didn't get around to working on them this weekend.  

Here's the grille painted up.  no lenses yet.  

Grille fits nicely with a little fitting work.  Just a little filing and scraping to get a better fit.

Chassis

Here's an area that needs work.  THe seat backs just kinda fade into the sides.   THe plastic area at bottom is not defined, so I fixed that - It's not prefect, but better than presented.  Top seat is filed.   Bottom seat is just glued together.  Once painted, I'll run some sort of chrome or silver bead around the edge on teh seat back only.   IN researching, the chrom around bottom is only correct for the Chevelles that ended up with Buick seats.  I think that's how it read.   There were some cars with Buick and Olds interiors that came from factory that way.  

Edited August 17, 2020 by randyc

[randyc]

Here's my process on trying to fix the rear bumper gap issue. I cut the bumper off, sanded it smooth, reglued it.   Took a bit of the gap[ out and I can live with it.  I tapered the bottom of the quarter up to meet.  I'm sure some of you will still not like it and will come up with other solutions.   To me, it's one car in about 200 in my collection on display.   Nary one of them are perfect.  

Here is the lower quarter tapered up to match height or rear bumper.  I think the whole thing will look better once I get the gap blacked in and on the painted body.   The body has color on it, but paint is a little rough - was a little dry.  I think some polishing will fis that.  I get to working on the GT4 and didn't get back to the 69.

I did work on the weird gap in the photo below some.   We'll see how it turns out later.  

My photography was pretty bad.  I apologize.  I was hurrying along trying to get that done without losing my train of thought.   Photos looked pretty good on my phone but on my 21" monitor, it's pretty bad.  

Edited August 17, 2020 by randyc

[Elmer Fudd]

I've owned a few 1969 Chevelles, still own one. I'm curious to know what's incorrect about those pictured wheels.

Am also curious to learn more about 1969 Chevelles coming with Buick seats and Oldsmobile interiors.

 

[Snake45]

Your rear bumper fix looks good, but I won't be able to live with that gap between the bumper and the end caps. I'll have to plug that with some styrene or something. Drive on! 

[Painted Black]

I knew about the 68 interiors, did not know the 69's were that way. Link is to a conversation about the 68's.

https://www.chevelles.com/forums/26-interiors/50399-68-ss-396-w-buick-interior.html

[randyc]

29 minutes ago, Elmer Fudd said:

I've owned a few 1969 Chevelles, still own one. I'm curious to know what's incorrect about those pictured wheels.

Am also curious to learn more about 1969 Chevelles coming with Buick seats and Oldsmobile interiors.

 

Actually when I looked I didn't find it.  It was 1968.  http://chevellestuff.net/1968/interiors/alt_int.htm

[randyc]

24 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Your rear bumper fix looks good, but I won't be able to live with that gap between the bumper and the end caps. I'll have to plug that with some styrene or something. Drive on! 

My car ended up brown.   A rarely seen color and mine isn't a perfcet match.   But hte dark color will hopefully hide some of that.  And you are more particular than I am - this I know already.  ?   And I know others will come up with solutions as well.  Just wanted to go ahead and get one out there for everyone asking about it.   Once I really saw it, I couldn't unsee it - kinda like that DM diecast we've discussed elsewhere.  

[Rodent]

A lot of this kit goes together very nicely. I like the way that the frame and floorpan fit together and that each exhaust pipe has three pin locations. One under the front seat, one under the rear seat, one into the trunk area so they can be glued from the top and it won't show. Not so sure about the vague location for the rear upper control arms and I would have appreciated a locating pin on the frame for the front springs.

[bisc63]

I never noticed until your pic above, but that trans cross-member is bogus. The "groove" running the length of it needs to be puttied in to create a nearly smooth profile.  Real ones begin life as round steel tubing that is pressed into shape, leaving an oval cross section.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

48 minutes ago, bisc63 said:

I never noticed until your pic above, but that trans cross-member is bogus. 

It is. It appears that the mold maker was trying to save a little plastic but he saved on the wrong side of the part. To his credit, though, my fading memory says that the 1968-72 midsize BOP crossmembers were made from channel steel.  It's not as egregious an error as the master cylinder mounted on the passenger side of the Moebius 1961 Pontiacs. You'd need a co-pilot everywhere you went in a Moebius 1961 Catalina. "BRAKE NOW, I SAID!"

Edited August 18, 2020 by Elmer Fudd

[randyc]

I just remembered I have the first Gear 1/25 69 SS396 here in my office.   This is how the rear SHOULD fit together.   And these wheels are correct other than they need the spokes painted.   I am going to try to get the wheels off this one and use them on the kit.  I found a nice set of Keystone Klassics I can use on the diecast maybe.   NEed a set of big & Littles since FG seems to have put airshocks on this one.   Think I'll use my extra black side stripes on this one as well.  

A lot of you will hate me for this, but this diecast is pretty much nicer than the kit.  No you don't get to build it.   But for a display piece, the diecast is pretty dang nice and around same cost as the kit, $24 + shipping from FG.  And you get opening doors, hood, and trunk lid.  Headliner with modled in shoulder belts.  

However, I did want to build the 69 kit and am doing so.  One of my favorite builds for years when I was younger was the AMT kit.   Mine was white plastic with testors constantly yellowing clear, hand painted red are bottom, red interior, mags.  I had no idea it was so inaccurate and just built because it was a 69 Chevelle.  

I'll do a comparo of the kit, this diecast, and the Johnny Lightning 1/24 diecast when I finish the kit.   It will be in the diecast section.  

Edited August 18, 2020 by randyc

[Snake45]

That whole rear end looks much better than either the AMT or Revell kits. 

Never noticed it till you mentioned putting the stripe on this one, but the SS396 on the front fenders is way too high. You'll have to take that off to put the stripe on. 

I've been looking for one of the these FG '69 Chevelles in Fathom Green for about a year now, no luck at all. I see red ones, and I think black ones. 

[randyc]

2 hours ago, Snake45 said:

That whole rear end looks much better than either the AMT or Revell kits. 

Never noticed it till you mentioned putting the stripe on this one, but the SS396 on the front fenders is way too high. You'll have to take that off to put the stripe on. 

I've been looking for one of the these FG '69 Chevelles in Fathom Green for about a year now, no luck at all. I see red ones, and I think black ones. 

And if I ever see the Fathom Green, I will let you know.  I would like it, but you been searching for years.   I wondered about the stripe myself.  

[Dodge Driver]

Looking good Randy. I'm working on this kit myself.  I appreciate you documenting your progress. 

I ordered a Speedwaydecals decal sheet for the AMT 69 Chevelle to help with the interior bright work. I will see if the chrome seat piping is on it. Interested to see what you come up with for that.

[randyc]

Just now, Dodge Driver said:

Looking good Randy. I'm working on this kit myself.  I appreciate you documenting your progress. 

I ordered a Speedwaydecals decal sheet for the AMT 69 Chevelle to help with the interior bright work. I will see if the chrome seat piping is on it. Interested to see what you come up with for that.

Haven't decided yet.  I have used silver sharpie, BMF, and Molotow in recent past.  Usually involves touching up each color several times afterwards no matter what to get it to look best I can do.  This one doesn't have a lot of edge to touch without touching adjacent surfaces.   

[Slotto]

Wow that is sharp! Top notch

[RichCostello]

6 hours ago, randyc said:

Haven't decided yet.  I have used silver sharpie, BMF, and Molotow in recent past.  Usually involves touching up each color several times afterwards no matter what to get it to look best I can do.  This one doesn't have a lot of edge to touch without touching adjacent surfaces.   

I used a medium point Pentel Sunburst silver metallic gel pen on the seats, and some of the dash trim, and it worked perfectly. I bought it at Hobby Lobby in a 2 pack, and it might be the best interior detailing tool ever made. It looks just like chrome, and works on very fine details with no touch-up needed. I also used it on the door panel trim, and it worked great!

[randyc]

Couple more photos

[1972coronet]

Looking quite nice !  Is that Burnished Brown ? 

[gman]

The paint looks great- will stay tuned in on your build!

[randyc]

9 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Looking quite nice !  Is that Burnished Brown ? 

 

5 hours ago, gman said:

The paint looks great- will stay tuned in on your build!

Well, it is an attempt at Burnished Brown.  It is Testors Extreme Lacquer Rootbeer.  I needed a color that was out of the normal to go in the display.   So my first thought was gold but I didn't see any at the Advance store when Istopped and had the brown leftover from a previous build.   Figured why not?  It will stand out on display.  

And it is coming along quite nicely after the primer fiasco I had.   Thanks for the compliments.   

The chrome on the seat edge doesn't show up as much as I would like.   And I think the seats and door panels need a coat of Pledge to give them some sheen.  Body will get one more coat too.  Try to bring the shine up a bit more.   This is my first try at Pledge floor stuff.  

Edited August 21, 2020 by randyc

[randyc]

Update on wheels - the First Gear wheels aren't coming apart as easily as I had hoped.  May try one more time.   Hard to get the tires off the wheels.  And none of the wheels fit the other tires, dang it.   The Keystones are beautiful, but have the old rubber square sidewall tires.  I can't remember the brand - maybe MRC?  I may see what else I can find in the old stash this weekend.  

[drodg]

1 hour ago, randyc said:

Update on wheels - the First Gear wheels aren't coming apart as easily as I had hoped.  May try one more time.   Hard to get the tires off the wheels.  And none of the wheels fit the other tires, dang it.   The Keystones are beautiful, but have the old rubber square sidewall tires.  I can't remember the brand - maybe MRC?  I may see what else I can find in the old stash this weekend.  

Do the wheels from the Mopar kits not work?   

[randyc]

4 hours ago, drodg said:

Do the wheels from the Mopar kits not work?   

Didn't get there yet.   I took my red 69 diecast home from my office and was messing with it last night.   I saw on Junk Yard Gold other night that Mopar had trim rings in 69 and just chrome in 68.   Learned something...  Maybe this weekend.   

[drodg]

24 minutes ago, randyc said:

Didn't get there yet.   I took my red 69 diecast home from my office and was messing with it last night.   I saw on Junk Yard Gold other night that Mopar had trim rings in 69 and just chrome in 68.   Learned something...  Maybe this weekend.   

That is true about the trim rings on 69 and 67-68 all chrome.  You know most all 69 Chevelle SS ads show the what I would call the styled steel or magnum 500 wheels with trim rings.   That is what us Mopar guys call them.  Anyhow there is one ad and it maybe an early one that shows a light blue SS with no trim rings and just the painted styled steel wheels.  I have never seen a car in real life without trim rings though.  Thanks Randy