Revell ‘55 Chevy Questions

[Ace-Garageguy]

OK...now I'm beginning to understand some of the annoyed "we don't need another '55 Chevy kit" etc. posts, but hey...if these newer ones are significantly more accurate and builder-friendly, what's not to like?

Sure, it'd be nice to have some different subjects, but the tri-five Chevys are so iconic, and resonate with so many people, they're a natural for a model company to produce.

Frankly, having wrestled with the older Revell tri-5 kits in my yoot, I didn't have a whole lot of interest in building any more (though I LIKE the kits and have several for parts and to hack up), but after seeing this thread, and remembering there's a nice '57 210 post out too, I'll be having a slew of 'em.   

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[Oldcarfan27]

[deuces wild]

12 hours ago, Bainford said:

Thanks guys

Are either of the kits above the newer tool 55?

Yep! I have both plus the convertibles...??

[bisc63]

17 hours ago, Mark said:

The newer ex-Monogram 1/25 scale kit has been released as a hardtop also.

I stand corrected! I had totally forgotten the hardtop kit was done, and what's sad is I'm pretty sure I've got one or two in the stash. My memory ain't long as it used to be.

[bytownshaker]

I agree with Rusty I have a good memory but its short!

Edgar

[W Humble]

I'm trying to assemble one of the first-run Revell 2-dr HT (opening door) kits as a car my brother and myself owned in the 'sixties/early seventies, and it has been stuck back in the box about three times now; I swear I wish I'd never begun it.  The kit was his, bought for the purpose, and at the time I still had the metallic green paint we put on it in '69.  Later it was sold, and the new owner got plastered, rolled it, and the girl riding with him was paralyzed from the neck down -- bad cess!  Still, my little bro has chronic leukemia now, and I wanted to present it to him in a display case.  AAUGH!  Even the instructions on that kit were wonky; I could do drawing that well!In desperation I glued on door shut, but it's still warped.  Lots of details I got right from my/his BelAir, but the realization is not coming out well.  

I combined a '55 and '56 kits to replicate my first car, a '55 'Post' Delray, and I glued the doors shut first thing; still not quite done!  I owned it for about 18 months in 1961 thru '63, when I graduated and needed college money; sold it up, and drove a '51 Ford club coupe -- got my immunization for flatheads with it, and three more!  That kit is progressing, at least.  I've trolled for conversion parts to make the AMT '49 coupe a '51 numerous times, but no luck.  Converting a '65 GTO kit into my '65 Tempest Custom 2-dr HT (single exhaust 326,  Chevy 3-speed, bench seats) was a snap by comparison.  Oh, the bench front seat; converted from a '55 Chevy one!  Wick

[espo]

14 hours ago, W Humble said:

I'm trying to assemble one of the first-run Revell 2-dr HT (opening door) kits as a car my brother and myself owned in the 'sixties/early seventies, and it has been stuck back in the box about three times now; I swear I wish I'd never begun it.  The kit was his, bought for the purpose, and at the time I still had the metallic green paint we put on it in '69.  Later it was sold, and the new owner got plastered, rolled it, and the girl riding with him was paralyzed from the neck down -- bad cess!  Still, my little bro has chronic leukemia now, and I wanted to present it to him in a display case.  AAUGH!  Even the instructions on that kit were wonky; I could do drawing that well!In desperation I glued on door shut, but it's still warped.  Lots of details I got right from my/his BelAir, but the realization is not coming out well.  

I combined a '55 and '56 kits to replicate my first car, a '55 'Post' Delray, and I glued the doors shut first thing; still not quite done!  I owned it for about 18 months in 1961 thru '63, when I graduated and needed college money; sold it up, and drove a '51 Ford club coupe -- got my immunization for flatheads with it, and three more!  That kit is progressing, at least.  I've trolled for conversion parts to make the AMT '49 coupe a '51 numerous times, but no luck.  Converting a '65 GTO kit into my '65 Tempest Custom 2-dr HT (single exhaust 326,  Chevy 3-speed, bench seats) was a snap by comparison.  Oh, the bench front seat; converted from a '55 Chevy one!  Wick

Trying to build a model of cars from the past can be very rewarding, but also very frustrating depending of the kits of the car that are available. You mention owning a '55 post Delray Chevrolet. My suggestion if this is still something you're trying to do is to start with an AMT '55 Chevrolet two door post kit that they call a Bel Air trim. You could use the interior parts from the Revell '56 Chevrolet 210 Del Ray model. Both kits are readily available at reasonable prices and are great builders. The AMT kit has very faint front fender trim and this is about the only thing you would need to delete to resemble the 210-trim level. Funny that you mentioned owning a '51 Ford as I also had a couple of those myself. 

[W Humble]

Great suggestion, but I began this one so many years ago that I used what I had; luckily my 1:1 car was dechromed considerably!  It's all painted and ready to finish except for a 'tube grille' that I need to fab from jewelry wire.  Wish I could duplicate the exemplary pinstriping it had!!  I'm doing one side with full "Hollywood Moons" and red rims, plus full-length lakes pipes, and the other a later mod with baby moons on black rims, and pipes delete.  Styles changed on the street, even then! THX! Wick

[Jantrix]

These Revell kits are kind of notorious for being a pain to build but I managed it as a teenager. All hinges worked and the rear windows folded down. 

On a side note, these sort of kits are GREAT for dioramas and the like because of the doors and lids that are separate and can be used anywhere in the dio easily. I'm using the Henry J for just that purpose now.

[W Humble]

I can easily imagine a salvage yard diorama full of 'em!  That's where I'd put warped promo parts too!

See, that's the problem: I'm 77 years old on Sunday, and no longer have that youthful pizazz... or vision, or small-motor skill, or...  :-<(  Wick

[deuces wild]

Happy Birthday!??

[NOBLNG]

Ok, there is NO WAY that this 409 and trans are going to fit here.? Do i just clip these cross-member mounts back until I can squeeze the drivetrain in place?? The instructions I have downloaded are not for this specific kit…but?

Edited October 26, 2022 by NOBLNG

[Can-Con]

Looks like it just takes a little trimming but I dunno,, 

[NOBLNG]

Well this kit sure has its share of issues.? These are the wheels and tires that are pictured on the box art…but they don’t fit.? They are too wide to fit in the wheel wells.?  I guess I’ll have to look for some skinnier tires, as widening the tubs and narrowing the track is more work than I want to put into this kit. Sorry folks…I’m just venting at this point.?‍♂️

Edited October 27, 2022 by NOBLNG

[NOBLNG]

There…I fixed it!? The old drill press sure comes in handy sometimes.?

[Mark]

The instruction sheet in early issues of that kit do mention that some trimming is necessary to fit the 409 engine.

One inner rear wheel well (inner fender) on the chassis is wider than the other, also.

[W Humble]

Trimming to fit a W-motor in a tri-5 ( I hate that appellation!) Chevy?  Try in on a 1:1 version!  A car pal of mine in high school did it, but he said (with 1963 tech and tools) that he wished he hadn't!  He acquired a 4-bbl version of the 409 from the local dealer when it spun off a cam lobe in a new Impala a lucky classmate had bought in '62, still under warranty. GM sent a crate replacement, the Chevy dealer replaced the cam, and my friend was able to buy it for about $400.  But he said that while it bolted up to his trans using stock parts, the pan interfered with his steering linkage, and about three  other fitment issues plagued the project; he lamented not buying a good 327!  Of course, nowadays, it seems easy, but there seeme to be mod kits for everything for sale.

Well, I still say that I have not end of probs with my '55 models, and they never really look as they ought!  One of my favorite rides, too!l  Wick