Revell: Stranger Things; Billy´s Chevy Camaro

[Ragtop Man]

Are we modelers or assemblers? 

Hate like hell to have to roof swap, but how hard could it really be to find a proper F body (which was kitted so frequently is was a cliche) to stab in one that is correct, or reshape the one that is already there? 

The last do-over by GM for this platform is one of the few things from the era that truly holds up in the light of history. (The ugly log bumpers, not so much.)

I take issue with the POVs from the fringe: "This [thing] is wrong, therefore it is BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH" and "Take it and like it or we have nothing else."  If you feel that way, fine. "Do, or do not," as the great philosopher said.

I think the more nuanced take is that had the  Z been truly corrrect, more get sold to serious modelers who might not otherwise have had interest in the subject, and could not care less about the series (me, especially). I think they clear the shipment with no problem, and they get shelf space in the 'craft' retailers they never would have otherwise.

And it that is the end of the planning rainbow, they made objective. But seeing the really strong entries - the Blazer, in particular - it feels like a miss, and the hobby has more than enough for one lifetime. 

[Mark C.]

35 minutes ago, Ragtop Man said:

Hate like hell to have to roof swap, but how hard could it really be to find a proper F body (which was kitted so frequently is was a cliche) to stab in one that is correct, or reshape the one that is already there? 

My take on this is that even many “fringe” builders won’t know or care about the side window shape, and for those of us who do, a little bit of careful filing, filling, and perhaps a few pieces of evergreen strip should make it right.  No big deal, IMHO, and much easier and less expensive than sacrificing another kit for a roof transplant.

We can argue all day as to whether it should have been done better, but at the end of it all it is still what it is, so deal with it and move on.  The fun in the hobby for me is taking a bare kit and making it look like the picture in my head.  If that includes some cutting and filing, then so be it.  The world won’t end if I get it wrong, so it’s just low-risk fun no matter how you slice it!

Glad to see the new iteration of this kit.  I will definitely be getting one.  🙂

[Ragtop Man]

22 hours ago, Mark C. said:

My take on this is that even many “fringe” builders won’t know or care about the side window shape, and for those of us who do, a little bit of careful filing, filling, and perhaps a few pieces of evergreen strip should make it right.  No big deal, IMHO, and much easier and less expensive than sacrificing another kit for a roof transplant.

We can argue all day as to whether it should have been done better, but at the end of it all it is still what it is, so deal with it and move on.  The fun in the hobby for me is taking a bare kit and making it look like the picture in my head.  If that includes some cutting and filing, then so be it.  The world won’t end if I get it wrong, so it’s just low-risk fun no matter how you slice it!

Glad to see the new iteration of this kit.  I will definitely be getting one.  🙂

Agree - but it makes a kit much easier to recommend, choose for a 'same subject' club build night, etc. when it's slam on the 1:1.  While we are on the subject, how great would it be to have a PE template that would lock in the opening and give a nice clean scribe guide? The GM shapes were very subtle, and replicating them can be a challenge. None of mine are ever symmetrical ...

[Hawk312]

On 1/11/2025 at 1:33 PM, Matt T. said:

Screenshot from the video. YESSS!! 

This is great! Looks like they have the “77/‘78 hood stripe in there too!

[Mark C.]

1 hour ago, Ragtop Man said:

Agree - but it makes a kit much easier to recommend, choose for a 'same subject' club build night, etc. when it's slam on the 1:1.  While we are on the subject, how great would it be to have a PE template that would lock in the opening and give a nice clean scribe guide? The GM shapes were very subtle, and replicating them can be a challenge. None of mine are ever symmetrical ...

In a parallel universe, I’d love to have all-new digitally scanned kits along the lines of the recent Revell Mustangs, but I’m not holding my breath while still in this universe.  😅

Scribe guides might be nice, but I still subscribe to the old school sculpture mindset that the proper shape is in there and it’s my job to get it out.  When it looks good to the eye it’s done (though no guarantees of symmetry… lol).

Just saying that I would rather be building a kit than complaining about it.  Whatever abomination I end up with after my “improvements” just makes for a good story!  😁

[Fat Brian]

8 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

Agree - but it makes a kit much easier to recommend, choose for a 'same subject' club build night, etc. when it's slam on the 1:1.  While we are on the subject, how great would it be to have a PE template that would lock in the opening and give a nice clean scribe guide? The GM shapes were very subtle, and replicating them can be a challenge. None of mine are ever symmetrical ...

The tops are still on the clear tree and could be used as templates for the holes. The hardest part of doing it yourself will be getting the lip in the roof the tops sit on. If I was doing it this way I would cut completely through the roof and add the lip back with styrene strip. The headliner side of the roof still has the bottom of the lips molded in so you can use those as a guide for placement. 

[mikos]

On 1/13/2025 at 8:59 AM, Ragtop Man said:

Are we modelers or assemblers? 

Hate like hell to have to roof swap, but how hard could it really be to find a proper F body (which was kitted so frequently is was a cliche) to stab in one that is correct, or reshape the one that is already there? 

The last do-over by GM for this platform is one of the few things from the era that truly holds up in the light of history. (The ugly log bumpers, not so much.)

I take issue with the POVs from the fringe: "This [thing] is wrong, therefore it is BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH" and "Take it and like it or we have nothing else."  If you feel that way, fine. "Do, or do not," as the great philosopher said.

I think the more nuanced take is that had the  Z been truly corrrect, more get sold to serious modelers who might not otherwise have had interest in the subject, and could not care less about the series (me, especially). I think they clear the shipment with no problem, and they get shelf space in the 'craft' retailers they never would have otherwise.

And it that is the end of the planning rainbow, they made objective. But seeing the really strong entries - the Blazer, in particular - it feels like a miss, and the hobby has more than enough for one lifetime. 

Yeah, that roof looks really bad.  Also, I don’t like how the wheel well shape looks either.  They seem to be too round and not enough elliptical like on the real car.  The old MPC Camaro kit wasn’t any great prize either, but I think with a few tweaks here and there it could be made to rival the Revell kit.  That’s why I’m holding out for the ‘80-‘81 ProStreet Camaro Z28 to be reissued by Round2.  

Edited January 17 by mikos

[Jon Cole]

I would love to take a swing at fixing the sides of the roof. Cut an insert- reshape it.
Snnnooorrt! Ahh, body filler!