Round 2 1969 Chevelle Convertible

[Bob Ellis]

Tim, that was a very nicely commented pictorial of the Chevelle convertible kit. I have a couple of comments.

The original 1969 Chevelle did come as kit hardtop with promo versions of the hardtop and convertible. It is interesting to note that the 1978 convertible kit box showed the interior and boot of the original promo on the box cover, yet the the kit inside used a different interior tub and boot which included the downward arms that hid the convertible mechanism. I am guessing that in 1978, somebody at AMT used a promo, or parts of it to mock up a model to do a photo shoot. This is after AMT fired all the artists and used actual photos of the kits on the model boxes.

Round2 has done a terrific job at bringing back the old kits. I particularly like the inclusion of parts missing from previous re-issues. The pad printed tires are icing on the cake.

I have several versions of the AMT '69 Chevelle. As far as I can tell, none have the correct side marker lights or trim on the side. But, it is in no way a deal breaker. I shaved off the '68 chrome trim on the rocker panels made new thin side marker lights out of Evergreen styrene. You have to make new wheel lip moldings from Evergreen as well, but again, no big deal.

With the inclusion of '68 Chevelle windshield glass, making a '68 is easier. So that is a good thing.

I also looked at the two kits I had; an original 1978 issue and the new Round2 issue. However, after looking at your photos I realize that I missed some important thing Round2 did. I am glad you pointed out them.

Great job,

[kelson]

Thanks for the reply's on the trim,i too have the 78'release but will be picking this one up for sure after reading the review and the additional parts included.

Edited January 27, 2014 by kelson

[tim boyd]

Tim, that was a very nicely commented pictorial of the Chevelle convertible kit. I have a couple of comments.

The original 1969 Chevelle did come as kit hardtop with promo versions of the hardtop and convertible. It is interesting to note that the 1978 convertible kit box showed the interior and boot of the original promo on the box cover, yet the the kit inside used a different interior tub and boot which included the downward arms that hid the convertible mechanism. I am guessing that in 1978, somebody at AMT used a promo, or parts of it to mock up a model to do a photo shoot. This is after AMT fired all the artists and used actual photos of the kits on the model boxes.

Round2 has done a terrific job at bringing back the old kits. I particularly like the inclusion of parts missing from previous re-issues. The pad printed tires are icing on the cake.

I have several versions of the AMT '69 Chevelle. As far as I can tell, none have the correct side marker lights or trim on the side. But, it is in no way a deal breaker. I shaved off the '68 chrome trim on the rocker panels made new thin side marker lights out of Evergreen styrene. You have to make new wheel lip moldings from Evergreen as well, but again, no big deal.

With the inclusion of '68 Chevelle windshield glass, making a '68 is easier. So that is a good thing.

I also looked at the two kits I had; an original 1978 issue and the new Round2 issue. However, after looking at your photos I realize that I missed some important thing Round2 did. I am glad you pointed out them.

Great job,

Bob...thanks for the feedback and further comments.

When AMT did the art for the Countdown series, much of the Art Department was still intact (I was doing work for them at the time....the '65 El Camino countdown kit pictured the build they commissioned from me for that kit).

It was probably about six months later, when the strike hit, that they laid off the rest of the Art Department. I had interviewed for full time work there, but the strike happened and they told me no job was available....weeks later I started at Ford and lost all contact with that group....

TB

[Eric S]

Greetings all!

Just built mine. A lot of flash, and terrible tail lights, but overall a simple and fun kit to build. The gauge decals really help the interior.

Eric

[jaydar]

Nice Eric. Makes me want to do mine but I have a few to finish first and need more reference shots to convert to a '68.

Joe.

[Bob Ellis]

Jaydar, should be easy to do a '68, since it has '68 side trim. Model Car Garage has front marker lights.

[Greg Cullinan]

Eric. Your Chevelle is a beauty. Looking forward to this kit now,wasn't really into it til seeing it built,always happens. Lol.

[Danno]

Nice.

[jaydar]

Jaydar, should be easy to do a '68, since it has '68 side trim. Model Car Garage has front marker lights.

Thanks Bob. Are they in the Chevelle/Beaumont set or stand alone?

Joe.

[Eric S]

One thing that you might want to consider in your builds. The windshield is incredibly thick and you have to remove the vent window glass. I used a black sharpie around the perimeter. That hides the thickness.

[Rob Hall]

Too bad they didn't correct the windshield...IIRC, the 'Countdown Series' release of the hardtop had the '68 glass also...at some later reissue of the hardtop they corrected the windshield.

[Bob Ellis]

Jaydar, I could not find a '68 Chevelle or Beaumont Model Car Garage set.

However, I did see the '68 El Camino set, which has the front side markers you need. I think the '68 Nova and Camaro set would work too as those markers were common for all Chevys except the Corvette.

[Bob Ellis]

I was wrong. no dice on the '68 Camaro MCG etch set.

[Hard_2_Handle_454]

Greetings all!

Just built mine. A lot of flash, and terrible tail lights, but overall a simple and fun kit to build. The gauge decals really help the interior.

Eric

Finally broke down and got the model myself since I'm a huge Chevelle guy. I agree the tail light fit sucks. I also had trouble with the fit of the frame. For some reason the wheel wells were slightly off and would not align right. It was simple to build, but the kit didn't have a lot of detail, and the directions are archaic. It shows the assembly from the wrong angles and doesn't even show some parts in the assembly! I was happy with the decals and the inclusion of the headlights though. It was a very rough build, but I think my version came out looking pretty good. Pics of it to come.

[Bob Ellis]

The re-issue of the '69 Chevelle convertible is almost exact to the original. However, there are some interior location posts on the Round2 re-issue (the one on the left with CHINA black lettering) that were not on the 1978 issue. My feeling is these posts restrict the interior movement which in turn restricts the chassis. If you shave off the posts, the interior won't be locked into one position and thus the chassis can move too.

It should be possible to remove these posts after assembly since they are on the inside of the model where shaving will not be seen.

[knyte91]

I have this kit as well. I hope everyone who has this has both metal axles. I opened my kit & only got 1 axle. Good thing I have some spare axles laying around. I haven't had a chance to start building but it is painted an Icy Blue with White interior.

[JohnU]

Doesn't need two metal axils. Has two plastic axil pins for the front so it doesn't go thru the engine block. Check the assembly instructions.

[unclescott58]

A question about cutting out the vent wing glass. How tough is this to do? Any tips on this? What the best tools to use? I worry about this one. It seems so easy to damage clear parts. I've developed cracks cutting windows away from their sprue, using sprue cutters. So taking a saw to the unwanted vent glass scares me a bit.

Any advice would be appreciated.

R. Scott

[Bob Ellis]

Uncle, cut the glass in a manner you would cut real glass. Create a defect line where it will break.

Use the back side of the Xacto blade and made a deep score along where the vent glass meets the A post. Using a needle nosed plier, align the edge (not the tip) to the score line and bend . If you do a good job, you can save the vent glas for the '68 Chevelle you intend to build someday.

[unclescott58]

I wonder if the left over vent glass would fill in the the missing on the '70 Ford Galaxie kit? I doubt it. You got me thinking.

As far as scoring the glass. How deep should the score lines be?

Uncle Scott

[mnwildpunk]

Doesn't have to be super deep I'd. Say 1/3rd of the way through

[Bob Ellis]

I agree, a 1/3 is about right. It doesn't take much

[Bowtienutz]

I'd be interested in building both a 68 and a 69 in stock Hi Perf 396 versions from this kit. Shy of scratchbuilding or sectioning in a vent window area, what parts would I need?

some i think I got or understand what I need

Modelhaus or Missing link 69 tailights

68 tailights?

MCG detail set for marker lights and other detail parts maybe 2 sets? 68 & 69?

Front Grille & bumper is it a 68 or a 69?

rear bumper? use the kit?

Dash is it a 68 or a 69?

Are the door panels and seats patterns the same?

Has anyone tried other chassis with better detail?

thanks guys

[Rob Hall]

I would assume the door panels and seat patterns would differ..I don't have an AMT '68 Chevelle annual to compare. The Modelhaus does have the '68 dash available, separately and as part of their '68 conversion kit, which includes front and rear bumpers, taillights, and dash.

For a chassis, I think some have used the more detailed AMT/MPC '69 Cutlass chassis under the AMT '69 Chevelles before...

[Bob Ellis]

Bowtienutz and Rob

I built the vent windows using Evergreen 0.01 by 0.02 ( I belive correct, but I have the part number somewhere). I actually doubled it over to get more thickness.

I used the AMT '69 Chevelle tail lights as a filler, since it was the correct shape. I filed it down flat until the tail light design disappeared and glued it into place.

Threar quater needed some re-shaping to fit the '68 tail lights and bumper in place. '68s had wrap around tail lights, so you must sand off the kits '69 rear side lights.

The front side marker in the '69 Chevelle kit are wrong. They are 1/2 of the '68 side marker light that included the engine dispacement. Get the MCG etched side marker lights in their '68 El Camino set. Choose the 396 if a super sport.

Most Chevelle SS396s came with a bench seat and no extra instruments. That is what I plan to do.

I think the '68 AMT and '69 AMT had the same interior. Seats with no headrests. Only difference I know is the dash and mabye the steering wheel?

I am using the chassis that came with the kit. I am sure others want more detail. I am just detailing what is easily seen.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Bob Ellis