W-409 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I saw one of these for sale at a local Model Car Show for a good price. It was still sealed, so I kept it on my shelf for a while, but now I had to open it to see what's inside. My hopes weren't very high with this kit, because I knew it's a Snap Kit and I saw how few parts there were from the building instructions that are on the side and bottom of the box. The body shapes look very good to me, but it has lots of flash and mold lines to be removed. Also there are a couple of major sink marks that will need some filler. Overall, it looks good, though, but if you want to add an engine and opening hood, you'll need to do a lot of work with styrene and/or kitbashing. I'm not going that route with mine, I'll build this as a Curbside Stock Eliminator Drag Car, and then my '73 Chevelle will be a Full Detail build. Chassis is really simplified, too. Only separate parts are plastic axles and wheel/tire combos. Everything else is molded in, so careful detail painting is required. Tires are really nice with beautiful white walls, as in many other Jo-Han kits, so they should look good when the model is done. Interior is very simple, too. It is built from four parts, tub with molded in.... Well, it's easier to tell what is Not molded in: Dash, steering wheel and shifter. Everything else is molded in, so careful detail painting is required there as well. I'm bit disappointed because it has bucket seats, as I'd have preferred a bench seat. I can't say much about the windows, because the ones my kit had, are from some other Jo-Han kit. Chrome parts look very good, though some flash can be found. But otherwise they look great. I'm just afraid of painting the black areas on bumbers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W-409 Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 More... Here is a link to my Fotki for all of the pictures. (Yep, not as good as Tim Boyd's reviews, but you'll get an idea what the kit contains ) Overall the kit is interesting. Pros: The subject is very interesting, body looks accurate, nice tires and chrome parts. Cons: Parts count, amount of flash, mold lines etc on the body. The biggest problem is that this kit is getting Rare and I can't buy a big bunch of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Nice looking kit for a snap. I have seen them on ebay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 These are very sweet kits! Wish I had more, but they are hen's teeth. They build up simply but nicely and accurately represent one of GM's more striking cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Cullinan Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Great review,thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I have always loved Johans snap kits...while there is not much to them they make into a great model....I have the Cutlass too...wish I could find the... 72 Torino 74 AMX ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Mark, I haven't seen any of the Jo - Han snap kits since I guess maybe 1992. That's about the time Seville got the company ,or what was left of it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToyLvr Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 These are very sweet kits! Wish I had more, but they are hen's teeth. They build up simply but nicely and accurately represent one of GM's more striking cars! Try contacting JoHan. Last that I knew, Okey still had some. (859) 307-3087 E-Mail = Okeyisnow@gmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveM Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I built a couple of these a long time ago. They are simple, but like most of the JoHans of the era, they build up into very nice looking models. Great shelf models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mademan Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 WIth a bit of work these Cutlass snap kits can be made into a really nice full detail kit. a good friend David Irwin (minidreams) started on this one, and I acquired it from him. He used toe Revell 72 Cutlass convertible chassis, etc. as it is the same wheelbase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) I have one myself. I wish Illinois Model Company had managed to release this one with Rambler wagon & Chrysler Turbine like they promised 2 years ago!! As for the tires, I find Almost ALL Jo-Han tires to be VERY Generic!. No sidewall detail, NO Tread detail!! Yes, You go t 4 Very Concentric white stripe tires, but still....... The tires in both versions of the Turbine ARE nice. "Goodyear Power Cushion", Full Tread detail, AND sidewall!! They are a litle smaller than the Old MPC Power Cushion, And Monogram's, and Lindberg's Newer versions.. The Old MPC had straight grove tread detail like Almost ALL kit/promo tires from the early/mid 60's Edited January 31, 2014 by Edsel-Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Though not my preferred era, this 70's JoHan snap kits do look very accurate - at least from the outside - even if they are very simple. Here is my '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport (my only JoHan snap kit), wheels and tires come from amt, otherwise it is OOB: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Nice work on the Cutlass....The Torino is nice too.! Johan had quite a few snap or promo like kits...nice enough for me to not care if they were curbsides or not....I do miss the good old MPC white wall tires though...they were nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayabusa Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Nice! Thanks, Niko. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w451973 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 The AMT/MPC 69 442/Hurst chassis fit these real nice. I have a few I started on. I get bored easy. Thats a great start on that red one but are you sure that chassis is from the Revell Cutlass ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 (edited) I have one myself. I wish Illinois Model Company had managed to release this one with Rambler wagon & Chrysler Turbine like they promised 2 years ago!! As for the tires, I find Almost ALL Jo-Han tires to be VERY Generic!. No sidewall detail, NO Tread detail!! Yes, You go t 4 Very Concentric white stripe tires, but still....... The tires in both versions of the Turbine ARE nice. "Goodyear Power Cushion", Full Tread detail, AND sidewall!! They are a litle smaller than the Old MPC Power Cushion, And Monogram's, and Lindberg's Newer versions.. The Old MPC had straight grove tread detail like Almost ALL kit/promo tires from the early/mid 60's So close .... I love to pass on the exact details on why this didn't go forward but I'm sure I would find myself at the wrong end of a lawsuit. It did get as far as being approved the GM licensing agent and would have included new tool Rally wheels and Sport mirrors as well as different tires. All off the original Cutlass promo tooling still exists except for the tires and are here in the US along with the Rambler Wagon and Turbine Car. There were other items too never announced. I have a full test shot of one and seen parts of others. I will say that there were plans to permanently modify it to a from a Cutlass S to a 442 after the first run. I'm really sorry we couldn't make it happen. -Steve Edited February 5, 2014 by SteveG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 It wouldn't seem difficult to modify the Cutlass S to a 442 for a resin caster would it? The question would be, is there enough of a market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 It wouldn't seem difficult to modify the Cutlass S to a 442 for a resin caster would it? The question would be, is there enough of a market? No, not very difficult. The hood is the biggest change. I had some discussion with a well known resin caster here to possibly do some alternate conversion kits like a Hurst Olds or back dating it to a 73 Olds 442. There's others items that can be done with the basic GM "Colonnade" body style. I think the market would have be better for conversion kits but I would love to be proved wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 So close .... I love to pass on the exact details on why this didn't go forward but I'm sure I would find myself at the wrong end of a lawsuit. It did get as far as being approved the GM licensing agent and would have included new tool Rally wheels and Sport mirrors as well as different tires. All off the original Cutlass promo tooling still exists except for the tires and are here in the US along with the Rambler Wagon and Turbine Car. There were other items too never announced. I have a full test shot of one and seen parts of others. I will say that there were plans to permanently modify it to a from a Cutlass S to a 442 after the first run. I'm really sorry we couldn't make it happen. -Steve Man that is a beautiful Cutlass...!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfhess Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 (edited) Scale Equipment Ltd makes a 73 Hurst Olds in resin. For some reason I can't copy/paste the link. Easy enough to find. I have one. It is pretty well cast, but needs a bit of cleanup. Using the 72 Cutlass chassis etc would save a lot of work on this. Edited February 5, 2014 by sfhess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Scale Equipment Ltd makes a 73 Hurst Olds in resin. For some reason I can't copy/paste the link. Easy enough to find. I have one. It is pretty well cast, but needs a bit of cleanup. Using the 72 Cutlass chassis etc would save a lot of work on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000-cvpi Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 WOW, 149.95 for a curbside resin kit that needs donor parts and clean up. That is more than steep price wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 WOW, 149.95 for a curbside resin kit that needs donor parts and clean up. That is more than steep price wise. Thats why I bought a 73 promo to do my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 2000-cvpi post That (the $149.95 price of that resin kit) is insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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