Which '57 Chevy kit is most detailed and accurate?

AMT did 3 '57's the original 3 in 1 with the optional 409, and two more detailed stock and street machine versions in the late 1990's.

Monogram did some '57's in 1/24, but I can't tell you much about them, since I've never built one.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but the most accurate & detailed '57 Chevy by far is the large Monogram kit in 1/12th scale.  The first release is a 3 in 1 kit and includes lots of extra goodies...

My favorite is the amt kit. The OLD one. The pro modeler has an opening trunk and a more detailed undercarriage, though. The Monogram one has the Bel Air trim too large on the fins, I think (my opinion). I thought that amt had a large scale 57 too back in the 70's...

I never tried the new one--the Black Widow. Might be ok, as long as you don't need a back seat! Good luck & have fun making it!

............Like all of the recent Rev ell Chevy kits (55' convertible, hardtop, 56' Sedan and Nomad two door station wagon) the 57 black widow Chevy sedan is highly detailed. This is a base version, marketed toward salesmen and other commercial users, so it only has a front seat. Because it was basic it became popular with stock car racers who would install a roll bar wear the back seat was supposed to be and install a racing engine (all included in the kit). The only thing missing is molded in scrawl work on the body. These are represented by decals.  After market photo etched parts might be useful here................During the late ninties AMT came out with a highly detailed 57' Chevy Bel Air hardtop. The Pro Shop version came with photo etched parts which was not that useful since it would be necessary to sand off all engraved detail on the body, but the could be used on other kits with shallower or non existent detail. There was also a street rod version.............. Unfortunately Round Two didn't re release this kit. They released the 1962 tooling kit which they claimed was better proportioned. Which release looked more realistic is subjective of course. They also left out all the custom parts including the 409 engine..............Revell is going to release a 57' Chevy Bel Air sedan based on the black widow tooling, with the standard family car interior and, hopefully, engraved trim including the iconic "wings" on the rear quarter panel. 

Gear Head 6 is right- The Pro Shop version came with a PE grille, side cove inserts, and a few other bits. The street machine version came with (if my memory serves me well) a fuel-injected Rat motor. Both had opening trunks. There was also a standard version of the stock kit, which did not include the PE, soft vinyl hoses, plug wire, or almost uselessly small sheet of chrome foil from the Pro Shop issue.

As far as I know, these were only issued once in the late 1990's. AMT has just reisued the original '57 Tool, albeit in blue plastic and without any of the custom version parts.

There was also a chopped top and glass unit included in the original AMT '57, but it bit the dust around the early '70's. (I'm told the 'Pepper Shaker' issue was the first version to not include these parts.)

 I've still not built the Black Widow, and I'm pretty sure I won't be any time soon, but I've seen enough of them built up by others to say confidently it's a pretty good kit.

................I do have one of the "Wal-Mart wonder" six dollar AMT 57' Chevy kits that I haven't built yet and it has all of the later issue custom and competition parts so they were apparently removed for the first time in the current Round Two issue. They did  the same ting with the 55' Chevy Nomad which up until now had all of its origenal issue racing and custom pickup parts. Oddly Round Two/Amt are restoring long missing parts and origenal decals to the 25' double T kits and double dragster kits...............Also along with the Pro Shop, regular and street rode versions AMT issued a Coca Cola 57' Chevy. It was apparently a light commercial vehicle with all the side chrome trim removed presumably sanded off by the model builder. I'm yet to see a photo of a hardtop used as a commercial vehicle, but that doesn't mean that there weren't any.

I'm sure there were a few commercial hardtops, but only for the top sales guys to drive, certainly!

Yes the Revell Black Widow has an excellent Fuelie 283!  

i have had both amt and revell-monogram '57 chevy's the revell-monogram is the better kit.

You might want to wait a little while. I don't know a release date but Revell is coming out with a '57 BelAir 2 door sedan based on the Black Widow tooling. That might be just what you're looking for.

 The Revell Black Widdow, that's the one you can get from the Michaels Arts & Crafts store, right? (I was there the other day, and was thinking about eather a 55 or 57 Chevy model I saw there. My brain quit working, and I can't remember what model it was)

............I finally bought the 57' Chevy Bel Air version.  The Chevrolet scrawl work is represented by decals, like on the Utility, but all of the side trim, including the wings or what ever, is engraved into the side.  It has a back seat, of course, and a different upholstery pattern and the accents are represented by decals like the Utility.  There is also a choice between high end disc  wheels and standard steal wheels with dog dish hub caps...............Both the kits were available at Michaels at least the one I visited in Duluth last week. 

I´m afraid I can not tell you which kit is the best, but I definetely can tell what NOT to buy. It's also useful to know, isnt't it?

Do not buy the '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible form AMT/ERTL 1/12. Very bad details!

I'm building a junk version out if it, as you can see in another post of mine and even for the junk version of the car I have to rebuild many things from scratch! (radiator, front grill, etc)

Back in around 1966 --1969, I purchsed a 1957 Chevy kit. I am pretty sure that it was made by Revell, as it had opening doors and steerable front wheels. I am trying to get this same kit, but am not sure of the year of issue. I have seen one that was issued in 1963, and another that the owner said was issued in 1970. Was there a kit that was issued between 1963 and 1970? Thank you for youe time.

 Hi Hilo!

      Yes, there was a really good 57 issued by Revell, in the late 60s early 70s. Granted, because of the working features she was a little fiddly. But, if you took the time and were careful she looked good. I always liked the first AMT version with the custom parts in the " Styline" kits.

     Now, I always thought the Monogram kits in 1/24 were nice in that they went together smoothly and were molded in colors which helped my students who were paint limited because of living conditions. DO NOT buy the 1/12 Chevy by Monogram! Why? well, unless you have a real one close by, for technical specs, you will learn very fast there a Glaring omission in the kit!

      Look at All the 1/25-1/24 kits. What's very prominent on the front fenders? A ridge pressed into the metal which was duplicated in the Models. It is totally Missing from that kit. Meaning, right off the bat you have to correct a very glaring error to get it looking right!

    Believe me, in 1/12 it looks like someone tried to pancake the front end! Sad too, Why? the rest of the kit is very nice. If you want large though, go to the A.M.T.- 1/16 offerings. None are perfect from the Real Car collectors point of view, but they are the closest to being accurate in most respects. Before 1982 I had a real one to be my guide. I bought it just before graduating High School and kept it in great Condition till I traded it for a 53 Studebaker Starliner.

HiloHawaii

Back in around 1966 --1969, I purchsed a 1957 Chevy kit. I am pretty sure that it was made by Revell, as it had opening doors and steerable front wheels. I am trying to get this same kit, but am not sure of the year of issue. I have seen one that was issued in 1963, and another that the owner said was issued in 1970. Was there a kit that was issued between 1963 and 1970? Thank you for youe time.

 

Revell 1/25 kit H-1284 was originally released in 1962. Working quarter windows!

The next release was H-1371 in 1973. Jacked up front end.

In between Revell was releasing a series of 56 Chevies.

My favorite from the 57 series was the Nomad, H-1260 released in 1969.

They are fiddly kits, and with all of the working stuff mine fell apart pretty quickly.

Tanker-Builder

     Now, I always thought the Monogram kits in 1/24 were nice in that they went together smoothly and were molded in colors which helped my students who were paint limited because of living conditions. 

Funny you should say that. About a year ago I built an AMT Avanti and a Monogram Futura (Batmobile later in it's life).

I couldn't wait to finish the Avanti so that I could throw it away. A collector took my Lincoln.

 

 

The Revell Snap Kit has the most accurate body. But, you will have to kitbash that with another kit to get the details worked up and acceptable everywhere else. In the end they all "look" like 57 Chevy's. It just depends on how much work you want to put in and how much detail you can live with or without.

BK