This is a kit that I picked up a couple of years ago, and started working on. I did the logical thing and painted as many of the pieces that I could while they were still attached to the sprue. And then started with step one which is not only building the engine but deciding if it is going to be an automatic or a manual transmission.
I opted to go with the manual transmission. And right now all I can say is that I am glad that I have dry-fitted the parts. As sadly, not all of the pictures are totally clear as to which order some of the parts should be attached. And only through dry fitting was I able to figure out what order to attach the parts. I am down to attaching the fan, fan belt and alternator.
Then I get to attach the engine block to the chassis, as well as moving on to attaching the various parts to the chassis, and so on and so on and so forth.
Obviously being a 2’ N 1 kit, there are going to be pieces that one is not going to use in the build, those can be used in another build, or as “decoration” in a garage diorama. That being said, I have noticed that so far there are at least two pieces that are not shown being used. One is a hood with a teardrop scoop on it, and the other is a hose of some sort that is numbered 49 on the sprue. I am going to paint that flat black and again save it either for use in another build, or to be used as “decoration” in a garage diorama. Likewise, I am going to save the “plain” hood to either use in another build, or to use as “decoration” in a garage diorama.
So far over all I’ve gotta say that I do like the kit and am impressed with the detail. The instructions could be a little clearer as if an adult is “confused” as to the order that some of the parts should be attached I can see a “child” being equally confused. I would like to add that of late I am less then impressed with Revell’s customer service. If one has a lost or damaged part one has to either submit a replacement request in writing either via snail mail, or online, they no longer do replacement over the phone. And they only provide “technical” support on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and more often then not one is prompted to leave their name, phone number, and a brief description of the issue for a call back presumably later in the day.
I do have a couple of questions. When attaching the fan to the fan belt should it be glued in place, or just pushed into the hole? The paint chart did NOT mention chrome paint, but in the instructions when it comes to the steering wheel it says that horn band is chrome and the rest is black. Wouldn’t it have been “easier” to plate the steering wheel chrome and then have the builder paint the rest black? I’ve also noticed that while the box lists flat black as one of the paints needed to finish the kit, it however is NOT listed on the instruction sheet. And I will give Revell credit in that other then metallic blue there are no “exotic” color paints listed to finish the build.