1970 Chevelle SS454: Highly detailed and obsessively realistic!

[924_CarreraGTS]

Yet another new project, this one Revell's """new"""* Chevelle SS454.
*The kit turns out to be copyrighted 1985. It's a typical old Revell model: lousy.

I am building this project with a friend who is new to the hobby; this is his favorite old car. However, I wish I had gotten the AMT version, because it is a lot better quality. This is 1/24 scale. Sorry for no box shot: I'll try to post that up ASAP.

The kit is not good quality. Fit and finish are much better than, say, a 60's AMT kit (of which I have a few), but detail is bad. However, I've got a special weapon in my arsenal--the original build sheets for the 1970 GM A-body (Chevelle, Monte Carlo, and El Camino). In other words, I'll be adding every conceivable detail to this thing, while instructing my friend in the ways of modeling. Hopefully, he won't be overwhelmed!

Because my friend can't come over to work very often, don't expect rapid progress on this model. However, do expect my typical meticulous detail work.

We started with the body. The inner fender wells were really unrealistic, with cheap molded-on washer bottle and battery.


I carefully removed them with saw and knife.


At first, I planned to handbuild some new parts, but didn't know where to begin--big, curved structures aren't exactly easy to fabricate. At that point, I decided to see if, just maybe, the inner fenders from my spare 1970 AMT Monte Carlo (which happen to be perfectly realistic) would fit. (I have two identical Monte Carlos, one lacking the transparent parts tree. That model has become a GM parts donor). The reason I didn't expect this to work is that Revell's model is 1:24 and AMT's is 1:25. However, it seems that Revell had a little malfunction with measurement: The AMT parts fit like a glove.
Here they are, removed from the hapless Monte Carlo body, which is now totally ruined.


Before I installed them, I cut out the holes in the wiper panel. Washer hoses go through these holes.


Here are the AMT parts installed and puttied in. The putty is not yet sanded down, so don't think, "Wow, what crappy puttying!"


I've already sanded the putty and primered, so I'll try to snap some pictures and post them up soon. Hope you like this!

BTW: Model will be factory stock, probably dark metallic blue with white rallye stripes.

Thanks for looking!

Alex

[malscar]

Talk about throwing your friend in the deep end Alex. As you say, hope he does not get scared off.

Will be watching this evolve as I love the old cars.

One question, with the extra detail, are you going to replace the molded in wiring on the firewall?

[924_CarreraGTS]

Originally Posted by malscar

One question, with the extra detail, are you going to replace the molded in wiring on the firewall?

The entire engine bay will be fully wired. As for actually removing the molded-on wiring, I might just leave it and cover it with the wiring harness. I'll probably make a tutorial out of the wiring for this or my Firebird, as some in this forum have requested after they saw the harness in my Corvette.

[72chevelleOhio]

ok, I'll be the one to nag for an update...

[Turbokid15]

Nice one to bring up and old topic.