April 2000 Issue
April 2000 Issue
| Click on small pix above to see larger pics.
This model has a lot of positives but it has a few negatives as well. It has a very realistic chrome grille and chrome bumper with license plate frame and painted amber parking lights. It also has clear plastic molded headlights. Usually I give high points for this BUT they failed to put white or chrome backing behind the lights. The result is the lights appear abnormally dark. This takes away from the realism. The hood also has custom "hood locks" and they are highlighted in chrome. It has painted masks around the headlight assembly colour coded to the rest of the car. The hood opens (#6) which is good and the molded engine detail is good but it's flat black. The hood itself is not a terribly good fit as you can see in the first two pics and I take some points off for that. (#2) The rear of the model has plenty of great details including realistically molded tailights in the chrome bumper. But they aren't detailed in red. (#3 and #4) the sides of the model has some good and bad as well. It has painted marker lights on the front and rear and they are the proper shape in the proper location and they are the proper colour. BUT the "lights" in the rear are lacking the distinctive grill over the lights that the Chevelle was known for. The model has a silver pin stripe and silver trim around the windows and chrome side view mirror and door handle detail. The chrome wheels are designed to the GM standard which is good. But these wheels should be trimmed with the colour of the body and they aren't. Another nice feature of this model is the black vinyl top that contrasts nicely with the yellow body. The doors are a poor fit like the hood and that shows clearly in the pics. (#5) The interior is very nicely done with great details. The details can be seen when the doors are open it has the properly shaped steering wheel and molded dash board details. It also has tires that are some kind of rubber/plastic polymer. The model has good roll but it's not great. The body rattles so I take points off for that. The road feel is rough but the wheels do turn very freely and it rolls in a straight line. What I would do to improve it. If I were designing this model I would put chrome behind the headlights, white letters on the tires, colour coded detailing on the wheels and the put the grille over the rear marker lights. I would detail the tail lights in red and detail the engine and dashboard. And I would improve the body integrity. What's good about it? The best thing I can say about this model besides that it has excellent details even if they aren't realized, is that it can be customized. The whole thing is put together with screws. |
| In the pic above you see how the model breaks down into two well designed and logical pieces. You can see how this model lends itself to customization and kit bashing. |
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| This pic shows how the dashboard and door assemblies can easily be removed by removing the remaining four screws. Also note how the "glass" is attached to the inside roof of the model like a 1-6x model (like a Matchbox car). |
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In this month's Custom Shop
I customize this model and cover the process step by step.
And I feature the finished custom model in a ceramic light up village scene
in"The Custom Car Rally" elsewhere in this issue.
Also it was this model I used to create the pic on thepix page......I did too!
I really like this model and consider it a very good addition to both the 1/43 diecast collection and the Village. But I can't give it my highest rating because of the shortcomings I mentioned above. The greatest thing about it is the real car model it represents. But the credit for that goes to General Motors and Chevrolet not Road Champs. Once you get past that it's only an average example of this kind of model. (For an example of a model I consider an excellent example in this class go to the March Issue article on 1/43 scale and scroll down to pic 5 (the Ertl Mercury Turnpike Cruiser) ) I give this Model THREE STARS 
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Next Month: New Ray 1961 Jaguar E Cabriolet
©2000
