Kit: No. 2504
Scale: 1/25
Manufacturer: Trumpeter, imported by Stevens International, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NJ 08049, 856-435-1555
Price: $32.50
Comments: Injection-molded, 186 parts (13 photoetched, 8 vinyl)
Pros: Highly detailed, great chrome-plated parts
Cons: Some fit problems
Following its 1960 Pontiac Bonneville kits, Trumpeter has released its new 1963 Nova in both coupe and convertible form. I built the ragtop, but most of my comments will apply to both versions.
Most of the Nova's parts are molded in white plastic along with some clear and translucent-red pieces. The chrome-plated tree is outstanding. It's bright, and the finish is durable; no chrome rubbed off. Some parts, such as the gas cap, antenna, and door handles are not on the chrome-plated tree but should have a chrome finish. A coat of Alclad or some Bare-Metal Foil will help solve the problem.
The Nova body is molded well. My example was warp-free, but the mold lines were quite large. The hood and trunk lid are separate and each has separate inner bracing parts. I would suggest taping the panels in place on the body before attaching the bracing.
Trumpeter includes an impressive-looking set of photoetched-metal hood hinges in the kit. All of the body emblems are photoetched, too.
The chrome trim for the body sides is separate. The rear bumper attaches too low on the car; it should be raised about 1/8".
The chassis is the highlight of the kit. The pan is a single piece to which the front stub, rear frame rails, and suspension attach. Of special note are the single-leaf rear springs, which are correct for this car. The front wheels steer through the steering wheel. Trumpeter's method for achieving this does not work very well and looks toylike in its execution. The tie rod is about 1/16" too short, resulting in a toed-out appearance. Metal coil springs are included for the front suspension.
The engine is unusual for a model of a 1960s American car. It's a straight six! The engine and transmission are nicely molded with lots of separate parts. The intake and exhaust manifolds are especially nice. The crankshaft pulley does not attach to the engine, though; it just hangs there. With a bit of wiring and detailing, this engine can really stand out.
The interior builds on the chassis floor, with separate side panels that feature separate handles, cranks, and chrome trim. The front and rear seats have separate backs. The dash has a chrome instrument bezel; however, there is no gauge detail and no decals are provided. The front of the dash does not match the curvature of the cowl, leaving noticeable gaps. It should also be noted that there is no package shelf behind the rear seat, which leaves a large gap between the seat and convertible boot. With the trunk open, you can see right through.
Trumpeter's Nova fits together very well. Some of the details might be a bit off, but there are plenty of good things about the kit. I would easily recommend this kit to an experienced modeler.
- Mark Melchiori