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Monogram Chevy S-10 “Street Sleeper” pickup

Build review of the 1/25 scale truck kit with plenty of decals
RELATED TOPICS: AUTO | TRUCK | MONOGRAM | REVELL
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Another variant reissue of the truck first offered in 1993, Monogram’s latest Chevy S-10 kit builds into a phantom version of a GMC AWD turbo V6 Syclone; it does not build a factory-stock vehicle. The options offered include stock or LED-style taillights, choice of slider or solid rear window, and a variety of decals.  That sheet includes three sets of dash gauges, two sets of exterior stripes, some stylized “turbo” lettering in multiple sizes, and a few other decals for customizing. 

The molding is nice, but there is a little flash on the body and some parts. The front of the passenger-side rocker panel on my sample was deformed where a main fill gate attached to it. It appears to be partly a shrink issue and partly due to some of the body being gouged prior to packaging. Some sanding and putty would make it whole. (It looks like a curb strike would on a real vehicle and fit with the theme I had for the truck, so I didn’t fill it entirely.) Also, on the same side, the vertical edge of the front fender that mates to the grille had a significant angle to it. I sanded this true so the grille and bumper fit properly.

The floor of the bed had a mild bow to it. I tried to flatten it by cementing the spars that attach to the bottom of it with superglue but was not successful. However, the bow isn’t really noticeable on the finished model. The hood was also warped and fit the opening a bit looser than I'd prefer. I was able to bend the hood and reduce the warp, but I couldn’t eliminate it entirely. 

The oil filter should be an under-hood remote mount, so follow the instructions as the box art shows it in the wrong place on the engine. The chassis and driveline are moderately complex, but everything fits well with positive locators. Snap the front wheels onto their respective spindles before fully assembling the suspension. This will reduce the chances of you later damaging the suspensions delicate parts. 

The lower radiator hose (Part 61) is too short. I cemented it to the radiator, and it's hard to see that it does not reach the water pump by about 1/8 inch.

The box says it's a "Street Sleeper.” To me the term sleeper usually describes a boring or worn, (sometimes beat up), vehicle using the look as camouflage for the high-performance powertrain that lurks beneath. Often the engine and interior are much cleaner than the exterior. I took that approach for the theme of the model. I didn't want it to look like a beater, just an older truck with aged, worn, and faded paint. I used a similar scheme as shown on the box and distressed it and added a spray-on bed liner. I painted the chromed bumpers and wheels to continue the theme (one of the three versions in the instructions shows those parts painted, too.)

Several decals depict insulation on the hood’s underside — a nice touch! Decals also provide the door handles and locks (in silver and blacked out). Like the tailgate lettering, there are Chevrolet windshield banners in red, white, and black.  Stock and custom “turbocharged” S-10 badges are included along with two pairs of decal license plates. I opted to not use a front plate on S-10. Overall, the decals work well and are not overly fragile. I used solvent on a few decals; for the most part, it’s not required.

In general, Monogram’s S-10 fits together well and is enjoyable to build. Even the glass and headlights fit and are easy to install with careful use of canopy glue. The "sleeper" part of this kit may actually be how nice it is.  

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