Monogram 1/24 scale ’55 Chevy Bel Air Street Machine 2’n1 plastic model kit review
A Monogram classic reissued with a few new parts and decals
Kit:14519
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Scale:1/24
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Price:$34
Manufacturer:Monogram (Sample courtesy of Revell-Carrera)
Pros:
Looks like the subject; goes together without any fuss; new wheels and decals
Cons:
Parts cleanup throughout
Comments:
Injection-molded plastic parts (white, clear, clear red, chrome); 74 parts (8 black vinyl); decals
Over the years, Monogram, later Revell, has figured out ways to reissue its “Badman” ’55 Chevy Bel Air Funny Car gasser. This most recent freshening comes with brand new decals and parts.
As a reissue, it’s important to remember that the tooling and engineering aren’t 21st-century specs. It’s 1970s spec with some updates during the ensuing years. So, be prepared to do some basic modeling, like cleaning up mold lines and flash here and there. However, the overall quality of the kit is quite good.
You can build the Bel Air as either a gasser with a blown small-block V8, three-speed transmission, and custom pipes or a street machine with exhausts out the back. Either version uses the same engine and high-stepping front end. The kit includes new five-spoke wheels all around and slicks out back, but Revell did bring along the “Badman” wheels and tires from back in the day. Those slotted mag wheels still look good; either set are good additions to your spares box.
The front wheels and tires stand outside the front fenders if assembled as is. I ground down the inner section of Part 47 about 1/8 inch. This allowed the front wheels to rest comfortably within the fenders. Test-fit your parts and make sure you don’t remove too much.
The kit provides two grille options: I went with the open mouth rather than the mesh. Also, the custom pipes are where it’s at. The kit supplies exhaust collectors, but there isn’t a full exhaust to run back to tips in the rear — they’re just for show. Also, mud flaps? Not my style, but they’re included if you want to use them.
If you’re looking for a performance ’55 Chevy Bel Air that goes together nicely and looks like what it claims to be, this is the kit for you. It is a smooth build, and, had you built one of the previous versions, you get another crack at it. In my case, this time, the model went together much better than the one I made with tube glue and spray-painted silver trim that never dried to the touch!