Oldsmobile fans, the wait for the Revell 1/25 scale 1971 Olds 442 W-30 kit is finally over! You will notice that many of the parts in this hardtop kit are the same as those in the 2009 and later 1972 convertible boxings, with some notable differences.
Before putting glue to plastic, decide if you want to build a manual or automatic transmission. Also, you’ll want to decide whether you’re going with the factory W-27 performance rear axle or the stock option. The decal sheet now offers the W-30 badging, so knowing your car and options before building it is helpful.
With the transmission decided, it's on to build the Oldsmobile 455 ci V8. Nothing too difficult here, and the engine detail is impressive, including bolt heads and brackets.
Inside, you’ll find correct seat patterns for Oldsmobile, two different consoles (remember your transmission decision!), accurate door panels, and rear trim. Revell provides woodgrain decals, which is a nice touch. You may notice the door panels on this 1971 Olds 442 W-30 kit have manual window cranks, whereas the Revell convertible kits had power windows.
The dashboard for the 442 does not disappoint: all the gauges, radio, and AC/heater controls are decals. The clean four-spoke steering wheel completes the factory look.
The chassis plate details add to an already impressive kit. With the proper transmission mount in place, the dual-exhaust lines up with no problems. After attaching the engine, choose the correct rear axle, assemble the rear suspension, and drop the whole piece in place.
Closing up a model car kit can be tricky at times. Here, the interior tub — with fender wells — fits into the body first. Then you place the chassis with the engine mounted into the body to complete the process. Having the front fender wells attached to the interior tub helps make closing the car easier.
The detailed front suspension finishes the chassis. All you need to do is add the rally wheels and tires, which come with Firestone Wide Oval decals.
You’ll want to black out the front grille and should not have problems installing the headlights, fog lights, and the center grille section to complete the front bumper.
The convertible kits came with metal exhaust tips, which Revell replaced with plastic ones in this kit. Hold off on adding these until you’ve installed the rear bumper. You’ll need to paint the clear taillights red.
You can mount the spoiler to the trunk, but you’ll have to drill the locator holes — use a micro bit and pin vise — to ensure that it lines up correctly. I chose to leave the spoiler off.
Correct air cleaner and AC lines under the hood complete the engine compartment. The decal sheet includes all the placards and information tags you’ll need for the engine compartment — small details like this make this kit a head-turner.
I had a hard time finding any fault with this kit, but it came when I went to put on the long stripe decals that appear on both sides. The decals seemed a bit thin and were hard to place because they were so long. It was challenging but not impossible because, in the end, they fit the sides perfectly.
All around, this kit is a step up, so expect to spend some time building a detailed model. Revell labels the 1/25 scale Oldsmobile 442 W-30 as Skill Level 5 (its highest rating), and I agree. This kit needs an experienced hand to do it justice. You will definitely enjoy adding this Oldsmobile to your collection.