The MPC 1/25 scale “The SSlasher” Chevelle SS street machine plastic model kit will bring back memories for some builders. This highly sought after kit of the 1972 Chevelle street machine comes back in one of Round 2’s latest reissues. While it may have been a near-perfect kit back in the day, you have to remember the molds for this kit have aged and technology has changed since it first appeared. So, have an open mind when building this model.
First, don’t miss the color guide on the instruction sheet for both interior and exterior paint suggestions. From there, you’ll assemble the wheels and tires with updated, pad-printed sidewalls. Be mindful that there are differences between fronts and rears.
Choose either a street machine build or a stock setup as you dive into the big-block V8 engine. Nicely detailed, you’ll find some flash and mold lines that need cleanup, but nothing major. If you choose the street version with the tunnel ram, the carburetors don’t have much detail out of the box. You could upgrade this on your own or turn to the aftermarket.
Make sure to follow the instructions closely when installing the fan. If you flip it, the fan will hit the hood after you install the engine on the chassis. You will have the option to use stock manifolds or headers, but keep in mind the exhaust is molded on the chassis plate. While it is a tight fit using the headers, they do line up with the molded-in exhaust system.
The interior for the Chevelle doesn’t have many parts, which isn’t unusual for the spare interiors of ’70s cars. If you spend a little extra time, paint can be your friend, adding to what you can see in the interior, rather than opting for an all-black finish. My colors matched the exterior, and the kit’s decal package, which includes your choice of red, yellow, or black gauges, worked well. The decals for the heater vent and the radio added even more detail.
The Chevelle’s chassis, like its interior, consists of few parts. Again, detail painting can lead to satisfying results. When attaching the engine to the chassis, you’ll want to keep a couple of things in mind. First, when installing the headers, you will need to remove sections of the lower control arm so they will meet up with the molded-in exhaust system. Also, I found the big-block was a little more offset than I would have liked. The rear suspension has minor flash, and the mufflers and tailpipes are molded to the rear axle and suspension. They lined up with no issues.
For the exterior and final assemblies, the body needed some minor sanding and cleanup. You have the option of a hood scoop for meaner look. Round 2 provides plenty of decals for the body: side marker lights; a trunk keyhole lock; SS badging on the fenders; red, white, or black stripes; and a variety of state license plates. You’ll also find decals to help replicate the box art.
The Round 2 reissue of the MPC 1/25 scale “The SSlasher” Chevelle SS street machine plastic model kit shows this kit the proper respect it deserves with new decals and tires, and it still builds into a great model for your display case. I highly recommend picking this kit up.