Trumpeter
1/25 scale 1963 Chevrolet Nova SS
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Overview
Oh, those halcyon dares of yore!
The 1960s seemed to be a time when interest in performance cars, as
well as modeling, was at a peak. Every year Detroit came out with new
and more exciting muscle cars. This also meant that new scale models of
the latest cars would be found on store shelves. And not just hobby shops!
Model cars could be found everywhere, in grocery stores, toy stores, department
stores, hardware stores, even convenience stores. Now that’s my idea
of convenience - stop by for gas, a loaf of bread, and by the way, pick
up a model of the Little Red Wagon, or maybe a Mustang fastback. Those
60s annual car models were great - easy to build; just slip in the metal
axle front and rear, one piece frame/chassis, and great hot rod performance
parts to make yours a little bit different. The worst part was having
to wait a day or so for the spray can paint on the body to dry before
final assembly. Could it ever get any better?
Fast-forward - 40 years later many of our favorite models of muscle
cars are reissues of the same models that have been around since the real
cars were new! This is great when you want to build that special kit again
that was lost or broken over the years. But the older kits are showing
their age. Compared with the best newer kits they lack detail. The basic
shapes are often pretty good, but major features such as the chassis are
simplified. A major attraction of these kits, the custom hot rod parts,
may seem dated, or even crude when not well done. Well, things may be
changing now.
The Kit
 Trumpeter
has quickly followed their new Bonneville kit with a model of the 1963
Nova SS which is the most highly detailed 1/25 scale model I have seen
of a domestic automobile. Everything a modeler would dream of is here,
adding up to about 186 parts, in white, clear, translucent red, and chrome
plastic, a photo etch fret, two springs and a metal wire. And this does
not include any drag racing or custom parts!
 The
Chassis has separate front and rear suspensions, and the gas tank, shocks,
springs, everything really, are well executed separate parts. Two metal
springs are provided for the front coil springs, a nice touch as I always
hated the look of plastic ones.
A problem with molded plastic is that thick parts often shrink, resulting
in shrink holes. Trumpeter has tried to avoid this problem by building
up the thicker parts from separate pieces. Seats have front and backs.
The firewall has add on parts. The detail on the inside of the hood and
trunk lid are separate parts, so you don’t have the sink areas on
top to fill and sand. Even the tires are hollow cast vinyl with a convincing
profile.
 Instead
of a one-piece interior tub, a floor with separate door and interior panels
are given. Door handles, window cranks, arm rests, and even ash trays
are separate parts. Many earlier kits often had a convertible interior
in a hard top model, a result it seems from the manufacturer selling convertible
models for dealer promos, and then adding a top without changing the interior
for the retail model. By using separate parts the hard top and the convertible
versions of this kit each have the correct interior for it.
 The
“chrome” parts are slightly darker in color than the usual aluminum
color that passes for most chrome plating. In addition to bumpers, grille,
and such, the chrome parts include separate pieces for some of the side
molding on the body as well as some of the interior trim. For some of
the small trim name scripts that are so hard to foil are provided as photo-etched
parts.
Speaking of photo etch, the kit includes the unusual feature of a functional
yet scale hood hinge. About a dozen parts make up the working hinge, including
the provided metal wire. I’ll let you know how well this feature
works when I finish building it. Personally I’d like to see hinges
done in brass castings. For the faint of heart there are also a pair of
non functional plastic hinges to pose the hood open.
 Other
working features include an opening trunk lid with a complete trunk interior,
and working steering. The directions include painting directions throughout.
For much of the chassis and interior the colors specified are pretty generic,
but the last page of the instructions includes a list of OEM body colors
and the Testor/Model Master equivalents.
Has Trumpeter left anything out? I don’t think so, but I am planning
adding some wiring and hoses in the engine compartment. Also the kit radio
antenna is short, molded in the down position. I listen to music when
I drive, so I’ll do something about that too.
Conclusion
The Trumpeter Nova SS will cost you a bit more than a 60s re-release
kit, but I believe the quality is such that it will be more satisfying
to build. And that to me makes it a better value. Now how long do I have
to wait before they do a new tool ’66 Covair Corsa convertible?
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