Revell 1/25
’69 Chevy Nova SS
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Introduction
The 1969 Nova SS (Super Sport) was a continuation of themes originating
in the 1968 redesign of the popular midsized car. The ’68 and ’69
cars looked very similar externally. Most differences were under the hood
and chassis, with power disc brakes included as an integral part of the
Nova SS package. An ignition/steering column interlock was also introduced
as a theft deterrent. The base ’69 SS was powered by a 300 horsepower
350 cubic inch V-8 and for the first time a 3 speed Turbo Hydromatic transmission
was available. The engine was revised internally with stronger main bearing
bulkheads and caps, which were retained with four bolts rather than two.
The Nova SS was the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing and the
SS badges were the only external difference between the SS and base models.
When you toss in options like the 375 horsepower L78 engine or the extremely
rare 427 Yenko, which featured a 425 horsepower solid lifter motor and
other suspension upgrades, it’s easy to understand why the Nova
SS was VERY popular with both hot rod builders and racers alike “back
in the day”.
The Kit
The kit is well packaged in a stout cardboard box. It consists of 130
parts on 14 sprues, which are packaged in nine separate bags. 80 of these
parts are molded in white plastic, 26 are chrome plated, and 14 are clear.
six vinyl tires and four metal axle pins complete the package. This is
a brand new tooling, which is reflected both in the number of parts and
in their molding quality. The body is free of sink marks or molding flaws.
The multi-piece rear suspension assembly is very detailed. The interior
detail, especially on the instrument panel and doors, is crisp and well
molded. The engine compartment is brimming with accurate, well-molded
parts and it looks convincingly busy. The hood features separate hinges,
which allow it to be displayed opened. The chrome is good, though not
up to Tamiya standards.
This is a “2 in 1” kit with alternative parts to make a
drag racing Nova SS. These parts include a different hood, intake manifold
and exhaust manifolds, wheels and rear tires, carburetors, traction bars,
and roll bar. The decal sheet is well printed and includes four different
sets of license plates, drag racing sponsor logos and graphics, instrument
panel gauges, and many of the body scripts and side reflectors. The instructions
are clearly written and easy to understand with a logical build sequence,
which starts with engine assembly. I am very impressed with this kit.
Well done, Revell!
Accuracy
The useful website NovaResource.com lists the following dimensions for
the ’69 SS: overall length of 189.4 inches, wheelbase of 111.0 inches,
and an overall width of 72.4 inches. I didn’t bother to reduce these
dimensions to 1/25th scale to compare the kit against them. I was ten
years old in 1969, I saw a LOT of these cars when I was a kid, and it
looks like a Nova to me.
Conclusion
This is a great kit of a popular car. The quality is first rate, and
all that you need to add for an accurate and highly detailed model are
a wired distributor, battery cables, and various wires here and there.
It’s also an excellent point of departure for those who want to
go to town with the help of aftermarket detail parts. Highly recommended!
References
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