Monogram 1/25 Dodge Viper RT/10
By John D. Dutze
The Model
The kit is a new re-tooled kit for 2012, not a new kit. This model has a skill level of 2 in 1:25 scale. This kit requires model glue and is recommended for people ages 10 and above.
Subject
This is a model of the Dodge Viper, which was first introduced in January of 1992. It was originally a show car and thanks to overwhelming public demand Dodge was forced to bring the Viper to production. The Viper was a joint design effort between Dodge and legendary car designer Carroll Shelby. The Viper has a massive aluminum 8.0 liter V-10 that weighs a little over 700 lbs. The engine can produce up to 400 horsepower with a quarter mile response time of only 12.6 seconds at a top speed of 180 mph! Those were VERY impressive numbers for 1992!
Model Parts
The kit consists of 78 parts. Overall, there is very little flash on the model sprues. The level of detail is quite good. The parts are molded in white, chrome, clear and transparent red.
Instructions
The model instructions have 9 pages and steps in total. The instructions are sectioned into a four panel, one-piece sheet, similar to opening up a newspaper. The pages show details, which include a parts list, paint letter code guide, decal placement, assembly sequence, and an icon key. The instructions are unclear in some areas, and some part numbers have been omitted from the instructions. The final picture shows a poor depiction of the hood. It depicts an air intake on the hood, which is not included in this kit. Only a smooth, regular hood is included.
Oddly, there is mention of which direction the tire tread patterns should face written in the wheel assembly step but no scribing or branding on the tires, which are generic. Typically when the direction of the tire pattern is important, there are arrows indicated on the tire's side walls to insure correct placement. Unless you are familiar with tread direction, there is a good chance this step may be confusing or be overlooked altogether. At a model contest, this overlooked detail could result in losing points.
Model kit Thoughts
I would like to address Revell's new instruction sheet format. The instructions have been significantly changed and are, in my opinion, more difficult and bothersome to follow. The old instructions had everything listed, each part number with it's name alongside it. There was no fumbling through the instruction sheet needed, other than to determine the color to paint the individual parts.
Overall, the model details are really good. The problematic areas and things I noticed about the kit are as follows: the tires are generic; I think Revell/Monogram should go back to getting licensing for their tires so they can produce more detailed tires for their models as in the past. The exhaust manifolds are injected into the engine as one piece for each side. I prefer these parts individually molded for detailing reasons. The engraving for the Viper and Dodge logos is a little faint and will probably get lost with paint. There are some parts that are best molded in white plastic rather than chrome plated.
A good example is the side pipes of the Viper. The side pipes should be de-chromed and then painted for a more realistic look. The same comment applies to the brake calipers, the engine front, and the gas/brake/clutch pedals. The plating is also very heavy, especially on the mirrors, wheels, and transmission pan. There are injector mark issues on the floor of the interior, which interrupt the pebbled pattern of the tub. I found gap issues with the rear valance and fit issues with the left area around the tail light housings.
There are also trademark names engraved on the underside of the car that will have to be removed or they will definitely show in the final model. These could have been placed elsewhere or omitted entirely. Ironically, the copy right date listed on the underside is 1982. The Dodge Viper and original model as you recall, came out in 1992. Hello? I feel the windshield is also a little on the heavy side.
Not everything is bad about this kit. There are a few pluses that I need to mention as well. The interior has been engraved beautifully, including the steering wheel and engine parts. The head lamp covers are really nice. The model includes a nice push tool to set the fog lamps evenly. This is a nice touch.
The decal sheet is an excellent assortment of gauges and is very colorful. I recommend this kit for any modeler who is a Viper fan and wants to give some love to a model that lacks a few details. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, I would give it a 5 out of 10 as it needs some work to make it really stand out. I would like to thank Revell for providing the review sample.
