Intro
Revell has always had "build it your way" car kits. A few years ago, they came out with a line of custom motorcycle kits designed along these same lines. Based on real choppers from R.M. Kustom, eight different kits were produced with custom motorcycle features - solo seat, stretched and raked frames, bobbed tanks, and custom chrome features. These kits also feature interchangeable parts - seats, chrome, and wheels can be swapped from one kit to another, resulting in easy customization for modelers. As a motorcycle rider and a fan of motorcycle kits, I was excited to get a chance to look at one of these kits, in this case, the Torch.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The reviewer didn't read Matt Melcher's excellent article on his custom build-up until after this review was written.)
Initial Thoughts
The kit comes in a standard Revell box, and opening it reveals a lot of plastic - 58 parts to be exact. Four sprues of white parts, a single sprue for clear, and a bag with two "rubber" tires are followed by eight (!) individually wrapped sprues of chrome parts, a sheet of decals, and an eight page instruction book. My only complaint is that the instructions and decals were on the bottom of the box, meaning you have to dig everything out to get at the decals (since my workshop is in a garage, I store the decals in zip top bags to keep the humidity from ruining them). However, everything repacks into the box easily.
Inspection
The instructions provided are well-illustrated and easy to read. Most optional parts are called out clearly, and painting and decal options are well marked. The decal sheet is typical Revell quality, and contains options for flames, iron (or Maltese) crosses), skulls, R.M. logos, or red-to-yellow faded panels for the frame and tanks. Most modelers will have decals left over for other projects.
The four white sprues encompass the bike's frame, seat, all the tin (fenders and tank options), the battery box and exposed primary drive. The frame appears to be a typical custom rigid frame with a small rake built into the neck. Two tank options are provided: a "normal" long tank, and a bobbed one. The single seat provided has flames embossed on it.
The eight chromed sprues contain parts for the engine, front forks, hand and foot controls, and other various bits and bobs. The engine is a normal V-twin engine as made by S&S or Harley Davidson, with a built-in intake for simplicity. The front fork is long and of a normal telescoping type. Parts for a chain drive system, oil tank, transmission, head and tail lights, and handlebars are also provided. You are also provided with parts for two different exhaust systems, two different wheel options, and two different primary and air cleaner cover options.
The optional and custom parts are the prime selling point for this and the other kits in this series, but they aren't without problems. The exhaust options include short (exit in front of the rear tire) or long (exit alongside the rear tire) pipes, although both options will need the tips drilled out to look realistic. Primary and air cleaner covers options come with embossed flames or iron crosses, but embossing on both are large for the scale. The provided seat has flames embossed on it, but no iron cross seat was provided. The wheels options include two-part spoke wheels and single part billet wheels (I wish I had a set of solid billets as well) - according to my measurements, both sets of wheels log in at a scale 190 rear and a skinny 70 front. Two sets of hand grips and hand levers with minor differences are provided as well, but aren't called out in the instructions.
There are two big issues I am seeing with this kit. The second one is all the chrome - almost everything in this kit is chrome. Cleaning the mold seams on all these chromed parts is going to be enough of a challenge, especially on parts that can't or shouldn't be covered with paint. There are some tiny parts here - such as the hand levers, foot controls, push-rod covers, and tail-light - which will need mold lines removed and chrome replaced before they can be installed. To top that off, mating and cleaning up the finned engine will test not only your patience but your collection of sanding implements. And finally, remember that every chrome part that needs to be glued also needs the chrome removed from the mating surface. I would be plan for, and be ready to replace or cover, all the chrome you see.
However, the chrome isn't the biggest problem. The biggest problem I see with this kit isn't what it comes with, but what is missing. Custom choppers routinely omit things like rear view mirrors and turn signals, so none are provided. However, there are also no hoses or cables of any kind - no fuel lines, no brake lines, and no clutch or throttle cables. There is no connection between the gas tank and the engine, or between the brake levers and the brake calipers. If you're like me, you've been spoiled by building Tamiya kits that come with hoses and cables, so you'll need to dip into the parts box to add these vital details.
Also missing are certain custom options you regularly see on 1:1 scale custom bikes. "Springer" style front ends are very common on custom motorcycles, but there is no option for a sprung front fork (telescoping tube front forks are common among all the kits, so you'll have to scratch-build or get resin replacements). Real custom choppers also routinely omit the front brake, and can have rear drum brakes - neither option is provided in this kit, although modifications for an omitted front brake is easily handled.
Conclusion
Revell has tried to capitalize on the "build it your way" concept in the Custom Chopper line of motorcycle kits. For the most part, it appears to be successful - my example kit had plenty of customization options and possibilities. However, for 1:1 motorcycle enthusiasts like me, the lack of crucial details (cables, hoses, and structural customizations like different forks) means there's a lot of work ahead to make a truly "custom" motorcycle. Further, all the chrome means building this kit properly will require a lot of clean-up work. Revell rates this as a Skill 2 kit - while the parts count and simple assembly support that, the required additions and chrome clean-up required makes me wish they had a Skill 2.5.
