Revell

1/24 2006 Corvette Z06

Kit Number: 85-2015

Reviewed by  Joe Staudt, IPMS# 39453

Corvettes have to be the most popular automotive kit subject of all time. There have been literally dozens of Corvette kits available over the years, covering every body style, most model years, and just about any variation you can think of. So it is no surprise that Revell has come out with a kit of version of the current "super" 'Vette: the Z06. Let's see how this one stacks up. The kit comes molded in white, black, gray, clear, red clear, and chromed plastic. It is possible to build a nearly-accurate representation of the real car without picking up a can of paint, as just about all the pieces are molded in the appropriate color…but where's the fun in that? Seriously, though, engraving on all the parts is clean, there is no flash, and mold lines are faint and easy to remove. The kit also comes with an extensive decal sheet, plus metal spindles for the front wheels and a black metal axle for the rear wheels that all but disappears on the completed model. Turned metal exhaust tips are also provided: a very nice touch, and quite unexpected in a kit in this price range. The engine/transaxle assembly consists of eighteen pieces, and mounts firmly to the lower front suspension before the entire assembly is mounted to the chassis. The chassis has much of the suspension detail molded in, but there are enough separate pieces to result in decent-looking front and rear suspensions. The front wheels are not poseable. Some copyright text and manufacturing information is engraved on the chassis, but they are positioned where they can be easily sanded off. Of course, doing that means you will probably have to paint the chassis black when it is already molded in black, but that's part of the fun of the hobby, right? The chassis is finished off with the addition of a single-piece exhaust system (capped by those metal exhaust tips), a tunnel plate, and the disc brakes. An accurate-looking set of chromed 10-spoke wheels mount to generic unidirectional tires, with different sizes for front and rear as well. They do a good job of displaying the brake discs and calipers, just like on the real vehicle. The interior and engine compartment are molded together in a tub-like assembly, with separate door panels, two-piece seats, and the usual details. The dashboard gauges are provided on the decal sheet, but are glued onto the back of a clear plastic cover which is mounted to the back of the dashboard, providing a realistic representation of the dash face. As with the body, all the engraving is good and the details appear to be accurate. The body has a hinged hood, and all the vent openings are actually open. Separate inserts for these openings mount from inside the body, making detailing of these areas a snap. Chrome headlights snap into the body from inside, and there are clear plastic covers for them, the turn signals in the front fascia, and the backup lights in back. Chromed inserts are provided for the outside mirrors. The rear spoiler is molded in clear red and incorporates the center brake light; it should be painted black for a Z06. As I mentioned earlier, the decal sheet is extensive. It includes all the body badges, the dashboard gauges, several engine compartment markings and the "Z06" insignias for the seat headrests, plus an Illinois "VAROOM" license plate and a"Z06" display plate. Crossed-flag emblems for the wheel centers (which are nearly invisible once they're applied) and "Corvette" scripts for the brake calipers are also supplied, as is the steering wheel emblem; there is even a decal for the shift pattern on the gear shift knob. Rounding out the list is a set of carbon-fiber-patterned decals for the door panels, as well as the inside door reflectors (which can't even be seen one the model is assembled!). Did I mention this was an extensive decal sheet? I had no trouble with getting the decals to lay flat, although some of the small ones (and there are a LOT of small ones) had me worried. A little decal solvent and some patience are in order here - everything eventually snuggles down just fine. I decided to do mine in red, with a basic black interior. I mostly followed the kit instructions for painting, adding some interior and exterior details gleaned from Chevrolet's web site and the box art. I put some Bare-Metal foil on the back side of the taillights to make them show up better: the plastic on the lenses is so thin that I thought painting the backs silver would look unrealistic. I also drilled out the brake discs: a tedious process, but one that paid off handsomely considering how visible the discs are. If you don't drill them out, they should at least get a black wash to make the molded-in dimples look like holes. And don't forget to paint those calipers bright red! And remember those turned metal exhaust tips? After attaching them to the exhaust system, paint the insides black to hide the tips of the exhaust system and give them more depth. I would recommend following the kit instructions with a few exceptions. First, I would leave the engine covers off until after the interior has been attached to the chassis/engine assembly, as they interfere a bit with the fender wells and get knocked off easily. Second, I would not attach the upper radiator hose to the engine until Step 4, when the radiator is installed in the chassis. I would also not install the air cleaner on top of the radiator until after the radiator hose was installed. A small flashlight would be useful at this point, as all the pieces involved in this operation are black, and the quarters are tight. Finally, I did not install the front panel (part #125) at the end of Step 7 as instructed, but waited until the body was on the chassis. This makes the body-to-chassis assembly much easier. Speaking of the body-to-chassis fit, some care needs to be taken here. Like almost any other kit, it is a tight fit, and if you don't pay attention you will end up with things just a little off-kilter. I used the lip along the rear valance panel as a guide for the correct placement of the body, and then just made sure that everything was snapped down tightly and lined up. Overall, this kit goes together beautifully. Every piece has a slot or a hole or some definite means of correctly locating it. Even better, every hole is big enough to accept the piece that fits into it…even after painting! The hood fits perfectly, and the hinges work easily. This is probably about the best-engineered kit I've had the opportunity to build. The only fit issue I ran into was trying to get the headlights snapped into the body: I think they were intended to be a very tight fit, and the paint layers made it even tighter. A little judicious sanding allowed them to snap in with no need for glue. This kit could work well for modelers of almost any skill level. Someone who is new to glue kits and painting could get nice results by doing a minimal amount of detail painting and skipping the smaller decals; it could make a great parent/child project. Experienced modelers will enjoy the challenges and detailing opportunities this kit presents. Either way, the end result will be a great addition to your model collection, and I recommend it highly. Many thanks to Revell for this great kit!

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