1933 Cadillac V-16 Fleetwood All Weather Phaeton - The old Italeri/Testors kit reworked
Hi,
Italeri released this kit almost 40 years ago as one of their first 1/24 car kits.
Considering its age the kit is not that poor. Proportions look perfect, fit and casting quality are nice, even the chrome surfaces are better than one should expect.
Nevertheless without tackling numerous salient issues the finished model will not look very convincing.
I remember the following:
* All early Italeri car kits still have 2-piece styrene tires without real tread. Since the tires are clearly visible giving them a realistic tread is indispensible.
* The kit grille is a massive, chromed part that makes the model look unrealistic. As with my Mercedes 540K shown here earlier I made a new grille using a generic etched fret.
* The bonnet has 6 ventilation flaps, 4 lateral and 2 on the top, replicated by unrealistic raised panel lines. I rescribed the upper two flaps and opened the lateral four.
* Incomprehensively Italeri omitted the most prominent chrome moulding running from one side of the radiator around the whole body to the other side of the radiator. Without adding it the finished model would look obviously incomplete.
* The original bumpers are made of 4 separate tubes. The kit bumpers, however, are closed on the backside. I milled the back open. Besides this OOB both bumpers sit conspicuously too low.
* The fit of the soft top is rather poor. Making it fit snugly is quite time-consuming.
* The chromed parts of the luggage carrier have ugly seams. Praise Mr. Molotow!
* Sadly Italeri omitted those prominent auxiliary headlamps seen on real cars.
* The very simple kit dashboard has to be reworked, all the more so as the kit comes witout any decals.
* Finally careful foiling makes or breaks the model. Some of the chrome mouldings are very delicate (f. e. on the lower edge of the fenders/running boards), so this kit should certainly not be a modeler's first foiling work.
All in all with some effort this old kit can make a very rewarding project despite all its issues.
Italeri released this kit almost 40 years ago as one of their first 1/24 car kits.
Considering its age the kit is not that poor. Proportions look perfect, fit and casting quality are nice, even the chrome surfaces are better than one should expect.
Nevertheless without tackling numerous salient issues the finished model will not look very convincing.
I remember the following:
* All early Italeri car kits still have 2-piece styrene tires without real tread. Since the tires are clearly visible giving them a realistic tread is indispensible.
* The kit grille is a massive, chromed part that makes the model look unrealistic. As with my Mercedes 540K shown here earlier I made a new grille using a generic etched fret.
* The bonnet has 6 ventilation flaps, 4 lateral and 2 on the top, replicated by unrealistic raised panel lines. I rescribed the upper two flaps and opened the lateral four.
* Incomprehensively Italeri omitted the most prominent chrome moulding running from one side of the radiator around the whole body to the other side of the radiator. Without adding it the finished model would look obviously incomplete.
* The original bumpers are made of 4 separate tubes. The kit bumpers, however, are closed on the backside. I milled the back open. Besides this OOB both bumpers sit conspicuously too low.
* The fit of the soft top is rather poor. Making it fit snugly is quite time-consuming.
* The chromed parts of the luggage carrier have ugly seams. Praise Mr. Molotow!
* Sadly Italeri omitted those prominent auxiliary headlamps seen on real cars.
* The very simple kit dashboard has to be reworked, all the more so as the kit comes witout any decals.
* Finally careful foiling makes or breaks the model. Some of the chrome mouldings are very delicate (f. e. on the lower edge of the fenders/running boards), so this kit should certainly not be a modeler's first foiling work.
All in all with some effort this old kit can make a very rewarding project despite all its issues.