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After 22
years, Dodge returned to NASCAR for the 2001 series, and
scored three wins, two with Sterling Marlin and one with
Bill Eliot. Revell’s new kit of Eliot’s 2001 ride
is a mixed bag, with several time-saving improvements
over previous Monogram NASCAR kits offset by some
molding decisions that will make detailing the kit more
of a chore.
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Unlike previous Monogram NASCAR kits, where you had to
carefully align and glue the front fascia to the body,
this kit’s body is one piece that looks true to the box
art. The spoiler is slit down the middle (plus
points here), but the air vent behind the hood is now
molded shut—easy enough to open up, but why close it?
The body itself is thicker than previous Monogram
offerings, with the front fascia being and fender wells
three times as thick! Also the kit designers
decided to attach the chassis to the body with three
screws. So, if you want your model in contest
form, you’ll have to fill the holes in the chassis, and
cut out and sand down their locating tubes in the body.
Oh yes, with these two thick tubes in the truck area and
one behind the front fascia, you have the expected sink
marks to fill.
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New to
the chassis is oil line detail in the driver’s
compartment and all the injection marks on the inside.
Also, for the first time, you get disc brakes.
However, there are details present on previous kits
missing here. The steering box is molded onto the frame
rail, but there is no steering column! Nor are
there any front shocks! The rear suspension also
leaves me a bit irritated: except for the springs and
the panhard bar, it’s all one piece—the drive shaft,
cooling pump and belt, and rear axle. The wheels
are one piece, which could cause some painting problems
if you want the backs a different color, and the tires
tampo printed. The rear wheels are attached using
a steel rod like the old AMT kits, and the front with
two steel pins
The
strong points of the interior are simplified roll cage
construction, an accurate seat and decals for the gauge
faces, although they seem too small and the dashboard
too thick. A nice touch is the two ignition boxes
on the roll cage. And kudos to Revell for prepainting
the windshield straps and trim black. This was one
masking chore I never looked forward too. I don’t
like the rubber air hoses, however. They seem too
small, and, as we’ve seen with the Accurate Miniature
Mclaren kits, the material they’re made out of will be
impossible to paint. And for those of you who want
to open up the trunk, there is no fuel cell or other
trunk detail.
As with
the rest of the kit, the engine is simplified.
Absent are a separate alternator, sump pump belt, and
power steering pump. These are all molded onto the
pulleys. Also missing is the lower radiator hose.
The air cleaner looks too heavy and there is a slot in
the back for the vent that is filled. Also missing
are the two braces that run from the firewall to each
side of engine cage. Finally, the radiator and
cooling fan are one piece.
The
decals look nice, and you get a two-piece roof spoiler
if you want to build the Daytona 2001 car (not accurate
for the 2002 cars!). You also get a four-piece
driver figure.
Revell
made this kit with the younger modeler in mind. I
don’t know how else to explain design decisions
reminiscent of kits of the 60s. If you want to
build a moderately detailed replica of Eliot’s,
Marlin’s, or Ward Burton’s ride, be ready for a lot of
work.
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