Revell 1/32 Opel GT

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car manufactured and marketed by Opel in two generations — separated by a 34-year hiatus.

The first generation Opel GT (1968-1973) debuted as a styling exercise in 1965 at the Paris and Frankfurt motor shows.^[1] The production vehicle used mechanical components from the contemporary Opel Kadett B and two-door hard top bodywork by French contractor Brissonneau & Lotz. The styling of the GT was often cited as similar to the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette which went on sale in September 1967.

Opel marketed a second generation GT (2007-2009) as a rebadged variant of the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice two-seater convertible, manufactured in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. According to the kit box art, driving one of these ensures you will gain the attention of buxom bikini-clad babes.

A bit of research shows that this kit was initially released in 1974 as a snap kit. Apparently the kit has been modified in some way. Though the parts count in low (25 pieces), there are steps in the instructions that show gluing required. I am also assuming that the older kit had a chrome plated sprue where this one does not.

You get a one-piece body with a one-piece windscreen/backlight piece. The interior is a full tub into which you install the seats, instrument panel/dash and the steering wheel . There is no shifter. This fits into the body. The undertray accepts two plastic axles. Wheels consist of a rubber tire, an insert and then the wheel insert. Though the built model shows white wall tires, that is apparently the insert I previously mentioned. How this works is unsure, but it looks nice on the build up.

As mentioned, the chrome all needs to be painted or covered with foil unless you are one of those modelers who cleans up the part and sends it out to be done by the pros. The instructions are quite large and full color so following the painting guide should be pretty straight forward. Things like the turn signals and chrome labels are decals and you are provided with a wide selection of European license plates.

What drew me to the kit is the possibility of using it as a slot car body. I'm sure there are others who simply want a nice model of the Opel GT. It would be a fairly nice kit for a beginner, but at a level 3 out of 5, Revell apparently thinks it needs a somewhat experienced modeler. Probably due to the need to paint so much of it. The molds have held up rather well as I found very little flash and while it will take some skills to do a contest quality modeler, for the standard car modeler or those wanting something a bit different, I think it will be popular.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_GT

April 2017

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