Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20150608* 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Hardtop 1:25 Scale Revell Model Kit #85-4361Review With the dawn of the space age the styling cues in Detroit took to the skies for inspiration and nowhere else was it personified more elegantly than in the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado. Of the hardtop Eldorado versions, only about 975 of the actual cars were produced making it a very collectable car It is said that the 1959 Cadillac had the biggest tailfins of any car before or since and that seems very true. For the Modeler: This review covers the Revell California Wheels series kit 85-4361 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Hardtop in 1:25 scale. This is a Skill Level 3 kit for modelers 12 and above. Revell released this kit before in 1985 (the earliest I found during my research) and now Revell brings it back in 2015.The pieces are molded in white, chrome, clear, clear red, soft black tires with water slide decals. There are 154 pieces to this kit and very well laid out instructions. This kit features a detailed 390 c.i. engine with three two-barrel carburetors, whitewall tire inserts, a textured vinyl top, plus cruise control and suspension air bags. Revell and Monogram have released several model kits of the 1959 Cadillac from the convertible version to the hard top version which I think is awesome. The hard part is deciding what order to build them in! The dimensions are; Length 8-15/16, Width 3-1/8, Height 2-1/8. Figure 000b This is the kits box art. Unless stated differently Testors Model Cement in the tube and Testors Enamel paint in the bottle was used for the construction of this model kit. In this review I ll also talk about building an engine stand to hold the engine during assembly.
Figure 3501 An engine stand can easily be made out of the parts tree and some super glue. It works best if one of the sections has a bend to it due to the fact that that area will hold the transmission section better. The engine stand in Figure 3501 is made from eight pieces of a parts tree from a former build. It is great for holding the engine during assembly while the glue dries. The sides are 1 inch long, long sides are 1 ½ inch long and the legs are 1 inch long. Figure 3502 The right engine half, left engine half, both cylinder heads, transmission pan, oil pan and intake manifold are painted Model Master Oldsmobile Engine Blue. The valley cover is painted Testors Steel. The right rocker cover, left rocker cover and tri-carbs are painted testers Gold Metal Flake. The starter, water pump and ignition coil are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The right and left exhaust manifolds are painted Model Master Gunmetal.
Figure 3503 Figure 3504 The right engine half, left engine half and both cylinder heads are assembled. The valley cover is installed between the two cylinder heads on the engine assembly. The oil pan and transmission pan are attached to the engine assembly. The right and left rocker covers are attached to the engine assembly. The intake manifold is secured to the engine assembly. The tricarbs piece is glued to the intake manifold. The starter, water pump and ignition coil are installed onto the engine assembly. The final assembly part is both the right and left exhaust manifolds are attached to the cylinder heads. Figure 3505 The Testors Gold Metal Flake when dry looks more green then gold so the right rocker cover, left rocker cover and the tri-carbs are repainted Testors Gold.
Figure 3506 and Figure 3507 The fan belt, fan, bet assembly, A/C unit and generator are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The belt sections on the fan belt and belt assembly are painted Model Master Flat Black. the air compressor, both air compressor tops, and the power steering pump are painted Testors Aluminum. The fan belt and belt assembly are put together and then the fan is installed into the belt assembly and into the fan belt. The oil filter, oil filter half and oil filter top are painted Model Master Oldsmobile Engine Blue before they are assembled. The oil filter assembly is attached to the back of the belt assembly. The air compressor tops are secured to the air compressor before the air compressor assembly is glued to the oil filter assembly. The power steering pump is attached to the air compressor, the A/C unit is attached to the fan belt and the generator is secured to the belt assembly. The completed fan belt assembly is attached to the engine assembly. Figure 3508 The chassis, rear air bags, and control yoke are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The front air bags are painted Model Master Gunmetal before they are installed into the chassis. Figure 3509 The rear suspension air bags and control yoke are attached to the rear of the chassis.
Figure 3510 and Figure 3511 The left and right exhaust are painted Testors Steel and detailed with Testors Aluminum on the muffler sections. The left and right exhausts are attached to the chassis assembly. Figure 3512 The front axle, front stabilizer bar, rear axle assembly, and differential are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. Figure 3513 The front stabilizer bar is attached to the front axle and then the front axle assembly is installed onto the chassis. The differential is secured to the rear axle assembly and then the rear axle assembly is glued to the chassis Figure 3514 Figure 3515 The rear shocks and front shocks are painted Model Master Flat Black. The left upper A arm, right upper A arm and steering gear box are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The rear shocks are installed into the chassis and the rear axle assembly. The left and right upper A arms are installed onto the chassis.
Figure 3516 The front shocks are attached to the front of the chassis. Figure 3517 and Figure 3518 The driveshaft is painted Model Master Gunmetal before it is installed into the chassis assembly and glued to the differential. The engine assembly is installed into the chassis assembly and attached to the driveshaft. The lower radiator hose is painted Model Master Flat Black and attached to the water pump on the engine assembly.
Figure 3519 Figure 3520 The white wall inserts are spray painted Krylon Gloss White. The inner wheels are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The white wall inserts are installed into the tires (4 times). The four outer wheels are installed into the outside portion of the tires. The inner wheels are installed on the inside tire half and glued to the outer wheels. Figure 3521 The tire assemblies are installed onto the wheel spindles. Figure 3522 The interior floor is spray painted Model Master Fifties Aqua then it is taped off and the bench seat is spray painted Rust Oleum Satin Aqua. The final touch is the floor section is painted Model Master Flat Black. the left and right interior sides are spray painted Model Master Fifties Aqua then detailed with Model Master Flat Black and Testors Aluminum. The rear seat back is spray painted Rust Oleum Satin Aqua. The pedals are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black.
Figure 3523 Figure 3524 The left door light is attached to the left interior side with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The left interior side assembly is installed onto the interior floor. The right door light is attached to the right interior side with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The right interior side assembly is installed onto the interior floor. The pedals and rear seat back are added to the interior assembly. Figure 3525 The dashboard, steering column, and steering wheel rim are spray painted Model Master Fifties Aqua. The dashboard is detailed with Testors Gold, Model Master Flat Black and Testors Aluminum. The steering column is detailed with Testors Aluminum and Testors Semi Gloss Black. The Decal #14 is applied to the dashboard. The front seat back and front seat are spray painted Rust Oleum Satin Aqua. Figure 3526 The steering column is attached to the dashboard. The horn ring is attached to the steering wheel rim then the steering wheel assembly is attached to the steering column.
Figure 3527 and Figure 3528 The front seat is attached to the front seat back and then the front seat assembly is installed into the interior assembly. The dashboard is attached to the left and right interior sides. Figure 3529 Here is a perfect example of why it is important to test the paints being used before hand. The body was first spray painted Model Master Fifties Aqua and then the roof was spray painted Krylon Gloss White to tutone the car. Lacquer paints and Enamels do not always mix well causing the paint to crack.
Figure 3530 After wet sanding the roof with Testors 600 grit Ultra Fine Sandpaper it is repainted with the Krylon Gloss White. Figure 3531 The body is detailed after the repaint job with Testors Semi Gloss Black, Testors Silver, and spray painted RustOleum Satin Aqua (interior roof).
Figure 3532, and Figure 3533 The windshield, rear window, rear view mirror and both interior lights are installed into the body with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The interior assembly is installed into the body assembly as well. Figure 3534 and Figure 3535 The heater and heater blower are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The brake master cylinder is painted Model Master Flat Black. The heater blower and brake master cylinder are attached to the heater. The heater assembly is installed onto the firewall of the body assembly. The wiper motor, and front cowling are installed onto the body assembly. Figure 3536 The radiator support is painted Testors Semi Gloss Black and the fan shroud is painted Model Master Flat Black. Figure 3537 The fan shroud is attached to the radiator support
Figure 3538 Then the entire assembly is installed into the body assembly. Figure 3539 The body assembly is placed on the chassis assembly. Pay heed to the instructions (Step 11) about the radiator support assembly and the fan during assembly. The fan slips into the radiator housing before the chassis is attached to the body assembly. Caution needs to be used so as to not break the fan off or damage the fan shroud.
Figure 3540 The assembled unit. Figure 3541 and Figure 3542 The condenser is painted Model Master Flat Black and the radiator is painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. the condenser is glued to the radiator and the radiator is attached to the radiator support and the lower radiator hose.
Figure 3543 The horn (63), horn (82) and a portion of the oil filler tube are painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. The battery, upper radiator hose and accumulator are painted Model Master Flat Black. The oil filler tube is detailed with Testors Gold. The battery is detailed with Testors Yellow and Model Master Gunmetal. Figure 3544 The oil filler tube is attached to the engine assembly and the upper radiator hose is attached to both the engine and the radiator. The horn (63) is glued to the horn (82) and then the horn assembly, battery, and accumulator are installed into the engine compartment.
Figure 3545 The air conditioner hose is painted Model Master Flat Black with some detail painted Model Master Gunmetal before it is installed onto the right fender well. Figure 3546 The washer bottle top is glued to the washer bottle with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. Decal #17 is applied to the wash bottle top. The washer bottle assembly is installed onto the left fender well with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The cruise control top is glued to the cruise control bottom and the cruise control assembly is attached to the left rocker cover. The air tank is attached to the firewall.
Figure 3547 The air cleaner top and the air cleaner bottom are painted Testors Gold. Decal 16 is applied to the air cleaner bottom. The distributor is painted Testors Semi Gloss Black. Figure 3548 The air cleaner assembly and distributor are installed on the engine assembly.
Figure 3549 and Figure 3550 The license plate is attached to the front bumper. The headlights, and driving lights are installed into the front bumper with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The front bumper is glued to the body assembly. Figure 3551 and Figure 3552 The backup light is installed into the backup light reflector and then the backup light assembly is secured to the backup light cover with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The backup light assembly is attached to the body with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. The rear bumper, left tail light molding, right tail light molding, left rear fender outer spear, left rear fender inner spear, right rear fender outer spear, and right rear inner spear are attached to the body. The license plate is glued to the rear bumper. There is detail on the tail lights that is painted Testors Aluminum. The tail lights are glued to the left and right tail light moldings with Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker.
Figure 3553 and Figure 3554 The Hood front and hood are spray painted Model Master Fifties Aqua. The bottom of the hood is detailed with Model Master Flat Black. The hood front is attached to the hood. Not pictured in figure 3553 are the left and right hood hinges that can be used for this build which will be glued to the hood before the hood is installed onto the body assembly. Figure 3555 The right windshield wiper, left windshield wiper, right door handle, left door handle, and side mirror support are attached to the body assembly. The side mirror is attached to the side mirror support. The following decals are applied to the body assembly; 8, 21(front), and 21 (rear). Figure 3558 and Figure 3559 Here are the extra parts and the decals that were not used during this build. There are decals that can be used for the chrome trim on the body however I brush painted these areas chrome instead of using the decals.
Figure 9998 Here is side view of the car after all the parts in Figure 3555 and the decals are applied. Conclusion: This kit was really interesting to build and I recommend it to anybody especially history collectors. During this build I did not find any flash, sinks, cold shuts, warpage or any other defects. The instructions are very well laid out with excellent detail. The engine was very well detailed in this kit as well. I would definitely build this kit again.