The AMT 1/25 scale ‘57 Chevy Bel Air plastic model kit was first released in the company’s Pro Modeler series. This most recent release can only be built as a street machine. It features an opening hood and trunk lid, plug wires (with a wiring diagram), metal foil, and revised decals.
There are 13 assembly steps in the fold-out instruction sheet. Parts are called out by number on the illustrations, but they can be difficult to decipher at times.
The nicely detailed, multipiece 454 ci engine lacks a coil—strange because it does have plug wires. The engine compartment comes complete with heater hoses. If you are not familiar with ‘57 Chevys, intake ducts (parts 80 and 81) go under the inner fenders, connecting the headlight intakes to the firewall. Make sure you install the steering box (parts 30 and 31) before the brake booster or you won’t be able to fit it in later.
The separate frame makes painting much easier, and assembling the front suspension is straightforward. Yes, you’ll find separate spindles, but they are not designed to be posable. However, the rear suspension/axle assembly is a different matter. Out back is a four-link design with individual components, and mounting and aligning proved challenging.
I deviated from the instructions and put the separate multipiece dual exhausts together into a single assembly. Doing it this way requires you to mount the exhaust to the frame as you glue the frame to the underbody. There is no gas tank, but a fuel cell mounts in the trunk.
Vinyl tires wrap around two-piece rims, and a mounting hub with calipers is trapped between the wheel halves. These hubs are keyed to the axles. Because I mounted the front spindles in the lowered position, I needed to round out the hubs so the calipers sat correctly.
The platform-style interior comes with well-detailed separate door panels, seats, and a dash. The kit provides decals for the dash. The door panels extend into the back to make the trunk walls. The seats have molded fabric for their inserts but no decals. Clear front, rear, and vent glass are all separate parts and fit well.
Watch for inner and outer sink marks around the taillights and at the end of the fins on the otherwise well-molded body. I had to add a thin styrene strip to the rear of the hood to tighten the gap. The hood also has a low spot running fender to fender towards the front. The undersides of both the hood and trunk lid have molded detail. Optional hinges are supplied if you choose to pose these open.
The decal sheet consists of scallops, emblems, and license plates. If you plan to use the scallops, I recommend sanding off the molded emblems and filling the V’s indents on the hood and trunk lid. I tried to place Decal 1 — the long body decal on the passenger side — as one piece. It curled, twisted, and rolled up. Fifteen minutes and a lot of water later it was positioned with just a little damage. Learning my lesson, I cut the corresponding decal for the other side into three sections. Much easier! As a whole, the decals performed well and released quickly with warm water.
The kit included a sheet of chrome foil. I tried using it, but it lacked self-adhesive, so I set it aside.
You can’t go wrong with a 1957 Chevy. It’s a popular car and, therefore, a popular subject for kits. The new AMT 1/25 scale ’57 Chevy Bel Air Street Machine plastic model kit hits that nostalgia but brings a twist. Having a relatively high parts count and some fiddly assemblies, I recommend it for builders with some experience, especially if you choose to use the scallop decals.