Testors 1/6 Chevy 350 Small Block Street Rod Engine Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | October 2005 | Manufacturer | Testors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Chevy 350 Small Block Street Rod Engine | Scale | 1/6 |
| Kit Number | 456 | Primary Media | Metal & Styrene |
| Pros | Pre-finished - no painting required, outstanding detail. | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
 |
 |
 |
The Chevy 350 engine is a favorite among hot-rod enthusiasts and restorers alike. The 350 design is one of Chevy's most reliable engines and has been the core of many 'enhancements' to the basic engine's power.
I had seen previews of Testor's planned engine kit releases over the last few years at the hobby trade shows, but this is the first time I've had the pleasure of seeing one out of the box. My first reaction is WOW! While I'm not a big car buff (a car is useful for getting me out to the flightline), the area where I live is full of automotive history as this is the home for quite a few auto manufacturers as well as parts suppliers. But I digress...
Testors has done an outstanding job of creating a kit that is pre-finished to the degree that it could be museum quality when completed. The engine block for instance is pre-painted Chevy red while the heads are aluminum. The quality of the finish is excellent.
According to the box statistics, there are over 100 parts included in this kit. Many of the parts are chromed and will not require any attention other than to screw or glue the parts into place. Details like the air filter have the tan elements and the retaining screen also appropriately painted. Even the oil filter has all of the right stenciling on it!
Assembly is primarily done using screws, though there are a few assemblies that are glued into place. It doesn't appear that it will take long to assemble one of these beauties, a test that I am about to conduct. Stay tuned!
Everything you need is nicely provided except for the screw driver and glue. The various parts and subassemblies are individually packaged for protection. Note the bottom photo that has a wide range of parts sealed up for safe keeping that I wasn't about to open up until assembly time.
With an MSRP of $30 USD, this kit will be a pleasurable quick build that will look stunning when completed. I imagine you'd have to pay over three-times the price to get something equivalent from the 'collectors market' and even then I doubt that it will look this nice.
This kit is definitely recommended! Check out the build review here.
My sincere thanks to Testors for this review sample!