Has anybody worked on this? I would assume the Chevy 350, and the larger "visible" Hemi are much the same.
I may not be an "expert" model-builder, but I have done model cars since I was a kid (I'm 47), and have never had as much trouble as with this thing.
None of the pieces are marked with numbers, yet numbers are used throughout the instrux.
Step 1 has us attaching a mystery piece (I guess a drain plug) to the bottom of the oil pan, but the image on the instruction sheet is so bad I can't identify which piece in the plastic bags might be the one they expect me to glue on there.
Screws are provided in three different size/thread combinations, but they are not marked in any way in the bags, and there are supposed to be two "long" and one "short," but in reality they are almost identical in length, but two are noticeably shorter than the one longer set.
Note my great patience and forbearance in avoiding "screw" jokes here.
The instrux have ultra-low resolution images, and though there are several colors of pieces, the instrux do not mention the color.
Arrows do not point to the exact place where a piece should be attached.
Steps are missing (you put the alternator together, then the distributor, and the next step has a picture of attachment of the distributor, with the alternator already magically attached to the block).
The distributor assembly has a large half-circle peg and the only place I see to attach it is a small full-circle hole.
Okay; it's skill level "3 - Most challenging," but I don't think that should mean "mismatched parts and wrong instructions." Certainly, I am well past the recommended age of 12. :-)
I wrote to Testor's (around 11/25/2004) to try to get clearer instrux. Maybe they're off on holiday. It occurs to me that it would be a wonderful thing if they could provide, oh, say, a PDF of the instructions in color, one where you could zoom in on the images.
I am VERY unhappy with this thing. I would love to get any constructive advice, especially from anyone with experience with it. Meanwhile, I wait to hear from Testor's. If I get a reply (none so far—12/4/2004), I will post it here.
My frustration led me to a great model builder's forum. These folks build some beautiful things, and they provide an amazing wealth of information.