Revell 1/25 'Tweedy Pie'

KIT #: 4922
PRICE: $22.95 SRP
DECALS: One option
REVIEWER: Scott Van Aken
NOTES: Reissue

HISTORY

Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s “Tweedy Pie” is one of the most recognized T-Buckets in history, selling over 11 million model kits and counting since 1963! (I have my doubts about the numbers given being just for this kit, but can believe that it would be accurate for ALL Roth designed car kits. Ed) Tweedy Pie is a 1923 Ford Model T on a ‘32 Ford chassis, featuring some of Roth’s earliest pinstriping. It runs a Chevy 265 V8 with 6 Stromberg 97 carbs, Ford 3-speed trans and a banjo rear end.

Tweedy Pie was originally built by Bob Johnston. This Ford T-bucket was widened 3 inches and channeled over bobbed Deuce rails. Ed striped the car for Bob. Before selling to Ed, Bob swapped the flathead for a '57 Corvette engine. Ed added an Offy manifold and Stromberg carburetors, plus nerf bars and lots of chrome

Owned for over 40 years by the Lavoy family, Tweedy Pie was sold in 2006 to Larry Tarantolo, who lightly restored it along with fellow Roth aficionado, Dave Shuten of Galpin Auto Sports. Much to everyone’s surprise, it was then thrust back into the public eye at the 2006 Detroit AutoRama, where Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was honored as the featured builder of the year. Tweedy Pie is now at home at Galpin with the largest collection of Ed Roth’s custom creations and memorabilia.
THE KIT

This is pretty obviously vintage 1960s Revell. While the molds have held up well over the years, there is still flash that will have to be taken care of. This is one of those kits with a lot of chrome, most of which will have to disappear when cleaning up the flash and mold seams. The windscreen parts are to be cut from the enclosed sheet of clear acetate with a template provided in the instructions.

Typical of Revell kits of the time, this one has steerable front wheels. This is a feature I rarely got to work properly back when I was MUCH younger as I often ended up with the spindles breaking off! There are options for this one that include Cragar wheels for the rear, a top and a set of fenders. This latter sprue looks to be an add-on as it is quite clean and free from flash. The kit also comes with four vinyl tires and one has to wonder just how to paint the whitewalls so that the paint will stick. I would think that decals or dry transfers as used by Fujimi and Tamiya would be useful.

The instruction sheet is well drawn with two pages devoted to identifying each of the parts being used, something I have not seen before in a Revell car kit. Generic color information is provided for those parts that need it. The overall color is Candy Purple, but those who wish to throw in their own touch could paint it about any darkish color they want. The decal sheet is pretty much the pin stripes and instruments for the dash. As the stripes are white, that is why I recommended a dark color. Being modern Revell decals, they should be quite functional. Also on the sheet are license plates and Rat Fink decals.

CONCLUSIONS

From what is embossed on the rear deck piece, this kit was last issued in 1999, which is quite a while back. It is not, of course, the original release date as the is probably in the mid-1960s. Revell has been good to custom car fans by reissuing these older kits and, while not $1.49 any more (probably more than that is given to Ford for licensing), it is still a much better deal than collector's prices.

REFERENCES

Various web sites.

May 2012

Thanks to me for picking this one up.

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