Short version; Monogram’s take on the Buick GNX is pretty damn good, but honestly there’s a few niggles here and there with the kit like some instructions being wrong or it skipping a whole step involving the rear suspension, or the car being molded in flat white while the end result would imply the thing’s all black, it could’ve been better.
But let’s be fair here, it being molded in white lets creativity run wild. You wanna make a stock factory Buick Regal with GNX parts? You got a clean slate to work with.
The car’s gorgeous, lots of the late 1980s cars were very boxy and very unimaginative but the Buick somehow still makes something so square look so damn good and this model does show that pretty well. The specifically GNX tuned engine is replicated really well with some chrome plated parts to accentuate it even further. Lots of interior decals make for easier and prettier results inside as well, however sadly there’s no dashboard decals whatsoever.
Now the downsides to this kit… About the wrong instructions? Well, the kit skips on installing the panhard rod on the rear suspension. It’s not a really big deal(it’s a model afterall) but it does kinda screw with the integrity of the rear end like applying the wheels or keeping the suspension in place. Another thing is related to the decals, it’ll tell you to put the front seat decals on the back and the back’s on the front.
Most of the model fits together pretty well, but the entire nose is one big piece that you need to glue onto the body. Wouldn’t be such a problem if the damn thing would fit, you’re meant to squeeze two pins into the body and then just glue it in place – The problem being, they aren’t aligned, and there’s nothing at the top stopping it from sliding too high. So the nose on mine’s crooked. Could be just mine, could be a mold problem, I don’t know for certain.
The bottom line? Pretty kit that offers a nice challenge to build, a few hiccups and a fair bit of paint work for a reasonable price. Buy it!
’87 Buick Regal GNX specifications:
Kit: #85-4018
Skill Level: 2
Parts: 103
Molded in: White
Scale: 1/24