Finished Photos of Renwal’s 1/4 Scale Visible Chassis and Visible V8 Engine

[Phillip1]

Fellow Modelers,

 

Below are photos of Renwal’s 1/4 scale Visible Automobile Chassis and Visible V8 Engine built in 2026.  The first photos are of the finished Chassis by itself.  Next, the finished V8 Engine is shown by itself.  The final photos show both models after being joined together.  Nearly all of the kit parts were painted, with the exception of any moving parts driven by the electric motor (mostly gears and shafts).  The paint colors used were varied and striking to make the details stand out and help the models come across like an attractive educational museum exhibit.  Also included are a couple of work-in-progress photos and original model box artwork.

 

Renwal Model Company

Renwal, already an established manufacturer of various plastic products, was one of the earliest American companies to begin producing plastic model kits, starting around 1955.  The company name comes from the backward spelling of founder Irving Lawner’s last name.  Their philosophy was to make unique, niche products instead of more mainstream subjects like other plastic model companies.  Renwal’s models were never cutting edge quality or highly detailed, but tended to focus on being educational and in many cases featured working/movable parts.  By the mid-1960’s Renwal’s kit offerings were wide-ranging and included visible anatomical models, modern naval warships, early aircraft, classic/showcase cars, and modern armor/military equipment.  The company went out of business in 1976 and their model tooling molds were purchased by a larger competitor, Revell, Inc.

 

Visible Automobile Chassis

One of the most fascinating and impressive models Renwal produced was the 1/4 size Visible Automobile Chassis, released in 1963.  In addition to its massive size (37” length X 16” width X 14” height), the finished model had the following features: an electric motor that powered the differential/rear wheels, a working transmission with three gears and reverse, a working steering wheel with gears/linkages to turn the front wheels, a working front wheel spring suspension, a working brake line and a clutch that could be disengaged.  Even the box top made the claim it will be “the most impressive model you will ever build”.  Meant as a companion to their 1/4 size Visible V8 Engine it was very expensive and did not enjoy the tremendous success of the V8.  Due to low sales, it was in and out of Renwals’s product line catalog during its run, last appearing in 1973 and even Revell opted not to re-issue it.  This model has a total of 548 pieces (291 styrene plastic/20 nylon/237 hardware) and is molded in four colors (black/gray/red/white) and clear.  I was able to get all of the working features to actually work except for the brake line.

 

Visible V8 Engine

Renwal’s Visible V8 Engine kit was released in 1960 and became one of the most popular and best-selling plastic models ever produced.  According to car model experts on the Internet, Renwal’s V8 was not based on any single engine, but shared a lot of similarities with Studebaker’s 1951 V8.  It remained in Renwal’s product line catalog every year until the company went out of business, and was re-issued by Revell multiple times after they acquired the molds in 1976.  The finished model had an electric motor that powered the crankshaft, pistons, camshaft, rocker arms, push rods, lighted firing sparkplugs, cooling fan, generator fan and fuel pump actuator arm (over 100 moving parts!).  In 1994, Revell permanently modified the molds by removing all the electrical components and incorporated a hand-crank assembly to operate the moving parts.  Although I have never read why this was done my guess is they wanted to simplify the kit and make it a more “kid friendly” build.  This model has a total of 353 pieces (241 styrene plastic/112 hardware) and is molded in three colors (black/gray/red) and clear.  I was able to get all of the working features to actually work.

 

This was a fun but very challenging project and it does make an awesome display!  Truly I can say there is nothing like it in my collection.  I think the design and engineering of both kits were really clever and impressive.  The kit’s instructions were very good too.  However, the molding quality of many of the plastic parts was not very good.  It would have been an easier build if I had not painted anything, but using all the vibrant colors that I did make it much more attractive and appealing (IMHO).  I hope you enjoy the photos.

Phillip1

 

Below are several very short videos on YouTube that show this model while the working features are operating (i.e., V8 Engine running/transmission shifting gears, etc.) after being completely finished.

  

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:14 PM by Phillip1
information correction

[Aerobat]

Really interesting!! I had a go at the Visible V-8 in the 60s but never saw the chassis kit. Your photography is as outstanding as the build. 

[LSP_Kevin]

Oh, wow!

 

Kev

[Archimedes]

I have never seen this combination built before. What an astonishingly good result you have achieved. I particularly like the fact that you went to the trouble of painting it which has been a great success. Bravo!

 

Kind regards,

Paul

 

 

[D.B. Andrus]

Is so big!

[chrish]

Outstanding job, built the engine kit many years ago but not to your standard! 4 speed and differential with straight cut gears!….i couldn’t imagine the noise coming from those gear sets in real life!

beautiful work!

[LSP_Mike]

Very nice, and an appreciation for the subject. GM?

[chrish]

If you’re asking if it’s a GM (General Motors) engine, it does bear a vague resemblance to some GM but damned if I could narrow it down. I’ve been an auto mechanic all my working life from 1977 to present and don’t think I’ve seen this exact engine before anywhere. From the top it looks kinda Ford 360-390 but with Chevy exhaust manifolds but the generator is in the wrong place for a Chevy and the valve train is also wrong. Just googled it, it’s a generic representation of a V-8 loosely based on a Cadillac or Buick engine…does that help?

[LSP_Mike]

I was thinking Buick or Oldsmabubble. Still, lovely work.

[Phillip1]

Aerobat/LSP_Kevin/LSP_Mike/Archimedes/D.B Andrus/chrish-Thanks for the compliments and comments!  They are appreciated!

 

Archimedes-Painting everything (except gears and shafts) made it a more difficult build, but made it a lot more attractive and helped bring out the details-like a colorful education museum exhibit. 

 

D.B Andrus-Yes it is big, and difficult to handle during assembly!

 

chrish-Interestingly, the kit has a working clutch but you do not have to disengage it to put the car in gear or switch gears.  The gears do make noise but I think the noise mostly comes from the electric motor.   

 

LSP_Mike/chrish-I did a fair amount of research on these models (chassis/V8 engine) while building them.  According to car model experts on the Internet, Renwal’s V8 was not based on any single engine but shared a lot of similarities with Studebaker’s 1951 V8-shown in the image below.  I read this engine also had a lot in common with the Cadillac V8, but I will quickly admit I am not too savvy on car mechanics so I differ to chrish and others with more working knowledge.

 

 

Phillip1

Edited Thursday at 12:13 PM by Phillip1
information correction

[Lee White]

Wow! I was gifted one of these, fully assembled in the late 1960s by a family friend who passed away. As a small child the perceived size was even larger than it really was, and it was huge. I loved watching all of the moving parts, I’m bummed I don’t still have it.

[LSP_Ray]

That is awesome! I have seen the V-8 kits for sale, but I don't think I have ever seen one of the chassis kits! I might have bought them if I knew about the chassis. I see for the Renwal boxed kits the pair will cost you about $1000 now on eBay.

[Phillip1]

Lee White-That was a GREAT gift for a young boy to get!  I bet you imagined yourself getting on it and driving around!

 

LSP_Ray-Thanks for the great compliment!  It is not surprising that you have never heard of this model.  The Renwal Chassis kit was never a big seller-being too big and too expensive and only produced for about 10 years (see the pricing page below from Renwal's 1964 product catalog).  Even a lot of car modelers have commented they were not aware of its existence.  It is really too bad the molds were badly damaged, then destroyed by Revell after acquiring them because I think this kit would be popular with many modelers if available today.  I am a good example of this thinking since I am not a car modeler AT ALL, but I knew what a fabulous display it would make.  You are spot-on with the pricing.  I paid about $850 (US) for the chassis and about $100 (US) for the V8 engine.  My wife gave approval for the purchase, but only after I committed to building it instead of putting it in a closet to gather dust.🤣

 

Phillip1

 

 

 

 

[Lee White]

Philip1, it was an amazing gift, you are absolutely correct on that! The fellow I got it from was an eccentric car collector, whose son was best buds with my dad. The most memorable  thing I remember about him was his 1962 Cadillac convertible, which he had modified to his taste by having the fins removed. It looked like a giant T-bird. 

[RadBaron]

Fantastic!!!