BY BILL ENGAR

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UPDATE LATE JUNE, 2026:  THE FIRST RUN OF THIS KIT HAS SOLD OUT!!!  THIS IS A POPULAR ONE, FOLKS!  DON'T WORRY; ATLANTIS IS MAKING MORE KITS!

ATLANTIS H1391 -- 1/24-SCALE '56 CHEVY -- OVER 100 PARTS -- MOLDED IN STYRENE PLASTIC -- REQUIRES GLUE AND PAINT FOR ASSEMBLY (NOT INCLUDED) -- RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 14 AND UP --  MSRP $US32.99. 

Atlantis' box art is all-new but it evokes a vintage vibe.

Atlantis Models has released a 1/25 '56 Chevrolet, a former Revell kit.  The 1956 Chevrolet is the "Middle Child" of the Tri-Five Chevrolets (model years 1955-1957).  The general public may not be as familiar with the 1956 Chevy compared to the groundbreaking '55 and iconic 1957 but among Tri-Five enthusiasts, the 1956 Chevrolet is a favorite of many.  While the cars were built on the same body and frame, they had distinct personalities and Revell caught these characteristics quite well in the '56.  This kit has not been available in many years.  In 2018, Atlantis Models purchased this tooling after the dissolution of the original Revell USA.  It is now an Atlantis kit.

Atlantis molds their 1956 Chevy in white, clear and chrome-plated plastic.  New one-piece tires are soft vinyl.  Each of the "Tri-Fives" had a distinctive hood.  We like the way Revell executed the hood on the '56.  It's more pointed at the front than the '55 or '57.

Revell tooled its Tri-Five Chevrolets in the early 60's, several years after the cars were replaced by the all-new Impala.  Even though the styling of these cars was getting dated by this period, the cars were still beloved and they were tearing up racetracks.  Their legend was forming.  Revell took a unique approach when rendering these models as kits.  Other companies were providing many extra customizing parts; Revell instead focused on an unprecedented level of detail in the car's main components.

Atlantis' '56 Chevy Bel Air has detail you don't see executed in modern kits.  Doors, hood and trunk open and the engine has many internal details depicted!

A closer look at the chrome sprue.  Instructions include diagrams for which trim pieces to use for the 150, 210 or Bel Air options.

The underside of this model had features typically not seen in kits of the era.

Engines have molded-in detail such as crankshafts and upper valve detailing.  Pistons can be seen in their correct locations in the engine block.  The pistons in this kit actually have engraved valve pockets!  Most model cars have a separate hood but Revell's Tri-Fives (including the '56) have opening doors, trunk, and steerable wheels.  Many chrome pieces are separate, not molded into the body as in most other kits of these cars.  In our opinion, few if any other car kits have this kind of detail.  They are truly historic models!

Insides of the doors are particularly nice.  The kit isn't engineered with the typical interior "tub."

Interior panels behind the doors have door handles, window cranks and upolstery details molded in.

With this in mind, the modeler needs to know that these are not "fall-together" kits.  They demand some work on behalf of the modeler.  Flash will need to be cleaned up.  Some sinkholes will be encountered.  Putty may be needed to fill gaps.  Test-fitting, trimming and shimming might be needed to get the doors to open and close properly.  These kits are rewarding but challenging.  Of their own '57 Chevy Nomad station wagon, Atlantis says it is "Not an easy build by any means."  We believe this applies to the '55 and '56 Chevy kits as well.

The "glass" is thin and clear.  Note that windows are separately molded, not connected as a "tray."

Blackwall tires are newly-tooled by Atlantis.

The Bel  Air was the top-of-the-line trim for the Tri-Five Chevy's.  Basic cars were the 150 and 210.  With the separate chrome pieces, the modeler may built the lower-trim 1956 150 or 210 if desired (the instructions show the chrome parts to use for each variant).  The window glass is separate parts.  The modeler will need to glue them in their frames individually.  Unlike the '55 Chevy kit, this one comes with just one engine (265 C.I. V8).  There are some options, however,  Choose between chromed and white-plastic valve covers which you'll paint engine-color.  Select between a factory air cleaner/single carb intake or a tri-carb.  Suspension has two options, stock or lowered.

The headliner has molded-in stitching creases, a dome light and sun visors.

The engine block is three parts with crankshaft and piston detailing!

Insides of the doors are nicely detailed.

The kit includes a diagram for optional customized upholstery panels for the back seat side panels but we couldn't see those parts included in the kit.  What appeared to be special "X-Parts Garage" side-pipe exhausts are included in the kit but the instructions don't mention them.

Revell caught nicely the lines of the 1956 Chevy with this model.

Note detailing of the engine bay on this model.  There are some heavy reinforcement stubs that will need to be carefully removed from the door and trunk area of the body.

A modeler who is comfortable building and painting 1/25-scale model cars should enjoy this kit.  As a teenager, I'd built maybe a few dozen car models before I built my Revell '55 Chevy, the sibling to this kit.  I found it a bit more of a challenge than the other cars I'd built but it remains one of my favorite builds.  I enjoyed the separately-molded chrome parts.  The opening doors allowed great viewing of the detailed interior.  I also enjoyed the internal engine details.

The instruction sheet is a single, large folded sheet crammed with individual pictorial assembly steps.

Flipside of the instructions.  There are 70 total assembly drawings!

The wheels are stock "steelies" that are chromed.  Right off the sprue, they'll look great for a light custom look.  Or you could paint them body color and use the included chromed hubcaps for a stock appearance.

Atlantis photo of a built model shows opening hood, doors and trunk.

The '56 Chevy had its own personality, distinct from its '55 and '57 brethren.  Atlantis' model catches it well.

One box side has a nice nostalgic map of Route 66.

The other has kit specs, paint color list and a nice description of the car and kit.

We're Detail-Freaks here at 2Modeler.com and we love how Revell originally engineered this kit.  In today's computer-generated world, you don't see the kind of intricate detailing in model kit parts as was done with many kits in the 1950's and 60's.  The sort of workmanship in the tooling for these kits is a lost art and that's one reason they're special.

Box bottom with a photo of the model.  Note the cool "official" GM licensing hologram.

Atlantis always packages its kits carefully to protect the parts.  We like that the clear parts are contained in a zipper-bag.

The 2Modeler Guys are happy that this kit has made a comeback after a too-long absence.  It may challenge your skills and make you work to get a nice model but the results will be rewarding if you're willing to give it some effort.  We give this kit an enthusiastic Four Thumbs Up!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ATLANTIS MODELS FOR PROVIDING THIS MODEL KIT FOR US TO REVIEW AND ENJOY!!!

BONUS FEATURES:

ATLANTIS MODELS' TRI-FIVE CHEVY LINEUP

The "Tri-Five" Chevy's are beloved cars from the 1950's.  One would expect a car that is eight years old to be out of style and not particularly relevant.  But even in 1963, the '57 Chevy was in the process of becoming a 1950's icon.  Kar Kulture artist Ed Roth could have picked any newer car for his Krazy monster figure Mr. Gasser to drive, but in 1963, when a "Gasser" racer was mentioned, it was likely a modified '57 Chevy that came to mind.  It was that year that he created and Revell released "Mr Gasser."  Brudder Dick built one of these when it first came out.  It was one of Atlantis' earlier releases once they obtained Revell's legacy tooling.

Mr. Gasser was Atlantis Models' first Tri-Five kit!

Mr Gasser built as Atlantis Models suggests.

Brudder Dick chose a golf cart theme to build his Mr. Gasser!

Mr. Gasser was one of our first Atlantis reviews dating back to early 2020.  In 2022, Atlantis released the former Revell '57 Chevy Bel Air.  This one also has super-detailing like the other Tri-Fives.  The '57 Chevy is the most iconic passenger car of the 1950's and Revell put a lot of effort into the tooling of this kit.

Atlantis released their '57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop in 2022.

We're of the opinion that a '57 Chevy looks great in any color.  It's awesome in basic GM Polo White!

In 1968 Tom "Mongoose" McEwen set out to build the world's fastest '57 Chevy.   He wrapped a '57 Chevy funny car body around a short slingshot-style dragster frame.  Alas, instead of a Chevy engine, only a Mopar Hemi would do to create a drag car that could do the quarter mile in less than six seconds in exhibition runs.  This was the first nostalgic funny car, in fact creating the category.  While we haven't seen the kit. we understand that it's engineered so that modelers of just about any skill level will enjoy it.  

It seems that Tom McEwan raced just about anything with four wheels.  This is his '57 Chevy Funny Car.

Atlantis' Tom McEwan '57 Funny Car has a detailed dragster chassis.

The Nomad was a 1954 2-door wagon concept car based on the 1953 Corvette.  For 1955, Chevrolet released it as a body variation of the Bel Air.  Atlantis has a version based on tooling from their 1957 Chevy.  It comes with flame decals!

Atlantis' '57 Chevy Nomad is unusual; most station wagons had four doors.

The '57 Nomad has opening doors and the same level of detail as the other  Atlantis kits from the original 1960's tooling.

Atlantis' X-Parts Garage is the first version of the former Revell '55 Chevy to be released.  It comes with drag racing wheels and tires and is the version to get if you want to build a street-racer.

Atlantis' '55 Chevy Custom Street Rod has Gasser-style wheels.

The '55 Chevy Street Rod has a number of parts that differ from the Chevy Bel Air version!

Atlantis' '55 Chevy Bel Air was released in 2026 at the same time as the '56 Chevy.  Both of these kits include parts to build a factory-stock Tri-Five Chevy in Bel Air trim.

Atlantis' 55 Chevy Bel Air comes with factory-style wheels and tires.

The Bel Air version of Atlantis' '55 Chevy can be build as a lightly customized hot rod.  The steel wheels are chrome-plated and the kit comes with optional factory-stock wheel covers.

Collect all the Atlantis Tri-Five models!

In 2026, Atlantis released the Tri-Five "middle child," the '56 Chevrolet.

Atlantis' '56 Chevrolet finished in "Onyx Black" with a red interior.  Note that it uses factory wheel covers.

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