route66modeler Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Hi, LMK if you know of a resin conversion. Thanks,Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Missing Link Resin Casters also does the '77-81 Formula hood. I'm not sure if Keith Mark's Formula Firbird decals are correct for a '77-78. I believe they are listed as 1975-76. Any Firebird experts out there that can confirm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Reliable Resin (for one...maybe more do) casts the hood, Keith Marks does the decals. Both sell on eBay. I don't know of a single-source "conversin kit" but the parts to do it are certainly out there. That hood is incorrect for a '77/'78 And keith marks Decals are a yaer to old, as they changed the graphics slightly in '77 Missing Link Resin Casters also does the '77-81 Formula hood. I'm not sure if Keith Mark's Formula Firbird decals are correct for a '77-78. I believe they are listed as 1975-76. Any Firebird experts out there that can confirm? They are incorrect, but only slightly, you could get away with it, I actually have a '78 Formula on my bench, I did the hood, myself and will be printing my own decals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 That hood is incorrect for a '77/'78... Are you thinking about the 1976 Formula hood, Nick? Reliable Resin and Missing Link Resin both offer the one-year only 1976 hood and the 1977-81 hood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Are you thinking about the 1976 Formula hood, Nick? Reliable Resin and Missing Link Resin both offer the one-year only 1976 hood and the 1977-81 hood. No I belong to A F body pontiac forum and the hoods, and decals changed slightly with the new front facia and rear facia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) No I belong to A F body pontiac forum and the hoods, and decals changed slightly with the new front facia and rear facia. Not trying to start an arguement, but I strongly belive that all 1977-1981 Pontiac Firebird hoods are interchangable between the years. I was in high school and college back when these cars were new and had many friends that drove them. I came THIS close to buying a brand new 1979 Formula in the fall of 1978. All 1970-76 hoods interchange, but the 1976 Formula hood was a one-year only item. Here's more information from www.tachrev.com regarding the Formula Firebird. "Pontiac produced the Formula model from 1970 through 1981 and again from 1987 through the present. The Formula has always been available with the Trans Am hardware as optional equipment, though with a different, but aggressive look of its own. From 1970 through 1975 the Formula package included a fiberglass hood with two long scoops extending toward the nose. In 1976 the scoops were scaled back in a one year only design. Also for ‘76, an optional Formula appearance package became available with a contrasting paint scheme. This package was offered as an option through 1981. In 1977 the scooped hood was again redesigned to a more subtle look which was also carried through 1981." Therefore, the Missing Link and Reliable Resin 1977-81 Formula hood IS correct. Edited March 11, 2010 by Marc @ MPC Motorsports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 You know what forget it, forget I ever tried to offer advice, just forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I'm going to chime in here since I have "owned" nothing but 2nd gen T/A's and Formulas. The Mar©(k)'s are right. The hoods will interchange from 77 up. The slight difference in hoods from 70-76 are in curvature. Almost every body panel is interchangeable from 70-81. As far as the decals, yes, very slight deviations in them. Whether it be font, painted versus stencil etc.. You should be able to purchase all the correct resin items via the places Marc already suggested. I'm also with Marc here Nick, not trying to start an argument. Facts on the web are different than actually being able to pore over the actual car being done. Parts ran out, decals ran out and Pontiac used what they had. Just as GM has and will do. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
route66modeler Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share Posted March 12, 2010 HI, Thanks to all of you for the advice. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 The missing link hood is for the Revell 1/24th scale kit not the AMT/MPC 1/25th scale kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 (edited) The missing link hood is for the Revell 1/24th scale kit not the AMT/MPC 1/25th scale kit. Actually, the hood came from a 1:25 scale Revell 1979-81 Firebird convertible snap kit that has NOTHING in common with the Revell Monogram 1:24 scale kits. With MINOR trimming or filing, it fits the MPC Firebirds. It will not fit the Revell Monogram 1:24 scale Firbird kits. In fact, I mastered the Formula hood that Reliable Resin sells and it fits the 1977-81 MPC Firebird annuals perfectly. It does need narrowed slightly to fit the recent issues of the Smokey and the Bandit Firebirds. The hood as it comes from Missing Link is "square" in the front. The front of the hoods in the MPC Firebird annuals angles slightly from the center to the ends. It is an easy to modify hood to fit the MPC Firebirds. Nick, later in the week when I am where I can take some pictures of the Missing Link hood on an MPC Firebird, I would be happy to post them here. I am probably as big of a Second Gen Firebird nut as you are, as well as Gen 2 Camaros and love talking about them. I also like sharing my knowledge on the AMT and MPC kits of the same. Edited March 14, 2010 by Marc @ MPC Motorsports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catpack68 Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 decon resin has a 76 formula conversion kit.i have one i bought to turn a AMT/MPC 77 trans am into a 77/78 formula.the hood fits fine to me.i plan on getting the keith marks decals.they look close enough to me.i'm gonna use the front nose to do a 76 trans am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Actually, the hood came from a 1:25 scale Revell 1979-81 Firebird convertible snap kit that has NOTHING in common with the Revell Monogram 1:24 scale kits. With MINOR trimming or filing, it fits the MPC Firebirds. It will not fit the Revell Monogram 1:24 scale Firbird kits. In fact, I mastered the Formula hood that Reliable Resin sells and it fits the 1977-81 MPC Firebird annuals perfectly. It does need narrowed slightly to fit the recent issues of the Smokey and the Bandit Firebirds. The hood as it comes from Missing Link is "square" in the front. The front of the hoods in the MPC Firebird annuals angles slightly from the center to the ends. It is an easy to modify hood to fit the MPC Firebirds. Nick, later in the week when I am where I can take some pictures of the Missing Link hood on an MPC Firebird, I would be happy to post them here. I am probably as big of a Second Gen Firebird nut as you are, as well as Gen 2 Camaros and love talking about them. I also like sharing my knowledge on the AMT and MPC kits of the same. I know Mark, the only issue of the AMT/MPC '78 F body kit I don't have is the dealer promo. Which I'd love to find a decent example of, I've never seen this hood till otday, when I was browsing the bay and spotted it, it says that it's for the Revell '24th scale. If i had known this I wouldn't have spent my time building my own hood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Forgot to mention I'd LOVE to talk about F body second generation Pontiacs with you Marc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 (edited) I know Mark, the only issue of the AMT/MPC '78 F body kit I don't have is the dealer promo. Which I'd love to find a decent example of, I've never seen this hood till otday, when I was browsing the bay and spotted it, it says that it's for the Revell '24th scale. If i had known this I wouldn't have spent my time building my own hood. Nick, If it is the Missing Link hood, the description says "It came from the Revell kit, it maybe a tiny bit long for the AMT/MPC kits but it should fit otherwise! Make a 77-81 Pontiac Firebird Formula!" Is this the hood you found? Missing Link resin 1977-81 Firebird Formula hood Here's the kit that this hood comes from. You can clearly see that it is 1:25 scale. Edited March 15, 2010 by Marc @ MPC Motorsports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Nick, If it is the Missing Link hood, the description says "It came from the Revell kit, it maybe a tiny bit long for the AMT/MPC kits but it should fit otherwise! Make a 77-81 Pontiac Firebird Formula!" Is this the hood you found? Missing Link resin 1977-81 Firebird Formula hood Here's the kit that this hood comes from. You can clearly see that it is 1:25 scale. oh ok thanks Marc to late for me though, I scratch built mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reliable Resin Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 contact me > ReliableResin@aol.com Ours Fits > Spot ON ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Does anyone cast the PLAIN ol NON scooped 78 Firey bird hood so I can make an ol friends Blue Bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spkgibson Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Does anyone cast the PLAIN ol NON scooped 78 Firey bird hood so I can make an ol friends Blue Bird? I'd love to see that also,Then I would find the original MPC 77 Firebird annual kit,So the only things you would have to modify on the body,would be filling in the trams am vents on the front fenders,The 77/78 Trans Ams didn't have the T-Tops cut out,onlt the black bird version of the kit did,that one was made around 77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 That sounds about right...I kinda remember a red box-art annual ('78? would make sense...) without the T-tops and with the steel rally wheels instead of the honeycombs being around when the Blackbird kits were already out with their groovy gold-painted chrome tree. That's right, Mark. I have two 1978 annuals and they are just like the 1977 that Steve posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Pretty sure Missing Link does a flat hood, but it may be for the Monogram/Revell kit. Normally there's one on eBay, but I dont' see one right now. Shoot them an email. Missing Link has a flat hood, but it is for the 1970-76 MPC Firebirds. A flat hood for the 1977-81 MPC Firebirds is on my to do list, but it does not have a high priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spkgibson Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 I'm pretty shure none of the 2nd gen Firebird annual kits had the tops molded open. The "Blackbird" kits is a second tooling MPC had cut so they could keep making the kit after the changes were done to the annual.Hey That looks like the one I had,And the 78 was Red or orange on the box,Marc I forgot about the 79-81 Firebirds they didn't have the t-tops cut out either,Now gget going on that Flat hood for us ,, and/or so they could keep production up as the kit was in high demand at the time. I've heard both reasons. IIRC, the only car kit that sold more copys was the 'General Lee" Charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spkgibson Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Wow I messed up that last post,Any of you having issues with the new window to type?Its driving me crazy,at the end you have to type blind basically,Anyways Marc you are right about the 79-81 Firebirds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.