christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) This is a Project, I'm working on and on. I think, it started with the built of the latest Trans Am (MJ 2002). I saw one on ebay.com in red. It looked so incredible hot that I built my kit of Revell/Monogram the same way. Then the idea was born. One reason. The other reason is, that I own a 1988 Firebird Formula - my beast. I fulfilled a dream to have one in 2000. Sadly it is nowadays to expensive to drive such a piece of GMs history in Germany. The vehicle taxes are so high that I had to overthink if it's worth to pay ~600 Euros vehicle tax a year only for maybe 1000 km driving fun. Insurance not included. So I sadly de-registered the Pontiac 7 years ago and parked it in my garage. Nevertheless I love the car. I love it to "visit" it in the garage and let it idle from time to time. My goal is to register it again in a couple of years. In 2019 would be an option because the Pontiac turns 30 and it's a historical car by law. Vehicle tax will be less then half and insurance definitely cheaper as today Back to my little project. I wrote to build some Firebirds / Trans Ams of all generations on my to-do-list. I started to restore some kits or built some new. I'll show you here what I've reached so far. This thread isn't done already. When I'll have built another red Pontiac, I'll post it here. I'll change this group picture some day. Missing on the picture: 1983 Trans Am Each model will become it's own post in the order, I've built it. Let's start... Edited March 18, 2015 by christian-w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 It all started with him: 1998 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air 1/25 Revell #85-2159 Built oob. The only thing I've done was to cut the inner wheels to have "break thru". Someday I'd like to add some etched break discs. *grrr* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Picture of the workbench.... Here you can see the stupid inner wheel. The left rim is oob, the right one cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) It followed a 1979 Pontiac TransAm Black Bird 1/25 MPC #6332 I think a lot of modellers know the kit. Nothing to say about perfect fitting and so I don't know what happened with the wind shield after a couple of days Edited March 18, 2015 by christian-w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 1979 Pontiac TransAm 10th Anniv. 1/25 MPC #1-0741 This was a resoration by my own bad built Trans Am. It was violett metallic and some day I was in the mood to paint it grey metallic. The paint wasn't happy with the old paint and went up. A lot of scratches and the model drove into a darker part of the shelf All right. I sanded it someday and painted it red. Another bummer. The paint was worser than bevor and because it was christmas I made a small diorama with a Pontiac in the snow. With my experiences through the years I took it again. Stripped all the paints of and made it new. Now it's good enough for the gang And I'm happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Again it's the proof: you can built a good model kit out of the old MPC kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 AMT/ERTL:1994 Pontiac Firebird Formula 1/25 AMT #8954 Built oob. Curiosest thing: the instruction sheet is missing the places where I have to put the formula decals. Hm. Who cares. Did it on my own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 While I was building the Ponitac in the last post, I build the Trans Am too. Both. At the same time. Easily AMT/ERTL: 1993 Pontiac Firebird 1/25 AMT #8610 Decals... Hm. Decals. Why AMT puts the screaming chicken this bad on paper? After the middle part of the rear lights are painted it is unpossible to see the s.c. You can imagine it on the pictures. Not good. I don't know how this was planned.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Just to show both 1993 side by side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 After some modern stuff it was time to go to an older Trans Am 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 RamAir 1/25 (Revell-Monogram #85-2342) Some modifications where done: BMF at the window frames, lettering and logos. It worked not good at the trunk so the letters are sanded to plastic (light grey thou) But: it's ok for me. The engine got some wiring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Funny that I still haven't built a 1988 Formula But the first Trans Am of the 3rd generation. That's allright at this point It is one of the following two kits. I don't know which one. Why? I got a bundle of MPC Knight Riders KITT and the body was in the package. I grabbed the rest for the Trans Am out of my spare parts box! Unbelievable but true. I swear. 1992 Pontiac Firebird GTA 1/25 AMT #6158 oder 1991 Pontiac Firebird GTA 1/25 AMT #6025 It turned out as I supposed: good enough for the shelf. OOB to be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) Again the jump to the 1st generation. I never liked the nose of this candidate. Sadly for my project I sold all my 69er T/A in the past. Built and unbuilt. So I had to get another one for my project. I bought it on ebay.com. Here it is now. 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 RamAir 1/25 AMT #6123 Built OOB with BMF and some wiring. Nothing else. Edited March 18, 2015 by christian-w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 After a break of two years I build the 1983 Trans Am. 1982 Pontiac Firebird 1/25 MPC #1-0808 When I bought it, it had some damages at the sides. and the roof was deformed.... ...and one of the bumper inlays was missing. So I made both sides by my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Thank you for your attention. Like I wrote at the beginning: There will be follow another Trans Am for sure. The 1986 GTA is already in the shelf Comments are welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randx0 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Nice work . It's fun to see them all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Awesome job covering one of my most favorite car lines of all time. I like them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemopar70 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Very nice Trans-Ams!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
am73grand Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Very nice collection of 'Birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Truly sharp and clean models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 Thank you for your kind words Since I own a Formula (sadly not in that good shape like the model kits but still original) I'm a big fan of it. I fulfilled a dream and still love it. I'd say: it's the most unnecessary "thing" on German roads but it's so awesome cool and the sheer power always gives me a smile on my face. I'm looking so badly forward to get my Bird on the road again when it turns 30 years.... @Jonathan .. When I'm right: is that a Formula in your signature? This hood and car would be cool to in the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalper Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Nice collection They all look great. Your real one looks good for its age. Keep her going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 love the trans ams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmathew1us Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Great models, fun to see the progression of the lineage. It must be so frustrating to not be able to drive your 1:1, but I am sure it must be a very rare car in Germany. Nice job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian-w Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Thanks Andre, Stray and Tom! One "problem" of the model kit is the space in my display cabinet. Because they aren't wide enough, they are divided into two cabinets but in the same high Tom, you are right. My Formula was produced for export (EXP) and has no mileage or °F on it's instrument. It has kilometers and °C (U18). When you look at the picture you'll notice the little white lights at the bottom corner in the bumper. This is because it wasn't allowed to have amber parking lights at the front in Germany. The light bulbs in the sidemarkers, 3rd breaklight and both middle rear light were taken out. Funny. It was the first, I made: make him American The condition is pretty good except the faded paint. Some dents and little rust spots were here and there but I sanded and preserved it against more rusting. What else will I say to it? It's original all over like it's written on the RPO Codes sticker. No power windows, no power mirrors, but 5.0 TPI (LB9). The rear deck spoiler is built back to the airowing. It's cool anyway 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.