Dr.Paul Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I wanted to have a large scale model which would hopefully breathe some new excitement into the scale car modeling profession. As a kid in the 1970s and 1980s, scale modeling was quite popular. Video games on a regular television was even a new concept (i.e., Pong, Atari 2600). There were also no iPods or X-Boxes, and both the Apple home computer and cable television industries were then in their infancies. So the kids of the day, myself included, were quite interested in building scale models and slot car racing, and I wanted to bring some of that excitement back into today's interconnected world. I found this forum yesterday, and I think it will become among my favorites to visit! Behold is my partially assembled Monogram Turbo Trans Am model in 1/8 scale. I cannot take credit for this build. My friend Randy is a scale modeler whom I met with on eBay about 14 years ago! I was so impressed with his builds that I had asked him to create this custom build for me. He generously agreed. These are the original photos which Randy emailed me years ago as he was building the model! I'll upload photos of the finished model in a subsequent post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Paul Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 (edited) I am sharing the finished photos of this build. This Turbo Trans Am model has working headlights, high beams, and taillights, parking and side marker lights, and interior gauges. All lights can be individually activated by switches located on the front panel of a finished wooden (and glass-enclosed) base upon which the model sits. The wooden base is hollowed out to hide the electrical wiring that the model needs, and covered on top by simulated asphalt. During the build, I had inquired with Randy whether we could have opening doors on this model. Unfortunately, the interior door molds (of the interior tub) do not line up precisely with the exterior door edges on these models, and furthermore, the structural integrity would be noticeably weakened because the model has T-Tops rather than a solid roof. Interior carpet and rear deck are covered in black felt to simulate carpeting with individual carpeted floor mats (thin rubber edges around each mat too). Randy even used thin gold modeling tape around the bumpers, T-tops, and wheel wells to create the custom exterior stripes of the Bandit edition of the car! Engine is wired and fully detailed also with rubber bands (for belts), miniature rubber hoses, and the coolant in the "reservoir" is visible! The only thing I can't do with this model is turn the key and drive off! The Testors glue started losing its adhesive properties after 10 years, causing the suspension to eventually collapse. The model was reconditioned last year and brought back to perfection by a local modeler (Steve) who works at a popular hobby shop. I have a disability but Randy and Steve worked their magic to create and maintain this model for me! Enjoy! Comments welcomed. I'll try to upload a video of the finished model after this weekend. Edited June 16, 2016 by Dr.Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekay Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Excellent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 (edited) That's a good lookin' car!! Is that backlighting on those IP gauges? I remember getting one of those cars in my stall when I worked in Dallas at Vista Ridge Pontiac. Of course at that time all the bolts and nuts on the whole intake setup were rusted in place!!Really great looking build there Paul! Edited June 16, 2016 by mustang1989 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Paul Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 Thank you!Yes, the IP gauges indeed have backlighting. The backlit IP bulbs are activated by an individual switch on the wooden base that also turns on the parking and side marker lights.A Trans Am aficionado looked at these pics years ago and told me that the speedo and tach are in the wrong spots! lol I don't care myself, Randy's effort is phenomenal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 You sure did a great job there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTJUNIOR Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelo7 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 This is an excellent build of an American icon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBENNA Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 FABULOUS, love the build great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Rollins Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Wow- that is an amazing model!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknkim14 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 That is so cool!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perspective Customs Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Fantastic. Your guys did an outstanding job. I'm sure you are extremely proud to own it and rightfully so. One of the benefits of large scale is the amount of detail, the drawback is they up so much shelf space. Again, fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulbo Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Super build I hope I will one time make some in this big scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahshu Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 What an awesome model, if I didn't know it was a model I'd swear the engine was 1:1, are you you sure you didn't slip in a photo of a 1:1 just to trick us, LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Paul Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 Thank you for your fabulous comments everyone! Yes, I am certainly proud to own this scale model replica of the real thing.I laughed at Phil's comment about the engine. haha The photo indeed shows the engine of the Monogram model! When Steve was reconditioning this model for me last year, he added a custom brass rod, painted black, to keep the hood propped open in its glass display case. I do not think the original model came with a hood prop. But I agree that the engine compartment is too nice to be kept hidden beneath a closed hood, so I agreed with Steve to insert the custom hood prop ... which can be quickly and easily removed as needed in the future.Indeed the model and its base takes up a lot of shelf space. But it is a definite conversation piece for everyone who spots it!Oh, I forgot, the wiring inside the wooden base plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet that provides the power for the lighting. Not batteries. There is either a transformer/resistor in the base that reduces this 120-volt current to 5-volts sufficient to activate the tiny lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Killer. It would be great to see some outdoor pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Paul Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 Agreed Skip! I'll try to get some higher-resolution pics (and a video) and post here after the weekend. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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