mrmike Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I have this Trans Am lanquishing on the shelf and it is in need of a rebuild. I have been toying with the idea of converting it to McQ's '73 Trans Am. Now, if you are not familiar with McQ, here's a little back story. McQ is a motion picture starring John Wayne and it was released to theaters in 1974. McQ is a police detective living in Seattle, Washington and he, like many other detectives on TV and the movies, has his own style of detecting. He becomes embroiled in a case of drugs and murder while trying to deal with corruption within the Police Department. His vehicle of choice is a dark green '73 Trans Am, which seems like an unlikely car for the Duke due to his size. The dark green color harkens back to Steve McQueen's Bullitt and his '68 Mustang GT as a bit of a tribute. I present to you my Pontiac Trans Am that I built back sometime in the '90's. For now, my plan calls for Model Master #28120 Fathom Green Metallic. I do believe that the McQ Trans Am was Brewster Green but none of that color exists in hobby paint and I am not about to special order any paint. First order of business is deconstruction and a good cleaning! Then, it'll be prep for paint. More to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragfreak Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I haven't seen the movie but this should be very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 That's going to be SWEET Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Thats not a bad flick, very cool project Mike! Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Mike that will be a very cool build. l have the McQ DVD, l wathed it with my dad in the 70's and found it on DVD a few years back.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyBradKeselowski Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Mike, That is going to look great plus I can't wait to see it painted. McQ's 73 Trans am was indeed Brewster Green so the Fathom Green will very closely match the Pontiac color.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 The early Firebirds are my favorite compared to the later Firebirds. The later Firebirds lacked in the brute force that the earlier Firebirds had. This wasn't one of The Duke's better movies, but it does have it's moments. The car sound effects were typical of a Warner Bros. movie for the time...stolen from Bullitt. But, it was kind of nice to see John Wayne in a different type of role. I am hoping that Fathom Green Metallic is close to that of Brewster Green. Last night before I turned in, I blew apart the T/A. These parts will be cleaned and stripped. These parts will be cleaned and freshened up. The body parts are under a good coating of Easy-Off. More to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Mike is there any differance between this model firebird and the 73 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) None that I am aware of. That doesn't mean there wasn't any changes made since the 1970 1/2 introduction. I am proceeding on the premise that there wasn't any changes made and will finish the Trans Am as a 1973 model driven by The Duke in the movie. While doing some research, I looked at the steering wheel and noticed the closed holes in the spokes. I said to myself, "I've gotta open those!" I rinsed off the body that had been soaking in Easy-Off since this morning and with an old nail brush, I removed the decals, enamel clearcoat, and some of the trim paint. When the body is dry, I'll start prepping for paint and reattach the side mirrors and rear spoiler. The nose piece will be painted seperately and reattached during assembly. Even the wheels look great! I wished Revell had used these in the '69 GTO The Judge kit instead of the shallow ones. More to come... Edited July 15, 2013 by mrmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHSS Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Looking good so far. I always like these in the green. As for as changes go, the only visible differences are the seats. The low back with the adjustable head rest was 701/2 only after that they used the high back style seat with some different upolstery depending on option. But that only matters to the rivet counters. Keep going I'm looking forward to seeing done. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 I suspected that the interior had the changes made to it. But, I haven't had the time to thoroughly research that generation of the Firebird. I've been piecing the body back together. Some additional cleanup and it'll be ready for primer. One thing I noticed on McQ's Trans Am was that it had a chrome drip rail over the side windows and additional chrome here and there. Using some .010 x .030 Evergreen Strip Styrene, I added the drip rail. More to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Car Crazy 81 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Mike, Nice start on McQ's Trans Am i'll be watching this build. I have this kit too might work on it someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The70judgeman Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I did the same thing last year. It's in the "under glass" section. At least you won't need decals as the car was decal delete. Only thing is the MM Fathom Green didn't look right...it wasn't dark enough and had too much metallic in it. I ended up stripping the hood/body and used Dupli-Color Perfect Match BGM0518 GM Emerald Green Metallic and cleared with Tester's One Coat "Wet Look" Clear. It looks a lot closer to the Brewster Green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 18, 2013 Author Share Posted July 18, 2013 I did the same thing last year. It's in the "under glass" section. At least you won't need decals as the car was decal delete. Only thing is the MM Fathom Green didn't look right...it wasn't dark enough and had too much metallic in it. I ended up stripping the hood/body and used Dupli-Color Perfect Match BGM0518 GM Emerald Green Metallic and cleared with Tester's One Coat "Wet Look" Clear. It looks a lot closer to the Brewster Green. I tried to find your T/A in Under Glass, but I was unable to find it. When I started this project, I had decided not to special order any paint and I am not about to search through all the auto shops in my city looking for a specific color. I have the paint on hand and it cost me very little to purchase it and so I will use it. I appreciate your information and I'll make another attempt at finding your completed T/A. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Jon Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Looking good, I remember that show! I also really like that Firebird body style, Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjsipes Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Here's the link to the McQ under glass refereneced. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=61578#entry740368 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 Thanks guys for the help! This happens to be my favorite Firebird body style, too! After much thought and research, I have changed my mind on the paint. To me, Brewster Green is not a metallic color. So, Fathom Green Metallic is out and in its place will be Tamiya TS-9 British Green. This paint looks closer to Brewster Green than any of the others I have looked at. Tonight, I took the engine apart and painted the engine block with Model Master Pontiac Engine Blue Metallic. The intake will be repainted along with the pulley/belt assembly, power steering pump//alternator assembly, and the exhaust manifolds. More to come.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie8575 Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Good-looking car, Mike. I think I've heard the movie mentioned in passing before, so I might go check it out just for giggles. Charlie Larkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 It not the greatest of The Duke's movies, but it was a different type of role for him. I read that he turned down the role of Dirty Harry when it was offered to him. Well, painting the body is on hold as a friend of mine is sending me a 12 oz. can of Brewster Green automotive paint. So, I'll pay attention to the rest of the build until the paint arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Painting it the Brewster green will be cool Mike, but l thought it had metal flake in it. l have not research it and you have so l must be wrong.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I read that he turned down the role of Dirty Harry when it was offered to him. Not surprising. The Duke really preferred more family friendly films. Clint has said in interviews after John had died that the level of violence in Clint's movies was a subject of some contention between the two of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 Thanks Carl! As far as I know, Brewster Green is a solid, non metallic color. I want to be as close to the 1:1 car as I can since I may use this model for my club's Club Challenge during our show on October 6,2013. Rob, this does not surprise me as the violence in the Duke's movies was never at the level of Clint's. While I could see John Wayne as Dirty Harry, he just wouldn't be as violent as Clint's version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brizio Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmike Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Thanks Fabrizio! I detailed the dash this afternoon. Have a look... The chassis has been repainted and the front and rear suspensions have been installed. The 400 CI Poncho motor has been installed into the chassis. More to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blunc Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 on pontiac engines there is a water passage from the backside of the top of the water pump to the intake manifold (if you feel like doing that) it would take just a short piece of small evergreen rod to replicate this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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