'70 Grande

I messaged Kevin at Missing Link about 6 weeks ago; he was sold-out of that resin-cast rear bumper piece and casting a "test" one to see if his mold would still cast a quality piece... haven't heard back from him yet as he needed to send it off to be chrome-plated to make a final determination.

Stunning build! Your custom work is outstanding and the paintwork is incredible as well! I keep coming back to this post and see something new each time I do!

Awesome build as all have posted! Sure would like to have a 1:1 of this build parked inside my home garage!

Great job on this build! I'm curious how you achieved that long-running-dent on the passenger-side door?

Phil, If there are any detail-photos of the 1:1 that you might be seeking, please PM me with a list. About 15+ years ago, I researched one of these 1:1 Jim Hall '70 Trans-Am Camaro's and found it was owned at that time by a California gentlemen that owned and vintage-raced the original, #1 Jim Hall car. Somehow, I found an email address for that gentleman, and I emailed him with a request for some detail-pics as I've planned this same 1/25-build since way-back-when. A few days later several emails came to me with all the detail-shots I requested. He was gracious enough to go out into his garage and shoot the pics himself, and answered some questions I had about the 1:1. Now granted, the pics are of the car 30 years past its "racing days", but the car appeared to have had very few revisions and/or modifications made to it since its racing days. I'd be happy to share any of these reference images with you, (or whomever might be interested in them), just PM me.

Excellent looking build... has a great overall "look" to it! I have always liked this kit as there's alot of different looks that can achieved when building it. Your paintwork is exceptional!

Looking really good so far! What chassis are you using... it looks terrific!

Great looking group; I'd like to see each one in its own separate post with more up-close pics... they each deserve it!

Of all the various builds I have seen of this kit over the years, this one is probably my favorite. Beautifully done!

Very nice build! We had this same car in 1:1, in the same color but with a White interior in my hometown. You'd only see it one day every year, in our town's 4th-of-July parade. The same girl riding in the backseat waving to everyone... I think she was the owner's grand-daughter. Thanks for bringing back that memory!

Excellent build! I'm curious where you sourced those wheels and dog dish caps.

I like this build so far... has all the look of a base- model '57. I might suggest using 5-lug wheels on it; a good set can be found in the AMT '58 Chevy Impala kit which shouldn't be difficult to find.

Stunning build! These Trans-Am race cars are my favorite race cars of all, and your build is a stunning example! Well done!

Well, my wife has known that I'm crazy for over 30 years! I guess I had this image in my head of these Thunderbird's being a "personal luxury car" meaning they were in a much-smaller-format than the full-size sedans of the same era. I've been to dozens of 1:1 car shows over the last couple of years with my eye out for these early/mid-1960s Thunderbird's just to see how big they are in the real world, but in all that time, I haven't seen a single one! Guess I need to just keep looking and when I finally see one, my mind will be set-straight... (or at least a bit less off-center)!

Okay, I'm gonna ask the same question here that I posted in your '63 Thunderbird kit contents post: To my eye, these AMT early/mid-1960's Thunderbird kits all look like they are too large overall; like they were produced at 1/22nd scale instead of 1/25th scale. When I see these built Thunderbird kits at contests, they look as large as a 1/25th full-size Ford Galaxie... am I crazy?

There's some really interesting decals on the decal sheet in this Thunderbird kit. Thanks for posting these images!

Excellent conversion! That is not the original kit's chassis is it?

That is quite a save! What a great transition from that pile of parts to what you have now... nice job!

I can't explain why, but to my eye it has always appeared that these early-1960's AMT Thunderbird kits were produced in something more like 1/22nd scale... every built-up that I've seen just appears to be "too big" overall to be a standard 1/25th scale kit. When I see them on show tables, they look longer than a same-era Ford Galaxie to me... am I crazy?

Answered my own question: I see now that the wide-track rear is a result of using the Nissan rear suspension.

Nicely done. The weathering and minor battle-damage looks excellent as well as the detail-painting on the interior! Did you modify/widen the rear-track so those rear tires would stick out from under the fenders more?

Wow! This is one exceptional build!

Agreed; a terrific looking build! I'd be very proud of that one! Nice work!

Your hard work and diligence paid off; this is a stunning build of such a rare modeling subject! Wow; nicely done!

Nice! I'm curious how you achieved that dull Blue paint finish?