Straightliner59

That is a cool comp "coupe"!

That is about a butt-ugly MF!

This is one of the most useful threads I've read. Inspirational, too! It's got me wanting to buy one of these, just so I can watch it take shape! It looks a thousand times better. I know this is similar to my other post, but, it bears repeating!

I got a pound of rubber, in the mail, yesterday. Guess I need to figure out what I want to have molds of! I recently made a mold of a wheel from the Heller BMW. I think they'd look great on a hot rod! In fact, I may remove its center cap, and replace it with one with five notches, since I assume the notches are for lugs.

That's a fine looking hot rod, sir! It's unique, yet it has a classic look about it.

Hahahahaha!

A great source for the dropped front axle is the Revell '29 roadster pickup. It has a beautiful dropped axle, with a separate spring. You shouldn't have any problem with the floorboards mounted directly to the chassis. If I remember correctly, the engine is a Lincoln, but, I wouldn't go to the bank, with that!

It's funny, Tom. I live alone (I'm unfit for human consumption!?) and, over the last couple of years, I feel most at home, when I'm in the shop. I love that "Can I do that?", and you are so right about the satisfaction that comes with discovering that, "Yep! I can!" There's so much zen, in creation.

This is the most apt description of why I build. Like Shirley Muldowney said, when asked why she drag raced, "It's what I do." I get a vision/idea for something, and I want to see what it looks like. There's only one way to do that (Since I can't really draw)! I enjoy competing, but I have never built a model for competition--only to satisfy my own curiosity and desires. I enjoy trying new things, like forming aluminum sheet, building a chassis from brass, making a master, then casting it (like the Enderle injection setup on my junior fueler), or some crazy paint scheme, like on my current Firebird project. Modeling also helps me get away from what may be troubling me.

Thanks, Rick. I agree, it's a better looking taillight!

I dressed up the taillights, and changed their model year! I need to clean up the center panel. It probably should be black, but, I'm not exactly running factory paint!

Apparently, I can no longer just leave the lights on my models alone. In my research, I learned that the taillights for this iteration of the Firebird are interchangeable from year to year. I thought the hex pattern on the later years ('08-2002 ?) taillights looked more interesting, than the rectangular grid on the earlier years' cars. I used PhotoImpact Pro to "draw" the hex pattern (It's a tad large, and the hexes could stand to be "fatter"), and printed it on Blingasm clear decal sheet. It's taken a fair amount of Micro Set and Sol to get them to conform to the lens. I also drilled the taillight "panel" to accept a couple of small lenses I found in the parts box. The backup lamps are different on the later cars, and I already know that I didn't want to piece in a section of clear plastic between sections of the cut-apart red taillight lenses. Yeah, I learned that, with the Monza! Once the backup lights were installed, I punched a couple of discs to represent the reflector pans, behind the bulbs. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. First, a couple of pics of the differences between the early and later years of the Firebird's taillights. As always, critiques, comments and questions are welcomed!

I got the striping done before I went to bed, this morning. I like the way it came out. Now, I wait while paint cures, and see if I can get my decals to print like they're supposed to!

That's always a possibility! I have it sorted out, now, thanks to several sources. It could be GT/xx. or GT/x. Just like the NHRA's other classes, it's determined by advertised shipping weight to cubic inches (which I understood). The second "A", or lack, thereof designates an automatic trans, or a manual one. I just wasn't sure how the class was designated.Now, I know! I will go with GT/A(A), depending on whether I feel like shiftingl, when i am ready to letter the window.

Thank you, Bob! It went from "I don't know what to do with it", to basically done, just like that! The stripes went on pretty easily, thanks to the way the One Shot flows, and covers. It's the only way to go, for something like that.

I know the windows can't be tinted, but the model's a slammer, so, I blacked out the windows. The horsepower/weight thing is standard operating procedure, thus, a heavier car with a smaller engine might be GT/B or GT/BA, if an automatic transmission, right? I'll go with GT/AA, then. Thanks for your input! It's a big help.

And, that part's done! Now, it's going to need to dry/offgas for a while, before I straighten out the paint.

I've been posting this over in the "B.O.Y.D." thread, and thought I'd post it here, because I have a question about classifying this car. In Super Stock, there was (is?) a class for late model pony cars--I think. I also think I've seen photos of Firebirds of this era with the markings GT/AA. I say "think" because i haven't found an image in which the markings are clear enough to make out. It's a slammer, built from one of the old AMT Snap Fast kits that were essentially promos. I cut a chassis plate out of sheet stock and built some supports for the axles, on top of it. The wheelie bars are from a Monogram pro stocker kit, with the bracing built from plastic stock. I printed side window blackouts that will be white glued to the inside of the window "glass". I drew a safety net for the driver's side window. Paint was done by tearing masking tape. The outline striping is not quite half done, yet. I mixed dark blue and white One Shot enamel for the striping. Questions, critiques and comments always welcome!

As a show of good faith (?), I have already painted almost half the stripes! I mixed One Shot Dark Blue and White, to create a mid-toned blue. I am surprised how easily it's gone on. Of course, that's what it's made for. The paint's a bit rough, but, I am sure i can fix it, by the time I am done! I was kind of going for a sort of controlled chaos, to reflect the edges of the torn tape, since those can no longer be seen. It looks more finished, with the outlines, I think. Questions comments and critiques are always welcome!

I taped the body off, last night before work, and shot more red, when I got home, this morning. The pattern is a bit more uniform, now. Next, I need to mix the blue One Shot for the stripes. I hope I can achieve the color I want, with what I have on hand. I don't really want to have to spring for a can of Process Blue, but... Once I touch the blue to the body, I am committed--then, it will have to be striped, completely. That might eat up the entire quarter!

I guess I thought I could work with it, or I wouldn't have kept spraying! When Don handed me the gold, though, I knew that was the way to go.

Looks like you are on your way, for sure!

Thank you again, Anthony! I'm used to having a small shop space. The room it's in, now is 9'X7', part of that is taken by a 2'X4'closet that juts out. I've learned to think vertically! I could use a little more space, but, I have room for all my power stuff (lathe, mill, paint booth, sander, Dremel drill press, soldering, etc.) and it's all easily usable with a push of the desk chair! I'm very happy with it, but, a little room to spread out a little would be nice! Anyway, I digress...The gold was a can of Testor's lacquer given to me by Don Fahrni, when he saw it in the original color. He handed it to me and said, "Here. Cover that up!" ? The original color was, according to the can, a pale yellow. According to what came out of the can, it was coral, or something equally funky. I bought the red, specifically for this project. It's Duplicolor GM Dark Red, I think. I didn't have a clue as to what I wanted to do with it, but I knew that I wanted to use that color with the gold. Here's a photo of the original color. I'm not sure why I kept spraying!

Excited to see this one progress, Tim. I love those early Pro Stocks! If I ever get a shot at a reasonably priced Maverick kit, I'll have to jump on it!

What a cool idea. Well-executed. too! Nice work!