swede70

Greetings, Minor stuff, although seen below would be my AMT '64 Tempest '71 SCCA Trans-Am Gray Ghost effort w/framed windows intended to replicate how the topic appeared at Lime Rock, CT. Rain tires and pressed steel wheels would be called for... A hood, the dash, a very clean tail light cluster plus unblemished tail light lense inserts were taken from the aforementioned $20 AMT '64 Tempest convertible built up, while very recently a rear bumper was secured for just less than $15 via eBay. With expectations sharply trimmed back given I intend to keep this AMT-based build mostly AMT, perhaps this fairly simple project will be the first to receive paint. Thanks. Fairly sharp, now on the hunt for a grille divider/'beak', an MPC second generation Firebird Trans Am steering wheel, and pressed steel rims of an appropriate design. Looking trim though, while nothing special was done to arrive at a reasoned ride height given I've used the second of the existing metal axle holes to configure things as-seen. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind interest and support... Here the abbreviated package shelves have been sanded smooth along the top, the floor mounted differential oil cooler housings reproduced, the floor sections for each rear passenger area cut to shape and hand fit to mesh well to the bulkheads previously fabricated. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks again for the kind words and interest displayed... Seen would be the rudiments of the driveline hump overlay reproduced three times - the same fabricated from sheet aluminum in-period. Also discerned would be the patch I hope to cast and copy consistent with plugging the interior floor where a cast-in front console formerly lived. Removed from my first build and cleaned up for light work, just resting inside a different interior it blends well enough to use forthwith. Thanks. Mike K./Swede70

Just some underhood additions in the form of a new coolant overflow/surge tank situated along the firewall, a repositioned remote oil filter installation following the removal of the heater core 'bump' roughly situated in the same area (happily it was a separate part I could remove), and the coil again. Some fill panels and mounting lips were added to the top of the radiator, hence this area appears somewhat fuller too. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Seen would be a revision of the interior driveline hump overlay; i.e. basically so many aluminum panels with a 'chimney' situated along the bulkhead formed at the rear. A bit frustrating given the transmission hump is wider than it needs to be further forward, while the interior floor is set higher than it might otherwise be given scale thickness of materials isn't something strictly on offer. A better start then, while strengthening ribs on the rear bulkhead, a twin fire extinguisher setup and roll cage refinements stand to come. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Now working on the reproduction of the sheet aluminum structure atop the interior driveline tunnel, refining past efforts and hoping to cleanly update matters for new insight obtained. The Facebook groups specific to the old SCCA Trans-Am Series are quite active, while the contributions of others better-placed and better-informed has helped me to a considerable degree. Doug Innes and Dave Tom in particular have been very kind and forthcoming, while their input adds a lot to my experience of the hobby. - One discovery of note consistent with coming up with a better color match for the over the top stripes was made, it being a sprawling seventeen-page message board thread where a fellow articulates his plans to reproduce 1:1 early second generation Firebird Trans Am stripes and all that such entails. It's really quite helpful; i.e. he speaks of the research he's done, affords evidence of his early print tests, dimensions are revealed, color samples are afforded, the pixelation issue with regards to the blue-to-black color fade and how the same topic might be handled from the design and production front is addressed; i.e. the lot. If you find yourself stuck in this regard, pining for better information in a second gen. Trans Am sense, do consider reviewing: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666571 - Gleaned from the above, I tried to work up color samples that might be afforded a printer. The current state of the art cannot guarantee total fidelity to the tone or hue desired, but then technology evolves and capabilities arrive on the scene that redefine what can be afforded to people such as us. Reproduced below would be a rear stripe image, a color sample taken from such, and finally, a color chip image of 1970 Pontiac Lucerne Blue Iridescent which would constitute the finish applied to the shaker scoop on a Polar White '70 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am model. The color match between the stripes and shaker scoop was said not be the best in-period, while it's known that UV light exposure had the long term effect of fading the stripe color in a manner to suggest more of a greenish hue. - Lastly, another 1:18th diecast ACME/ex-Lane Pontiac 400 engine has been sourced, thus I should be able to work up two pretty fair engines versus being forced to 'go cheap' on one. Interior panel work and roll cage fabrication likewise continues. Hoping of course that quiet application across spheres will result in tangible quality gains. Kind thanks for your review of this project update. Mike K./Swede70

This was the one I remembered, although it'll take me a bit to determine if there were others. It does look like Richard topside... Mike K./Swede70

Looking very nice and thanks too for the historical perspective also relating to your involvement and exposure to the scene in-period. The model is really coming together, whereas I remember seeing in-shop photos within one of the digital archives depicting a Torino Cobra Petty Enterprises entry well along in the fabrication process. It seem the return to Plymouth and abandonment of the Ford deal happened late, even as Torino Cobra/GT print ads. would have us believe that the new for '70 bodies were 'shaped by the wind'! Neat topic, neat execution. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind and very detailed input Peteski. Indeed - for doing things in 1:18th, I find I'm pressured to do things in-house consistent with vertically integrating matters so that all aspects of fabrication can be controlled. At present I'm not well-versed in graphics software such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, InkWorks, etc., although making the investment in both time and personal skills development in addition to seeking hardware to achieve the results desired points the way forward. Your technical knowledge and openness with regards to the specific approach plus identification of the devices employed affords me much to think about, hence know that I appreciate the time taken here. Thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Kind thanks again... Urethane molds poured across the weekend yield parts to flesh out all that would be situated on the radiator support including a GMP '70 GTO Judge radiator, as well as a remote oil filter setup plus oil cooler. The '70 Mid-Ohio T/G Firebird was raided to afford masters to clone, hence just a straight duplication of matters here. Some less elegant aspects of the diecast metal shell happily vanish from sight for the creation of a sheet plastic radiator support, although some filing still needs to be done to square matters away. Other discreet radiator panel work has been performed, although it's not seen here. The coil is a Hwy. 61 '63 Pontiac Tempest item and seems to be the best thing going. Also spotted would be the beginnings of larger diameter exhaust dumps given the first attempt just appeared denatured and puny. A lot of filing and fitting will be required to ensure these tuck into the chassis and in particular, the rocker panels if they're to sit as they should. I can't compromise the strength of the metal rocker lest the body come apart, hence the plastic rod used for the dumps (less the outlets which I hope to do in brass) will be creatively filed to suggest things are more accurate than they are in fact. Plastic rod will be used to prevent wall collapse for the brass ends/outlets worked up, then I'll likely have to drop the same in gasoline or something that will effectively soften if not dissolve the plastic so that I might come away with mildly bent brass tube absent anything strictly inside prior to hand finishing the outlets. Thanks... Yep - one expects to see a svelte Corvette-issue Harrison aluminum radiator - or at least something aftermarket and lighter. Not in this instance, whereas a review of the color underhood photo captured at Lime Rock, CT seen further up this thread reveals use of what appears to be an almost-stock part. The outlet on the top of the radiator was scratch built, so too the domed outlet/inlet further right, while some plugging of holes on the cooling matrix was further required to come up with something that would be clean and readily reproducible. Thanks for checking in... Mike K./Swede70

Looking nice, whereas it sits well too. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Seen would be yet another attempt at a four-point cage (with additions from here not all that difficult), reflecting that learned from four tries at the main hoop dimensions before things came into reasoned focus. Too wide, poorly judged bends, asymmetry, etc., scuppered previous efforts - although matters are better now. Although the dash isn't in, the plastic 'glass' insert is, as is the interior door trim. No collisions, no conflict then... Also witnessed is an attempt at the abbreviated side pipes for the recycling of some 1:18 ERTL 427 Cobra S/C material combined with heat bent plastic rod. Tubing benders on hand aren't strictly allowing me to employ brass or aluminum for the fairly sharp bends desired and required here, hence hunting for a better way forward. Happily two points on the chassis where screws secure the plastic chassis plate to the metal body shell can be half covered up and disguised as mounts for the exhaust pipes leading to the side pipes/exhaust dumps, thus things won't look quite as terrible beneath as I'd feared. A real drag on the works, in 1:18th scale parts are often scarce and/or expensive when they can be sourced, hence pressure exists to economize however and whenever possible. Quality parts and subassemblies can be had, but it takes the fortuitous discovery or the help of friends to secure this or that to push ahead at times given one can basically run up against a brick wall if nothing strictly exists to work with. Out of sight, some urethane is curing around both new and old parts to duplicate, and this fact should help me maintain modest momentum. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Looking very crisp and controlled; i.e. very nice indeed. Thanks for the continuous flow of well-photographed and documented updates... Mike K./Swede70

Just a short update this... Happy to turn up something unexpectedly via FB Marketplace, this an AMT '64 Tempest convertible assembled plastic kit which will yield a hood, as well as a tail light cluster plus tail light lenses for my early-season 1:25th scale '64/'71-season Gray Ghost evidencing the window framing before such was cut out entire. An earlier Scale Coachworks flared shell purchased long ago is up on wheels and is configured to reflect a later-season spec., hence I have two examples in 1:25th scale based upon the AMT annual tool. Unfortunately the stock bumpers were discarded from the model purchased for $20 back earlier today, but still - a step forward and a means to save money given period parts sourcing is typically tedious and expensive both. The hood is soaking in Scalecoat, while I hope it'll strip cleanly. Thanks... This would be the cleaned up (for molding flash) second Scale Coachworks Gray Ghost shell with enlarged wheel arch openings (reshaped a bit then) and what more or less box stock parts I've collected up to this point to flesh the build out. A rear bumper still needs to be sourced, but in the main it's good. Seen to the right is the very clean 'new' tail light cluster w/lenses, while to the left may be seen some period screw-bottom hardware. The hood is soaking, while less the other parts discerned in the first photo, here would be the rest of the kit. Happy to have the same. Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kinds words and notice... A little raw, but this would be the first attempt at a new rollcage for working up a four-point design over an evening. A touch wide, the main hoop bends situated a bit low, the mid-level bars also set too low; i.e. the usual given I almost have to learn again what it is I'm doing before results begin to match expectations. It helps to have spares in relation to everything with special reference to possessing a bodies and interior castings consistent with reducing stress most certainly... Moving along, the cast-in interior console was cut out, while the locating tabs, pedal assemblies and carpeting texture were filed off the floor. Plugging the floor consistent with cleaning up the transmission/driveshaft tunnel calls out to be performed next. Tedious labor and largely invisible. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

The cut would be made inside the hood stripe, hence the curves on all four corners plus the front 'vee' would have to be taken into consideration. Dragging a metal ruler atop the art likely wouldn't do the stripes much good, thus the search for some other means to go about things. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, I'm wrapping up a custom decal order for a 1:18th diecast topic consisting of '70 1/2 Firebird Trans Am over-the-top stripes in addition to other graphics that were part of the livery run in the SCCA Trans-Am Series. In particular, I'll need to cut out material from inside the stripework on the hood to allow for the shaker hood scoop to clear things, and given it wasn't an option to order decal work commissioned in a pre-trimmed or outlined fashion anyhow, I was thinking what could be done to cut the material needed to be removed without stressing the decal art/paper more than was strictly necessary? Maybe too the fact that things are a bit larger in 1:18th makes such an approach sensible, while if the cut could be consistent across two builds, this too would be a plus... https://cookiecutter.com/make-your-own-cookie-cutters.htm Seen above is just a test fitting with color photocopies cut out and craft glued in-place... I suppose I could apply the decal art suggested above and trim such for use of a deft hand and light touch - but I just might not be that good. Anyhow, tossing the idea out there, inviting responses for better or for worse. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks - happy the artwork is now finalized and almost ready to send to the printer... Avoided until now would be subtle front flares needed on the '70 Laguna Seca Jerry Titus effort. I recycled some thin resin lips that almost appeared as oversized nail clippings from my collection of past castings, filing and shaping such to employ as overlays atop each arch opening as noticed below. In addition, tiny slivers of material were added to the ends of the front spoiler element guided by select period photos. This latter material may well be cut off if I can't convince myself the topic was configured in this manner for the race itself... T/G Racing began with one GM-supplied engineering prototype, but also a mundane '70 350-powered base Firebird going into the season, hence standard argent-colored Firebird grille mesh featured. To my understanding, T/G wasn't afforded bodies-in-white and started with normal production examples prior to laborious conversion and fabrication undertaken by the team to compete in the SCCA Trans-Am Series that year. Generally the front flares look acceptable, although the usual CA glue application and putty work to cleanly integrate each will further be required before matters are sorted. Each lip profile is a bit large at this stage, although I reserve hope that I'll be able to shrink them a bit before adhering the pair to the body, applying putty and perhaps filing out the results from behind so actual clearance might be afforded. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... View of what will likely be the final draft of artwork comprising the 3 Amigos Decals livery, seen here on a '73 shell largely unmodified but for the removal of the usual exterior tampo prints. Alternate contingency sponsor/accessory decals were likewise worked up, as were shorter side numerals made up of a smaller loop atop one larger. With this, hopefully I can return to other necessary project fabrication. Thanks. Mike K./Swede70

Another use was to tape off the tampo-printed tape stripes on my 1:18th scale diecast '70 Rebel Machine to suggest that the colored sections of the stripes had a reflective quality sort of like '69-'70 Mustang BOSS 302 side stripes if this makes sense. Tedious to do, but the effect was achieved... Mike K./Swede70

If it helps, it was semi-standard practice back in the day for 1:25th scale plastic promotional models to be molded all in one color, although often the body received a thin layer of clear (sometimes with a light color tint besides) with a touch of metallic in it to convey quality and of course to match up to a hue afforded that year. The contrast being the interior and body was often subtle (not quite so as-witnessed below!), but in the main the effect was appealing. Here I've tried to work up a more or less 'missing' promo offering to fill out my Jo-Han Javelin promo collection, and for applying TS-20 Metallic Green followed up with TS-65 Pearl Clear, the results were really all I could have hoped for. MPC small Goodyear Polyglas GT hard vinyl tires and AMT 'Volcano' wheels round things out to yield a 'would be' '73 full promo vs. just the snap together option. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings... Still sizing artwork for the decals, the greater effort outsourced to 3 Amigos Decals and the considerable patience of S. Lopez who's done a lot here. Numeral size tweaking remains, nearing the end then. Also seen would be some minimal work done for fabricating cowl grate fill panels on the '70 Laguna Seca Firebird, and subtle repositioning work on the carburetor/air cleaner which proved all that was necessary. Thanks... Mike K.

Likely examined before, this would be link to the Dave Friedman collection via the Benson Ford Research Center referencing the '66 Sebring 12 Hour race. I haven't reviewed the holdings complete, but many are promised with a few especially clear images of the topic popping up almost immediately... https://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/sets/72157629575463746/with/6985517460 Mike K./Swede70

As mentioned above, I would have four for you should you wish. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings J.C., Indeed - alternately popping up in either Jo-Han or AMT kits, typically NASCAR topics. At least with my earlier Javelin Trans-Am efforts, it seems a good front tire. With regards to the rears, certainly consider ordering or at least contemplating Plastic Performance Products #6569G 1965-1969 Goodyear Style Stock Car Tire that also includes excellent Goodyear Blue Streak waterslide 'Blue Lines' complete with untilted or italicized GOODYEAR sidewall lettering in the appropriate small style. Yesterday's Decals was tapped to do the sidewall decals, four to a set of four tires, hence one purchase basically covers you for two sets of 'rear' tires and sufficient sidewall markings for whatever you can cobble up for searching for 'fronts'. I've shopped for new/collected likely old tool tires searching for better, although the above seems to be where I return to concerning period sedan road racing rubber. I should have four of the first option if you'd want to reach out. Wishing you well... Mike K./Swede70