ConventionalMan

Thanks everyone...Small update for now... some interior color! Not done yet, mostly a test of mixing color. Some small touchups and I think it looks ok! Thanks for checking it out!

Gorgeous. Beautiful job! I'm just starting mine. It will be black with the blue interior. Just love these!

Yep. Black it is. Once the trim is done it will pop!

I think I am sticking to basic factory stock on this. I just love the sleeper look. It looks like what ,in the automotive business, we used to call the welfare model. No bells and whistles. Basic. And it is. Except for everything that matters lol.

Thanks! I've seen them all lol. Just wanted that ONE pic of a black on blue one haha!

Thanks! I figured it would look good in there. I guess we'll see!

Love the color!

Hey guys and gals, thanks for all the kind remarks on my 68 Firebird. It really gave me a boost getting back in to this hobby! This is a great place to se some awesome work and there are so many inspiring builders here. It's awesome. My next challenge will be this Catalina. I have been researching and I can't find one little bit of very pertinent info... I would like to be historically correct color-wise... I love the look of this beast in black, but I'm not a fan of the red interior. My question: Was the blue interior available with the black exterior? I cannot find definitive photo or order sheet proof anywhere. Any help would be appreciated! Cheers!

Thanks again for all the kind comments. I have decided on my next kit...62 Catalina 421SD. I'll be posting some progress in "On the Bench"!

I think it's great. Plus it's one the few things she wants to do with dad! HAHA!

Thanks for the props folks. Always feels good to get your tires pumped up a bit haha! I appreciate the feedback though. The 67-68 Firebird has always been my Number One want. Always preferred it over the Camaro and Mustang. I kick myself for not jumping when I had the chance about 12 years ago to buy a 68 for $2500. It needed work of course but the bones were there but small kids and a new house do not allow for a project car. I cry softly somwtimes when I think about it I had a 64 Caddy that wasn't quite the same lol I think my next build is going to be the 62 Catalina 421 SD... kinda miss all those old Pontiacs. Just something extra cool about em. I am also helping my daughter build a car she picked out, a 58 T-Bird, so we'll see how that goes. I'll update soon!

Well I finally finished my 2nd kit in my model building restart after 25 years. The Revell 1968 Firebird 400 2-n-1 kit built box stock and factory original. A lot of firsts for me here... Foiled trim, battery cables, plug wires, brake lines at the master and basic under car lines, etc. Much detailing with paint of the wheels, engine, underhood stuff, etc. I used the decals for the emblems as I'm not sure about PE parts yet. I will try them eventually (I actually have a set for the 67 Charger kit). I realize I probably should have removed the molded in emblems but they look ok I think! I fought hard with the red line tire decals and lost so they are just plain black (for now, until I build up enough patience to try again) Painted from a spraycan of cheap Wal-Mart paint I had laying around and 3 coats of Future (Pledge now) The photos bring out a bunch of flaws that are harder to see in person lol but overall I am quite happy and if I can't have the real one, this will do nicely! On to my next project... Thanks for looking, comments welcome!

Finally a bit of time to play,,, Some progress while the body clear dries - I got the interior and chassis pretty much done. Added some basics like battery cables, master cyl lines, and my first attempt at basic brake lines on the chassis. The burlwood is just a picture printed out and glued on (looks better in person), but i chose to do a regular black steering wheel because I couldn't mach the paint to suit me. A wooden wheel was optional. I probably would choose the black one in a 1:1 anyway. Sorry for the poor interior pic quality. Also, some of these tiny little decals are a pain but they sure add to the realism! Never used to have these the last time I built a kit! Thanks for looking! Comments are welcome!

You're right, I was looking at a reference and put the two together in my head lol. The redline was standard on the 400 though. Think I'll stick with that. I was never a fan of white-letter tires anyway.

Thanks! I was surprised it was on the decal sheet and took me a minute to remember where I had seen one before. Nice little detail... The real thing - it was a quality control marking put on with (apparently) a rubber stamp!

A few small details added to the engine - Fuel line, PCV tube, repainted fan the correct color (even though it's supposed to be a 5-blade fan...oh well lol) I also started to detail the wheels/tires. The decals have not fully set yet with the Micro-Sol but they actually look ok. I wasn't sure about em and a bit of a pain to get that redline even. I will still be touching up the rims too. Not sure about keeping the chrome edge. I've seen some with beauty rings and some without. Were they a factory option/item? That's it for now. Thanks for looking and for your comments!

Thank you. It's a slow go as I have a few min here and there but I hope so!

Thanks! I'll have to look into that! Still haven't decided yet. I always thought of a vinyl top as a bit frumpy but so many of these cars had 'em I can't decide. I like them both.

A few small updates as time permits, added ignition wires ( will try to add looms after ) and started to detail the engine compartment a bit with a dry fit, firewall, master cyl, etc... Thanks for looking! As always any input/pointers are welcome. I'm re-learning as I go!

A small update... I don't have tons of spare time but this is becoming therapy to me! lol Paint turned out ok color-wise I think. I don't airbrush (yet - never tried it, so it's all out of a spray can) but I still need to work on polishing the paint before putting some clear on. I futured this already just to see how it looks. I like the direction it's heading. I can always remove the future later if I want. I decided I didn't like the chrome on the valve covers (too shiny/fake looking), plus the left valve cover had a terrible flaw in the kit chrome, but I have no "chrome" paint, so I tried bmf. Looks ok! BMF on the left. A little engine work... My meager paint mixing skills, tried to get as close to the Pontiac Metallic engine color as I could. Probably could use less blue and a little more silver. Oh well, I need to work with what I've got for now... It will take me some time to amass all the supplies I need after so many years away lol. I still need to fix up the BMF on the ends of the valve covers. Thanks for looking. Cheers!

Yep, the '68 took away the vent windows and changed the front signal lights and a few other cosmetics but the general idea is there!

I'll check it out - thanks! And thanks Shaun, I'll look into your suggestion as well.

HAH me too. Funny story - I sold cars for a living up until a few years ago and most recently our store was selling Fiats. I had trouble with the size (I'm 6-1 as well) and if it had a sunroof I couldn't get in it. When someone asked ME how I liked the car, I said sunroofs are overrated - go for the convertible lol.

Project #2 in the rebirth of my modeling career after being away from it for 25 years lol. My dream muscle car and I would buy as a real-life version in a heartbeat if the funds and the opportunity come along... yeah, right. I actually had a deal on one several years ago but decided it was a basket case and needed too much work (at the time we had two newborns). I kick myself now but I did end up with a 1964 Caddy that I drove daily for 6-7 years so... haha. I like the styling difference over the Camaro for whatever reason. This will be a completely stock car in burgundy with black interior. I'm toying with the idea of a vinyl roof and could use some pointers as I've never done one before - I've heard the masking tape technique is the most convincing? Anyway, wish me luck! And the real 1:1 version for inspiration...