1970 Plymouth Superbird ,,time to finish it

[gtx6970]

Well, while rummaging around in the stash this afternoon. I stumbled onto this one. Started long ago ( been so long I don't remember when ) So I sat it on the workbench to be the next up. Summer is tough for me to get modeling time,,,but not impossible. So it make take a little time to actually call it done.

Its the Johan body and interior with the chassis from the AMT 1968 Roadrunner kit. engine will be from the parts box . Painted in Testors Petty blue with the required black vinyl top  , it'll be white interior and lettering. 440 six barrel auto power train. Want to replicate a car a good friend  of mine used to own.

 

[gtx6970]

Time to bring this one back to the front of the table. In a perfect world it'll be done by Christmas . I may give it to a friend of mine as a replica of his former car.

Petty Blue , white interior , 440 six barrel , console auto.

The actual car. It now belongs to Tim Welborn in Alabama

[TFchronos]

Awesome, looking forward to seeing more.

[gtx6970]

Had a little time yesterday and got the body taped up and painted the roof . Its rustoleum satin black. One decent wet coat , then subsequent mist coats from nearly 3 feet away to get texture.

Added the seams to the roof with stripe stryene , and added the wide A pillar trim like on the 1.1 that will get covered with BMF

 

Edited December 18, 2016 by gtx6970

[gtx6970]

Been dealing with a lack luster interest to work on this one. But I did muster up a idea to upgrade the old Johan interior tubs. Simply added strip stryene for the chrome door panel dividers moldings.  Found some door panels out of the AMT 68 Roadrunner kit. So I cut the arm rests out of them and added them to the Johan interior and some small stryene strips to replicate window cranks ,,,,, It looks SO much better. Added embossing powder for carpet and painted the seats simple duplicolor white primer.

 

[426-Hemi]

So far so good Bill! Can't wait to see what ya do for a power plant!!! -The pic where the "wing" is missing gives a whole different look to the 'Bird....

[gtx6970]

Just need to detail a shifter and install, and the interior is done

Original Johan tub , dash and seats. Added a strip of stryene across the top of the dash to simulate the dash pad. Hung a parts box auto pedal from the dash ( just cant hardly see it with the black carpeting) Console is from my parts box( I think its Revell 67 GTX ) filled the hole where the 4 spd shifter was so I can replicate a console auto like the 1/1 is . I tried to dry brush the dash gauges to bring them out a little,,,they filled the gauge with Testors clear

 

[426-Hemi]

Beautiful Interior work man! NICELY done!

[Mopar - D]

Looking good. 

[gtx6970]

Been trying to figure out the best source to gather up all the 1970 440 six barrel components I need.

I think I have it figured out  - Engine and auto transmission and most of the accessory items  are from the AMT 1971 Charger (they have the correct 70-71 style valves covers) . Intake is the MPC 1971 Roadrunner. Air cleaner is a Johan piece I will modify the base to accept the sixpack . Carbs themselves from the AMT 1971 Duster. Yep, Its a hodgepodge of parts.

The 8+3/4 rear axle is also going to be from the same 71 Charger kit . I'm trying to make this as accurate as I can to the 1/1 .

 

[CapSat 6]

Been trying to figure out the best source to gather up all the 1970 440 six barrel components I need.

I think I have it figured out  - Engine and auto transmission and most of the accessory items  are from the AMT 1971 Charger (they have the correct 70-71 style valves covers) . Intake is the MPC 1971 Roadrunner. Air cleaner is a Johan piece I will modify the base to accept the sixpack . Carbs themselves from the AMT 1971 Duster. Yep, Its a hodgepodge of parts.

The 8+3/4 rear axle is also going to be from the same 71 Charger kit . I'm trying to make this as accurate as I can to the 1/1 .

 

I like where this is going...taking an excellent Jo Han body and filling it with the best stuff you can find!!!

[gtx6970]

While the garage warms up ( 26 degrees here this morning )  I decide to get a little work done on the Superbird build.

Added a prewired dist from MAD. routed and wired in the correct firing wiring order btw . Also took a staple and bent  and glued in place to replicate one of the spark plug wire routing brackets .,,then touched it with orange paint. Then made and added an engine oil dipstick , the loop only on the  handle  will be touched up with engine color as the tube stays natural steel .  Also added / routed the  pcv hose and  the hose that will eventually  go to the power brake booster once its glued  in the chassis . The carbs themselves I'm  not real happy with ,,but once the air cleaner is glued on they cant be seen anyway so they'll stay as is .

Wheels are painted with Testors silver, then the center caps were painted with flat steel to show some contrast between the 2. Also drilled and added valve stems to the wheels . Tires are the lettered parts pack F60-15 tires  and the wheels are from the Revell 1970 Cuda.

Also painted and did the flocking on the bottom of the hood to replicate the molded hood pad that was on this car .

Its done for the day,,,out to the garage I go

 

Thanks for looking ,,and any comments good,,,, or bad are welcome

 

 

[om617]

Looks great Bill.

[gtx6970]

Well, after nearly 15 years. This one is about done.

Its survived many many years bouncing around in a box . Including a cross county move 6 years ago. 

After retiring last fall. Im trying to get back to the model bench on more of a regular basis.

I got it out a while back and its been bouncing around on top of my tool box for about a year now,,,and I simply decided to do something with it .

It's taken a bit of a beating over the years. But not enough I feel the need to redo much if anything.

 

The car is a replica of a long time friend's actual  car ( he sold it well over 20-25 years now I think )

its gone thru a few owners since he sold,,,,Most recently it sold a couple years ago at Mecum. 1970 Plymouth Superbird for Sale at Auction - Mecum Auctions

 

Ive taken some liberties with the build, so I'll call it more of a tribute to his old car at this point,  simply because I want it done, Finally

It has its issues , like the nose decals cracked under the clear. It has a mark on the hood now I cant rub out . A broken vent wing frame I need to fix ,,,etc etc. Its come down to the fact I want it out of a box and in the case. But I can see the finish line on it now

Picture is taken with a replica I did about 40 years ago of my former 69 GTX 

 

 

 

[KWT]

Looking good there! Finish that bad boy up

[Mopar - D]

Bill yeah its time for you to finish this Superbird with all your time in it already plus it looks amazing. 

[Tim W. SoCal]

Bitchen Superbird, Bill!   Love the Corporate Blue...

[Moparman18064]

Sweet lookin Bird. It was worth the wait!

[gtx6970]

Thanks gents. it started off to be a high detail build ( ie, the trunk was cut out to be hinged.) 

 

But life gets in the way sometimes, with time passing me by, Plus it being bounced in an out of a box , on and off the shelf for nearly 15 years. Has taken its toll. 

It aint perfect, or even close to it , especially compared to others builds here. But Im at a point in life to get some of the stash out of the boxes, built and in a case ( actually just ordered a 4th case for the wall  this morning, NASCAR Diecast Model Car Display Case 24 Car 1/24 scale (carneyplastics.com)

So I decided to just do what it needs to make it display shelf ready.

[Bainford]

Nice clean 'Bird, Bill. Looks great in blue. It's always good to drag a long running project across the line. 

[NOBLNG]

Bill, That would look right at home on my shelf the way it is.?