Twin Herb Adams '71 SCCA Trans Am '64 Tempest Gray Ghost projects

[HQuackenboss]

Richard, i you posted a picture of car #26, with a red and white color scheme. That is a 1968 Firebird. It has, as you notes, crude fairings around the number illumination lights.  When I suggested doing a Google search, I meant to search for pictures of production 1969 Trans Am models, not Titus race cars. Sorry about not being clearer.

The production 1969 Trans Am model had two vertically stacked fairings behind the front wheel well openings. Note also all 1969 Firebirds (even, i think, Canadian Firebirds) had recessed fake vents. For the Trans Am, fairings were added. As a historical footnote, the first prototypes of the Trans Am body add-ons were designed by a collaboration of Gene Winfield and designer Harry Bradly, and were fabricated by Winfield and installed and painted on a car by Winfield at GM in Michigan. As a hunch, I suspect that Winfield got connected to DeLorean as a byproduct of Winfield consulting for AMT (AMT and MPC/founded by AMT vice president, George Toteff were located less than 10 miles from the GM Tech Center), and was occasionally in Detroit.

The Titus cars as raced in 1969 in the pictures you posted of the #18 and #13, and #27 don't have scoops. But they  are not Firebird Trans Am models either. They are a Dr. Frankenstein creation  combining 1968 and 1969 body parts with 1969 fenders, and a fake wider, likely fiberglass, 1968-style front bumper.

As you guys probably know, all this chicanery about the Titus Firebirds in 1968 and 1969 is the rules in those years specified homologated 5 Liter motors, and Pontiac didn't have one, but they successfully sold the SCCA a fib about the Camaro Z28 motor being available in Canadian Firebirds.  In 1970 the rules were changed to allow destroked production motors.

At some point between the races of the pictures you posted, and the intro of the 2nd generation 1970 1/2 Firebird Trans Am, 1969 bodied Firebirds were raced with proper 1969 front bumpers, and fenders with the aforementioned side fairings. here is a picture of Craig Fisher racing one from, the source says, in the 1070 Trans-Am series.

[swede70]

Just an update in brief concerning my '69 Daytona 24HR class-winning Jerry Titus/Jon Ward Firebird project based on the ACME tribute release.  Fill in markings were negotiated out as custom work undertaken by 3 Amigos Decals.

 

...the Prestolite contingency/accessory decal has since been replaced, although most everything else is good.  Done by 3 Amigos, the driver's i.d., the Sylvania Electric logo, the 'Paint by Mike Shields' lettering, as well as the odd motif seen atop the rear wheel arch opening represent new additions.  Other decals are a touch tiny given they are repurposed 1:25th scale waterslides pressed into service here.  Lamps to illuminate the door roundels stand to be fabricated and added soon.

.

...while this would be a good view of the artwork added atop the rear wheel arch opening on either side of the model.  Easily missed for reviewing period photos, I was very impressed for the effort made and the results achieved here by 3 Amigos.  The chromed wheel arch trim worked up by Lane/Exact Detail has been cut out of this example, while notice too that I've tried to disguise the thickness of the panel work around the arch openings to suggest thin panel work stampings versus a clumsy and too heavy to be believed body casting.  

Mike K./Swede70

Edited August 5, 2021 by swede70

[mark 23]

11 hours ago, swede70 said:

Just some updates in brief concerning both the '69 Daytona 24HR class-winning Jerry Titus/Jon Ward Firebird project based on the ACME tribute release as well as my '70 T/G Racing Jerry Titus racer.  Fill in markings were negotiated out as custom work undertaken by 3 Amigos Decals for the former project and impress, whereas the second project now in primer will likely be subject to another contract given the previous custom work done by the late Kenny Terry seems obsolete now.  

 

...the Prestolite contingency/accessory decal has since been replaced, although most everything else is good.  Done by 3 Amigos, the driver's i.d., the Sylvania Electric logo, the 'Paint by Mike Shields' lettering, as well as the odd motif seen atop the rear wheel arch opening represent new additions.  Other decals are a touch tiny given they are repurposed 1:25th scale waterslides pressed into service here.  Lamps to illuminate the door roundels stand to be fabricated and added soon enough.

.

...while this would be a good view of the artwork added atop the rear wheel arch opening on either side of the model.  Easily missed for reviewing period photos, I was very impressed for the effort made and the results achieved here by 3 Amigos.  The chromed wheel arch trim worked up by Lane/Exact Detail has been cut out of this example, while notice too that I've tried to disguise the thickness of the panel work around the arch openings to suggest thin panel work stampings versus a clumsy and too heavy to be believed body casting.  

-

...and quickly, seen just below would be the rear flares both carefully bonded and smoothly blended onto each rear quarter panel even as the shell is just a large chunk of Zamac or white metal.  The old Kenny Terry decals worked up before COVID-19 hit can be made out behind the model to the left.  For a time they seemed good, although now other options exist and stand to be pursued.  At least everything else is largely coming together.

The weight at the back of this '70 Firebird is considerable, while horrified I am at the possibility of breaking one of the delicate rocker panels given they are thin. It's a delight to see everything done on the body just look as a piece given the Frankenstein appearance of this other project for all too long, with morale proven again very important as focus is difficult for me to sustain.  Kind thanks for your review of this clutch of projects which despite doubts, nevertheless live...

Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the pic of the Fisher 69 firebird. I plan on doing  that car using the AMT 69 firebird kit. Also thanks for the pic of the #26 Titus car. I have started building that one from the Revell 68 kit. I found decals for the # 26 from Patto's Place. They are on a sheet with the decals for the Titus 68/69 #13,#18 firebird. I bought most of my transam decals from Patto's The are very good IMHO. Do you think 3 amigo's will do the #26 car in 1/24 1/25 ?

 

 

Edited August 4, 2021 by mark 23
added to post

[HQuackenboss]

I am enjoying the discussion about the Firebirds, but you'all might think about starting a new thread rather than continue on in the thread about the Gray Ghost.

Also, for anybody planning on being at the Monterey Reunion in two weeks. Herb Adams, and wife, Sandi (it was her car) will be at Laguna Seca for the vintage Trans-Am race to see John Hildebrand race the Gray Ghost on Saturday afternoon, Aug 14. I will be there all 4 days, but Herb and Sandi will only be there on Saturday.  John finished 3rd of 33 in 2018, and in the top 5 in 2019 despite having broken the axle with the right gear ratio.

[swede70]

In relation to Mark's comments and questions:

Concerning the work outsourced to 3 Amigos, the decals made up wouldn't constitute a full set, but rather just a handful of images that ACME didn't provide as tampo prints that might otherwise have been retained on their prefinished 1:18th diecast release.  I also worried about the cost of everything, feeling it best to rely on my personal container of waterslide decal sheets collected across time to fill in the contingency/accessory decal markings with cleanly registered images on hand versus commissioning markings that I thought and feared would either be of equal quality or lesser quality at best.  As things turned out, I think the product delivered by 3 Amigos is considerably better than what the late Kenny Terry was able to produce as well as anything I've received from Patto's Place in Australia.  

I don't think S. Lopez at 3 Amigos Decals has added what was in essence 'my' custom work order to his range of offerings, but if he's receptive to shrinking down what he has on file to 1:25th to suit your needs, I'd say approach him and go for it.  He outsources his printing to another firm in the United States (3 Amigos Decals does design work in Mexico), while the print firm is very likely using technology that the home rooted or cottage industry hobbyist couldn't hope to afford or employ.  I was very agreeably surprised as to how good the 3 Amigos product was and how fast the turnover proved concerning the work performed for me.  

I'm glad to read that you've been able to obtain the Patto's Place waterslide decal art for your 1:25th project in turn, while for mulling the qualities of a similar project in the same scale obtained from PP in the form of his '71 Penske Javelin sheet, it certainly looks clean enough for me and undoubtedly usable.  Some of the 1:18th sheets I've ordered for possible use on a '70 Autodynamics Challenger project as well as a '70 AAR 'Cuda project have been less impressive, good perhaps for large solid color characters, but decidedly disappointing with regards to the smaller contingency/accessory decal markings which were clumsily rendered and of poor quality.  Usually the way to go is to combine the best rendered markings/decals from a multitude of sources consistent with coming up with the strongest collection of materials that reflect the right design, color choice, size, vibrancy vs. opaqueness or transparency, reliable adhesion - and not so rare that you'd not have the option of stacking duplicate images to brighten up everything.  My Dan Gurney '70 'Cuda race retirement ride has PP door numerals set slightly further apart versus what was seen early season, and even if nothing else on the PP product offering sheet was subsequently used, the solid white numeral decals worked very well and I have no complaints to register about such.  In short and in sum, what works - works!  

-

In relation to Harry's comments and advice:

I just submitted a request to move a slightly lost '70 Titus Firebird thread to this subpage on the forum, hence I'll try to keep things better segregated.  Until late 'we' didn't have a separate road racing section (or something close) to post within and upon in relation to the Model Car Magazine Forum, although happily for recent developments the situation has altered.  For the light volume of my posts and on-again, off-again commitment to various projects, it didn't seem out of bounds to bundle my period Pontiac SCCA Trans-Am projects onto one thread given people often find individual project threads slip away and vanish should such not be routinely updated.  Further up this thread people have gently asked to be directed to what was posted before, while I've tried to comply with such wishes for pasting in this and that link.

A lot of my resin casting efforts also feed like-themed projects, hence when something is duplicated and themed just-so, all the Pontiac (in this instance) projects are nurtured a bit and pushed further along versus plastic kit work that reflects a person restricting their focus to a single project at a time and no other.  Small batches of things cast and fabricated to support small batches of projects like-themed then, while soon I'll have the decal art for the Gray Ghost (both the 1:25th and 1:18th efforts) alternately revised or commissioned to push those projects ahead, and will likely bond the flare work to the 1:18th shell given I've developed a bit of confidence concerning how that can be done for work on the '70 Titus Firebird.  I'm still learning how to do this, suffering if you will from the usual pressures of having my ambitions outpace my knowledge and/or skill set.  

Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited August 6, 2021 by swede70

[mark 23]

15 hours ago, swede70 said:

In relation to Mark's comments and questions:

Concerning the work outsourced to 3 Amigos, the decals made up wouldn't constitute a full set, but rather just a handful of images that ACME didn't provide as tampo prints that might otherwise have been retained on their prefinished 1:18th diecast release.  I also worried about the cost of everything, feeling it best to rely on my personal container of waterslide decal sheets collected across time to fill in the contingency/accessory decal markings with cleanly registered images on hand versus commissioning markings that I thought and feared would either be of equal quality or lesser quality at best.  As things turned out, I think the product delivered by 3 Amigos is considerably better than what the late Kenny Terry was able to produce as well as anything I've received from Patto's Place in Australia.  

I don't think S. Lopez at 3 Amigos Decals has added what was in essence 'my' custom work order to his range of offerings, but if he's receptive to shrinking down what he has on file to 1:25th to suit your needs, I'd say approach him and go for it.  He outsources his printing to another firm in the United States (3 Amigos Decals does design work in Mexico), while the print firm is very likely using technology that the home rooted or cottage industry hobbyist couldn't hope to afford or use.  I was very agreeably surprised as to how good the 3 Amigos product was and how fast the turnover proved concerning the work performed for me.  

I'm glad to read that you've been able to obtain the Patto's Place waterslide decal art for your 1:25th project in turn, while for mulling the qualities of a similar project in the same scale obtained from PP in the form of his '71 Penske Javelin sheet, it certainly looks clean enough for me and undoubtedly usable.  Some of the 1:18th sheets I've ordered for possible use on a '70 Autodynamics Challenger project as well as a '70 AAR 'Cuda project have been less impressive, good perhaps for large solid color characters, but decidedly disappointing with regards to the smaller contingency/accessory decal markings which were clumsily rendered and of poor quality.  Usually the way to go is to combine the best rendered markings/decals from a multitude of sources consistent with coming up with the strongest collection of materials that reflect the right design, color choice, size, vibrancy vs. opaqueness or transparency, reliable adhesion, and not so rare that you'd not have the option of stacking duplicate images to brighten up everything.  My Dan Gurney '70 'Cuda race retirement ride has PP door numerals set slightly further apart versus what was seen early season, and even if nothing else on the PP product offering sheet was subsequently used, the solid white numeral decals worked very well and I have no complaints to register about such.  In short and in sum, what works - works!  

-

In relation to Harry's comments and advice:

I just submitted a request to move a slightly lost '70 Titus Firebird thread to this subpage on the forum, hence I'll try to keep things better segregated.  Until late 'we' didn't have a separate road racing section (or something close) to post within and upon in relation to the Model Car Magazine Forum, although happily for recent developments the situation has altered.  For the light volume of my posts and on-again, off-again commitment to various projects, it didn't seem out of bounds to bundle my period Pontiac SCCA Trans-Am projects onto one thread given people often find individual project threads slip away and vanish should such not be routinely updated.  Further up this thread people have gently asked to be directed to what was posted before, while I've tried to comply with such wishes for pasting in this and that link.

A lot of my resin casting efforts also feed like-themed projects, hence when something is duplicated and themed just-so, all the Pontiac (in this instance) projects are nurtured a bit and pushed further along versus plastic kit work that reflects a person restricting their focus to a single project at a time and no other.  Small batches of things cast and fabricated to support small batches of projects like-themed then, while soon I'll have the decal art for the Gray Ghost (both the 1:25th and 1:18th efforts) alternately revised or commissioned to push those projects ahead, and will likely bond the flare work to the 1:18th shell given I've developed a bit of confidence concerning how that can be done for work on the '70 Titus Firebird.  I'm still learning how to do this, suffering if you will from the usual pressures of having my ambitions outpace my knowledge and/or skill set.  

Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Thanks Mike for the info you provided. As far as the Pattos decals for the #26 car, they are short of contingency decals, but I have plenty of other decal sheets to get them from. The one that I don't have is that quarter panel decal. Good to here there will be a 1/25decal set for the Gray Ghost because that is another one I want to do sometime. What would be really cool is to have the decal sheet for the #7 Fisher 69 firebird car.

Edited August 5, 2021 by mark 23
added to post

[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

Edited December 27, 2021 by swede70

[afx]

Always enjoy your Trans Am projects Mike. Look forward to more updates on the Grey Ghost projects.

[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

[afx]

Coming along nicely.

[swede70]

Greetings...

Hidden out of sight for years, this would be a brief update of a 1:18th Gray Ghost '64 Tempest project reflecting some scarcely visible changes and updates for my securing another example of the Sun Star model on which it's based.  The doors had been shorn of their hinges before given I didn't imagine they might coexist with the roll cage I'd worked up, while careful effort to shorten the floor insert, adjust the fit of some roll cage tubing and discreet grinding of the floor pan helped to better site the odd separate roof panel to the body - especially along the cowl panel relative to the fenders.  New bumpers are seen, the wheels have been painted (less lug detail at this juncture), while the fuel cell vent area otherwise filled in with rather thick white metal behind the standard fuel inlet has been laboriously ground out in anticipation of fitting something better shaped and detailed.  As projects go, it's very much still a beast, although with further contacts established with regards to whom can design and produce the decals as well as better techniques in hand to strip the body shell and blend the flares into the surrounding panel work, further progress seems possible.  I'm hoping too that the discovery of 1:20th scale MPC AMX Craig Breedlove exhaust headers that can be modified for use on 1:18th scale Pontiac V8's will help on the exhaust front, and that other discreet problems might still be sorted and eliminated each in turn.  Thanks for your review of this post.  

Mike K./Swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

Work of an evening then, I tore off the glue burned period wheel backs from my intended '71 Lime Rock 1:25th AMT Pontiac Tempest Gray Ghost effort and replaced the old hollow vinyl MPC Goodyear Blue Streak Stock Car Specials with updated solid PPP 1965-1969 Goodyear Style Stock Car Tire(s) w/sidewall decals/markings clipped of their blue lines.  Newer AMT wheel backs were modified to live with the tires (not a big effort), while overall the model appears far more together and reasoned as projects go.  Rim faces seen are resin clone Jo-Han Superbird items, maybe a touch small for diameter then - but not awful.  The interior is out receiving work, hopefully to be seen soon for ambitions realized here.  Thanks...

Greg Rickes photo...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 6, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

Some interior work performed on the intended 1:25th scale AMT-based '71 Lime Rock iteration of the Gray Ghost this.  The cast-in console w/tachometer was carefully filed out, as was the rear seat cushions top and bottom as well as the textured (and sadly glue burned) interior floor.  An aluminum panel was carefully cut to serve as a bulkhead looking towards the trunk area, whereas after filing down the lip of the pad otherwise found atop the instrument cluster, it too received a carefully cut and shaped aluminum panel which will be subject to further work.  An MPC mid-seventies Pontiac Firebird Trans Am steering wheel now appears, the somewhat odd roll cage less any tubing aft of the main hoop was fabricated (some clean up work still remains to be performed here), while scan close and the front footwell outriggers to the suspension pick up points can be made out.  Lastly, the standard AMT firewall which comes through with plenty of cast-in detail in the form of a heater core and what is intended as wiring was filed flat, plugged, puttied, and generally cleaned up in anticipating of going back in and adding more than what's made out which constitutes only a wiper motor drawn from another kit I can't identify.  At least at present, fair progress is being made...

An application of Tamiya Matt Clear helps to tone down the sheen of the tires and disguise the sidewall lettering carrier film otherwise glaringly obvious...

Although it's quite small, I might try to reproduce the checkered flag pattern across the aluminum instrument panel insert much as I did on the 1:18th scale Sun Star-based diecast effort seen further up this thread.  Previous such was done for successive applications of tape to mask some areas, leaving others to be scrubbed with a pencil eraser before mixing matters up and doing other sections similarly masked and exposed - albeit scrubbed in a different direction.  Sounds odd - although the technique was effective before...

Plugging the console centerline hole won't be fun, but something had to be tried...

Looking quite nice though, especially if one considers that the actual assembly seen here is a bit smaller than shown.  The outriggers from the roll cage leading to the front suspension pick up points can be made out here...

While finishing up here, nothing too exotic, but better than the mass 'o wiring and related bits very much in the style of an early AMT effort in-scale and otherwise inappropriate for this build.  Thanks for your review of this post...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 11, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings,

Refabricated four times over now (forward of the main hoop for judging lengths and where to bend proved difficult), seen is the roll cage inside the interior fit the chassis and body, plus trimmed AMT '65 GTO glass.  Slowly working up the home brewed seat, apparently made up of an abbreviated base stock seat with aluminum side bolster supplementary structure.  Concerning my own efforts, inside bolster padding plus the head rest stand to come.  Thanks...

Oops - the top edge of the front 'glass' has come undone here and has swung to rest atop the A-pillar to main hoop bars...

I'll scrub the door handles off given they are faintly rendered and subpar at best.  Revell '66 Chevelle wagon or Revell '66 GTO parts will be substituted on and in...

Refueling port/inlet detail with one functional, the other plugged along the quarter panels is next, while some fuel cell vent detail worked up before for the other 1:25th effort will be duplicated and added in/here as well.  Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 13, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Just a quick addition/update...

Here the pair of refueling ports/inlets have been cut into each respective quarter panel of the 1:25th scale '71 Lime Rock Gray Ghost, with one outfitted with a Jo-Han '70 Donohue Javelin Trans-Am fuel cap, the other side plugged so that it would be nearly flush with the surface of the surrounding thin panel work.  A quartet of small pin vise holes/dimples will surround each inlet - although such work is to come.  The quarter panel trim cap seams/dividing lines were scribed onto the shell, the fender to cowl seams were likewise scribed, while repairs were made to the somewhat suspect panel line beneath the passenger's side door which might still require further attention.  Out back, the trunk lid Pontiac arrowhead was carefully removed from deck lid without inadvertently scrubbing off the character line running down the center such (color this work tedious), while whatever Tempest model identification that existed towards the right back edge of the trunk lid was also scrubbed off.  Lastly, the faint cast-in/on exterior door handles were removed on both sides, some block sanding performed to clean up matters here and there - thanks.

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 15, 2024 by swede70

[HQuackenboss]

In reply to Swede70's comments about the seat on the Tempest, I don't have a picture handy, but here is a picture of the 1972 Firebird showing the seat that was built by Herb Adams from steel tubing and sheet aluminum with simple padding made of foam that was covered with black vinyl upholstery material. The original Tempest seat was very similar.

[swede70]

Oh - the image and insight provided Harry is most appreciated!  Nothing like insight from the period by someone involved in the effort to better steer my efforts (and that of others) in addition to providing an always valued morale boost - kind thanks...

-

Just another tiny update here.  Given the chrome plate on these period AMT annual kit parts wasn't great back then and isn't terrific having travelled through the portal of time to arrive in my hands, it didn't seem much of a barrier to cross to work over the otherwise stock castings in search of improvement.  Here both the front and rear license plates typically bearing year-specific identification in the form of '1964' have been scribed and sanded flat, while the reverse lamps as well as the cast-in headlamps have been drilled and hand-filed out in anticipation of fitting either plastic or aluminum rod plugs to suggest fill panels (on the front only mind you).  

-

...and just a further small update of a small update, here the fuel tank on the original annual kit chassis has been filed out, the resultant hole filled with sheet plastic, and a fuel cell housing fabricated not to extend beneath the frame rails further forward.  Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 17, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

Having picked up a $10 built up Revell 1:25th scale 1966 GTO, thought was given as to what to repurpose consistent with seeing to problems encountered with the largely AMT-based build of this topic.  Pondering the interior in particular, in the wake of filing out the rear seat cushions top and bottom, nothing had really been planned to both fill the subject area and afford contours and shapes across the floor back to the rear bulkhead consistent with what would be expected in a stripped out road racing interior.  Similarly, for filing out the AMT cast-in interior center console, I'd either have to plug what gap remained or identify some other driveline tunnel profile to substitute in.  A strong argument can be made to substitute the Revell chassis over entire with adjustments, although here I've opted to retain the bulk of the AMT annual kit chassis below while stealing some panel contour/detail that might be effectively employed and visible topside.  

Not a terrifically composed photo this, but a glimpse if you will of the 1:1 topic prior to the restoration of the same several years ago.  Witnessed is the sheet aluminum rear bulkhead and some floor detail...

More than a bit rough, seen here would be some spare parts made up of an annual kit chassis casting as well as a glue-burned annual kit interior with cast-in center console and rear seat cushions likewise cast-in.  The '64-specific door and dash trim forms the basic argument as to why to retain the same short of filleting the sides and grafting the detail to the Revell assemblies complete.  Maybe too much work for this example, although I might do things differently for applying insights gleaned here on the other Scale Coachworks build configured as a mid-to-late season ride.  

Work of a busy afternoon then to salvage parts from the Revell 1966 GTO tool.  The transmission/driveline tunnel should solve all problems forward, while the lateral crossmember hump and related detail saved from a cut up chassis meshes reasonably with the AMT chassis casting from above. 

Mostly together with regards to ensuring that major assemblies across the interior live together in relative harmony.  Thanks for your review of this post.

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 22, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

With the floor addition and related work, it was a bit tedious to reassemble everything short of forcing matters and coming up with some mutant result.  A shifter platform plus shifter was added utilizing Revell '66 GTO trim with a Revell '66 Oldsmobile 442 shifter, whereas trying to further flesh out the interior for further application.  Revell '66 GTO exterior door handles are seen here, and represent a nice upgrade.  Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 24, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

A little crude, but initial under hood paneling temporarily affixed to some spare AMT '64 Tempest convertible with the radiator support scrubbed free of the cast-in radiator and anything else that was there.  Photo reference from the period stretching into the current day chart an evolution of design, although here I'll try to match/mimic what was glimpsed in early '71.  This scale rendition dates from years ago, although I've found that life is much easier after fabricating shapes that can be finessed and developed from a reasoned starting point. 

Underneath I've just carved out material from a bog standard AMT '65 GTO chassis/plate to support what's seen here, whereas again I'm trying not to overthink or overcomplicate matters as is my habit.  Revell '66 GTO upper control arms will likely be employed to fill out the pockets cut into each side wing/panel.  A heater core patch guided by the profile visible on the original AMT kit part seen here will likewise be worked up for both builds.  

Old partial radiator support work from before, although the radiator and paired oil coolers will make the migration to the otherwise bare AMT support (twice over) soon enough...

-

Seen below would be some small refinements to the wheel arch opening form and shape on the second/late-season AMT '64 Tempest Gray Ghost.  The tires here aren't (yet) Plastic Performance Products items with sidewall decals, but rather prepainted MPC '72 NASCAR Monte Carlo issue and will be dispensed with soon.  Further brake and hub/axle as well as lug detail stands to be added.  

-

Further, the Pontiac arrowhead emblem on the hood of this second model needed a bit of further attention to remove the same, while damage inflicted on the hood when too much adhesive used on a hood tachometer pod tore out a section of material was more thoughtfully patched and smoothed over as seen.  Lastly, the exterior side mirror hitherto witnessed on this second build was finally removed.  Thanks for your review of this post.  

Mike K./Swede70

Edited October 30, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

Dispensing with the old MPC hollow vinyl Goodyear Blue Streak Stock Car Specials which appeared a touch rough, substituting in some PPP tires w/sidewall decals that are both solid and a bit wider too on the late-season 1:25th scale iteration.  Some further efforts to clean up the damaged hood seems to have helped, while the grille divider/'beak' is a resin clone of the original AMT part filed to fit and coexist with the Polar Lights grilles which are a bit thinner and delicate versus stock as seen below on the earlier-season '71 Lime Rock effort.  Small adjustments then...

Thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

[Wickersham Humble]

THE highlight of my days at Velocity 2024 last September was seeing the GG and Hildebrand snatch third away from one of the plethora (Jefe!) of Moostangs in the Trans Am final; picked it off from the final hairpin in a drag-race to the finish line; wonderful racing!  And H. said it was without his #1 engine!  I talked with him and the affable Harry at length, afterwards, and snapped a few pics.

I had taken notice of the car back in it's heyday from magazine coverage, but never saw it 'in the tin.'  The spurious GTO id's were/are silly; nothing wrong with being a Tempest!  Versus the T-A pack, it looks like a misplaced Grand National car. It ran high in the pack all weekend, and led the T-A final for a while.

Speaking of FIA approval: you've seen the photo of the 389-powered '62 "Tempest GT" in Thomas's book, with it's massive hood scoop?  It has some unique trim call-outs (unreadable in the shot) but otherwise appears as a stock LeMans for the most part. The FIA application shows three VIN reserved for the 'series' but this shot is the only one I know of.  What could they have been thinking, with the drive train as stock -- unless it was a prototype for the '63 'Powershift' or 'Super-Duty' Tempests that were built (in-house, perhaps a dozen) that worked so well at NHRA 'Super Factory Experimental' racing, or the one-shot with the Nichels/Goldsmith road-racer that won the Daytona Challenge Cup, vs Ferrari GTO and Corvette Grand Sport-- Rodriguez and Foyt up.  

Beautiful work on the Ghost model; love to see more!  I did a 'version' of he '63-421 drag cars (ragtop; the only kits I could source at the time) using the 2X4 intake and Royal Pontiac decals from the AMT '62 Bonneville kit.  Also, a close replica of the '61 Tempest 'Monte Carlo' roadster that I first saw in MT that year -- both of which I began in 1962, when I was a 'lot-bot' at the local Pontiac dealership, and got to drive a few new ones!  Working on a replica of my '62 convertible and two other Y-bodied LeMans kits now.  Need a Buick 215 V-8 to replicate my '61 Tempest V-8 coupe (small window) that I'm finishing up presently.  Age 79.  Wick

PS/ I wrote the first Tempest history in 1978 for Special Interest Autos Magazine (Hemmings pub.) and interview a lot of PMD luminaries (except John D. !) back then: Mac MacKellar, Bill Collins, Fred Timpner, Hulki Aldikachti, Bunkie Knudsen, Mickey Thompson, Smokey Yunick, etc.  Also John Bond of R&T. The competition piece was an adjunct to the regular article, and never got published, darn it!  I shared it with some POCI guys, tho.  What photos I had became property of Hemmings, I guess.  Now all those mags are gone, with a few exceptions.  The A-body GM 'intermediates' are great cars, but don't disparage the Y-body rides!

 

 

 

[swede70]

So sorry for the delay - thanks for your fascinating reply and interest expressed.  I'll try to find/source the SIA magazine article as I'd not heard of it or found reference to the same (August 1978 issue M.K.), whereas quite the list of luminaries you were able to consult for the effort expended.  It's an honor to merit your notice...

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Small update here to the extent of collecting more bits to add to the 1:25th AMT-based twosome.  An absurdly cheap '64 Tempest convertible annual kit build up was purchased at an area hobby show for all of $20 over the weekend that was, whereas a set of bumpers (with grille combined for the front) tail light trim w/tail light inserts as well as a kit plastic hood was secured.  Also an MPC '67 GTO (endlessly rereleased this) plastic kit chrome tree was gathered for cheap, this affording another set of exhaust headers to integrate into one of my two builds.  I bounce between projects - almost pathologically so, although when parts plus research discoveries are made, it's not uncommon for me to reembrace this or that effort for awhile.  Thanks for your review of this tiny update...

Swede70/Mike K.

Edited March 25 by swede70