crispy Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I've had this kit longer than my wife and kids. Finally took the time to build it. This was my most favorite 3rd gen and so I built it in the launch colors. Or, how I would have purchased a real one had I the money. TS-14 Black, TS13-Clear on body TS-46 Sand interior with Testor's tan flocking. My how I have forgotten how bad the decals were back in the day. Lots of milky film and thick. Since the decals have been drying some of them have wrinkled a bit. I hope to get them to lay down with some Micro set. Lots of different glues to hold this thing together because unbeknown to me the body had a slight warp as did the front and rear window. Epoxy is holding the front window and then CA glue to hold the rear taillight/bumper to the car. Here are a couple of pics: More of the build can be seen here: Monogram 1985 Trans Am Back to exotics.... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoom Zoom Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Looks just like I remember them! Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizardlust Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Masterful job on a issue-prone Monogram offering - I have bad memories of trying to anchor all four corners of the back glass on their GTA version!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismaelg Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Chris, my friend! That is sooo beautiful! LOVE IT! That is bringing so many memories! While the new body was out in '82, the '85 was by far my favorite! I was 15 years old then, and that was my favorite car of the day. I STILL have a small poster of that car from GM's pavillion in EPCOT center in the summer of '85. I built that same kit when it came out. I clearly remember buying it at the local toy store with mom and dad while shopping for Christmas gifts, and they paid for it as a gift. I remember building it at the dining table. I still have parts from that car. If I ever run into another copy of the kit I'd like to build it again, hood bird decal and all, just like yours, except maybe silver wheels. Ohh you made me 23 years younger today! THANKS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyBad Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Beautiful Job. I did want to get one at the time they came out. GTA 5.7L V-8 TPI Vroom Vroom Vroom It looks Perfect.. I Love it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randx0 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 nice work on what the kids call a vintage kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Very cool, love that body style in that year!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Beautiful 'Bird Chris! The last pic looks like it came right out of the Pontiac brochure! Aaaahhh 1985-----hard to believe that's now nearly 24 years ago! I too remember when this car was new............this was a semi dream car for me as I LOVED the original '82 body style! "The best looking car in 10 years" the automotive press said about the new for 1982 Firebird. I so wanted the more refined '85-----but I was a 24 year old going to school at the time, making $11,000 a year and a $15,000+ (IIRC) car was out of the question! I just had to make do with my very cantankerous '71 MG.....and buy and build a model of the car (MPC), which I still have buried in one of my model boxes somewhere. My only complaint about the Monogram kit is it would have been icing on the cake if they would have made that model with a T-Top. That roofline always lent itself better to the T-Top style to my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jairus Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Yes I too remember the first time I saw a new '82 Firebird/Camaro. I was in College and driving a used '69 Mustang. I just loved the sleek taute lines on those cars. Hard to see them age over the years... Your build is very nicely done. Clean and represents one of the best examples of this era I can remember. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 Thanks guys! Glad I could elicit some emotions from you. I was an impressionable 15 year old and have always loved these cars. I plan on looking for a nice unmolested one once my boys leave home. Thanks again. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertw Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Very nice build. Like others I have fond memories of an experience with this generation of Firbird. My brother had an '83 and we did a cross country camping trip through the Canadian Rockies in it. We still laugh about having to use the 'bird one night to tie our tent to because the ground was to rocky to pound pegs into. You've built a model to be proud of. RobW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Looks just like the real ones I used to drool over back in 1985 but couldn't afford. Great job!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltoys1 Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 My "Dream" came true a few years ago when i finally finished my resto on an 87 GTA. Oh the feeling of wind thru my...uh...receding hairline...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 FANTASTIC looking ride. The paint is spot-on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyBad Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 My "Dream" came true a few years ago when i finally finished my resto on an 87 GTA. Oh the feeling of wind thru my...uh...receding hairline...lol Nice 1:1 Ride That's sweet as Cherry Pie.. I'm building one close to that color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary westervelt Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Chris,like others here you have taken me down memory lane.I had a friend in high school who got a new one for his first car.Oh the times we had in that car Anyhow,thanks for posting this build.It looks fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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