Jim Rockford's Firebird

[Dave72]

On 2/18/2022 at 1:34 AM, RetroModeler said:

Thank you for the reference! Would you happen to have a photo of how the Fireball Resin tires look with the MPC body?

Hi Alex, here’s a pic of the tires and then mounted on the wheel backs on the chassis. Hope this helps. I would’ve had the Fireball rims mounted in there as well but I don’t have the parts separated yet from receiving them. 

[Oldcarfan27]

On 2/19/2022 at 11:23 AM, Rockford said:

Oooh it's a long time now but I think they were off a Revell '70 Chevelle. They're not quite right but with a bit of work you can get them near enough. Pontiac's trim ring was bigger and more bulbous than Chevy and I've never seen a set in kit form, though I'm sure one of the more knowledgeable members will know for sure.

Wheel offset is spot on and the painting makes the Magnum 500s pass for Pontiac rally IIs. Trim rings are the closest thing I've seen available for the Pontiac. I'll have to use that idea. I might try removing the Chevy wheel detail and replace them with Rally IIs for the best of both worlds. 

I think your use of the Monogram 78 is the best choice to replicate the real car. Color looks good too. The only problem I have with the kit is the headlight/grille areas are too squashed vertically. When I build it, I would want to try to open them up by thinning out the frame areas at the end little bit. If you look at a real one, the edge of the grille opening is not straight out with a thick chrome edge, but bevels a little bit at the end. You don't see as much chrome around it as the kit makes it look. 

[Rockford]

You're right, the grille pieces are a little heavy. I suppose you could thin them down a bit but I'd worry about destroying the grille and the headlights. I suppose there's always a compromise. 

At the time the Revell was the only kit available over here in GB. I know there are other versions knocking around now but I still think the Revell is a pretty good representation overall. Captures the contours well if some of the moulding could do with a bit of improvement. 

I've got those photos of the real thing on my phone and every time I look at them I'm still taken aback by how gorgeous that shape was. I include the Gen2 Camaro in that too. My mate had a '79 Camaro and it looked like it had landed from outer space, it was so different to the jelly mold garbage of today. 

Sorry, I digress. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by Rockford
Text corrected

[bisc63]

Loved this build; a great looking replica. Well done. Loved the show, too; one of the most memorable and listenable theme scores!

[Oldcarfan27]

9 hours ago, Rockford said:

You're right, the grille pieces are a little heavy. I suppose you could thin them down a bit but I'd worry about destroying the grille and the headlights. I suppose there's always a compromise. 

I've tried it before and it wasn't too hard. I simply took an Xacto blade and a file and did a small taper around the inside, maybe less than 1/16" all the way around, just to take the visual thickness out of the outer edge.

The worked area can simply be touched up with Molotow or black or gold paint, depending on what look you're after.

The OEM grilles did actually have a slight bevel to them, so it is prototypically correct.

If I can find the ones I did, I'll post it for you, so you can see what I mean. 

Now you got me wanting to do my own Rockford!

Edited February 23, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[Rockford]

Lol! It's infectious! 

[realgone58]

On 7/22/2020 at 4:41 PM, TonyK said:

A lot of work you did there but well worth it. Very nice! Now you can start on the trailer (caravan) he had.

That would be wild! The trailer was a 1959 Nashua. 

[peteski]

Great job on the Firebird!  Rockford Files was/is one of my favorite TV series.  He seemed to always get beat up or in some sort of trouble, but always ended up solving the case. You felt compassion for him. Well written show.  Of course the lady characters were nice too.

Mention of the trailed jogged my memory. Like a deja-vou all over again.  I recall a thread about @Repstockdoing a diorama few years ago.

 

 

[RetroModeler]

On 2/21/2022 at 7:14 PM, Dave72 said:

Hi Alex, here’s a pic of the tires and then mounted on the wheel backs on the chassis. Hope this helps. I would’ve had the Fireball rims mounted in there as well but I don’t have the parts separated yet from receiving them.

Thank you! Yes, that's incredibly helpful for giving me a sense of the scale.

Very nice work so far on your model, too. Looking great

Edited March 1, 2022 by RetroModeler

[adamelvis]

Love This Car & old TV show.  

Adam

[NYLIBUD]

Didn’t Barrett Jackson auction off this car a couple of years ago?If I’m not mistaken,the bids went through the roof,and the car sold for a lot of $$..Great job,great show.I always loved watching the famous Rockford reverse spin around.Lol.

[RetroModeler]

Just want to follow up and share some of my findings that might help others with this model.

I found that the Pontiac Rallye II rims from the Revell 1:24 scale 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am work and fit nicely with this Revell 1:25 1977 Firebird body.

I did have to custom make new wheel hubs to work with the axles though.

Thanks Rockford and Dave for the inspiration to start my build! I might start my own thread for this soon, too.

Edited August 2, 2022 by RetroModeler

[David G.]

It's nice seeing this one back on the bench again. May your progress be swift and sure.

David G.