'69 Pontiac Firebird

[Plowboy]

15 hours ago, Steve H said:

Hi Roger, nice to see an update on this one. I’m definitely going to tuck that rear end narrowing trick in the memory bank, well played. Dare I suggest Vedoro green for the body colour... Curious if you ever figured out the missing 3mm on the hood? I must say it gives me some comfort that a modeller of your caliber has what I call “voodoo” moments too. I had one of those issues with my Ol Comino build and the interior door panels. Sometimes it seems no matter how much we measure, double check etc. something still doesn’t add up. Anywhooo, look forward to watching this come together.

Cheers, Steve

Thanx Steve! I already have my colors picked out. I like the Verdoro Green. But, I already have so many models painted green in one shade or another. I'm kinda like Richard Rawlings when it comes to green.

I never did figure out where the 3mms went. Still baffled by that one. Maybe the hood was just 3mms too long? Yeah, that's it! I actually didn't do any measurements on the cuts. I just eyeballed the cuts across the trunk and front fenders. Then used the C channel down the side of the body. I lopped the roof off of the Firebird and placed the Camaro roof section on top of the body and marked the cross cuts after lining up the door lines. I used the C channel on the Firebird to mark it. I was just lucky that I cut well above the line when I cut it down the side of the body. That's when I discovered where the real issue is with the Firebird body. If I did another one, I'd do it differently for sure.

 

[Can-Con]

What ever happened to the one someone was doing last year? 

IIRC, they grafted the Firebird front ahead of the wheel opening to the Camaro body along with some other mods and came up with a Firebird body that was about as close as you'd probably be able to get without a newly tooled body.

Anyone else remember that? Snake , do you remember who it was?

[Plowboy]

12 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

If you're open to a suggestion : the 250 OHC-6 engine would be fab !

Sorry, no six cylinder in this model. It'll either be a BBC or an LS. 

[Can-Con]

Just now, Plowboy said:

Sorry, no six cylinder in this model. It'll either be a BBC or an LS. 

Needs a built Pontiac 455, not a Chevy. ?

But everyone has an opinion. ?

[Plowboy]

2 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

What ever happened to the one someone was doing last year? 

IIRC, they grafted the Firebird front ahead of the wheel opening to the Camaro body along with some other mods and came up with a Firebird body that was about as close as you'd probably be able to get without a newly tooled body.

Anyone else remember that? Snake , do you remember who it was?

I don't remember that one Steve. But, that would be the best way to do one. If I wasn't so far into this one, I'd definitely have used a lot more of the Camaro body.

[Snake45]

34 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

What ever happened to the one someone was doing last year? 

IIRC, they grafted the Firebird front ahead of the wheel opening to the Camaro body along with some other mods and came up with a Firebird body that was about as close as you'd probably be able to get without a newly tooled body.

Anyone else remember that? Snake , do you remember who it was?

I didn't until you made me look for it. We were both there. 

 

[thatz4u]

Here's what I did with mine, Roger. AMT body, everything else except the engine was from the Revell Camaro.

[Oldcarfan27]

44 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

I didn't until you made me look for it. We were both there. 

 

Reminds me, I have to get back on that one! ?

I didn't know people remembered my stuff.

Thanks, Snake.

[Plowboy]

1 hour ago, Snake45 said:

I didn't until you made me look for it. We were both there. 

 

That's exactly how I was thinking it needed to be done. Too late, of course. I was also thinking about using the bottom of the quarters behind the wheel opening to keep the marker light. But, it's barely there. So, I don't know if the juice would be worth the squeeze. That's definitely the best way to do it. Wish I had seen it before I started this.

I'm kinda thinking about punting this project and just building it as a curbside. The body isn't exactly right. The interior is pretty shallow. No way I want to cut it apart and fix it too. It's getting to be too involved for a fun build.

[Plowboy]

2 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Needs a built Pontiac 455, not a Chevy. ?

But everyone has an opinion. ?

I don't have a kit with a 455 or I would consider it. Thinking about going curbside with anyhow.

[Spottedlaurel]

10 hours ago, Plowboy said:

That's exactly how I was thinking it needed to be done. Too late, of course. I was also thinking about using the bottom of the quarters behind the wheel opening to keep the marker light. But, it's barely there. So, I don't know if the juice would be worth the squeeze. That's definitely the best way to do it. Wish I had seen it before I started this.

I'm kinda thinking about punting this project and just building it as a curbside. The body isn't exactly right. The interior is pretty shallow. No way I want to cut it apart and fix it too. It's getting to be too involved for a fun build.

Not a saying I've heard before!

As someone who doesn't see 1:1 Camaros or Firebirds on a regular basis I think what you've done so far looks really good. You've put some time and effort into it, going curbside sounds like an entirely sensible suggestion so you don't beat yourself up on authenticity and take the fun out of it.

[Plowboy]

I think my problem with this project was cross frustration. I was more annoyed with the '32 3-W I was working on at the same as this one. But, I'm back on it for good now. Hopefully, I don't start another project while I'm working on this one!

I got the wheel tubs filled in and puttied. The gas tank glued back on. I also roughed in the spring pockets.

The rearend is glued together permanent. I'm hoping I can use the Camaro exhaust. I'd kinda like to use the chambered exhaust from the small block version. I'll just have to see which one fits best or easiest. 

The BBC setting in the engine bay. I glued the firewall to the chassis. It doesn't quite meet the front of the cowl. So, I may have to do some trimming.

First official mockup with the front and rear suspensions installed! I lowered the front and rear a couple of scale inches. I wish I could take it a little lower. But things are already close to the ground.

It has just a touch of rake to it. The body is ready for paint. I need to get the rear valence ready also. If I can, I want to get the interior and chassis in primer today. I'd like to be able to paint the headliner and interior in the same session. We'll see how it goes.

 

 

[TransAmMike]

Great work on this Roger. We know the 1st gen Firebirds don't get the respect they should as compared to the Camaro.  Your take on this one is outstanding. Man you have put in a lot of work to make it absolutely accurate.?

[FLHCAHZ]

Really nice “pro touring” stance

[slusher]

Coming along great Roger, are you using a Camaro chassis? I have been following and looked at the rear end work but missed the chassis some where..

[Plowboy]

On 4/17/2021 at 4:02 PM, TransAmMike said:

Great work on this Roger. We know the 1st gen Firebirds don't get the respect they should as compared to the Camaro.  Your take on this one is outstanding. Man you have put in a lot of work to make it absolutely accurate.?

Thanx Mike! It's not quite accurate. But, it's more accurate than the original. I may take another stab at one someday to make an accurate body.

 

7 hours ago, slusher said:

Coming along great Roger, are you using a Camaro chassis? I have been following and looked at the rear end work but missed the chassis some where..

Thanx Carl! Yeah, the chassis is from an old built Revell '69 Camaro I had. Kinda regretting that move. I should have used all new stuff. But, I wasn't sure how well it would work and hated to hack a good one.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Great thread, fine work.

 I've wanted a "right" looking model of this one-year-only body style for a long time, but I've never been entirely happy with the available kits.

[Dann Tier]

The evolution of this is moving along Brilliantly!!!

[Plowboy]

Thanx guys! I got quite a bit of paint work done today. I'll just hit the high spots. The body is now in two coats of Tamiya Mica Silver. I'm either going to clear it with Semi Gloss or Matte. If I don't like the look, I can hit it with Gloss and polish.

I also got the chassis in paint. I have a lot of detail painting to do! Not in the photo are the front and rear suspensions that are painted Semi Gloss Black.

The interior is painted with Tamiya Dull Red. 

While this stuff is drying, I'll get started on the engine. The plan is to paint it with a color similar to Pontiac Engine Blue. I also plan on using a set of Pontiac valve covers from the Revell '55 Chevy P/S. I think the color on this Jeepster will be about right.

[Snake45]

Don't think I've ever seen a model car finished in matte or semigloss silver (deliberately). Should be interesting--I'll be watching. Drive on! 

[TransAmMike]

So Roger, will it be xilver or blue.  Both should look great!!

[Steve H]

Awesome stuff as usual Roger. I like the idea of semi gloss silver. Tamiya’s TS 100 semi gloss gunmetal is a fantastic looking colour. I have used flat clear on Tamiya silver leaf which very nicely replicates cast aluminum. A recipe that Dennis Lacey very graciously shared with me. The semi gloss should look cool, as you said, if not hit with gloss clear. I need some of that dull red, it’s a perfect colour for red interiors. Should be an awesome colour combo.

Cheers, Steve

[Plowboy]

11 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

So Roger, will it be xilver or blue.  Both should look great!!

The engine is what I'm planning on painting the blue on the Jeepster. The body will stay silver.

[Plowboy]

9 hours ago, Steve H said:

Awesome stuff as usual Roger. I like the idea of semi gloss silver. Tamiya’s TS 100 semi gloss gunmetal is a fantastic looking colour. I have used flat clear on Tamiya silver leaf which very nicely replicates cast aluminum. A recipe that Dennis Lacey very graciously shared with me. The semi gloss should look cool, as you said, if not hit with gloss clear. I need some of that dull red, it’s a perfect colour for red interiors. Should be an awesome colour combo.

Cheers, Steve

Thanx Steve! I haven't seen the semi gloss gunmetal. I was thinking about attempting a fade at the bottom with Light Gunmetal. But, I shot a coat of Flat Clear on it last night and I don't think it needs it now. Especially after I got the wheels painted and stuck them under it. It's gonna be sinister looking! 

[Tommy124]

Great work going one here, Roger!

I didn't know about the incorrect roofline but it doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't have noticed on my TA build, I was way too busy scriping the panels on the hood. ?

Btw., I did this curbside-style, using the chassis from a Revell Snap Camaro '69.