1:18th 1969 Daytona 24HR class-winning Jerry Titus/Jon Ward Firebird Trans-Am - ACME/Exact Detail based.

[swede70]

Picking up from a sprawling 1:25th/1:18th '64 Tempest 'Gray Ghost' thread, this would be a continuation of the ACME/Exact Detail Titus/Ward Firebird project subthread otherwise touched upon there.  Mostly this is a limited refurbishment of what in the diecast world is known or marketed as a 'Tribute Release'; i.e. some of the visuals are provided to suggest investment consistent with imagining that one has purchased a full-on racer, but soon one notices that paintwork and perhaps wheels and tire have been provided to echo something not strictly provided for making a close inspection of matters.  

Here the topic has appropriate paintwork of good quality, although then one expectation after another is dashed; i.e. no roll cage, uninspired wheels and tires, and a Pontiac engine beneath the hood where an Al Bartz-built small block Chevrolet 302 cross ram engine would otherwise be expected.  Finish choices are wrong here and there, the livery isn't complete as-delivered, while more than one original purchaser exclaimed 'No thanks' and sent this release back!  

...as released then.  Notice the argent grille 'tunnels', livery cues drawn from was is purported to be the restored racer, etc.

...the topic motoring through the infield at the '69 Daytona 24HR race then.  Much discreet work is called for if things are going to appear close to this specification.

-

Hoping I could do something with it for application, here I've scratch built a roll cage, added resin wheels with CNC machined outer rim lips (done by Dancing Bear Scaled Components), applied a mix of fill-in decals (some commissioned to 3 Amigos Decals), and inserted a GMP Penske Camaro engine with appropriate mods. Laboring now to ensure all the new assemblies live in harmony with each other, taking my lumps and making adjustments as necessary.  

The front valence panel w/spoiler is off the model, lending things an odd look.  The numeral illuminating lamps on the doors haven't been fabricated and stand to come.  Still - rather neat.

The otherwise expected wheel arch chrome trim painted white on this ACME release were each cut off, affording needed space inside the wheel housings. The rocker panels were retained and cleanly reshaped on the ends prior to being refitted.

A terrific effort from 3 Amigos Decals, the odd Sleipnir (Nordic mythological reference relating to an eight-legged horse ridden by the god Odin) was cleanly reproduced and added atop each rear wheel arch opening.  Some smaller decals were likewise commissioned, although others were just found within my Rubbermaid Tub 'o Decals.  

While just in brief, here would be an effort to replace the stock GMP Penske Chevrolet stock bell housing with a scratch built Lakewood Chevrolet explosion-proof 'hydroformed' model.  The latter can be shared across many of my projects and had proved a stumbling block for a long time, happily soon to be cleared.  Thanks for your interest.

Mike K./Swede70

Edited September 12, 2021 by swede70

[shekimkev]

Wow- blown away by your work! My dad (Jon Ward) raced this car at Sebring and Daytona. Did you finish the project?

[swede70]

On 7/22/2024 at 1:35 PM, shekimkev said:

Wow- blown away by your work! My dad (Jon Ward) raced this car at Sebring and Daytona. Did you finish the project?

Greetings and certainly a surprise to notice this thread rescued from the deep...

Neat association there and highly unexpected.  The model remains in about this state at present, although some reassembly has since been performed.  About a month ago I fabricated some door numeral illumination lamps w/housings, hence in little ways the model has received sporadic attention and isn't wholly dormant.  This much related, I think I'm going to have to adjust some aspects of the roll cage to accommodate the 'glass' installation with chrome trim, while the firewall needs some work given the cross ram air cleaner setup and the Lane tool wiper motor don't coexist well with each other (i.e. bang, bang).  Beyond this most of the scale model engineering problems have been addressed, the ride height and track about as close as I can get for better or for worse.  I remember some mild interference encountered with the interior rear quarter area trim too, while it's happened that serendipitous discovery of new or better research materials have prompted reengagement with this or that project given confidence will be restored.   Pity that the ACME release evidences so many errors for might otherwise have been done well albeit at greater expense.

I'm currently working on a '70-season Milt Minter American Racing Associates '69 Camaro based on the well worn and familiar GMP '69 Penske Trans-Am tool, and for so doing I'm finishing up on the Al Bartz-prepared engine which in some ways closely reflects what was fit to the Jon Ward/Jerry Titus Daytona 500 class-winning Firebird less the cross ram setup, hence this other effort could serve to prompt me to reengage the engine aspect of this project.  Recently I was afforded/availed many clear plastic display cases and was able to find housing so to speak for my incomplete projects consistent with pulling this and that together for carefully cleaning and segregating out what I'd worked up to date, while I was appalled at how much dust covered all of the delicate decal work.  Not nearly as badly neglected as it had so recently been, hopefully I can see the project out before too long.  Thanks for your interest and outreach...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited July 30, 2024 by swede70

[swede70]

Greetings...

Seen would be the addition of some external door number/roundel-illuminating lamp housings worked up from some architectural plastic stock and replicated four times over if you will.  Tedious to shape, although generally acceptable now for size and position.  I'd nevertheless like to add some grain of wheat/scale railroading-sourced electric bulbs to situate within each housing even as I wouldn't harbor ambitions that they'd strictly work. 

Further, the plastic 'glass' front and rear has been reaffixed with the chrome trim surrounding each panel likewise refit.  Along the bottom of each fender, the Valvoline decals have had their lettering covered over with what presume might have been lengths of electrical tape given a possible conflict with the associate sponsor deal given the PURE oil/lubricants decals otherwise situated in pride of place higher up on each respective fender.  Slow progress then - thanks...

Mike K./Swede70

Edited August 1, 2024 by swede70