1970 Pontiac Trans Am - Box Stock - Update 12/26/2022

Exotics_Builder · December 6, 2022

I won the model at a raffle a while back and it has been sitting on the shelf. I decided to “enter” it in this year’s Poncho Perfection build off that Tim Sickle has been doing the last few years. The deadline is done by January 1. As I have a few other projects (modeling and non-modeling) in the works, I elected to do this as Box Stock.

I will not tell you how difficult it is for me to do Box Stock (something I have not done in decades). This is especially true when you get to the engine/engine and chassis areas. But I am going at it.

To this point, I have cleaned up the body and parts; applied base coat (Lucerne Blue from Gravity Paints) and readied the interior and chassis for detail painting. The engine was painted using some Testors Pontiac Engine Blue that I thinned and shot through my airbrush. I have enough of that paint left for perhaps one to two more engines of the 66-69 era. I did pour some for a good friend so he could use on his 69 Firebird 400 that is replicating his son-in-law’s real car.

This issue of the Revell kit has a lot of decals that will help detailing, including seat belts. So, a good choice for a detail fanatic such as me. Don’t expect massive build reports on this one. The one thing I have noticed is the base coat seems darker than it should be. And I used a lighter primer than suggested.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Exotics_Builder

TransAmMike · December 7, 2022

Gonna be interesting

5 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

I won the model at a raffle a while back and it has been sitting on the shelf. I decided to “enter” it in this year’s Poncho Perfection build off that Tim Sickle has been doing the last few years. The deadline is done by January 1. As I have a few other projects (modeling and non-modeling) in the works, I elected to do this as Box Stock.

I will not tell you how difficult it is for me to do Box Stock (something I have not done in decades). This is especially true when you get to the engine/engine and chassis areas. But I am going at it.

To this point, I have cleaned up the body and parts; applied base coat (Lucerne Blue from Gravity Paints) and readied the interior and chassis for detail painting. The engine was painted using some Testors Pontiac Engine Blue that I thinned and shot through my airbrush. I have enough of that paint left for perhaps one to two more engines of the 66-69 era. I did pour some for a good friend so he could use on his 69 Firebird 400 that is replicating his son-in-law’s real car.

This issue of the Revell kit has a lot of decals that will help detailing, including seat belts. So, a good choice for a detail fanatic such as me. Don’t expect massive build reports on this one. The one thing I have noticed is the base coat seems darker than it should be. And I used a lighter primer than suggested.

Will be interesting...if I may ask Gerry, what is the "Poncho Perfection Buildoff"??

Exotics_Builder · December 7, 2022

Facebook group challenge. This is my third time. First was the 66 GeeTO, second the 66 GTO and now this one. Fun times, great group and great models.

espo · December 7, 2022

Beautiful looking GTO's. I don't build with the attention to detail you do, but I understand how hard it would be not to start wiring and plumbing stuff. Sometimes just making sure the paint colors on the engine and the molded details in the engine compartment are correct can go a long way.

slusher · December 8, 2022

Gorgeous GTOs!

dino246gt · December 8, 2022

Love the blue you've chosen for that F-Bird!

Joe Handley · December 11, 2022

Seeing as we’re doing Orphans this year for the club project, that would have been the perfect kit for tonight!

Exotics_Builder · December 11, 2022

3 hours ago, Joe Handley said:

Seeing as we’re doing Orphans this year for the club project, that would have been the perfect kit for tonight!

Wish we could have attended. But...

Joe Handley · December 11, 2022

8 minutes ago, Exotics_Builder said:

Wish we could have attended. But...

Yup, very true!

Zippi · December 11, 2022

Nice looking.

TransAmMike · December 11, 2022

On 12/6/2022 at 8:03 PM, Exotics_Builder said:

Facebook group challenge. This is my third time. First was the 66 GeeTO, second the 66 GTO and now this one. Fun times, great group and great models.

Great looking GTO's. I've had the GeeTo Tiger kit on my shelf for a few years but can't get the nerve to get it going.

Exotics_Builder · December 12, 2022

As I'm working this, the Lucerne Blue just appears too dark, and the clear coat is not helping very much. Trying to determine my options on this, but I think a new paint source is needed. Can work the other parts while I figure out.

espo · December 12, 2022

Wasn't Lucerne Blue the darker shade for Pontiacs?

Exotics_Builder · December 12, 2022

Supposedly the same as Mulsanne Blue on Chevy's. But this still looks darker.

A lot of references are in this range (but likely repainted)

Then you get this also (and it seems more than just differences in lighting)

slusher · December 13, 2022

I see what you mean, Gerry".

Exotics_Builder · December 27, 2022

I received my new paint just before we got “swiped” by the big cold snap. We had sleet and freezing rain that made travel difficult, but we had prepared for it and just hunkered down.

I’ve got the major sub-assemblies almost complete. The chassis is painted except for the overspray of the base color. Then I’ll assemble it completely. Everything you see in the photo is either hand or spray painted aided by a liberal use of Tamiya Masking tape.

As I previously said, in this issue of the kit, Revell provides a very comprehensive decal sheet. Included are body decals for both the White and Lucerne Blue body color options. Interior decals include seat belts and door “hardware”. Not very realistic, but since I’m building this box stock it will have to do.

Got the base color on today. Will clear tomorrow. An advantage of MCW lacquers is their quick dry time. The paints in the photo are what have been used, including the different primers depending on final color of parts. Body is in Tamiya White and most parts Tamiya Light Gray primers. Chassis, suspension, and interior parts were primed with Mr. Hobby Black Surfacer 1500.

The engine is almost complete, needing the cold air cleaner component to be added. A test fit of the air cleaner indicates I might have to shave the top of the distributor to get hood clearance. We’ll see. I used Testors Pontiac Engine Blue thinned and airbrushed and then detailed with various paints. On the decal sheet, Revell provides lettering for the fan belts. What you see is OOB detailed only with paint and kit supplied decals.

Revell provides Tampo printed Firestone Wide Ovals in this kit version, and I set about to detail the wheels with paint plus the kit supplied decals for the center cap. I also lightly sanded the tread to get a used look. Even though more detail would really pop on this, I stayed box stock.

The front grill was hand painted flat black with Gloss Flat Clear sides. Still need to do a little touch on the grill area.

Finally, a shot of the interior with all the decals and paint effects applied. An odd thing is Revell gives all these decals for the interior, but neglect to include a turn signal level on the steering column.

Hope to finish by the weekend.