1976 Pontiac Firebird Esprit

[FordWagonNut]

Since I saw Dukefan69's Pontiac Firebird, it has pushed me into building my own. I have been a fan of the show since I first discovered it in the mid 90s. I now have all the seasons on DVD.

I bought this MPC Firebird Formula on Ebay in the fall of 2002 for the mega price (cough cough) $30.00 and it was factory sealed. When I got it, I promised myself I would build a proper replica of the '76 Firebird that James Garner drove in his series. The only thing that really held me back was filling in the holes in the hood. So last week I started, I mean, gota learn somehow, right?

As for the side door trim, Dukefan69 (Nick) was sorta right. Its both color (looks to be interior color) and chrome. I had the same bump strips on my '76 Cadillac and my '77 Oldsmobile Delta 88. But making the strip correct, on my skills now, I'm just going to go with a interior color.

Filling in the holes for the hood. To be honest, I was kind of scared that I was killing off a good hood. What I did, took a parts box hood and cut out the shapes I needed to fill in the hole. Then to hold it in place and also fill in seams, I used super glue and plastic strips. Now I am on the body filler stage. I am using 3M's Acryl Green spot putty. I don't know if this will work, but as of now, it seems to be. Once I let it dry over night, it dose shrink. But after that, its really easy to sand. So my idea is to keep layering it.

[disabled modeler]

Hi Johnny.........ive always like the tv car too.....looks like your getting off to a really good start! desides it has a plan-jane style hood and makes it different,by talking to me you already know i like different things. keep up the good work,cant hardly wait to see it when shes done.

[Nick Winter]

Looks great, so far, I've some pictures of his '75 that might help.

Also I've been thinking of building his '76 Also, I even bought a conversion kit.

[JimC]

So...with the forthcoming Supernatural Impala and 007 Mustang kits due soon how about Round2 get to work on the just as iconic Rockford Files Firebird Esprit? I know the resin bits are available to backdate the ‘79 but it seems like this would fit right in with Round2’s TV licensing agenda if they could put it all in one box with some retooling. And don’t forget the 853 OKG license plates on the decal sheet.