'72 Ford Thunderbird

[Chuck Most]

Another quick, low-effort buildup I threw together, to keep me motivated during longer, more involved projects...

This is the old 1:24 Arri kit. It was designed to be motorized, so obviously there were a few detail compromises. The hood and doors open, but engine and interior details were so crude and blocky I just glued them shut and did it as a curbside. The body proportions are pretty good- though it's missing the Thunderbird insignia over the grille, the rear 'Thunderbird' script is faint (so faint, in fact, that I didn't even notice it was there until after paint!), and the grille has the wrong number of bars. The side trim and Thunderbird scrips are done quite sharply. Another bummmer- the rearview mirror is molded to the windsheild... sort of like the original versions of AMT-Ertl's '66 Nova. I'm glad that little feature never caught on!

I decided to do a mild custom, and added some wheels from an AMT 'Rides Magazine' kit (I think these came with the '65 Galaxie). They're huge, but they fill out the wheel wells nicely, and are a marked improvement over the 'big and little' tires from the Arri kit. Instead of the geared metal axle, I just repurposed a bit of sprue from the kit to serve as the rear axle!

Not a great kit for the detail freaks and accuracy hounds out there, but I like it. It's a big-bodied '70's Ford... how could I not love it!

Edited July 13, 2010 by Chuck Most

[Dr. Cranky]

Nice and classy, and smooth. Good job, C.

[GOTH KUSTOMS]

Still a nice clean job...

[Kris Morgan]

That came out lookin real good. I am not usually one for big wheels but, your right they do fill out the wheel wells here though.

[Sixties Sam]

T-birds of that era looked a little clunky to me, but the blue color and the big wheels seem to smooth everything out on your model. Very nice build!

Sam

[Scalper]

Cool.. you dont see these ones alot. Nice clean build.

[Starliner Kustoms]

Have this kit never built it. Hmmm Nice job.

[oversteer]

OOOO MY KIND OF RIDE..PIMPIN

[Harry P.]

Woulda looked coooool with a white vinyl top...

[Dragline]

That's the kind of car you pilot, not drive.

Smoooooth.

Bob

[DAYTIME]

Looks great for being "thrown" together.

[Guest]

That is sweet. What color is it?

[Chuck Most]

That is sweet. What color is it?

Testors One Coat Icy Blue, blown onto it straight out of the rattle can! A clearcoat seems to tone down the oversized flakes in this line of paint- it sure did on this one!

[Greg Cullinan]

I like this,came out real nice.

My dad had a black one new and that's the year I was born and we had it still in the late 70's so I vividly remember it.