DanielG Posted January 29, 2011 Author Posted January 29, 2011 OK, my work is done until December so back to playing with cars! I have completed the roughing in of the window framing. Next up, more filler and body shaping.
Tumbler75 Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Yowzers! That's comin' along nicely! I was hopin' to see an update on this. Great work and such an unexpected amount of work done too. Keep it up! I love it.
Guest Johnny Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Good to see you back at it Daniel! It is really coming along nicely! Looking forwards to seeing it progress!
Space Cowboy Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 This is some fantastic metal work and you are spot on to the sport truck look.
Darren B Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Daniel, you my friend are a true artist. Do you work on full size 1:1 cars? You should because your metal work is very, very impressive. Want to see this one done for sure.
Foxer Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Good to see this back .. and it looks fantastic!
DanielG Posted January 29, 2011 Author Posted January 29, 2011 Thanks guys. I don't work on anything that I can't get on my bench! Some filling done and a heap of sanding/shaping to go.
DanielG Posted February 1, 2011 Author Posted February 1, 2011 Sanding and shaping done, at least until primed. Next is to reshape the front fender swells into a more rounded downward curve.
David G. Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 It's coming along nicely! Looks like it'll be worth all the effort. David G.
DanielG Posted April 18, 2011 Author Posted April 18, 2011 OK, back at it! Started on re-shaping the under-nose. I have a question for the Trans Am experts before I go any further; Is the space ahead of the radiator open on the real car? Help with this question appreciated.
Custom Hearse Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 It was open on my '77 T/A. Nice work you're doing with this build. I'm working on the US Airfix kit, and using a Monogram kit for the engine and so forth, but you've my build beat by a long shot. If you can find it, there is a book on the history of the Firebird Trans Am's from 1969 to 1999 written by George Scala and Wallace Wyss. It includes the history of the K-Type. Interesting side note, the first K-type was built in 1977, it had a standard non shaker hood, no flares, standard Firebird front fenders without the T/A scoops, and it had custom aluminum deep dish wheels that have what look to be 1/2 inch holes drilled in them. According to the book, Pininfarina's projected price estimate would've cost(in 1977 prices) $25,000.00 per body, Twice the price for a fully loaded Trans Am. According to the book, an after market company in California offered a package to convert Trans Am coupes to wagons... Hope this info helps a little bit
DanielG Posted April 19, 2011 Author Posted April 19, 2011 Thanks for the info. The earliest pictures I have found are of the '78 version before it was re-built for the '79 year so that is what I am trying to replicate. The wheels and tires in 1/18 scale are going to be a problem, I have not found the perfect combo yet and shudder at the thought of trying to re-work the facets of the wheels that I have. They (the facets) appear to be the proper design but are cast too thin and go into the centre too far (sigh).
Custom Hearse Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 I don't have a photocopier, so I took photos of the page in the book. Here's the earliest known pics of the K-Type wagon in 1977... Hope these help.
DanielG Posted April 19, 2011 Author Posted April 19, 2011 Thanks a bunch! This forum and you guys are the greatest. I could turn those wheels out on my lathe (if I had to!) One more set of tires added to the mix. I am going to carry on with the later version if I can if only because I think it a little cooler! Thanks again.
Custom Hearse Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 Not a problem! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product!
Randy D Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 Hello Daniel, What great fun to watch you work I will have to try the JB Weld! Randy
DanielG Posted April 26, 2011 Author Posted April 26, 2011 Carrying on... I have cut away the spacing filler ahead of the rad (added a bit of stripping for strength) and cut away some of the nose clip to start on the air-dam. It will be made one with the nose. When all glued and filled the scribed line will represent the joint of the nose clip and the air-dam/intake moulding.
Custom Hearse Posted April 27, 2011 Posted April 27, 2011 Looking good. This is turning out to be an awesome build that has me wanting more! Looking forward to the next installment!
DanielG Posted April 29, 2011 Author Posted April 29, 2011 Getting there. I am posting this pic for those that have in the past queried how I do things. As you can see I use whatever will do the job. A little more constuction and filling on this and it will be ready for primer.
DanielG Posted May 1, 2011 Author Posted May 1, 2011 The air-duct is almost finished and 'looks as though' it will mate with the fender flares when they are continued around the bottom of the fender. I tried to use the piece as a master to vacu-form some plastic parts but it would not get enough suction. I did not want to risk damaging the piece so had to use it as is as a one-off. So, some more priming and sanding and then gluing the works together and filling to remove the previous engineering joints and some more priming and sanding and it should be done. Doesn't take long if you say it fast!
Custom Hearse Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 But it takes forrrrrrreeeever if you talk like Droopy... It looks good! One question though... It looks as though the fender spoilers aren't going to meet up with the lower spoiler. Is there a part that hasn't been attached yet? Just curious...
DanielG Posted May 1, 2011 Author Posted May 1, 2011 But it takes forrrrrrreeeever if you talk like Droopy... It looks good! One question though... It looks as though the fender spoilers aren't going to meet up with the lower spoiler. Is there a part that hasn't been attached yet? Just curious... The flares will be lengthened as they come down and around the fender so it 'should' all line up. I plan on adding plastic to the outside of the flare stub visible in the pic and melding it into the fender to get the proper line. Theory being that it should end up looking like the photo evidence that is available so far.
redknight Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 This is an amazing project you're tackling. I have many die-hard Pontiac friends who would love seeing your build when it's done.
Custom Hearse Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 Cool! You're doing a great job on this and I'm looking forward to seeing more!
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