Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans-am 1/8

[The Creative Explorer]

I thought I started this build already on the board, but couldn't find it no more. I just start over.

The box

The engine how I received it, fairly decent, but it did had some detailling issues, like visible moldlines. I decided to take it apart.

The stripped parts

And the engine without the stripped parts

After a day of ovencleaner

Stashing away the other parts safely, A must I discovered

And starting to cleanup the engine

Just like on top

And sand it

[The Creative Explorer]

And ready for some new paint

Doesn't it look a lot better?

I started detailling the engine with some brass tubes, the start for resembling spark-plugs

The v-belt and other parts that seriously needs some more detailling

Just like the manifolds

And then we come to the main-feature of this build, I want it to be a '78. I just don't like the '80 nose that much and I am going to try to make it to a '78 front fascia, wish me luck.

I started with contouring the cutout freehanded, which failed

I tried again, looked better, but still no

It wasn't accurate, so I made plans from online pictures.

Quite obvious that the lights are a lot lower than the '80

[The Creative Explorer]

Then I cut it out, but wasnt happy with it

I gave the bumper some styreen for strength

I also had to shorten the bumper, as the 78 was shorter. So the part underneath the tape was removed

I had to cut up the whole bumper,

And glued it back in place, but wasn't happy again

I started a new tecnique, adding referal points to the bumper, but it turned out that that didnt work out well either.

It look liked this in the back

[The Creative Explorer]

It seems ok, but it didnt work out for exact measuring

The top part was set in a steeper angles, because of the shorter and lower 78 nose

And because I wasn't happy, I decided to reset. I cut up the bumper in 5 important pieces, left the scene, thought of a better way and decided to start from the biggest change, the light clusters.

So I started to make them from styrene and work from there on

The '80 light units are also an exact match to the '78. A good and helpful coincidence

And the project so far, it does give the right look.

[stewart]

Nice project. Its great how much detail you can put on these large scale kits.

STewart

[Custom Mike]

I like what you've done so far, and I can't wait to see the completed front end!

[Custom Hearse]

You're doing the build I've always wanted to do. I'll definitely keep an eye on this build!

[RodneyBad]

Engine looks Brand new.

Nose cone looks like a whole lot of fun.

Headlight buckets are looking good.

Build on..

[Casey]

I remember thinking how much cooler this kit would be if it represented a '77 or '78 back when I had the kit in my possession, and had the same thought as you...but it never got any further than a thought for me.

This is not a small or simple modification by any means, and requires a great deal of scratch building, even though the modifications are contained within one 'piece', the nosecone. It looks like you're on the right track now, so keep plugging away at it, refining the shape until it looks right. I think many people overlook the fact that scratch building in larger scales is often more challenging compared to 1/25 scale, since you need to both add more detail and get those details exactly correct, or the eye will notice any deviations.

I wonder if there's some type of honeycomb mesh available which you could use for the grilles?

[Custom Hearse]

I wonder if there's some type of honeycomb mesh available which you could use for the grilles?

The 1978 Trans am didn't have a honeycomb grill... It had straight slats that had a diamond shape to it. The honeycomb was only on the 1977.

[The Creative Explorer]

Thanks guys!

@Custom Hearse; haha, sorry

@Rodney, likey? this is that one kit, hopefully i can do it just

@Casey, I dont know yet. First target is make the bumper, I will leave the grill part open, so I can have different inserts or mesh behind it. But what exactly I don't know. Like CH said; the honeycomb wasnt on the '77 altough I think it might have been on the Skybird.

And yes, this is quite a difficult challenge. I already have invested many hours and I am not even close to have the finishline in sight. There are so much things that I need to learn before I can make it really nice.

[Nick Winter]

Don't forget to change the tailights and rear bumper aswell.

Nick

[cruz]

Very cool project, please keep us posted!

[walt francis]

that motor came out nice and I wouldn't even think about tackling that frontend...Good luck.