seanyb505 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Started this build a few weeks ago. So far I've only done basic body work and rear suspension. Plan is to use the inspiration as inspiration and not to make an exact replica. I'll be keeping the 440 stock, but using the rear suspension from an AMT Thunderbird stock car as well as wheels and tires, fire wall and a few more miscellaneous pieces. Inspiration: Mock up: Scratch built rear coilovers: Deviating from Chrysler red: Removed inner fenders and stock suspension points: Turn signals and door handles are shaved, and while the 1:1 does not have this the side vents are opened. I'm trying to build a lower valence without compromising the look of the nose cone, which will be my first major scratchbuilding effort. So far it is okay, but I'll have to get it glued in place before I can determine it a success. The only thing I'm not sure about it the interior. At first I was just going to glue sheet plastic over the seats to simulate an aluminum panels interior but I don't know if I should open up the interior bucket to reveal the rear wheel wells, as you would find on a car with all interior panels removed. My last thought for now is in the name of sacrilege and pro touring to convert the head lights into fixed, recessed buckets instead of leaving the headlight covers as is and just throwing a black decal over them. Should be straight forward and not that difficult, I just don't know how it would affect the overall feel of the car. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrecker388 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I like it so far. Keep going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steak&Brew Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 looks great so far. i would just keep the headlights just as they are to keep the original look of the superbird. by the way, what color is that? if you don't mind to tell. brand/color? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragfreak Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 looks like a good start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit1 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I think that car is now owned by the infamous "Ronn Pratt"?...Was a charity car that got auctioned off at Barrett Jackson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Very NICE, I love them birds, looks great so far!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanyb505 Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 It is the blue plastic it was molded in lol. I'll likely end up using whatever petty blue looking blue I can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steak&Brew Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 oh ok. mine is the new revell kit molded in white lol. I as well are going for the petty blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 This will be fun to watch, looks great so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanyb505 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 Not really sure how to go about the front suspension. I'm trying to use the thunderbird control arms but they cramp the engine block they are so long. I wanted to scratchbuild as little of it as possible but it looks like I need to figure out a lot of it. It was easy to accommodate the wider tires in the rear but there's just more going on up front. I did trim the k member down to not look like a huge chunk of plastic. Perhaps some viper parts may work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Jon Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Try the stock car front suspension, you could just trim it to make narrow enough and fit Good project idea, looking forward to seeing it competed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanyb505 Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 The front suspension and the interior have stumped me to the point where I have gone through my stash to find a more straightforward build. I found the exact same kit and thought, "I'll do an easy 'bird." While removing the chrome plating from the valve covers I let one go down the sink. Not to be stopped, I went through my stash looking to see what other kit had a 440 valve cover. I couldn't find one but I did decide on donating the Hemi from an MPC Daytona I wasn't planning on building oob to the tribute build, so I could use the stock 440 valve cover on the stock 'bird. I was again concerned on using a 1:25 engine in a 1:24 body, but the Hemi is of decent size and fill the engine bay quite nicely. Lots of swapping going on here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Very nice project.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuzzed Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 So far it looks pretty good. I hope to see it at some of the local shows soon. You might consider getting an inexpensive food strainer thing at the dollar store (they look like they're made from screen door material) to use when you're working with parts at the sink- it could prevent lost parts in the future. I use one and have yet to lose a part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown03SVT Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 This should be interesting the stance and wheel and tire combo give this car a menacing look. So nice to not see an old Mopar with the peg leg look with the Magnum 500's and the narrow tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geno Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 This is gonne be cool. I love the winged cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubbs Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 While removing the chrome plating from the valve covers I let one go down the sink. Not to be stopped, I went through my stash looking to see what other kit had a 440 valve cover. I couldn't find one but I did decide on donating the Hemi from an MPC Daytona I wasn't planning on building dude!! you need to use the "wanted" section..... pm sent to ya.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanyb505 Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 Thanks for the tip on the strainer. I've made small progress. Got the wing glued as a unit and coming along with the interior bucket. I threw the rims into some purple power supplies since the paint Usually not cover them well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonekrosha Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Are you planning to leave on the Vinyl top? That is the ONY thing I never liked about the Superbirds. They are probably one of my favorite cars. Your build is looking nice, show us some more pics soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsclayyoo Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Love it! Looks great so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanyb505 Posted July 28, 2013 Author Share Posted July 28, 2013 Are you planning to leave on the Vinyl top? It doesn't show in the pictures, but the top has already been sanded away. I liked the clean look of the 1:1, so I went through the trouble of making it smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuzzed Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Keep in mind that on the actual car, the vinyl top was used to hide ugly bodywork- the rear window is from (if I remember correctly) a Dodge Charger... 500, I think. I know it's not a stock Road Runner unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Wat if you just cut out the headlight covers, replace them with clear sheet and let the headlights shine thru them. It would keep the nose clean aerodynamically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPALA SS 427 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 wow, looking good there, I like where this is going... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrherald420 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I'm working on 2 of these at the moment. Man that top had to be super fun to sand off!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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