Scale-Master Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I have had this old promo lying around my shop for at least 25 years and I got tired of looking at it in its current condition. I got it the way is minus the dirt and minus wheels from my brother. As I recall he acquired it in when it was relatively new. Other than some hand painted silver accents & trim and drilled out holes for the axles, it looks like it is factory original. A quick soap and water wash and it looks fairly nice. A good friend of mine provided me with a Flag wheel to make resin copies of. I found some Revell-Monogram tires that fit them and looked about right in the wheel wells of the Firebird I had to think about what color to do it as I have other kit versions of this basic model and some Camaros of the same era in my collection. That ruled out blue. And I have a lot of red in the collection with another one in the queue too. Im working on a project that will be yellow and another that will be green, so those are out The flash really makes the paint look much nicer than reality
Baugher Garage Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Cool car!! If the original finish is in good shape, why not just finish off the chrome and stainless with some bare metal foil, detail/paint the interior and rims and call it good? Just a thought. It looks good in blue, especially now that it's clean! Fun project however you finish it! Enjoy and keep posting your progress!
Scale-Master Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 I thought about doing that many times over the years, just minor detailing and adding a set of wheels, even had some Rally II wheels earmarked for it. But the hood scoop fit and the mold lines in general detract too much for me to leave them alone, so it will have to be repainted to fix those issues. And the factory paint does have a few small blemishes...
disabled modeler Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I have had this old promo lying around my shop for at least 25 years. If I had it I would just restore it to its proper glory...just polish the body out. I had a promo of a 72 I restored but it went when the thieves broke in here along with many other old promos and kits. I think it looks great the way it is adding a little polishing...I love restoring these things!....love to have more. Edited February 20, 2014 by Harry P.
Scale-Master Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 The factory paint has too many bad spots for me, and I'm not a promo collector so it doesn't hold any special value other than as a "kit" of a favorite car. It took a little more effort and time than I expected to take it apart, a good mount of prying was required, but fortunately everything that broke did so in the best places. Not a lot there… Luckily the glass does not look bad, just ingrained with dirt… That was easily polished out with a little compound. Even the chrome on the bumper and grill looks pretty decent. The front end needs some attention beyond the basic clean up, specifically the hood scoops and the peaks of the fenders.
disabled modeler Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 They usually do take quite a bit of care taking them apart old plastic gets brittle but you did a good job of it by the looks. Most of this body style promos have a small crack where the quarter panel meets the roof at the side window top rear...was lucky with mine they were not cracked and still pretty flexible. I have to agree with you the 70 to 76s were my favorite shapes of the cars...I am partial to the 75s though owning a real 75 TA once.
Scale-Master Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 This one had the mold line at the roof between the side window and the rear window, (same place the real ones crack) but there was no crack under or in the seam. The front end has been cleaned up and the fender peaks rounded. I sanded most of the panels to smooth them out, much like blocking out a real car. The original paint worked well as a guide coat. A light coat of primer that needs some sanding...
disabled modeler Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 looking like you have all the mold lines cleaned up good...cant wait to see it in some paint.
1 bad55 stan Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 That's so neat,Do you have a color in mind?...
Scale-Master Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 Thanks guys, I'm thinking black with a tan interior.
Bob Ellis Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Your not going to be brave and slice open the hood with a #11 Xacto?
Scuderia Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 that era bird always looked good in white to me for some reason. I like that body style. Your cleanup is going super, cant wait to see it done.
Ron Hamilton Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 That is looking pretty good. A few years ago, I picked up a built up '72 Firebird to re-do. It's been cleaned up, much like yours, and most everything was there. Also, I picked up a Resin Trans Am body, with some '70 Firebird Low Back Buckets. I have considered using an MPC '78 Trans Am for the Chassis and running gear. Both have been cleaned up, blocked, and are ready for some sort of assembly. I am considering cutting up a "New Tool" AMT Camaro, and adapting it to the Firebird. The Revell '68 Firebird 400 has a beautiful Pontiac V8/4-speed Combination.When I was in Jr. High School, my home room teacher had a Gold "72 Esprit with a Black Vinyl Roof, and White Interior, which was a nice looking combination.I am looking forward to the finished model. Looking at the work you are putting into it, it's going to look pretty good.
Sport Suburban Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Very nice!! Did you know that black was not available on the firebird in 70-75 with the exception of 71? I thought that was strange when I was researching factory colors for my 70 and 72 builds. I was going to paint one black after painting my 71 blue. Go figure huh!!
Scale-Master Posted February 18, 2014 Author Posted February 18, 2014 I did not know that about black not being available, even though I found a '73 online that is black (with a tan interior). But they did say it was originally gold. The interior was cleaned up a little then shot tan. Instead of hassling with flocking, I just textured the carpeted areas of the floor, console and doors and used a slightly darker shade of tan. The dash, doors & console were detailed a little too, just with hand painting.
The70judgeman Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Nice work so far. Super jealous...I've wanted one of those models for years. They're just too expensive and it seems to be even rarer to find a "basket case" to redo.
Scale-Master Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 Thanks guys! Body is painted and BMF’d…
purepmd Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Great save! Being an avid fan, and repeat owner, of early second gen Pontiac F-bodies, it is good to see you breath new life into this very cool piece. Sport is right, Starlight black was a no no on 'birds until the Black and Gold, 1976, Pontiac Motor Division's 50th anniversary Trans Ams corrected that, on any measurable scale. Then, in '77, Burt Reynolds turned it into the must have color. Well done.
disabled modeler Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Looking good!.... Now I really have to find a affordable 75 TA to build like my old car!
om617 Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) Is it black or dark green? Looks good. Really want to make on in brewster green some day. Edited February 20, 2014 by om617
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