1968 Pontiac Firebird Sprint - UPDATE 7-4-2014

[Exotics_Builder]

This is being done as part of GTR Modelers’ 2014 theme of Pony Cars. I decided to do something a bit different and do a Pontiac Firebird (based on the Revell kit). Instead of the V8, I elected to make it an OHC six Sprint.

To do that, I got Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland OHC Pontiac Six that is based on the MPC engine. Norm includes a predrilled distributor as well. I have just started on the engine and painted it with Testor’s Pontiac Engine Blue:

I chose Scale Finishes OEM Pontiac color Meridian Turquoise for something a little different. The body needed only minor cleanup, but I did add additional ledge area for the rear panel to ensure it glued well. Upon test assembly, it did not appear the chassis could be put in with the rear panel already glued in place. So I decided to play it safe.

For the hood, I got a flat Firebird hood from Scale Equipment Limited. I cleaned it up and added the kit tachometer to it.

Here’s the painted body pre-polishing:

I am still debating whether to clear coat first or just polish out the color coat. I usually clear coat to add extra protection to the finish (assuming the paint is not a base coat/clear coat option). The hood has some dirt specs in that will require some additional work.

I have the chassis about 80% complete, still needing to get any changes the engine might require and then assemble. I am not getting carried away on super-detailing here or the engine, as time and circumstances don’t permit.

The interior is pretty much as provided in the Revell kit. I went for a black interior and used the kit instrument decals and some painting to get this far. One thing Revell does not include is the wood trim on the dash and console. Doing some research, the Firebird could be had without the wood trim, but I wasn’t able to clarify what trim levels and most cars I’ve seen had the trim. So I dug out some Fujimi wood trim decals that most closely matched the real car, made templates and applied them. I also applied the polished trim on the console sides.

Given that most cars of this area had vinyl floor mats, I found a photo online, made floor pan templates, adapted the photos using CorelDraw and printed on my Color Laserjet.

Need to keep moving on this as there are about eight more weeks to get this ready.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Exotics_Builder

[66belair]

Nice move on the OHC 6. It's great to see something other than usual V8 cars. Great color choice also. Can't wait to see more.

[GMCMAN52]

Great start to your Firebird project.I love Pontiacs and have the same kit with the MPC 6 cly engine in the works I was going with a white body and red racing strips and red interior.

Thanks for the heads up on the std hood.

Edited May 3, 2014 by GMCMAN52

[Tuffy's Garage]

Nice can't wait to see more

[Duntov]

This is looking really nice---

[1 bad55 stan]

looks great so far,

[slusher]

Real nice color and finish. Real nice looking interior, very nice touch on the woodgrain and the 6 cyl...

[Curt]

Love me some Meridian Turquoise as that was the color of my 1:1 '68 GTO and the model I built of it (in my avatar). Your 'bird is looking great and the flat hood and 6 cyl. make it stand out. You nailed the interior, it looks like a real clean build.

[Exotics_Builder]

The interior is just about done. I need to touch up the seat belt webbing a bit and keep the dust off. For the interior, I used the basic Revell parts and then scratch made some vinyl floor mats using a pattern I found on the web and then printing on my color LaserJet. I used cloth bandage tape for the seatbelt webbing, painted flat black. Model Car Garage GM seat belt latching was used.

Revell does not provide any wood grain for the console or dash center area. In researching, this appears to have been a base option. I decided to spice it up with wood graining. I had a Fujimi wood grain decal close enough to the burl effect, so applied it. I also added Microscale silver decal lines to the console edges to reflect what the 1:1 cars have.

Originally I was using Meridian Turquoise, but it looked too dark to me. Since I had a paint blurp on the hood, I decided to strip the color and go to Mayfair Maize.

Need to finish off the exterior, plumb the engine and assemble. Should be ready in time for the August 3 GTR Summer Meltdown.

[66belair]

Nice!

[DynoMight]

cool!

[The70judgeman]

Totally missed this one. Looking really sharp! Like the OHC Sprint 6 too!

[slusher]

Still looks nice in that color, something different...

[TFchronos]

Very nice car, excellent color choice too.

[Brandriet16]

That color looks great!

[Exotics_Builder]

Getting closer. The engine is ready to put into the chassis and final polishing of the body is going on now

[1 bad55 stan]

Neat build!Looks great..

[DynoMight]

That engine will fit right in that engine bay.

Edited July 24, 2014 by DynoMight