Hawk312

I did a quick search and it looks like this is the subforum to put something like this in. If not, please feel free to move. Maybe we need a memorabilia/die casts/models etc section?
Anyway, combined a couple kits to get a car I wanted when I was younger. I had some trouble with the decals (they are 25 years old), so they didnt adhere or conform very well. It took me maybe 20 hours to build? I plan on building a yellow `91 Formula next. I would love to see if anyone else has built their f-body, or their dream f-body, in scale.
Let me know if you have any questions/comments.

GerryCat09

iTrader: (1)

Cool to see I'm not the only guy on here building models! Are some of those parts from one of the MPC kits from the 80s? I have an anual MPC kit from 1986 that comes with the diamond spoke wheels and some of the other harder to find scale parts. Wish I could post some photos of mine, but I recently prepared to move, and it got held back, now all mine are packed away. Very nice work!

LTL_DMON

iTrader: (1)

So are there any new kits or are there only old kits? I would love to have a model 3rd or 4th gen of my dream Trans AMs.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Nice work on your TA!

Did you add the plug wires? I pretty much never seem 1/24 scale with plug wires, unless they are custom made. I've done that once, on the 1/25 Soff Seal 57 Chevy drag car. Fun doing the details on those models, huh?

GerryCat09

iTrader: (1)

Revell makes a 1991 Formula with stock or cutom wheels, TPI or TBI, and a few other options but its hard top only. Revell also makes a 1998 Ram Air Firebird kit. It has the T tops molded in solid, again, custom wheels or stock. In the new kits you are limited in options, but the older Revell-Monogram kits from the 80s, and the MPC kits have many options, including T tops. The older kits are actually pretty easy to find on ebay and only run in the 25$ range. The only kit i have thats not packed away right now is the 1998 Ram Air bird, I cut the t tops out to model them off. I'd post up but I don't want to totally hijack this thread, haha.

Hawk312

Thanks guys. This was built using the Monogram `85 Trans Am and `87 GTA kits. The MPC kits have slightly different proportions from memory, and it`s hard to kitbash with them with the Revell/Monogram kits.
The plug wires were added. I think I picked up a spool of .018" circuit wire from radio shack, or something like that.

Please, please hijack this thread!!! IA. I really want to see what everyone else is building/has built here.
Post up everyone!!

scottmoyer

This is not History or Restoration related, but I'm going to let it go so keep it on topic and without arguments. Thanks.

White'89

iTrader: (8)

I purchased an NOS kit to make one of my GTA and the kit was labeled 1989. However not until I opened it did I find out it was a notchback kit. I was very disappointed.

GerryCat09

iTrader: (1)

I'll have to snap some pics of it and post them up tomarow. I cut out the molded in t tops and I'm scratchbuilding some other odds and ends to dress up the kit. Do you post on any of the model forums?

Drew

iTrader: (58)

I built a 91 Formula model as a scale clone of my car. The kit was molded in red, my car is white. The damn red kept bleeding through the white paint. I ended up using an acrylic (water based) paint, since it wasn't solvent based the red stopped bleeding but the paint didn't gloss like the normal enamel. It turned out decent, just not shiny. I've got about 20 thirdgen model kits, I usually buy them in pairs. Kit's that aren't sealed in the plastic go cheap on Ebay, and I don't feel bad about building them. The trouble is that most of the later cars have details of earlier cars since they were 82's that got doctored to look like later cars.

The red 91 Formula kit I built was re-released as a dark green 92 Formula, and as a yellow 91 Pontiac Firebird 3 n 1 kit with ghetto wheels and stupid graphics.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I have that same 91 formy kit. and I painted it white like yours. dang red..
I also have a 82 ish red T/A kit with a targa top, kinda neat.

navy02ws6

Sweet, I've got the 92 re-release of that! One of the few models I actually built. Just sucks that I was only 12 when I built it, so it's not the best quality...but hey, I was better at building them than all my friends were!

While we're at it, I've also got the plastic Knight Rider car that was released in the early 2000s...kind of a weird kit though, it included GTA wheels and a GTA hood too for some reason, but was not advertised as a '2 in 1' kit.

Also have a yellow pro-stock 91-92 Firebird model that I never built, still factory sealed IIRC.

And then I also have a snap-tite 92 Z28.

Hawk312

Ohh, man. I love that in white!! I am building the same kit now, but I did mine in yellow. Kinda wish I would`ve did white now.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Here's a pic of a few of the kits I've accumulated... The red 91 Formula is the kit I built, I kept a duplicate still sealed in plastic. The hokey yellow 91 Firebird model at the bottom is the latest re-release of the same kit. It was still available a few years ago. The Motorworks Z28 was a Walmart deal within the last decade. Once in awhile one of the manufacturers will put out a thirdgen model, but a lot of them have odd 80's features that are just retarded now. The 83 Z28 kit came with 2nd gen style stripes and a wide body package. The 91 GTA came with a carbed twin turbo setup in addition to the TPI. The Formula model I built has the early CFI exhaust and the 82-84 style dash. Sometimes you just have to take what they give you.

GerryCat09

iTrader: (1)

I've been meaning to post some pics of my current project, hopefully soon, been a busy week. I'll be looking for one of those 83' Z28 Kits from AMT though, never seen one before.

okfoz

There was 2 of those kits back in the day, one was a Black version IIRC and one red, I have both, one was for 1991, the other 1992...

Drew, the Yellow 1991/1992 is actually molded in White...

John

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

Awesome models!

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

For the red bleed through and making white shiny without turning yellow checkout this site. http://www.randyayersmodeling.com/modelingforum/

usually with red bodied kits you went one of the better routes at the end, you have to seal it usually with a type of primer, clear or silver paint, with white you have to be careful because some of the more common clears will yellow due to their chemical makeup; Futures floor wax will leave a great shine.

That is a great site. I have the new release of that same kit to build

I have made an 89 gta, a 94 z28 and a 2000 SS all like my old ones and closer to 100 racecar models.

Currently building a 1/8 scale IROC like mine.

80schild

iTrader: (5)

When I was 10 years old (back in '89) I bought a 89 GTA kit from K-Mart, I painted it metallic blue with silver gfx because that's what color I liked. I remember it even had removable t-tops. It vanished over the years, don't even know what happened to it.

Hawk312

I finished up the `91 Formula. Here is my spin on it:

yo soy el warg

Third gens sure look good in yellow for some reason! Nice job on the model. I've put together many airplanes, ships, cars, and even the "visible" man model, if you happen to know about him. Always wanted to put together the "visible" woman but the folks never bought me one of those when I was a kid! I realize how hard it is to get a good paint job on one of these models so I can really appreciate how good your firebird looks.

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

Heres my vintage 89 TTA kit. I modified it a bit and put an LT1 in it, but kept the original 3.8 motor setup just in case. I built this kit before the major overhaul on my real TA. Eventually I want to sand it back down and paint it the orange to match my car and make it a carbon copy to my real one. I wasn't even really finished with it as you can see, the door handles and parts in the engine bay aren't painted. One of these days when I get to it...

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

And this one (I know, I know, not a 3rd gen!) is by far my favorite model car I've built to date. The paints not perfect and there are def some visible flaws, but I just love this one! My father owned this identicle car back in the mid 70's and I really wanted to build a model in memory of his old car. He gave me a few really old pics of it and I matched this model to his identicle car. It's a 1970 Boss with the 429/4 speed (my fathers was a Mach 1 428 CJ but I couldn't find a kit!). Also one of my favorite real cars ever made!









Kind of cool to get a scale model thread going! Lets see some other cars!!

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

MODS..... MODS......, DELETE THE FORD!!!!!

j/k good looking kit.

Hawk312

Love those Mustangs. Besides the Shelby GT 350`s, the `69 and `70 are my favorite. Nice color too. Is that Grabber Blue?

whitedevilTA

iTrader: (8)

Yes sir, grabber blue. My fathers was grabber blue with the white vinyl interior so I tried to duplicate it as close as I could. I really need to get back into building model cars...much cheaper than the real thing! I actually took a stroll into the hobby shop the other day since the owner is a good freind of mine and a fellow car guy with a fox body mustang himself. I was looking at all the new car kits and actually saw that yellow formula model and it just really got me wanting to get back into the hobby! How was the quality on that kit? Did it go together nicely or did you have to do some cutting and scraping?

Hawk312

The quality was actually pretty decent. No real major modifications needed, and it went together alot better than the GTA. The only problem I had was with the front and rear bumper, which needed a little sanding to get to fit right.

bloodyjaws

And you need to take an emery board to the rear window to get it even with the body. It's a great looking kit. I need to get 1 or 2 or 10 more.
Jaws

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

Just like our real cars didnt fit right lol. GM must have designed the models.

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

I want to get a 91 or 92 GTA hardtop model.

2rgeir

Just saw this thread, and I had to run to check in the basement and attic, but was not successful in my search.... I was looking for a kit like this I had when I was a kid. Just ended up messed up I remember, so just as well that I couldn't find any leftovers. Believe it was similar to that green GTA, but not sure if it was a t-top. Quite sure it was molded in light gray though. I remember painting it black. Know for sure it had a choice of wheels, the GTA's and another set. Two different hoods, and the two different rear wings and different side skirts. Can't remember for sure if it had a choice of both front ends, but it probably did....

GreekItalianMan

Sorry to post in an old thread, but do you guys know if and how i can get a custom model ordered of my car. Not together( i want to build it).

Hawk312

What do you mean by a custom kit? Do you mean one that is already painted the same color as yours? Or a complete mold identical to your car?

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Try Ebay. Usually you can find the basic body style pretty easily. Not all of the kits are all that accurate... Like my 91 Formula kit has the 1982 dash and exhaust.

91ls1t56

Way cool, I used to build lots of models until I could build the real thing. I've got about 125 of them still in the wrappers and I haven't bought one in 10 years.

GreekItalianMan

I want one identical to my car, custom ordered. Do you know how i can do this? It's impossible to find the decal combination and color for my car year. Even if i mix and match there's a 5.0 FI sticker i have on each side under the "brake" vents near the front wheel well that i can't find. Pluis i have louvers and want them added on the model. I couldn't even find the 85 monogram trans am kit or 87 on ebay. They don't seem to exist anymore.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Multiple kits to build 1 complete model. Not sure I have ever built a model using less than 3 or more kits. Might have to buy a kit just to get the correct decals, another kit to get the correct hood. And good luck on finding the louvers anywhere. A complete, 1-off custom kit would cost you thousands & thousands of dollars for measuring the real car, molding the parts etc., IF you could even find a company that would do it.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Some times you have to do it yourself. You can make your own decals, you can modify parts, you can fabricate your own parts, etc. Chances of finding a company to model your exact car are probably somewhere between zero and none.

navy02ws6

Ditto....stupid 50% off sales. Used to build about one a week, but spare time is not as plentiful now that I work full time.

GreekItalianMan

Ah, that's what i wanted to know. Where can i find the kits , because ebay doesn't seem to have the monogram ones anymore?

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Seriously? Are you looking for a specific kit? Because if you're just looking for the right body style, I have to wonder if you even looked at ebay... I searched "firebird model" and found enough 85-90 Trans Am models that I didn't even get to the end of the list. You might have to buy more then one kit to get the body, wheels, engine, seats, that your car has, but that's what you deal with when you model a specific car.

Item number: 120506426905
Item number: 390359372714
Item number: 360399365171
Item number: 260878904284
Item number: 380379739018
Item number: 360399365149

GreekItalianMan

I read that the monogram and revell ones were the best so i only looked for those. I found the used monogram that was missing pieces. Didn't want that. But the other ones you showed me are good. Thanks, I will purchase a few of em.

Hawk312

Drew,
He said he was looking for the `85 or `87 kit from above. I am only seeing 1 `85 on Ebay here, but it`s not a complete kit:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONOGRAM-1-2...#ht_804wt_1396

GreekItalianMan

Yes, but if this is going to be costly to buy so many kits to make one car, i might as well custom order mine and save me the trouble of buying 3-6 kits. But that's only if it's cheaper

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Yeah, I didn't bother to actually read the auctions, I'm not shopping for kits. The point I was making is there are plenty of decent starting points currently available on Ebay. If a person wants something specific and doesn't like the current inventory, just wait a week and check again. "Rare" stuff isn't rare anymore thanks to Ebay, you just have to be patient and try different search strings.

To the best of my knowledge, no one makes completely custom kits. It would be so far from financially viable that it's not even logical anyone would offer a service like that. What I have seen and heard of is companies making limited runs of custom parts to turn an existing kit into something else. But even then those parts are more expensive then the base kit. What most modellers would do, is pick the kit that's closest to the subject being modeled. Then modify the kit as needed, with fabricated parts, or parts borrowed from other kits, etc.

GreekItalianMan

Oh, I see. I will do that then, How would i get the firebird decal and other decals fabricated?

Drew

iTrader: (58)

You're not going to like my answer... But I'd get a few of the real decals for the full size car, scan them into the computer, shrink them with Photoshop, and print them onto inkjet decal paper.

GreekItalianMan

Damn, there's got to be another way. Can't i take a picture of the decal, resize it, and put it on that decal paper?

g00d$p33d

is there a spoiler like what is on that first modle that will fit my 82 camaro...my real one lol

GreekItalianMan

Well, there's a fiberglass one, and they have the rubber ones that crack etc, i have the stock vinyl spoiler but they are hard to find, plus they split easy in the cold.