8th scale Pontiac.

I couldn’t resist a test of these Halibrand wheels.

It looks quite big next to your organ there. Tell me, how detailed is the provided engine in such a large scale? I would expect it would be quite ready for loads of detail but my experience with larger scales has disappointed. I'm also a tight git and would blanch at the amount of paint needed to cover it.

Hi, yep, this model will end up being about 2ft long, once nose and bumpers are added - so quite a size.
…..but yes, size doesn’t always mean quality, in fact it is similar to the 1/8th.’65 Corvettes that I have and lacks a lot in terms of fit and detail parts. It’s as if they have simply enlarged an old 1/25th scale model.
Unlike the 1/8th.hot rod kits there are no vinyl /rubber hoses and ignition wires, no options, even the moulded exhausts and certain rounded parts are hollow to the rear - half a part, if you will. I certainly could build this kit without the instructions.
Although I did say I wouldn’t be building this kit soon, I was tempted, and have already started to trim up the body of flash, glued in the roof panels ready for sanding and filling, and built the engine up in stages ready for paint.
It will certainly need a lot of extra detail to be up to my usual standards, such as sanding off the moulded hoses in the engine compartment to replace them with tubing - but currently my ability to move about as I once did will hinder progress.
However, I did find a UK class for racing these cars on the Classic Sports Car Club website - and that is the ‘Future Classics’ series, for cars of all sizes from the 1970/80’s, so it might end up in racing colours.

Oh yeah! I have this on the shelf as well. I have heard that the hood is slightly warped on this one, and mine is no difference. Looking forward to seeing your take on it.

Yep the hood is I believe a problem with most, as it has very little support underneath to give it any rigidity.
Mine will need heat to give it some curve as it is a little flat and in no way will it sit correctly in place.

A little heat, and maybe a little under hood construction to keep it that way?

Meanwhile…..in the bodyshop - after the first skim of filler.
My plans are not to stick to the Trans Am Firebird T top formula - deleting the $650 option, and creating a tintop Firebird race car. Making it a competition car means I can take liberties with changes and details, and it stops the purists trying to find faults in the build.

Looking good.

After mowing my lawns - which now takes me two days, when it once took two hours, i espied a spade in my shed with a gently curved blade which might make a good former to heat my bonnet/hood over.
The question is, when I get around to shaping the hood, will I remember this useful hack ?

The Tin-top T/A moves on : Second skim of filler added and sanded roughly - and a quick guide coat of paint which will be lightly sanded to show the high and low spots - and where the next lot of filler is going. 🥴

Whatever happened to "Anyways, I may not be building this car any time soon".

I have been toying with the idea of turning mine into one of the cars from Rockford Files.

I do know that an aftermarket company makes a much better rendition of the screaming chicken as well as the rest of the decals, just for this kit.

Jim Rockford briefly had the facelift twin square headlight version Ron, I preferred the original, but I think this has the original tail lights but what do I know, was MIA in Coventry.

Nice start




https://www.google.com/search?q=Jim+Rockford+pontiac+Firebirds+vids&rlz=1C1GCEA_enIE1096IE1096&oq=Jim+Rockford+pontiac+Firebirds+vids&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAHSAQkyODU4MWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d1185c45,vid:R_el2PwnqjE,st:0

Well Sam, I had no intention of starting the kit, but it never travelled up to my loft work room, and sat on my desk looking at me each day……I just couldn’t help myself !
I briefly looked at making the car into a cheaper model, but altering the nose and bumpers was going to be a big enough job without having to loose the add-on wheel flares and rear spoiler - that I decided against it.
The Decals? Being an awkward sod, I had no plans of using them in the build - and actually put the Revell sheet on ebay for £20, and it sold within the hour….gone !

Hi Shay, yep I recall Jim Rockfords tidy looking Gold Firebird Esprit, but don’t recall the later ugly ‘79 version. I heard somewhere that the car with the 1977 look, was just the old car with a new nosejob, thus the same Esprit trim, wheels, etc.,as the old one, and they both carry the same licence plate.

After doing a little research - if the Rockford’s early car was transformed, it would need a hood too - maybe it was given a make over, but it might have only been used for stunt scenes. However, photos of the two cars appear to be different shades of gold in most photos I have found….which kinda sinks the theory of ‘just a nose-job’.
I’m presuming that Pontiac furnished the cars for the show, and highlighting their latest model wouldn’t be a great cost to them to replace the cars.
I can only find one photo relating to the ‘79 Firebird - that of a presumed Formula model with snowflake wheels.

Even with much more options in 1/25 scale, I seem to rember it's difficult to re-create the big block Rockford Esprit Ron.

Or am I tempting you....lol

I’m making this build easier than most Shay….it’ll come almost out of the box, with a bit more detailing, and a dash of boy racer ,

Just like working on real cars, bodywork is a case of filling, sanding, filling, sanding, using smoother and smoother wet and dry papers - then adding more filler. Like real cars I use car filler on my models, but Stopper, meant for pin holes is a little too soft even at this scale. Not finished yet.
I’ve started to add more plastic strip around the inside of the pillars to give the body more thickness and rigidity - and filled some of the ‘half-round’ exhaust system which I’m keeping for a change.
I’ve also set up a bench and trestles in my garage to build the Firebird, now that I have room….since my Golf has gone, and it keeps the dust at bay.

I'm really starting to dig the solid roof. Yes, Pontiac provided the cars for the show. The last one was a 1978, which stayed the same even though the series ended in 1979. It was actually a formula 400 package that was made to look like an esprit. If one is paying attention when watching the show, you will notice a fancier interior with power windows.
...and yes, it would take a lot of grinding to replicate the Rockford car.

Hi folks,
I’m slowly modifying the engine bay of the Firebird - sanded off the moulded in hoses on the inner wheel arches, removed the moulded in liquid bottles and the complete heater/air con system too - including deletion of the pulley/belt and pump on the engine.

I have been considering buying a resin 1977 ‘Bandit’ conversion kit, produced by Cameron’s Modelworx in Nevada, but at $100 plus postage and import tax, it’ll actually cost more than the kit in the first place. They have a European contact, but as that is in the Ukraine, there is little difference in cost, but their versions need trimming and come 3D printed in clear.
As this kit is going to be a race car, then I can be a bit creative with my scratch-building and if it doesn’t look accurate, I’m putting the result down to ‘racing incident’ quick repairs. That will about cover it, and a saving of over 100 bucks !

Tempting, but not necessary for an old road racer. Now if you could find a set of Minilites, that would be awesome.

I’ve been searching for suitable wheels - got a set of minilites for the 1/12th Camaro that I built, but can’t find anything in 1/8th, as usual.
A nice set of painted wide steels would be nice - so might have a go at banding some from what remains in my parts boxes.

I might know where a set is.

Not much in the way of real progress on the Pontiac - to think, a couple of years ago I would have this kit finished in a few weeks
The engine has received a few added details and its first coat of paint - and the engine bay is process of detail, particularly a firewall. It’s not quite accurate, but better than a flat sheet of plastic that was there previously. I’ve also started to box in the hollow chassis rails and I’m somewhere near to adding a radiator which wasn’t in the kit too.
Wheels ?
My son mentioned he had some RC alloy wheels that might do, and brought them over. They are in fact real alloy! Not quite what I had in mind, but they fit the tyres that come with the kit, albeit 1/10th scale, and have the old chunky look, and not later low profiles.
I feel obliged to use them because my son showed interest in the model, but I think they will make a nice change, and would be different. I’m warming to them - but do I paint them or leave them REAL alloy ?
….and I’ve started to alter the nose cone ! Ahhhh!

Beings that this is a road race car, you could have done a heater delete.

Nice work Ron.

On the wheels, if it were me, I'd go with an 'anodized look'. Something on the lines of the Ferrari 312b.

Colour subject to your chosen body colour of course.