59 Impala Posted January 3, 2017 Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) I've started another "Tin Indian" and it's the 70 Firebird. This kit is actually a 72 but I'm back dating it to a 70. I had to acquire some parts for this car and now it's on it's way. Here are three pics and I'll post more. I hope ya like it and thanks fer lookin. Dan Edited January 28, 2017 by 59 Impala resize pictures
59 Impala Posted January 3, 2017 Author Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Here are some more pics. I sprayed the white on and let it dry a few days and today I masked it off and sprayed the Sapphire Blue. Now this will set for a few more days and I'll install the decals. Thanks fer lookin. Dan Edited January 28, 2017 by 59 Impala
59 Impala Posted January 3, 2017 Author Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks Dan. After a few days I'll put the decals on. I have a little work to do on the interior and engine/chassis, then I hope it will be done. Dan
espo Posted January 3, 2017 Posted January 3, 2017 Nice smooth body. Can you share a little bit about the Ram Air hood ? You said you were back datng and from the picture it looks like you might of used a later hood and then created the hood scoops.
59 Impala Posted January 3, 2017 Author Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks David, the hood was what came with it. The front part of the hood had two pieces that were separate and I had to glue them and fill the seams. The kit is one of the Formula Firebird. The only difference between the 70 and 72 is I think the grills. What I'm doing is using some wire mesh instead of the part that fits in the opening for the grill. I hope this makes since.
mustang1989 Posted January 3, 2017 Posted January 3, 2017 Nice paintwork on this Dan! Almost any Firebird build gets my full attention. You'd think I'd have at least one Firebird in my stash by now.
59 Impala Posted January 3, 2017 Author Posted January 3, 2017 Thanks Joe for the kind words. I'm working on the interior and chassis and in a few days I'll put the decals on it. Dan
59 Impala Posted January 4, 2017 Author Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Here are a couple of mock up pics of what she'll look like when finished. Thanks fer lookin. Dan Edited January 28, 2017 by 59 Impala
gtx6970 Posted January 4, 2017 Posted January 4, 2017 Gotta ask, who is doing the decals for this car.? I want to do the Knafel 70 GTO myself
59 Impala Posted January 4, 2017 Author Posted January 4, 2017 To tell you the truth Bill, I don't know. It's been so long ago that I got them and there's no information on the back of the decal. I also want to do the 70 GTO. I have the kit and need the decals for that car. I have a friend who has an Alps printer and he is supposed to be working on making the decals for the GTO for me. I have built 9 different cars that were run as "Tin Indians". Starting with the 62 Catalina that was Anderson Pontiac's car but Bill Knafel ran the business and it finally became Knafel Pontiac. I built the 66 Champion car (GTO) and it was in Scale Auto Contest issue a couple years ago. Thanks Dennis. You have the same name as one of my cousins in W.VA. Dan
Snake45 Posted January 4, 2017 Posted January 4, 2017 Very, very nice! Very clean work! What paint is that blue? It's close to a shade I need for a project.
AC Norton Posted January 4, 2017 Posted January 4, 2017 .......I built the same MPC ' bird as this car back about 20 years ago in the same paint scheme. the interesting aspect of it all is that the 70 GTO of Knafel fame was painted in this white/ blue paint scheme, but the 70 Firebird was actually a wild, multi colored custom paint job from any photo I researched back in the day. I also recall that it was a 4 speed car, with the 400 Ram Air engine, and it raced in AHRA competition in a class designated GT-2.......about all I can recall without digging thru pile's of paper that I would have to find. regardless, I loved mine and this build look's great and I'm looking forward to seeing it done....good choice of a very neat build......the Ace...., oh, I also recall the car sat on Keystone Classic wheel's, and Firestone Drag 500 rubber...
59 Impala Posted January 5, 2017 Author Posted January 5, 2017 (edited) Thanks guys and that's some very interesting information ACE. I'm from Akron originally and remember some of these cars. I saw the same pics of the 70 Firebird you're talking about and I don't think it's possible for me to duplicate that paint scheme. LOL. That's why I chose this one. The only picture I found of this is the one of the kit and it's the blue and white scheme. I know it's wrong but it's the only one that I can do. One things for sure and that is, you can't find enough pictures of the different cars that Knafel ran back then. I also built a 2004 GTO as if Knafel was still in business and was running them in 2004. I kinda used the 66 champion cars paint theme with the outline letters with the red outline instead of the black. Very interesting stuff for sure. Snake, the Blue is Testors Sapphire Blue. I sprayed it over flat black. DanP.S. I'd love to build the 67 Canadian Pontiac (Nova) only if I could get the Pontiac parts to convert the AMT kit to Canadian. Edited January 5, 2017 by 59 Impala
AC Norton Posted January 5, 2017 Posted January 5, 2017 Thanks guys and that's some very interesting information ACE. I'm from Akron originally and remember some of these cars. I saw the same pics of the 70 Firebird you're talking about and I don't think it's possible for me to duplicate that paint scheme. LOL. That's why I chose this one. The only picture I found of this is the one of the kit and it's the blue and white scheme. I know it's wrong but it's the only one that I can do. One things for sure and that is, you can't find enough pictures of the different cars that Knafel ran back then. I also built a 2004 GTO as if Knafel was still in business and was running them in 2004. I kinda used the 66 champion cars paint theme with the outline letters with the red outline instead of the black. Very interesting stuff for sure. Snake, the Blue is Testors Sapphire Blue. I sprayed it over flat black. Dan P.S. I'd love to build the 67 Canadian Pontiac (Nova) only if I could get the Pontiac parts to convert the AMT kit to Canadian. Dan, that's the reason I went with the box art blue/white colors way back when I built mine, the custom paint would have been very tough to duplicate. either way, it's going to be a very nice build for you. the only photo's I have seen of that car was a poor black and white pic that was actually sent to me from Knafel in the mid 90s, and, there was a set of early 70s bubble gum card's that included a rare color pic of the car in action. when I spoke to Mr. Knafel back then, he mentioned some of the detail's about that car of theirs, and that for class reason's, they went to AHRA event's where the rule's were different and a bit more lax than NHRA rule's. the only small detail's that may help are,,,,your plug wire's should be yellow, as ACCEL equipment was on the engine, Lakewood trac bars, also yellow in color, tach on dashboard, black interior, and Keystone wheel's, with flat black paint accent around the side of the spoke's, and around the lug center's to replicate them as Keystone Classic's....hope any of this may help....the Ace...
59 Impala Posted January 5, 2017 Author Posted January 5, 2017 Thanks Dan. I have to paint the interior and start putting this back together. Dan.
59 Impala Posted January 12, 2017 Author Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) I added some mesh to the grill to replicate the 70 grill. I also got a little more done and here is what she looks like so far. Soon I'll be putting on the decals and finishing 'er up. Thanks fer lookin. Dan Edited January 28, 2017 by 59 Impala
59 Impala Posted January 28, 2017 Author Posted January 28, 2017 She's almost finished. I have a little painting to do for the side marker lights and then finish assembling it. Thanks fer lookin. Dan
59 Impala Posted January 29, 2017 Author Posted January 29, 2017 Thanks guys for the kind words. It didn't turn out too bad for a glue bomb I guess. It's not perfect, but it's a "Tin Indian". LOL I have built 8 different "Tin Indians" now and I have two more to build, a 68 and a 70 GTO. I need to find some more decals for the 70. I have a set for the 68. I built the Monogram 68 but, I don't like that kit and I'm looking for a MPC kit to build. One of these days I'll find one and not costing an arm and leg. LOL. Dan
Dann Tier Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 VERY SWEET!!!!! -nice to see the "formula" hood again as well!!!
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