'87 Thunderbird turbo coupe

[JollySipper]

Hey, Guys.... I got this kit as a gift, and in usual modeler fashion I had to open it and get started. It's a really good kit, it is molded in red, though.... I think there was a version molded in silver, too.

So far, I've taken care of the oil pan's seam and started on the seats, filling the seams with one-part Bondo filler smeared on with my finger....

I'm pretty much going box stock. The only qualm I have with the kit is the glass is all one piece.

Wish me luck, and please feel free to follow and/or comment!

[iamsuperdan]

Watching.

I have this kit in the stash, and have been considering moving it up the queue.

[kelson]

Can't remember the last time I've seen one of these built,if I remember correctly the ride height needs to be lowered a bit.

[Dave Van]

It's a often over looked kit. The only issue I had was between the air filter housing and hood....watch it. 

My box stock build with kit shirts.   PS the raised area on the hood scoops should be sanded down....did not know when I built mine!

[1972coronet]

A truly "breakthrough" kit upon its release (late 1986) . I've built countless examples , none survive (thanks mostly to the 1987 Whittier Earthquake) . @tim boyd did a buildup-review of this kit in SAE upon its release ; it was that review that decided me upon buying this great kit !

It's funny in retrospect to recognise that this kit , in its later iterations , was marketed under the Basic Builder banner ! It was one of the most-detailed kits from Monogram --or anyone-- at that time !

( P.S. : I never had a problem with the notorious "bleed-through" with any of the original releases that I built ---- including a white-painted example !) 

[mustang1989]

I forgot about these awesome little cars. I'll be following this thread. 

[JollySipper]

Thanks for the interest.... these cars were definitely game changers in the '80s!

18 hours ago, Dave Van said:

.did not know when I built mine!

I think that the hood has a more 'muscle car' look to it with the raised nostrils, so I might not sand mine either....

[JollySipper]

Some progress.... got the exhaust and the basis of the engine painted....

also detailed the tail lights and had to make some tabs to help mount the rear bumper

On the box art, the engine is blue and the engine bay is blacked out.... all the references I've seen show the engine as black and the bay is body color. That's how I plan to do this one. Still need to strip the chrome from the timing cover and rocker cover......

Thanks for looking, and Happy New Year, Guys.....

[1972coronet]

I thought that Ford engines were painted grey from 1983 model year until ______________ ?  In my 50 years , I can't recall seeing a Fo-Mo-Co engine painted black from the factory during this time  ( 80's ) . But , in the end , it's  your kit to build as you see fit . Enjoy ! ?

Edited January 1, 2020 by 1972coronet

[JollySipper]

If it should be gray, I'd like to paint it that color..... I wasn't really sure, this is the only bare engine pic that I could find.

I do want this one to be correct, tho......

[espo]

These have a great independent rear suspension also. The glass issue might be solved by cutting the windshield and rear window apart and then installing them independent of each othere. 

[MarvinGardens]

Espo, these cars didn't have the IRS, that was the MN12 (89-97) Thunderbirds.

Block could be either Corporate Gray or Black, depending on which critter it was dropped into. ThunderChicken Turbos got the Corporate Gray block. With that said, my '88 TurboPoop had a Black block..........

Edited January 2, 2020 by MarvinGardens

[espo]

7 minutes ago, MarvinGardens said:

Espo, these cars didn't have the IRS, that was the MN12 (89-97) Thunderbirds.

Block could be either Corporate Gray or Black, depending on which critter it was dropped into. ThunderChicken Turbos got the Corporate Gray block. With that said, my '88 TurboPoop had a Black block..........

I may have been mistaken on the Thunderbird Differential. I had a Cougar version that I parted out and just assumed they would be the same. 

[JollySipper]

Anyways, I decided that since I had the block black I would dress up the engine some.... I'll have pics this evening!

 

[JollySipper]

Here's what parts of the engine that goes to the chassis.... the upper parts go in after the body and chassis are together.

 

Edited January 2, 2020 by JollySipper

[mustang1989]

Lookin' good so far Tim. The black does seem to bring out a lot of the peripheral parts/ detail of that engine. Good progress so far.

[bisc63]

Nice work here.

[mrmike]

I rebuilt this kit recently and I replaced the turbo 4-banger with a Boss 429 from the Revell '70 Boss 429 Mustang.

[JollySipper]

Thanks for the kind words and interest, guys..... Mr. Mike, your build looks really good, man!

Some more progress today.... I'm detail painting this one like if I had a real one, what I would change on a 1:1... aluminum radiator and aftermarket rack & pinion....

also got the turbo and intercooler parts painted up....

I really like these cars, and it's making this kit that much more enjoyable.....

[JollySipper]

Started on the interior parts..... I'm using vinyl dye over DupliColor primer. The dash trim is an off-gray mixed from craft paints..... the seats are painted to look like cloth inserts but it's not showing in the pic....

Thanks for looking.....

[jefropas]

I always loved that car, however, it was built for the 5.0, I can't believe it never made it under the hood....

Jeff

[JollySipper]

Hey, Jeff... they DID come with the Mustang roller engine, some of them. I believe they called the V8 'Birds an LX... the engine in this car is the same one that came in the Pinto (?!)....

The TurboCoupe was Motor Trend's "Car of the Year' in 1987... When the Turbo Coupe debuted in '83, they took one to Laguna Seca for some "comparison driving" (racing... ) against a contemporary BMW. The Bimmer gave all it had, and was barely able to keep up....

Can't remember where I read that, if I find it again I'll post a link to the article....

[1930fordpickup]

2 hours ago, jefropas said:

I always loved that car, however, it was built for the 5.0, I can't believe it never made it under the hood....

Jeff

They did but had a different front header and head lights. 

[Dennis Lacy]

3 hours ago, JollySipper said:

Hey, Jeff... they DID come with the Mustang roller engine, some of them. I believe they called the V8 'Birds an LX... the engine in this car is the same one that came in the Pinto (?!)....

The TurboCoupe was Motor Trend's "Car of the Year' in 1987... When the Turbo Coupe debuted in '83, they took one to Laguna Seca for some "comparison driving" (racing... ) against a contemporary BMW. The Bimmer gave all it had, and was barely able to keep up....

Can't remember where I read that, if I find it again I'll post a link to the article....

The Fox platform T-Bird actually never had the roller cam H.O. engine. They did come with a low performance 5.0 V8 with the Mustang style fuel injection.

Edited January 5, 2020 by Dennis Lacy

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi!

I had an 85 Turbo Coupe. Great car, if a bit on the choppy side suspension wise. But the 2.3 turbo pulled as well as the V8 garden variety Mustangs of the day.

Then, I traded for an 87 Merkur XR4Ti: Wow: same punch, lighter car, and IRS! Loved it so much, I had 3 of those in a row, and bought back the first one from a friend who got my trade from the dealer a few years before. They lacked rear disc brakes, however. Nostalgia.

Keep on your great build. Here's the Iaconio 85 Tbird Pro-Stock with the Monogram platform/interior and grafted quarter panels to transform it into a "street car". Boss 429 thrown in, for good measure...

CT