Joe Handley Posted January 4, 2024 Share Posted January 4, 2024 (edited) Well, I picked up one of those Monogram Widebody Firebird Street Machines at Ollie’s and decided I really needed to do something different with it, so I dug out one of the Revell 2013 ZL1 Camaro kits to kitbash the two. Turns out they’re pretty close and if I cut out the engine bay from the Firebird body, I should be able to fit the ZL1 Camaro chassis and interior under it! I posted these pics on Reddit’s R/ModelCars and the first response was as follows. “Why Tho?” To which I responded “Why Not?!” the reply to that was “Fair” ? Edited January 4, 2024 by Joe Handley 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 4, 2024 Share Posted January 4, 2024 Well ya know I'll sure be watching Joe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 4, 2024 Author Share Posted January 4, 2024 38 minutes ago, TransAmMike said: Well ya know I'll sure be watching Joe? Thanks, planning on going up to chop things up after dinner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsuperdan Posted January 4, 2024 Share Posted January 4, 2024 This could be VERY cool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 4, 2024 Author Share Posted January 4, 2024 25 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said: This could be VERY cool. It should at least be very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 4, 2024 Author Share Posted January 4, 2024 Got started on the cutting, engine bay is out but……. there are issues that can be resolved by cutting up the interior tub for the Firebird, but my rechargeable Dremel kept stalling and needed a charge, so being 11pm, I decided I needed to as well and will try and pick up again after work tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 5, 2024 Author Share Posted January 5, 2024 (edited) Had to use the factory interior tub with a few clearance mods in the rear footwell, May cut the back seats out, but it’s still to early in the build to decide right now. That said, here’s the mock up of the car with the ZL1 kit’s rolling stock. I’m going to need to play with the wheels openings since the the 5th Gen kit’s wheelbase appears to be a little longer than the 2nd Gen kit’s body. The engine bay will require some work and filling between the engine and firewall. Edited January 5, 2024 by Joe Handley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 5, 2024 Author Share Posted January 5, 2024 Got a little more work done, glued the engine and seats from the ZL1 together then opened the forward fender vents on either side of the bumper, may try to open the grills and rework the headlight openings away from that split design as I’ve never really liked that design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stitchdup Posted January 5, 2024 Share Posted January 5, 2024 cool project. with the front wheels you might be abe to get away with making the upper suspension mounts an oval shape which should pull the top of the wheels back a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 5, 2024 Author Share Posted January 5, 2024 6 hours ago, stitchdup said: cool project. with the front wheels you might be abe to get away with making the upper suspension mounts an oval shape which should pull the top of the wheels back a bit. Thanks! Unfortunately can’t fudge the wheel placement on the chassis as easily as reworking the openings in the body with how the front suspension is designed, it’s kinda spindly and I’m hoping not to hurt it just handling it as I build the car. Thanks for the suggestion though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 6, 2024 Author Share Posted January 6, 2024 Started looking at hood scoops, hacked up the hoods from both hoods and digging the results so far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan Dan Posted January 6, 2024 Share Posted January 6, 2024 Nice looking unique scoop. Clever detail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 6, 2024 Author Share Posted January 6, 2024 Ok, spent a few hours on this tonight after work and dinner. Got the hoods cut up and set so I just need to strip the paint off the Camaro cowl induction before cementing it to the Firebird hood. Also opened the lower grill openings since the detail there was lacking and am planning on something completely different for headlights. As you can see, I will need to work out something for a front spoiler too. That said, I am surprised how well the ZL1 bulge works on this car though! I also have the body sitting pretty level on the chassis, but nay be looking for different rolling stock as the ZL1 wheels and tires just seem too big for it. it seems to sit a scale mile off the desk top, not sure if zi want to go to the Pegasus big and little tires on this or see if there is a stagger sized turbine style tuner wheel that would give the vibe of the original Travolta Fever issue and 1/1 car as well as it’s sibling from the Steve Martin movie, The Jerk. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWT Posted January 6, 2024 Share Posted January 6, 2024 digging the looks of this 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 6, 2024 Author Share Posted January 6, 2024 3 hours ago, KWT said: digging the looks of this Thanks, I bought it on a whim for cheap at Ollie’s and did not expect to to snowball like this so quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott8950 Posted January 7, 2024 Share Posted January 7, 2024 Nice job. The scoop looks awesome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 7, 2024 Author Share Posted January 7, 2024 18 minutes ago, Scott8950 said: Nice job. The scoop looks awesome. Thanks, I’m still surprised at how well it worked once I got things chopped up enough! I wanted something that would be better from a driver’s perspective since the box stock piece looked like it would inhibit solo driving, especially on a twisty road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 8, 2024 Author Share Posted January 8, 2024 I’m now a bit under the weather, so I’m not going to play with them tonight, but I picked up a couple sets of the Pegasus CL wheels, one set is the 19” and the other is 23”. I figure they’re still pretty period correct appearing for when the Travolta Fever car and kit as well is sibling that was in “The Jerk” where built while still being a more modern size. Don’t have any pics, but here’s a like to the Big and Little set that I now have 2 of. https://pegasushobbies.wpcomstaging.com/product/big-little-cls-chrome-rims-with-tires/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milo1303s Posted January 9, 2024 Share Posted January 9, 2024 Here's what ya need !! can be found on the ebay . not my pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 9, 2024 Author Share Posted January 9, 2024 1 hour ago, milo1303s said: Here's what ya need !! can be found on the ebay . not my pic Thanks, but those are a bit too big, plus too “stock” looking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 10, 2024 Author Share Posted January 10, 2024 I’m liking the looks of the Pegasus Centerline style wheels on this, just need to work on their fitment then adjusting the wheel openings for the different wheelbase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 10, 2024 Author Share Posted January 10, 2024 Only got them fit, but they work and I can move onto the openings next time I work on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted January 10, 2024 Share Posted January 10, 2024 Looking good Joe! Your making look good with those wheels.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 11, 2024 Author Share Posted January 11, 2024 8 hours ago, slusher said: Looking good Joe! Your making look good with those wheels.. Thanks, may end up with plenty of time to work on it Friday is we get the major snow that is expected. My boss does not like driving in that kind of weather and will help keep up from having to as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted January 12, 2024 Author Share Posted January 12, 2024 Ok, I did a bunch of light sanding as well as a little flash and panel line clean up on it tonight, won’t be working Friday and May have time to do more work then, but I do have a question! Should I strip the paint off the ZL1 hood bulge, or is what I done here going to be good enough before I bond this to the remainder of the Firebird hood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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