77-78 Pontiac Skybird

[Modlbldr]

A friend wants me to build a 1/16 scale replica of one of these. He says that he has the kit. All that I have been able to find in 1/16 is a 79. Anybody know of a 77-78 in 1/16? Also, I found some reference photos of a nice 1:1. www.pontiacpower.net/spotlight0802.html

Anyone have any other detail shots? I plan to try to contact Keith Marks about doing decals for it.

Later-

[highway]

Tom, I think the closest you would find a 77/78 Trans Am would be a 1/18 scale diecast. I checked here:

http://www.firebirdgallery.com/modslot05.htm

and did not see anything larger than 1:24 and 1:25 scale kits for the 77 and 78. If your friend is saying he has the kit, I would almost bet that it is the 1:16 scale 79 Ten Anniversary Trans Am from AMT/MPC. Other than the 1:8 scale 79-81 Trans AMs Monogram released and a 1987 1:16 scale Trans AM Revell released, that is the only 1:16 scale Gen 2 Trans Am kit I'm aware of.

[crispy]

Highway is right, no 1/16 or larger of the 77/78 Trans Am. The Esprit Sky bird edition was through 78, but replaced by the red bird mid way through.

The 79 version of the car would be the red bird version. Not saying you couldn't build a sky version, just that there wasn't one in 79.

Chris

[Nick Winter]

too my knoldege and what I've seen the Yellowbird ran from '77-'79 and the Redbird was a '78 only car where as the Skybird was a '77-'78 car, I could be wrong but pictures don't lie.

[Casey]

The best source for Sky/Red/Yellowbird info: http://www.firebirdtransamparts.com/redsky/ladybirds.htm

The 1/16 MPC kits were '79-'80 Trans Ams, and they were not great kits anyway, so you'd be best off buidling a 1/24 scale version using the Monogram (now Revell) kit.

[crispy]

I'm going to go so far as to say I'm not an expert. However, having owned nothing but 2nd gen Trans Am/Firebird's for 20 plus years I feel I have some knowledge on the subject.

Sure I could look all over the internet, but I'll utilize my sources here at home in my plethora of Library like material from POCI and others.

1977: Firebird Esprit with "Skybird" option W60

1978: Firebird Esprit with "Skybird" option W60, Mid Year 1978 "Red Bird" option W68

1979: Firebird Esprit with "Red Bird" option W68

1980: Firebird Esprit with "Yellow BIrd" option W73

The End.

Chris

[Modlbldr]

Well, they were a version that I wasn't aware of. And interesting, at that.

As for the kit that my friend has. He says that he's not sure what it is, but that it is larger than 1/24 and smaller than 1/12. He also decided that He is going to do the build. I suggested that he scrap the kit he has and get a 1/24 or 1/25. He says that it may come to that. Either way, I'm off of the hook. If I could convince someone to make the decals I'd do one in 1/24 or 1/25 for myself.

Later-