1989 Pontiac Firebird (red) for a friend - wip

Christian W
Will be based on this kit: Firebird GTA (MPC/Ertl 6209, 1:25)

Christian W
Except the fender vents and PMD seat it will be right out of the box.

Christian W
I'm now using Firebird (MPC 1-0733, 1:25)
Because it has it's fender vents already and it was planned to be a red Trans Am years ago.

Christian W
Dine with the engine and chassis. Next will be fitting the ground effects onto the body

István Szücs
I'm watching! This is the best shape of the Firebird, I think.

Christian W
Thank you. I like this ground effects. They look good. On the other hand, i like the bumpers with that black rubber inserts too. Sadly, this kind of bumper does not exist in any kit. I'm going to build one sometimes. I have to. For myself.

Starbase101
Where did you get the PMD seat on the righthand side of photo 2? It looks nice.

István Szücs
Did you use white primer? It doesn't seen clearly.

Christian W
@Starbase101... The PMD seats are the seats out of a KITT kit by the ERTL group.

@Istvan ... My primer is beige 😉

Christian W
So. The first layer of clear coat is done. Sweet. Have to deliver pictures. My battery went down so see you tomorrow 😉

Christian W
I was not satisfied with the color of the interior. Changed it a little. Now it looks like tan.

Starbase101
When do the front oscillating red lights go in? 😄

Christian W
I don't know, what you mean *lol* 😉

István Szücs
The interior looks good! How will you paint the details?

Christian W
Thank you. I guess by hand. It's to time consuming to tape all for two different grey shapes. That ist to much work for me (remember, I have two on the workbench).
I think by hand will work the same way. If I fail, I can rethink my decision 🙂

Dominik Weitzer
good start, looks good so far 😉

Christian W
Interior done.

Christian W
Bad news. After a second layer of clear coat (weeks ago), I saw some flaws in the passengers door. After thinking about the next step or how I fix it over and over again, I decided to get the paint ripped of. Two days ago, I layed the body into the "bath". Yesterday was no reaction to the red color. The clear coat seams to peal of but nothing more. Also handling the body with a brush leads to no result. Hopefully, the color wents of and I can use the body again. If not, I'm in real trouble - I don't have such a body in reserve :/

István Szücs
Christian, I hope, you can continue the work!

Christian W
I have to. It sucks but there will be a solution. Somehow. This evening I'll take the candidate out of its bath and take a look at the result. Curious I am 🙂

Dominik Weitzer
interior looks much better in this color.
sad to hear the pain with the body....perhaps, give it to me to try to get the paint removed 😉

Christian W
Thanks.
@Dominik ... I'll keep that in mind for the upcoming weekend.

@problem ... I peeked into the container and rubbed a little with the brush. It looks like the paint disappears slowly but that is a good progress. Looking successfully forward 😄

Starbase101
How some people brew their tea, I tell ya.......

bossy122
I once stripped Testors enamel off of a Ferrari with something called Motsenbockers Graffiti Lift Off. It was like a snake shedding skin. Didn't seem to work as well with Tamiya TS paints, however.

Bozzer
Christian, I trust that you have used DOT4?
For me, that can strip a nun naked, in less than a day?

Christian W
Thanks for your comments and recommendations. So far, I didn't use DOT4 nor Graffiti "remover" ( I'll call that - have to look it up, what available in Germany).
Yesterday I took it out and brushed it as good as I could clean. Now it would have such a cool look if I want to show a restoration thing or rodden thing. Damned.
Nevertheless. Going to wet sand it and see, what's on the surface after a new laywer of base coat.

Kyle DeHart
Jumping in late too see the end result post paint strip

István Szücs
Yes, nice rescue!

Dominik Weitzer
uhhhhh....that looks coool,the stripped paint. that could be a really good used car :-D .

Christian W
So the interior is done. I can't push it away long enough: going on to paint the body again.

Christian W
The latest news on this built: I'm in the comfortable position, to grab a "payable" doner for the body. I bought a kit without instructions and 7 missing parts. Gladly, no body parts are missing. 6 of the 7 parts I was able to add out of my spareparts box. So I#m going to get a mold of the ground effect and bumpers to be on the safe side and start the new body.