The Bandit is east bound! (PIcs)

Chris, somehow I've missed this thread over the past few weeks (if not months!). How could I..? I'm a great fan of the Bandit movies (My American wife says I'm I'm sad, I know...).

Great build, despite the aggravation that the kit brought you. I just love it..! Will you build another one for me..??!

Nice looking TA Chris. Thanks for posting the pictures of it.
mark95

After reading all the responses that you got on "The Bandit" Lizardqing2, I thought I'd go out and pick one up, and did so. I'll give my opinion on assembly of it when I finish, ok? I do know a little about difficult assemblies, as I once put together a '70 Boss, what a pain in the nanas that one was....later

I'm still kicking myself in the ****** for getting rid of my '78 T/A. It was originally red with the red velour interior but the chap who had it before I did painted it black and deleted all the decals. It was equipped with the L-72, T/A 6.6 litre engine (220 hp) with a Borg-Warner 4 speed. It originally had the rear drums but I converted it to rear discs. I had that car for about 5 years before I parted with it.

Oh well...the ragtop Mustang GT I have now more than makes up for it

Nice T/A, I have built many of these since they came out in 1977.

I would like to add some clarification to the comments left by x factor, regarding the real cars.

I agree the model year is 1977,but the real car would not have the 8" snowflakes, as they didn't appear until 1978, and then only as a part of the WS-6 package.The 7" snowflakes in this kit are correct for the year and the movie car.

This may be difficult to do as a model, but the shaker scoop was unique to the 1977 model year, it was alot lower in the hood, and has a very distinct ridge running the length of it.

I agree that the interior was black in the movie car.

This may be hard to realize, but the cars were not made for the movie, they were a planned model by Pontiac, and known as the Special Edition, not the Smokey and the Bandit edtion.

As far as my take on the kit, I'll say the biggest problem areas are in the shape and fitment of the wheel flares, and as mentioned before, the exhaust manifolds, and the lack of any good body to chassis mounting locations.

The other area is, the front end sits far too high, and needs a good lowering.

Sorry if I come off sounding like a know-it-all, but after owning my Trans Am for 22 years, I have had alot of time to study the type.


Keep up the good work!

Hey none taken, I freely admit that it's not an exact replica but a creation of mine. I do always like learning as much as I can about stuff though.

Lizard: I was not trying to bash your buildup in any way, shape, or form. Figured since the subject came up I would forward my information on to others looking for the poop on the real car.

Thats good info Rob. My friend that got this one wanted black interior but decided it looked better with the tan. I think so to being that it's that small if it was all balck it would just look llike a big black piece of plastic sitting on the shelf. Good history behind it though. I don't really remember everything about the car since when it was released I was riding around town in a stroller

Ok actually it goes like this the '76 50th Anniverary TA was the original triple black car. Not many people even knew about it as SATB had not come out yet. In the film it was basicly the '76 with the updated body improvemnets for the '77(basicly hood and shaker scoop and different bezels on the headlights) and retained it's 50th aniv. black vinyl interior. This was also the first year of the "6.6 Litre" designation for the 400 engine as the 455 was put out of production. In the '77-'78 model year the car was released as a production car for "Bandit buyers". Same car with more gold trim inside and out such as the gold spoked steering wheel and instrument facia was sold as the Pontiac Trans Am SE(Y82 special Edition).

Rob

Now from what i recollect, the interior of the car in the movie was tan. Now if I understand you, you are saying that the production version of the "bandit car" based on the car from the movie was triple black correct? I would also assume that this "production car" is the later '78 model you are refering to as i assume that the production car would have come out sometime after the movie. Am I understanding you correctly?

I never built an AMT auto kit can't help you there. I did build the MPC "Blackbird" Trans Am and it was flawless, one great kit I must say. Not to rain on your parade but there is one small detail I should mention if you are interested. I fell in love with this car ever since the movie came out, I have been lucky enough to able to own one after all those years. Any how, a little info for you regarding the car in question. The TA is actually a '77 and not a '78 not that you can tell the difference really, the Bandit edition car that was sold as was the car in the film was triple black ( the interior was black not tan) the wheels were also 8" deep optiion wheels not the standard 7" honeycombs you see everywhere. The decals were also special as just about all of the late model cars have 5 color decals the Bandit was 3 color, there are also minor decal alteration from the familliar marking on standard TA's we've all seen. This is not a critique just a little info for interested modelers who might want to build up one

Model On,

Rob

Thanks Domi. It's not that hard to find the time. Computer sits in the living room , build in the kitchen and everybody hangs out in between so it's pretty easy. PLus other than work and some fire calls, never go anywhere else.

Nice one Chris. Despite the problems you came up with a very good looking model. Your friend will be pleased!

By the way, when do you find the time to build models and talk to your wife (other than on the forum!??)... You seem to be permanently here! LOL That's what the little X at the top right corner of your screen is for.. LOL

Keep up the good work!

Domi

Domi

Martian- Don't be fooled. I hate decals for the most part to. Never put any on a kit until recently. I just took a deep breath and dove into these and kept with it till they were on it. Probally safe to say thats the last pinstriping I'll do if I can help it.

Thanks for the heads up Kustommodeler1 on those t-tops and windsheild fitting I haven't gotten that far along yet. i have only just finished both chasis and painted one of the bodies. I beleive have lost one of my dashes, the one I had painted and drilled for the fiber optics. [I guess that's what happens when you take a kit to work with you.]
As for you lizardqing2, you are a bigger man than I because those pinstripes alone would have sent me running from that bugger! it's strange that i can sit an cut plastic and drill wholes for sci-fi kits and the like all day long but i dread decals!LOL i suppose each modeler has his own gifts. Great job!

Martian- I suppose the grill would have looked better blackened out. I did'nt even think about that. Guess that's what is good about keeping models around, always can go back and improve something.

Ron- The flocking was the biggest suprise for me. Before I put it all together it looked like crap but somehow when it was complete it actually looked good inside it. DOn;t know why just glad it worked. I'd say this one was about as much of a challenge as the ones I sent you are going to be. Just keep all sources of heat out of reach as oldhooker showed!

hey chris, the T/A looks great!!!


Seems the flocking came out pretty good after all!!!


Considering how those old kits are, i'd say you did a really good job!!!

Keep them comin!!!!

Kustom,

I had noticed from the picture on the front of the box that the truck looked like it sat high in the rear. After I fiish my current project, if I'm looking for a real challenge maybe I'll pick the Lil' Red Express.