International Scale Modeller

James Garner was a great American actor.
My first memory of him is in Grand Prix movie that played every once in a while on a Saturday afternoon on tv.

He played Jim Rockford in the Rockford files a tv private eye series and drove Sierra Gold Firebirds







I loved the car and the J-turn he did “The Rockford” Gardner was an accomplished car racer in real life.
So…..

Awesome

I have been sneaking away with this kit over the summer in downtime with the ford coupe
Converting the Trans Am to a Sport basic version of the car. Lots of body work to do
Close up the T roof, side scoops filled in and hood opening to close

I am sure once in primer I will have more filling and sanding to do
That is why a good side piece project to tackle while working on finishing American Graffiti

You bet I am.

Used to watch this show with my grandfather on Saturdays I think it was, back in the mid 70's. Grand Prix is fantastic, all real cars, tacks etc no CGI back then all real. Apparently the scene where James Garner crashes into the harbour, he almost drowned! He got stuck and the diver struggled to get him out of the car, can you imagine putting a top star in a tiny F1 car and driving or pushed I think it into a harbour!

Like most of his films, a real gent.

Oh yes - used to love that show!! Still watch it on the rare occasions it gets shown on TV.

I've got the Revell 1/8 Trans Am in the stash, saving up for the 3D printed enhacement parts now to build the one I used to own.

Never saw The Rockford Files but I loved him in the Mel Gibson film, Maverick, where he played his 'Dad' to his original TV series character.

A great actor and will always be known for being 'cool', no matter what.

As well as some good news for the Ford coupe at an IPMS Vancouver show, I found some goodies for my Rockford firebird.

Correct Pontiac resin wheels that were not in the kit for $5


And a figure that will pass very well for Jim Rockford, also $5

Love the wheels - thats a nice find!! My '78 T/A had what I think are called "Snowflake Alloys"?

Great stuff.

Once again I find myself fascinated by a car build. I hate what you're doing to me!

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:19 am Great stuff.

Once again I find myself fascinated by a car build. I hate what you're doing to me!

Ha ha!
Just wait until I start making his trailer!
maybe

I remember growing up watching Rockford, Columbo, M.A.S.H and all those older shows on TV with my dad.

This gave me a little bit of nostalgia, love it!!

Jumping into the interior




Removing the standard transmission and putting in an auto

Interior looks pretty accurate to the photos. Not sure I like the color!

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 14, 2025 7:19 am Interior looks pretty accurate to the photos. Not sure I like the color!

Hey it was the ‘70’s, the era of shag carpet and orange and brown everything

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Sun Oct 12, 2025 2:56 am Love the wheels - thats a nice find!! My '78 T/A had what I think are called "Snowflake Alloys"?

Yes the T/A had those snowflakes as did this kit
It was an excellent and cheap find for these resin ones; $5 I couldn’t print them for that

Just struck me as funny - you are converting a manual to auto - when I do my 1/8 T/A I will have to convert to manual from auto....

Always want what we don’t have

While paint dries on a Buffalo, work on something else
Headlight inserts for the Firebird. Love this black package in the nose of the car, one of my favourite features
Opened up with drills rather than replace mesh as no way able get Pontiac logo made that small
Used up to brown 0.6 drill
Everything was de-chromed as well

Don't know if its of any interest to you - but theres a couple of guys who advertise on the dread Farcebook who do 3D printed upgrades for the Firebird/Trans-Am.
If you use Farcebook have a look for a group called "1/8 Scale Detail" the two ID's in question are "Jamison Schwimm" and "Jo Schmocan".
As the group title suggests they concentrate on 1/8 scale but I'm fairly sure both have said they can scale the prints up or down.

RangerNeil wrote: ↑Sun Nov 16, 2025 2:16 pm Don't know if its of any interest to you - but theres a couple of guys who advertise on the dread Farcebook who do 3D printed upgrades for the Firebird/Trans-Am.
If you use Farcebook have a look for a group called "1/8 Scale Detail" the two ID's in question are "Jamison Schwimm" and "Jo Schmocan".
As the group title suggests they concentrate on 1/8 scale but I'm fairly sure both have said they can scale the prints up or down.

Great, I will have a look.
I rarely buy finished printed parts online as I want to be able to mess with the part’s scale myself.
If I can get the STL’s yes.

Black primer on the nose clip lights