Revell 1/24 1978 Pontiac Firebird Kit First Look
By Jeff Conrad, Front Range Auto Modelers (FRAM)
| Date of Review | December 2011 | Manufacturer | Revell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | 1978 Pontiac Firebird | Scale | 1/24 |
| Kit Number | 4927 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Nicely detailed kit | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $23.95 |
First Look
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Firebird was Pontiac Motors entry in the very competitive pony car "wars" of the last part of the 1960's. Built from 1967 and 2002 the Firebird shared the same platform as Chevy's Camaro throughout its production run. 1970 saw the introduction of the second generation of the Firebird, and one of its most distinct styling elements was its plastic "Endura" front grill piece, giving the Firebird a clean bumper free look. For 1977-78 Pontiac redesigned the front end to incorporate square quad headlights, but more importantly for Pontiac the car was featured in the hit movie "Smokey and the Bandit" – propelling sales of Firebirds to all time sales records.
- Scale: 1:24
- Skill Level: 2
- Assembly: Glue
- Paint: Required
- Molded in: White, red, and clear styrene and black vinyl
- Decals: Waterslide
This kit consists of 106 parts and includes a chromed tree containing the wheels and bright work. Parts are well molded and show very little flash, so clean up won’t be an issue.
The kit can be built one of three ways: street machine, drag racer or stock. To that end the kit includes two sets of wheels (custom centerline style and stock Firebird,) different engine intake options (stock and drag race,) two hoods (stock Firebird and option drag version) as well as a set of large drag slicks for the rear.
The bucket-style interior is simple but well detailed, including a nice carpet texture molded into the floor.
Revell did a great job with the body, as it really captures the distinctive look of the 1978 Firebird – including the popular T-top option. The removable panels are molded in clear (on the windshield sprue) enabling the modeler to tint them as they see fit. The decal sheet includes two versions of the famous “flying chicken” hood decal (one black and gold and the other black, orange and yellow) as well as large black stripes for the hood, rook and trunk panel.
Various sponsor decals for the drag version as well as a nice pair of SCCA door number plates round out the sheet.
This kit is nicely molded and will make a great addition to any modelers collection.
Thanks to Revell for this review sample.