MODELING THE THUNDERBIRDS

[007Cruiser]

Thanks, Paul. I was having trouble finding them. It may have been my drooling over the’49 Roadmaster drop top.

[JerriLampon]

Thanks, Paul. I was having trouble finding them. It may have been my drooling over the’49 Roadmaster drop top.

I really do hate the internet variations, sometimes. I clicked on Bobnoir's link and it opened directly to the 'Bird gallery. 'Must be a browser/computer/phase of the moon thing.
Thanks Paul. Now everyone can see them.

[JerriLampon]

Ok, as no one else will pick up the hint, hint, I'll start a new thread for all the Thunderbird scale models, their variations, customizations, detailing, etc.

To begin -- just received an eBay auction (found with a pile of other mags) four 1:18 chrome 21 spoke wheels. It seems to be a Maisto wheel; diameter is 21mm, 25/32". Tire is 31mm, 1 7/32".
WAIT A SECOND, that's only a ~14" scale wheel. My 21 spoke wheels measure 18.5" diameter edge to edge. That means a 1:18 wheel should be 1.03", not 25/32". We've been running on undersize scale wheels all this time? The "1/18" wheel should be on a 1/25 car!

Coming up, detailing the 1:18 Maisto undercarriage.

**Attempts to remove 3 previous "Attached Files" has failed. Trying to save "Thumbnail" image isn't allowed because it's perceived 4th image. I'm working on it.

Dude, check your micrometer calibrations. My measurements has the 1:18 scale accurate to a 17-18.5" actual size.

[wcoates]

image_53130.jpgI would buy enough chrome wheels to upgrade all of my 1:18 models.

For what it's worth, (I know not much!). Just stumbled on to this which must be from some communication I had with Skip Panowitz after I purchased my MSG 1:18 in both Maisto and Beanstalk versions.

Skip just received the Beanstalk MSG and placed it next to the Maisto MSG for comparison purposes. Up to this point I haven't thought that I wanted to spend a lot more money for the Beanstalk but here are the differences that I see.

Interiors are remarkably similar as far as seats and interior coloring and texture is concerned. Headrests are markedly different as the Maisto looks like headreats are just a small extension of the seats while the Beanstalk looks very similatr to the real thing.
Beanstalk also has seatbelts threaded through the proper holder and thunderbird logo in the porthole.

Paint is decidedly different with the Beanstalk having a more metallic cast. Maisto looks correct if the day is an overcast one. Beanstalk looks correct as if it was a bright sunny day.

Wheels of the Maisto look like a painted 24 spoke wheel while the Beanstalk has a chromed 21 spoke.

Skip the hardtop on the Maisto had me very confused. Had two Maisto on my desk, one with hardtop seemingly fixed while the other was displayed as a convertible with top off. Further inspection of the one with what appeared to have a fixed HT just needed a gentle small force applied with a flat headed screw driver to release the pegs seated in the visors. This solved the fixed Hardtop question. Once the Hardtop of the Maisto was off you could see the differences. The Beanstalk had a separate convertible boot to be used when displayed as a convertible. The Maisto boot was fixed and had two receptacles where the HT pegs were seated.

Noticed that the engine compartment is different. The Maisto has the 2002 engine in the 2003. The Beanstalk has a different engine,( not as the T-Bird) more like a Jag.

As I have played with mixing Interiors and wheels I have stumbled on to the fact that the Beanstalk is just a slightly ( hardly noticeable) bit bigger . Not a big deal in switching the bodies but interiors (especially the dash) take just a bit more effort.

[2K2BIRD]

Bill I remember you posting that here on TBN as well. It's a good comparison of the two models. I really wish Beanstalk had put out a Torch Red version. It would have matched my car perfectly. Mountain Shadow Grey owners are lucky that their car was the only color done by both companies.

[wcoates]

image_53130.jpgI would buy enough chrome wheels to upgrade all of my 1:18 models. Anyone know how to get these"aftermarket " wheels on models so that wheels turn?
IMG_0027.JPG
t.

[Bobnoir1]

Dude, check your micrometer calibrations. My measurements has the 1:18 scale accurate to a 17-18.5" actual size.

Yes, my micrometer is calibrated in furlongs per fortnight and my conversion to mm was flawed. The 1:18 wheels are scaled correctly, after all.
Thanks for checking my calibrations.

[Bobnoir1]

While dissecting the 1:1 undercarriage to see how it can relate to the 1:18 detailing, I've been working on a white, not cream 1:24 MotorMax. There is no branding on the chassis, but it has "floppy" side mirrors. I'm trying to adapt 1:25 chrome wheels to it from a Maisto Assembly Line kit.

Then, I remembered a Maisto 1:25 prototype I got on eBay a few years for a song--one seat back is missing. Black with all red interior, doors and hood open, not trunk.
Prototype.jpg

That puppy has chrome wheels (24 spoke, unfortunately). Tires are thinner than the MotorMax, but the wheels are the same diameter. Simple, just pop those wheels off and add them to the MotorMax, right?

No, the wheels seem to be glued and don’t pop off. The only alternative is to whack off the wheels, drill them to the appropriate diameter and use them on the MotorMax.

‘Anyone dealt with this black and red 1:25 before? That’s before I destroy it just for the wheels.

[2K2BIRD]

I've taken the 1:25 apart, but have not disassembled the wheels and tires. There has been one 1:24 Motormax made with chrome 24 spoke wheels. It came out in late 2018. It was an off-white convertible with a solid black interior. Walmart had them in limited numbers. I never saw one in a store in this part of the country, but did get one thanks to Skip. The black w/red interior Maisto is much more common, so if you can make the wheels work with the Motormax tires, that would be your best bet.

[11TH GEN]

Not a t bird....trying to hone my skills with the ageing process. Often out of the box doesn't look real.

110_1915.JPG110_1910.JPG110_1916.JPG

[2K2BIRD]

Nice job, Ric. Looks very convincing.

[merlot4]

A quick view from model back in the day! I think you did a nice job, Ric.

[007Cruiser]

Better get Maaco.