Very Kool post! I didn't know you were into diecast models.... I've been wanting to build a Hirohata Merc and you have me motivated to at least dig out my Merc models and stare at them.. lol! Keep us updated with your progress.
If I ever get the Hirohata version done, it would be nice to have the Running Wild combo and build a Freddie Rowe Merc. Just playing around here with the bumpers from a AMT 1/16th '55 Thunderbird kit. Wider than the Merc, I could cut out the bumper guards, splice things in to make a starting point for the custom grill with the stock "elephant ear" ends. This would also make a good starting point for a popular '51 Merc mod, a stock grill with the bumper guard hole sections filled in with more factory bars.
And now one more, way into the deep end of the pool. Harry Bentley Bradley did several "what if" drawings of famous customs as wagons/deliveries/panel trucks, like the Barris Aztec and the Rod and Custom Dream Truck. The Hirohata Merc was one of them. I cut up a Hot Wheels Merc Woody Wagon and this is as far as I got.
Lovin' the '32 coupe. What scale? Did you modify it or did it come this way? Here'e my Tuesday submission. Another unfinished project(s). I drove a '55 Ford Club Sedan in high school. I wanted to replicate it in scale(s). In 1/18th, I chose the Ertl '56 Ford Convertible. I like the casting a lot better than the Glasstop '55 Crown Victoria w/Continental kit from Road Tough (I think). I shaved all the '56 specific trim off the Ertl and filled holes with J-B Weld. I robbed the '55 specific stuff off the glasstop CV. I think the lakepipes came from an Ertl '49 Merc.
Ertl is a ragtop. I need a sedan roof. First attempt was an AMT 1/16th '57 BelAir. Too wide so I cut a strip out of the middle. That's the white strip, all that remains. I didn't work. I junked the roof. Next I tried a '55 Buick my Mira or Solido. Claims to be 1/18, but is oddly small. Thats the blue roof. It could have worked but would have needed to be widened, and maybe lengthened. Last week I mentioned I had used the front bumper from a '56 Chrysler for my Hirohata Merc. So I cannibalized the roof from that same Chrysler. It is the white one setting on the car. It has the right curve to it, but needed to be shortened in the front, and the "C" pillars have too much meat. I still have to fabricate the door frame and the rear sided glass surround/ "B" pillar.
I ran spun aluminum discs on my car so I had Ron at Parts by Parks make a custom set for 1/18th scale cars.
I think it is Johnny Lightning that made it, but found a '55 Crown Vic in 1/64th. They also made a '56 Chrysler, so I did the same with the roof. As is the case, still unfinished, lots of details to be figured out.
I actually found a 2 dr sedan from First Gear. It was a '56 Mainline Fire Chief car. I got rid of the '56 stuff, like grill and hood ornament, plus the cherry on top and the other fire stuff. Obiously never got around to sanding my filler, in this case, just bondo from the tube. Its another odd scale to me, 1/34th? So I robbed some '55 side trim from a toy that was a little bigger. It'll have to trimmed down. I'll cut the front bumper away from the '56 grill. I've included the selection of options from my parts box. I'll likely use the one closest to the car. It needs a slight bend at the center and will have to be shortened/narrowed. I'll have to fab the parking light cans.
Last week I shared a project based on an Ertl 1/18 Fairlane Convertible. I was going to share another one this week, converting one to a '56 Ford Parklane. But since I don't have all my pictures ready for that, it'll wait until next Tues. All of the conversions that I've posted are work I started (and stalled) in the 90's. This one is the exception, just picked this up from popular online auction site for 3 bucks. It's the Miasto '55 Buick sedan CHP car like they supposedly used back in the day. I've taken all the cop stuff off, the spotlights, the rear package tray light, basically tore it all apart so I could start modifying.
It's gonna be a custom, so first thing I did was get out the file and "nose and deck" it. I had the front grill/bumper and back bumper/taillights off the body when I did this.
This custom is not going to have factory rain gutters. More filing ... I just used the model's black paint as a "guide coat". I don't want to flatten the nice curve of the roof. You can see the black line on the roof above the door opening and the black line above the rear side window opening ... I'll come back later and fill with J-B weld or Evercoat. Same for the hole where the hood ornament used to be.
Maybe you noticed the green tape on the body? Yep, this custom is going to be sectioned. The Supreme Task, I think it was called by Bondo Bob Williams on one his famous posters. I'll come across the front fenders and the quarter panel with my Dremel, a pretty straight forward cut. The model has simple spring loaded opening doors. I could just mold the door onto the the body, but I think I want to keep the feature. So I section the door jams below the hinge, just above the sill plate. Look close to see the tape line for the approximate cut line. Finally, I'll shave just the right amount off the bottom of the door skin.
And to give you an idea about the front, it's the canted/quad front piece from the old AMT 3-n-1 Customizing series of the '57 Chevy. It has the look that I'm after but will need judicious modification or be entirely scratch built. The rear will feature a rolled pan, some custom top-n-bottom tail lights with no chrome bezels. And I think I'll slant the "B" pillars forward to match the angle of the "A" pillar. Wish me luck, fellas. I'm open as to what color I should paint it ...
@Sancho , Great pic of your great friend. As to the Ranchero, I'll quote Carol from American Graffiti ... "Needs a paint job, that's for sure." Perhaps some gold scallops?
I have had this unrestored 50's Hubley Transport for years but never had the right cars for it. Finally came across a second original Hubley/ Kiddietoy Packard. It was missing part of the rear quarter and bumper. Happy with the results after spending some time forming the missing area with JB Weld. Freshened up the hauler to display with the others in my collection. Still on the hunt for another original Packard or a Cadillac they offered to replace the Tootsietoy one I sometimes displayed on this truck.
The Jalopy Journal
