Harry P. Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Today the mailman brought me four Hudson Miniatures kits and my "Cam-a-matic action" Mercer. I don't even know where to begin! The Hudson Miniatures are so cool... a real piece of model car history. It's amazing to open those boxes and see model kits made so long ago, still unbuilt and pristine. Aside from the yellowing of the instruction sheets, it looks like they were locked in a time capsule for the last 50+ years. Amazing. I almost feel bad that I'm actually going to build them... sort of like I'm defiling them somehow! But I'm not a collector... I bought 'em to build 'em. And now to open up that "Cam-a-matic" Mercer and see what's inside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Ok... the Mercer is basically an unassembled toy. The "Cam-a-matic" motor and assorted stuff takes up all the space under the hood, so this will have to be a curbside. The rest of it is going to take a lot of work to turn it into a respectable model, but the basics are there. I see a lot of scratchbuilding in my future... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Photo's please . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I've seen those Hudson Miniatures on the 'bay. What scale are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I agree, Hudson Miniatures are like little time capsules............I also agree, they are to be built. I got one today to, "Old 16" mint. Looking forward to your builds. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 I've seen those Hudson Miniatures on the 'bay. What scale are they? 1/16. They are basically raw material. Sheets of balsa, strips of wood, etc. The body panels are diecut balsa, you have to do a lot of "semi-scratchbuilding" like the frame, springs, seats and upholstery, etc. They have a few plastic parts, specifically the wheels/tires, the steering wheel, and the headlights... but you have to make the rest! The best way to explain them is that they are the raw material you would need to scratchbuild the model, plus a few plastic detail parts thrown in. Definitely not the type of "kit" we are accustomed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Actually, come to think of it, I'll probably use styrene instead of the balsa for the models. I can use the balsa parts as patterns, but with styrene I don't have to seal it to get rid of the wood grain. Probably will be easier to work with sheet styrene than the balsa kit parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Here is one of the Hudson Miniatures. 1900 Packard. The kit is copyright 1949! This is model car history, people. As you can see, it's not so much a "kit" as a supply of raw materials and full scale plans. Lots of builder skill needed here to turn one of these into a realistic scale miniature. This kind of stuff really gets my motor running. I love scratchbuilding, and a kit like this is right up my alley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1ford48 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 on the Hudsons thats what I did. use the balsa and card cutouts as patterns. with those plans you could 3d print one. but then that would be cheating. [or would it?] the ITC Mercer is not that bad-at least it is proportionally correct. I want to make a rear axle for mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 (edited) Again you and I think alike, plastic and brass shim plate will make for most excellent building materials. And you can keep the kit intact except for a few of the plastic items that comes w/the kit. I will admit, I do have one of them that I am going to give ago with using what comes in the box to see just what can be done with the material as provided. I have started looking for those kits that look like they might be missing parts, yet the wheels and other goodies are still there, that way when you do build one of them, you can still keep everything w/the kit as it came. I did have a miss on ebay, I was bidding on a complete HM Mercer.......was not paying attention, looking @ something else and lost the bid by $1.00 USD , that would have given me a Old 16, a Stuz Bearcat and the last one I needed for a set of Racer/Sports types..........but I am sure another will come along. Harry, I am so looking forward to seeing what magic you work with one of thes kits. Rick Edited March 7, 2014 by Pocherphile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Here is one of the Hudson Miniatures. 1900 Packard. The kit is copyright 1949! This is model car history, people. As you can see, it's not so much a "kit" as a supply of raw materials and full scale plans. Lots of builder skill needed here to turn one of these into a realistic scale miniature. This kind of stuff really gets my motor running. I love scratchbuilding, and a kit like this is right up my alley. Wow ! that's older than me ! And in better condition I might add. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I have never seen these kits before. I do agree that they are to build, no sense having them unless your going to use them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 With the templates and plans, you could upsize the Hudson kits to any scale you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonW Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 (edited) Actually, come to think of it, I'll probably use styrene instead of the balsa for the models. I can use the balsa parts as patterns, but with styrene I don't have to seal it to get rid of the wood grain. Probably will be easier to work with sheet styrene than the balsa kit parts. I'd say use the balsa, whoever cut the 'parts' and packed them into the boxes all that time ago would have wanted that... You don't build like somebody that wants an easy life! Whatever, I respect you for taking up this challenge. Edited March 7, 2014 by DonW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Buckaroo Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 These old kits are awesome. What part does the "pipecleaners" represent ? Those old time modelers were really talented and dedicated. If you ever have a chance look at some Model RailRoad magazines from the 1930's, through the 1940's before kits became available. Amazing stuff what they built with common discarded items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 On the Caddy they rep the radiator. ..........painted black! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 The "Cam-a-matic" Mercer looks to scale out to just about 1/9 scale, if the Fuman Mercer is scaled correctly (I'm taking measurements off that model and multiplying by 16 to get the full scale numbers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Got 2 Hudson kits today..............was not Christmas to me But hey, I have purchased many of them now and this was the 1st burn..........so 1 outta 10 ain't too bad, right. Rick 1 is two too many for me........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Ebay offers a 100% money back guarantee if the item you got wasn't as described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Ebay offers a 100% money back guarantee if the item you got wasn't as described. Yes sir, I know, but I am hoping the seller will make it up, I have no problem w/1 of the kits, is just as they discribed........the other is a box of wood scraps, broken wheels and painted/melted parts! Instructions are in-complete and I believe the wood parts make up several dif cars? Listed as mint, un-built, 100% complete.......will see what they want to do, so far, not a peep from them. But hey, its the nature of the beast, this is not the 1st time nor the last I am afraid. If not made right, then I will have a box of spare parts that will need cleaning up. I offered to let them send another complete, unbuilt kit or refund 1/2 the money. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocherphile Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) Yes sir, I know, but I am hoping the seller will make it up, I have no problem w/1 of the kits, is just as they discribed........the other is a box of wood scraps, broken wheels and painted/melted parts! Instructions are in-complete and I believe the wood parts make up several dif cars? Listed as mint, un-built, 100% complete.......will see what they want to do, so far, not a peep from them. But hey, its the nature of the beast, this is not the 1st time nor the last I am afraid. If not made right, then I will have a box of spare parts that will need cleaning up. I offered to let them send another complete, unbuilt kit or refund 1/2 the money. Rick Seller contacted and admitted that kit was not supposed to have got out, mis-takes do happen.........offered to refund 1/2 of the purchase amount, offered to buy the last two kits he had listed if 100% complete for the 1/2 price refund + balance. I wonder what happened to the one that was apart of the lot! Edited March 8, 2014 by Pocherphile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1ford48 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 The "Cam-a-matic" Mercer looks to scale out to just about 1/9 scale, if the Fuman Mercer is scaled correctly (I'm taking measurements off that model and multiplying by 16 to get the full scale numbers). I think the Fuman is more around 1/15- compare the tire size with the Aurora Stutz. in real life a Mercer is quite a bit smaller than a Stutz. then again the Auroras may be off-what is the name of the term about ''lost in scale''??? was there a thread here on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 Fuman/Bandai/Entex Mercer (yellow) vs. Aurora Stutz. Both supposedly 1/16 scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Does anyone have a photo of one of the finished wooden kits ? I find them very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.