Karl LaFong

VERY cool & original!

Nice!!

The major inspiration for this build was the box art from one of the many re-issues of this kit - I've always liked the canted headlights options for the custom. This one is based on the 90's "Diamond in the Rough" issue. Paint is Tamiya Mica Red over Testor's True Gold. Seats, steering wheel, and center console are from the AMT '49 Merc. Wheels are from the circa 1963 issue of the AMT 1950 Ford convertible. Tail lights are from the parts box; the remaining parts are from the kit. All in all, this is a surprisingly well engineered kit and was a hoot to build.

I bought this kit about 10 years ago with the intention of building a street machine. While it was missing several key items like an engine and firewall, it did contain new Modelhaus bumpers and the original kustom parts. I'm a sucker for early 60's AMT customs, so good-bye street machine, hello kustom. The interior is painted Tamiya pearl white, with Scale Motorsports decals on the seats. The exterior paint is Tamiya clear red over Tamiya Metallic Red. Wheels are from the AMT '61 Ford; tires are old Monogram items. This one time I wish the builder HAD glued on the fender skirts! Thanks for looking!

Gerry, Thanks for the review! Looks like there's less flash than there was in the Model King version.

Does the tuner version include the roll bar that is in the race versions?

Great job on the car and great choice of records!

What a shame! Great job on the masking - you have more patience than I do.

The Fuman version of the Entex/Bandai Mercer has a clear coating on the yellow parts trees. I'm assuming that it gives the builder the option of not having to paint the parts as they have a glossy sheen to them. At least in theory - the actual coating has plenty of orange peel and dust in it. I tried Scalecoat Washaway and it does remove the coating. The combination of many parts + small volume of liquid means this is going to be time consuming - that's why we have Christmas vacation...

I recently bought a Fuman 1/16th scale 1913 Mercer. I tried removing the clear coating on the yellow parts trees in Super Clean, but it had no effect. Has anyone had any luck removing the clear coat, or can it just be painted over? I plan on using Tamiya spray paints - are they safe over the clear coat? Any help would be appreciated!

Very nice! Where there any problems with sinkmarks? I encountered a bunch of 'em in my Steamer and the Aurora Stutz.

GREAT job!

Sweeeeet! Rust rules!

It's a shame AMT didn't release the non-Craftsman T-bird kit with the molded in frame. It's a bitch trying to line up the window glass with the chrome frame & body. Additionally, even when using a sprue cutter, I've ended up taking a healthy chunk out of the chrome frame. I wonder if the mold for the Craftsman T-bird still exists? I'm not aware of any subsequent re-issues of the kit where the body would have been butchered.

Sweeet! Great paint job.

Nice job!

I have to agree with Kevin - love it or hate it, it's one kit that will test you skills as a modeler. In spite of all the negatives, I welcome it back - I tried building it when I was 10, now that I'm 58 I intend to finish it!

I'd have to agree that reissuing this 57 Chevy vs. the snap kit is an odd business decision. When I bought it I was well aware of the pitfalls of this kit (like I said, I like the challenge), but it seems that this kit would give the Revell haters plenty of ammo. I'm not a rivet counter, but it's even obvious to me that it doesn't look right - not as bad as a Palmer, but not as good as AMT's circa 1962 version. Coupled with the ill-fitting parts, it's hard to imagine what Revell was thinking in '63. BUT, people did build the kit and even won contests with it (check out old issues of Car Model & Model Car Science) and it did lead to the original 55 & 56 Chevys, so somebody was buying the kits. Moving to the present day, I'm guessing that because of the smaller parts content (& less styrene), Revell could have issued the snap kit with correct wheels and the Roth decal sheet and made a nice profit. More importantly, they would not have had further tarnishing of their reputation. In answer to Scott's question, I guess it's closer to Revell's 56 Ford truck kit - with patience, it can be built, but probably would be best displayed with the doors open..

On Saturday I picked up the latest incarnation of the much loved (or loathed) 1957 Chevy Bel Air, which was originally introduced in 1963. This is the one with opening doors, trunk, and steerable wheels. Back in the day this kit was controversial because of the afore mentioned features - it was The End of Modeling As We Know It, since opening doors, etc. were the domain of Master Modelers like Dave Shuklis. Now anybody could walk into a hobby shop, plunk down $1.98, and have an award winning model. In theory. Actually, this kit was and is a bear to assemble. Except for the decals, tires, and chrome wheels, it's pretty much a straight re-pop of the Revell/Revell Monogram Hot Rod Magazine version. The stock hubcaps and chrome reverse wheels have been restored, so for the first time in 30+ years a stock version can be built. The tires are no name black walls, but with some whitewall trimming, the wheels will fit the AMT B.F. Goodrich tires found in kits like the '62 Pontiac. There is a drag version, but no slicks or roll bar. The glass is clear, but too small, there's a considerable gap between the glass & body for both the front & rear windows. The only solution I've been able to find is a sheet of .005" clear Evergreen and trial & error fitting. Compared to a Revell/Mongram example I have (yes, I AM a glutton for punishment) there are far fewer sink marks, but there is plenty of flash (see the chrome tree below). Considering the age of the mold, it's no worse than some AMT repops from the same era. Oddly, on my old kit, the copyright on the frame is 1985, on the current version the copyright is 1973. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the kit was molded in the U.S.A. The decal sheet was printed in Italy - no word if it was by Cartograf. (see below). Not to beat a dead horse, but compared to the AMT and 21st Century 57 Chevys, the proportions off - it's been a complaint since the '80s and it would seem to be unreasonable to fix it now. FWIW, I like it, warts & all. I wouldn't recommend this kit for the casual builder, but if you like the experience of modeling circa 1963, this is WAY cheaper than buying the original issue.

Nice! Going for a gasser look?

Posted this one before. Plenty of patina!

Robert, If you use the belly pans for lining up the frame halves, you shouldn't have any problems. I've found that if you paint all the frame parts while they are on the trees, then touching up where they attached, you'll still have a neat assembly. Generally, the touched up areas are in places where they can't be seen after assembly. You can scratch build a magneto from aluminum tubing and plastic rod - it'll actually look better than the kit magneto!

Looks GREAT!

Good job! I like the color combo.

Well done!