RancheroSteve

Trim is foiled:

This claims to be correct: https://prdcrrct.com/product/pusher-fan/?srsltid=AfmBOoqGtYVuxlRAY91-Z8rEWscwt-wR4vUQ8Ftq36859pIjUpAkE92W&v=0b3b97fa6688 Like it says, the earlier cars had only a single fan, then they used two fans.

Just my personal preference maybe, but I prefer to use a wide angle - I think it better simulates the way cars are photographed in static situations and how the eye sees them. Appears more realistic to my eye, which I think is what we're all aiming for. Just be careful you don't get your shadow in the photo!

I use a variety of digital cameras for my model photography, but at this point the iPhone cameras have gotten so good that unless you're taking photos for publication, there isn't a whole lot of difference. Probably the most important consideration is lighting and there are several threads on the forum here that deal with that. It looks like the iPhone 11 has a macro mode that allows you to get as close as 2cm - should work for most models.

Good question, but it's been a long time since I built this and I can't recall. I may have gotten the presumably correct color from MCW. Reds especially seem to photograph differently depending on conditions and cameras. When all else fails, I say mix something that looks right to your eye.

Simply outstanding!

That was actually my first thought! I already have the decals and the HUG (Model King issue). One of the things that's been holding me back from building it was the body not being the right year.

I believe the metal rod is molded into the wing to try to keep it from warping, with a thin resin casting can be prone to. It may also provide a solid round leading edge to the wing.

And it's done! Work in progress thread here: Thanks for looking - questions, comments, etc, welcome.

Thanks for asking, John. Here's a couple of shots of the Panoz:

I would advise making some high resolution scans of those decals if you can. Worst come to worst, you could print them out on decal paper. I've only built one LeMans Minatures kit - a Panoz LMP1 - but it went together quite well, no drama.

Hard to tell what's real and what's just bad Photoshopping here.

Well okay, so now I have ordered a partial AMT '40 Delivery for the more correct bumpers. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm almost surprised someone in the aftermarket hasn't cast these.

Mark - thanks, I suspect you are correct on this. These are the bumpers I was planning to use on my Pierson Brothers '36 Ford - they look pretty close to what's on the real car (I thought): I think they're the ones that came in the '49 Merc kit, but now I'm wondering. Oh well . . . FWIW, the Revell '48 Ford custom also has something similar, but they have fewer ribs.

The Revell '49 Mercury has a nice set. Edit: Or maybe I shoulda said "something similar".

Thanks for getting it back on track! (Mildly) sorry for any part I played in that tangent.

Got a few decent coats of paint on: Looks like I have some BMF work ahead of me.

Thank you, Brian. They are both curbsides, of course, but I went as far as I was able to make them accurate. Yes, they are both based on the old AMT tool, in this case the 2005 Model King reissue.

Ah yes - did that one too. Both as part of The Lynx Project.

Nice work - always good to see one of these getting built! Such an under-appreciated kit.

I did a version of an African Safari Comet a few years back, based on the AMT kit, of course:

Indeed it does. There were six Comets built for the '64 African Safari Rally - according to the internet this is one of them, converted for road racing. https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/09/one-of-actual-1964-mercury-cars-that.html

I'm not sure that any '64 Comets ran in the Monte Carlo Rally - they did compete in the East African Safari Rally however.

Getting closer, then came across one of those little details that I couldn't ignore. I realized the inside of the hood sides would be visible and that I needed a way to depict the louvers from the inside. After some thought, I came up with this fix. I drew up a row of lines with Photoshop, scaled them appropriately and printed them on clear inkjet decal film. Close enough for jazz. Now I guess I'd better give the underside of the hood the same treatment.

The rolling chassis is complete: