E St. Kruiser50

AAAAH........HUH?????? May I give some feedback here without makin any enemies??? A lot of us have been paintin' with enamels, lacquers, acrylics, and urethanes for quite a spell, and finding a clear that won't yellow over white ,especially with lacquers and urethanes has been a constant battle, and a constant search for painters for "like ever". If you've ever done research, this is always a constant topic. Just when you think that someone has found the "HOLY GRAIL" of clear over white, they get back to you in about a week or so and say "WOOPS", as just happened here on this forum last week about "Valspar enamel". Someone posted how great it works and then a few day's later.......sorry guy's he said. I've only found one product guaranteed not to yellow and be crystal clear. It's a single stage urethane clear that's thinned with Xylene and you use their hardener. It's a rock hard surface finish used in the boat industry. It's called POR 15 made by GLISTEN PC. You can find it on the internet. I have a pint kit that sells for about $35.00 at my local auto paint store. I have some clear Tamiya but haven't tried it yet. I always shoot samples first, and would advise anyone trying something like this to do the same, and then wait a few day's, as redo is costly in time and $$$$$$. Hope this helps - dave

Been "Eyeballin' this kit on the shelves since it came out. I didn't realize this was such a great kit 'till I saw this thread, and how well your's came out. Beautiful build . I think I'm goin to the hobbyshop tomorrow and get me one. Thanks again - dave

Hey Mike I like the 'Vert treatment and that you kept the double rear window. Nice subtle styling cue . I hope you paint the top a color that brings attention to that feature. The tilt front is pretty cool too. A very nice start. I'll continue to watch your progress - dave

It really was pretty amazing back then, especially compared to now . As some other's have said here, it was the last years of innocence for our culture. A stand alone time that so many would like to have experienced or would like to recreate. Maybe a 50's theme park would be cool, with an A&W Rootbeer Stand, with the girls coming out to your car to wait on you, and the window tray's full of food, or how about the Big Boy hamburger stand on Sunset Boulavard in SoCal, with the girls on "Roller Skates, or the drive-in movie theatre's on a hot summer night, with the speakers dangling from a partly rolled up window. When we were little kids in SoCal, nearly the whole block would show up at the neighborhood drive-in for a special Friday night feature, and there was always an empty spot close by, so the parents would bring blankets and spread them out, and let all us kids that knew each other, lay there and watch the movies and tons of cartoons together, and we'd all share our popcorn and soda with each other, takin' drinks from each other's cup. NO BIG DEAL . We were all sorta family. As I got older my buddies and I would walk down there to the drive-in, just a few blocks away, and stop and get a pop at COFFEE's market next door, and then we'd sit back beyond the fence and watch the movies for "Free". We'd be gone till after midnight when we were 13 or 14 and our parents never worried, 'cause nothin' ever happened. Shoot, when I was 8 'till I was twelve, my buddies and I would go "Trick Or Treatin" till 10:00 at night with no parents out anywhere. It was unheard of then. You were a sissy if you had your folks with ya, and that was out in the country where there was no street lights anywhere. Boy was it dark. Did have flashlights, and get the candy - man. Especially that nickle candy bar. We always hit them first, as those big 'ol candy bars went fast, 'cause all the neighbor kids knew there were only so many, and the folks down the street from them who gave out dimes instead of candy, Sunny and I litterally ran from place to place to get the goodies, laughin' as we ran to see who'd get there first. Can't ya just see it . We used pillow cases and would fill them up over and over, running home all excited and showing mom and dad our score, and then off again all excited again, running down the street together again with my next door neighbor buddy, Sunny. Boy did we always sleep good that night And the folks never once ever checked our "Treats". Schucks, back then half the stuff was home-made anyway. Rice Crispy 'n Marshmellow squares, homemade fudge, pop corn balls, candy apples - our favorite - and so on. That's just what we expected to get , and man was all of it good.

Hey Peter Nice to share with you. Gald you enjoyed them All the best my friend - dave

AMEN Harry IMHO at least, things were not only better, but life was also, so much simplier then Thanks Harry - dave

Thanks Jeffrey Ya your right, we all need to "Vent" a little once in a while, and then we feel all better

Well I'll dive in to the chilly water of "I REMENBER WHEN" first In 1950 I turned 7, still no T.V., but we had the Saturday morning Matinee's at the local theatre's, where we'd go watch a ton of Hoppalong Cassidy, RinTinTin,Tom Mix and a ton of cartoons. It was how the folks got rid of the kids all morning and stay home and ........Well, you know . Anyway, I grew up in San Berardino, Calif. The theatre I went to was a half block down the street from the famous California Hotel on "E Street". Remember the 'EAGLES" and their song "Livin it the up in the Hotel Califronia - that's it, and also where Tricky Dicky" Nixon , ran an elevator while in college. "E" Street was one of the biggest cruise sites in all of SoCal besides the "Sunset Strip" in L.A., and the "Big Boy" hamburger joint was the place to cruise, like the original McDonald's on "E Street" in San Berdoo, before Ray Kroc bought it from the McDonald Bros. in 1961 and turned it into a chain. Fridays and Saturday nights were crazy. Were talkin EVERY weekend here. Litterally thousands of cars and people would show up to "Cruise" - show off their cars and chase wemmen . We're talking a 5 mile cruise each way, with 2 lanes each way, packed solid bumper to bumper, all night long, and no cops. THAT'S 20 MILES OF CARS PEOPLE. No one caused trouble back then. NO KIDDING!!!! From L.A. to Palm Springs, they came to cruise. And sometimes we'd head off there to see some new cars and meet some new friends. Spring break was - EEEEHAH. Race cars all week long at Longbeach, including some street fitted "Dragsters". No kidding - headlights and taillights, racing in town after the streets were blocked off. Just crazy. Couldn't do that now. We all had cars and the girls liked 'um. Wonder if they ever really liked us ??? . No drugs back then. Just a little alcohol, and back then we were careful. Our parents would kill us. Forget the cops, are parents were worse. My first car was a'50 Merc that I put a Chrysler Hemi in with dual quads - A 'Vette eater. The next car was a sleeper. A '63 Riviera lowered to the ground, painted candy apple red, with a humungously built dual quad beheemouth of an engine, that was a 'vette eater also. The "Rivvy" had four seats and they were usually full with my buddies, and as we past the "Vette going stop light to stoplight, the electric windows would be flying up and down....just to impress them you understand . Talk about memories. Then there was the '60 Poncho factory superstock, with a 4-speed and so on. Then my brand new '67 Mustang 390 Hi Pro that I took position of on Dec. 16, 1966 - my Christmas present. What a rocket when we got done with it. Wayne Alexander had a fuel injected brand new '57 chevy. Later a new '63 post Plymouth Beleveder with a 2nd gen Hemi. John McKnown ran a 40 Willys with a '57 392 hemi built to the hilt. Did wheelstands - scarrry..He loved to race 'Vettes too. Maybe that's where I got it . Well, I could add tons more, like Florida Boy or Art Anderson does- those guy's can REEEEALLY POST LOL , but I'll move over and give someone else a chance. O.K guy's, let's hear your stories. P.S The first car that got me interested in cars I was about 8. A '49 Caddy fastback. All white, sitting on the ground with purple flames all down the side and all over. At that point, I was toast, in 1951 !!

Hey Thor I see a hammer in the second pic. Is that in case the frustrtion level get's TOO HIGH ?? I needed one of those a few times

Hi Peter More of us "MORE MATURE" guy's here than I thought . Thanks for the kind word's and "YOUR STORY" about back in the day. Pretty cool memories. Maybe we should start a "REMEMBER WHEN " thread for the younger guy's to hear all the stories. Anyway, about the "OTHER MERC". I think this is the one your thinkin of. This turned out way better than I expected. A lot of times I'll pray before a build, and this time HE really surprised me. At the time I didn't know I could build or paint this good . He just makes up for what I can't do very good . Have a good one.......

You're welcome Don Because I'm a little "Older" , and grew up in the "GOLDEN ERA and AREA" of music and car's, IMHO, it's fun to share "REAL LIFE" stories and experiences with some of the younger guy's here. To me, it helps keep the history and love of cars at that time honest, real and believeable. There was no intention at the time to create "A movement" or anything, we were just doing what we all loved passionately, and for me I still do. Really hard to put into the proper words just how amazing it was growing up in the 50's in the SoCal area, especially as I look back, and all the fond memories I have of friends, model car contests and the real street rods and customs that I had, and friends had as young kids. Glad some of you enjoy hearing about it. The cool thing about it is that I'm still making great memories to enjoy, even further down the road. The fun's never over until HE calls ya home. Be good ya'll - dave

Hi Erick I really enjoy this whole thread of yours. Lot's and lot's of cool idea's and project's here. Ton's of information and alternative suggestions, not to mention your great model building skills Keep up the good work and please keep posting more pics - Your friend dave

Hey Anthony I like the conversion to the Cad LaSalle. Very nice . I'm a color guy that likes the contrast of several colors, so the sort of buckskin color interior (I use a lot of buckskin to compliment a lot of my builds), goes good with a lot of different colors, and especially well with the teal or blue, which ever pics you look at . Anyway great job All the best - Dave

Hi Steef About 10 to 15 years ago, Revell came out with a pair of 1/16 scale '34's. A coupe and a phaeton.They retailed for around $35.00 or so. Funny thing as they still do on eBay. Ther're not as plentiful as they used to be, but still pop up from time to time. They are both very nice kits to assemble and there are alot of interchangeable pieces between the kits, and the phaeton comes with a chopped 'vert top as well as the stock top. It took 4 of the coupes and one of the phaeton for this build. Hope this helps you. Good to hear from you - dave

Thanks Emokid Sorry about the 1200 hour thing . I Didn't mean to sound so cavalier and carefree about it. It's just that I spent 2000 hours on the last project over two years, and I was being a little sarcastic. We all need to vent once in a while ya know LOL. Guess it was my turn Keep doin what ya kove - dave

Hi Dennis Thank you. The two Revell kits you mentioned here, the coupe and the Phaeton, are nice kits. I have built both and had no issues with either kit. A lot of fun to build. The coupe pictured here, was heavily modified and re-designed, with a few fun styling cues. Keep up the fun - dave

This is sort of a side project I built this a couple of years ago as a contest car, like the Hollywood, only spent about 1200 hours on this though ,entered it in 4 different contests in 2006 and '07, including one of the "Biggies"and came up "ZIP" - Zero - Naughta. Even got beat by a $15.00 die cast . Anyway, I'm going to rebuild this for myself, and add some things a little at a time, that I didn't think of then. Got it taken apart. That was the scary part. Nothing broke or got messed up. The all chrome chassis and running gear still look brand new, and so does the rest of the car. I'll take my time and probably change the flames to multi-colors and different shapes, and maybe redo the seats and add some leather trim. We'll see. It'll be a fun fill in project.Probably take a few leisurly winter months to finish. Gotta finish the Merc first. Anyhow, here's a few pics

Great video Bernard Yup, that's how it was done back in the day. Story goes that back in the late 40's, a 1940 for lead-sled that Barris had built was so heavy that the tires had to be filled with cement to keep them "Inflated" so they wouldn't go flat because of the wait of the lead on the hugely modified custom. Pretty funny . Anyway, thanks for sharing the video, and for the feedback I get from you. Much appreciated - dave

No kidding. Me too

Thanks so much Bernard Lead Sleds were very much a part of my growing up teenage years. To the guy building a full custom Merc "Lead Sled", that I visited with on the way home from Junior High School, to coming home from High School on the bus and getting off on Baseline Avenue in Highland, Calif., just outside of San Bernardino, in front of Dodson's Auto parts and their body shop across the street. I watched them for hours and was facinated with every phase of the design and building of customs at the body shop. From the brazing of the different pieces of sheet metal and tubing, to the melting of the lead( That's where the term lead sled came from). The guy's there were great and seem to understand my attraction to the beauty and the art of their skills. I watched them using wooden paddles of different shapes, smoothing and sculpting the molton lead into these masterpieces of auto art. Then they'ed use these metal brushes to even out the paddle marks and when cool, they'ed use these incredible rasps to further shape the lead. For me it was electrifying and exciting to daily watch these magnifiscent creations come to life, with their handmade carson tops that they made there too. What wonderful memories from the 50's and early 60's. Did all that affect me?? My first car at the age of 17, in 1960, was a cherry '50 Merc !! As it's been said many times - Those were the days .

WOW!! Absolutely Stunning . I love carbon decals and a high gloss clear finish. Beautiful work .

Hi guys If it were me, IMHO , there is a drip rail that turns into a body molding that does a 360 all around the roof and down the side and around the rear under the rear window. To me a good place for a color seperation line. Bernard, you could mock this up on your computor and see how it looks - and this is definitly not a blob-a-green. Just my two cents worth for what is already a beautiful build. My suggestions are just about what I like, but not necessarily what's pleasing to you. If your happy with what your doin, go for it, and I'll love it with ya Have fun you guys. All the best - dave

Hey Bernard I know, I know I'm just another control freak that's gotta have his say LOL. Good thing I don't live close to Raul, he'd get ticked off and send me home

WOW !! Beautiful!!! Now Raul, you know I'm a color guy and so was Roth. Never met him, but lived in the same town. I THINK ( AND REMEMBER YOU PUT ME ON YOUR LIST OF FRIENDS ) and the rule is you can't take me off, that the roof of the truck and the trailer fenders should be the same TAN as the roof of the raptor. I would give the entire assembly balance and contrast. To me it looks a little heavy, too much solid green, and needs more contrast to break it up and make it flow more,and have that"POP" that gives the entire build the "GOTCHA FACTOR" "IMHO". Hopefully the interior of the truck would be the same Tan color. Now you know Raul, we're friends , and this is only my opinion, and doesn't change how incredible this build is even if you leave it like it is. Beautiful work and a great job bringing a huge project together. I go out and treat myself to steak and shrimp when I finish a project like this, to reward myself. A nice way to shake it off - LOL All the best - dave

Thanks Bernard You're really close about the rear of the window opening and widened roof area. I sliced the rear roof area on both sides of the rear window, then cut clear across where the roof meets the trunk to connect the two slices, and also cut clear across the roof area about an inch ahead of the windshield, which left me a rectangular piece with the rear window. I raised the rear of this piece at the trunk to give the roof a more fast-back look and then raised the trunk area where the two meet to complete the nearly fast back look, but retaining the small dip where the two meet, so only a well trained eye might spot it. It makes the rear look a lot heavier and adds to the Art Deco look of like say a '36 three window with a chopped roof and filled in trunk and huge fender skirts. I love that look and wanted to transfer it to this build and see how it would look. I like it. I filled the dip in the roof, and the trunk area with filler, added plastic to fill in the gap where the roof was raised, reshaped everything subtly, and wala - a sorta semi fast back -but not all the way, Merc . The headlight area on the body was a little tricky area too. I reshaped that entire area to be the same shape as the chrome headlight trim, so the body would flow from the chrome trim ring. Usually these headlight assemblies are frenched in with 1/2 inch rod to recess the entire thing, so I wanted to try a different look , by placing them as they are on a stock Buick. Fun to play with designs and see if people catch it Thanks for looking - Dave