Wickersham Humble

Okay: resin cast, 3-D printed, made of epoxy spot-filler cast in Fix-All... all are okay, I'm sure, But I can't do 'em. Likewise, buying new kits for an engine or needed bits, esp. on the collector's market, is out at my age and stage of the game. I guess i'm licked unless one of the (seemingly) dwindling repro sources can help. I don't mind the dough so much, on a project like the '51 Chevy, a replica of Dad's car that I'm restomodding for my son, so if anyone has a MII/Pinto front suspension for sale... ? I'm a 1:1 restorer, and I abhor fake-a-loo model details, esp on kits that can be viewed from undersides. On the other hand, I don't have time (life) to start plumbing in brake lines and hose clamps, etc. So... if I can find someone to learn me resin-casting, I guess that's the way to go; amazing how many plastic modelers do not live in my area, it seems. I joined an IPMS chapter an hour's drive away, but haven't been to a meeting yet as they are in the eveining, and now days I don't drive late at night... guess I should just tell it to the chaplain, huh? But, I still think the Parts Pak thing is good, at least for some aftermarketers. BTW, in my kit heyday, I bought all the P.P. series, though some of them were silly (overchromed, etc.) so I know that they did make the mfr. some dough. Still have many of the bits, too. Wick

Guys, thanks! That's what I was afraid of... buying new/collector kits to get a few components. Bear in mind that my interest is in mostly 1940-1965 cars. and that's what I have in my small (preserved) cache. The late model LS engine would almost loosen my purse strings, if I needed that one! The MII front group: couldn't someone who knows more about replicating than I do make some repops of that tree? I always bought the old kits that came with two mills; still have a number of flatheads that I didn't use c. 1960 -- and I'm using them now! I have so many Ford Y-blocks that I'm going to use four to make a 'Hillbilly Showboat' dragster -- eventually. This '51 project isn't going to get an accurate modern front suspension, probably; I don't have time enough left to fab one, at almost 76 years of age. Not and finish up my other priority kits, I guess. Wick Humble Chico CA

Okay, I meant to type 'Car 54' -- you knew that! Gettin' old! Wick

2021, and I'm getting closer to having my diorama a fact. We loved 'Car 53' when it was on prime time, but can you find a '61 Plymouth sedan? BTW, a Snap-Tite '49 Merc kit, when first issued, had decals that showed car 54, no less. Wish I still had 'em ! LITB was full of cars, as was FKB. Perry Mason was great; his sponsor changed several times and new rides appeared for he and Paul Drake, incl a Stingray! The Beverly Hillbillies Olds is well remembered, but what about the Model A in The Real McCoys? G-pa McCoy even had an encounter with an LA rod club, who helped him with a breakdown; I still recall that they put on 'a real Stromberg carburetor.' Not sure how...? Wick

Oops, I meant SBC with 327 valve covers, gang! Gettin' old; can't read this small font! Wick

I mostly just build/rebuild kits from my modest collection bought in the early sixties, but since so many are 'rescued' (smushed, parts missing, and the usual) I've 'resto-modded' a number of 'em. But, there are SO many more modern components that we use now that are not available; I wondered why some enterprising resin guy (or even mainstream source?) doesn't make something like the old 'Parts Paks' for these! A good instance would be the resin-body conversion I'm doing on a '51 Chevy two-door to match our 1:1 restomod of Dad's old '51 two-door Styleline two-door sedan; it now has a SBC and 5-speed with FiTech injection, Mustang II front end, S-10 Blazer rear end (discs all 'round), and some other mods under the skin. I don't want to (and won't ) buy and break up a MII or Pinto kit to get the IFS and R&P steering, but... I can't just run the stocker, either. The SBC (with real '63 427 valve covers!) is easy, however if I try to scratch-build the rest -- probably won't look great, and will take too long in the bargain. There are dozens of mostly mechanical parts that would find an eager market, and could be cast from annual or other kit protos (or 3-D printed, I dunno!) including turbos, 9-inch Ford rear ends, modern LS stuff, Gen II Hemi (sorry no TM, guys), and much more. Vintage speed parts too: Paxton-McCullough blower kits, the old AMT Latham blower, Fenton flat-head headers, etc. The thing is; I can't trade for all the bits I'd like to have (some are really small, and esoteric, anyway) and I'm not a guy who buys dozens of kits a year (money mostly goes to 1:1 cars, so far, at age 75) just to bash out parts. Anyone else think this is a good idea? Just me sayin'

Jolly; Not yet, but I'll post some later, or send to your email PM. This is a '49 coupe kit I bought when it was first issued, did a bad candy blue paint job on, later stripped and repainted nicer BUT put it under a shop light (cold day) which slipped down and melted the roof! Now it's a ragtop, oc. It will be white with indigo blue metallic (a Nason urethane) scallops, ala SoCal coupe -- sorta. Wick

At age 75 (spelled seventy-five... alas!) I'm still moving on old, very old projects which I still have from 'the day', which for me was about 1959-1965: * A'53 Stude ragtop, with stock frame X-member added based on my old Avanti kit, just need to find colors wild enough, but period corerect. *A 'saved' '60 JoHan Chrysler HT with G-2 Hemi power, done as a CHP cruiser converted to pro-street, on a Duke's charger frame. *A 'rescued' '50 Ford converted to ragtop/kustom; sectioned, molded pans, the works with Cad power; full t 'n r, bubble skirts, and all. *A 'Miller' street roadster, based on a ruined Cad V-16, now V-12 DOCH (based on Hawk M-B '39 GP car engine) with transaxle, Bugatti GP spokers (Harry had them first on the TNT car proto), exposed fuel tank ala MGTC, DuVall Winshield, bobbed Model A top, etc. *'61 T-Bird roadster, based on Styleline kit I began in '61; huge marine V-16, individual cockpits with driver's headrest, giant wire wheels, in red of course. *A '58 Cad die-cast (Maisto, I think) done in a ratty style, homage a Stray Cats band; flat black DP3770, with red interior, w/w's and graphics, to match my 1:16 die cast "59 ragtop done in Larry Watson style and colors. Ned to find some 1:16 guitars for versimiltude. My first attempt at a diorama: the scene from Leave It To Beaver where Eddie Haskell and Wally Cleaver jerk the rear-end out of Lumpy Rutherford's pretty '40 Ford ragtop (car is done, converted from broken AMT '40 coupe), with the brush-flamed A-bone touring car of Bud Anderson broken-down across the street. Billy Gray told me he thought it was painted gray by the studio! Wish me luck, folks! *Resurrecting more damaged in storage rods and kustoms; I put my cars in a big box in 1969 when the Army grabbed me! *More replicas of 'MY" rides: '55 Chevy DelRay post (61), 'and 51 Ford Club Coupe ('63) to go with my '65 Tempest Custom 2-dr HT 326/stick; all of which are conversions (maybe never again!) I rotate jobs; seems to keep my efforts from getting blunt, but doesn't make for instant progress. I joined IPMS and after C-19 gets less, will be attending meetings of the Dragonlady chapter in Yuba Ciaty, CA -- I hope! Stay healthy; Wick Humble Chico CA

I have an unbuilt '61 Special wagon kit (in progress since that year, of course -- as a two-door panel now) an I may not use the chrome port holes... originally I filled the holes. I have a nailhead V-8 in it, and was thinking about going with four ports per side, which would of course require one more stick of three to make eight. Trade, or ?? Wick Humble, 75 years of age

I have a like-new Hawk brand 1/24 Mercedes-Benz GP V-12 centrifugally-blown engine that should be resin copied, but I need to locate someone in N CA that has the skills 'to teach an old dog'. I don't seem to be able to find an online tutorial that covers the subject well enough to risk. I also have some Stombecker Halibrands ((1959 Scarab 1/24 kit) that I'd like to duplicate for other models. Is there any interest in making the molds from this disassembled engine (provided by Hawk as a display engine with their GP racer curbside kit in the early 'sixties) out there? It is not elaborately detailed, but a nice representation of a DOHC V-12 mit kompressor (about ten pieces), and could be used as a basis for numerous mid-century V-12 conversions. Personally, I want to simulate a Harry A. Miller engine for a phantom roadster project. Thus, I might be willing to provide the original for an experienced caster to duplicate it in exchange for two resin copies and the original returned, if anyone is interested. :-

I have a like-new Hawk brand 1/24 Mercedes-Benz GP V-12 engine that should be resin copied, but I need to locate someone in N CA that has the skills 'to teach an old dog'. I don't seem to be able to find an online tutorial that covers the subject well enough to risk. I also have some Stombecker Halibrands ((1959 Scarab 1/24 kit) that I'd like to duplicate for other models. Is there any interest in making the molds from this disassembled engine (provided by Hawk as a display engine with their GP racer curbside kit in the early 'sixties) out there? It is not elaborately detailed, but a nice representation of a DOHC V-12 mit kompressor (about ten pieces), and could be used as a basis for numerous mid-century V-12 conversions; personally, I want to simulate a Harry A. Miller engine. I might be willing to provide the original for an experienced caster to duplicate it in exchange for two resin copies and the original returned, if anyone is interested. :-<)

Datsun 240Z to 280Z restoration manual "HOW TO RESTORE YOUR DATSUN Z-CAR (California Bill's Automotive Handbooks, Tucson AZ, orig. 1991) by modeler Wick Humble will be coming out in a completely revised text edition in 2021. We have added new and updated information, and digitally enhanced the original photos for greater clarity. I has been in print since 1991, but this is the first update, reflecting the changing resto scene, etc. This is not a modification manual, but oriented, as before, toward an original, factory-fresh restoration, and covers all the basics -- plus it has an appendix of parts-book drawings with call-out descriptions/nomenclature. For anyone building a 'stock' Z-Car model, this is a good source of information. Race/rally cars are not within the compass of the text; they would deserve a book all to themselves, of course. CA Bill's has books on race mods and mechanical details available. The revised edition will have a bright red 1970 240Z on the cover. Please ignore the semi-mullet and 'eighties dress in some photos (there have been comments online!) the book was first begun in 1984! Author Wick Humble has been active in building scale models since age eight, in 1953, and at age 75, has a bunch of Z kits still to tackle!

"Wickersham Humble" is my true middle/last name, I usually post under Wick Humble, FYI. Had lots of trouble with signing in under Yahoo mail. I may be classed as a 'looker' but have been building since 1953, at least!

I'm hoping to finish about six of my kits saved from 1959-65, and/or complete rebuilding some of my small but very ancient collection that have been damaged, etc. I have first release models uncompleted but nearly so of: 1953 Studebaker Starlight converted to convertible, 1960 Chrysler 2-dr HT to CHP-sponsored match racer, 1949 converted to '51 Ford club coupe (one I drove to college), 1956 Chevy 2.dr sedan converted to '55 (one I drove to high school), 1959 Scarab/Chevy (from 'slot car' to near replica; still have original decal sheet!), 1961 Continental convertible modified to 'sports roadster, ala T-Bird Style-line custom, resin 1952 White 3000 tilt-cab set up as ramp-rod on disguised Ford C-series chassis (I owned a real one), and a 1961 Pontiac Bonny converted to Catalina bubble-top using Chevy B-A roof (wished I'd owned one!) -- so far. Which ones to do? Well, I'm 75 years o age, so I'd better hurry, huh? Wick Humble