Phildaupho

Both totally awesome. The 49 is maybe the best survivor I have ever seen. Over 40 years. WOW

Thanks Larry

Mercurys have got to be at the top of list when thinking about customs cars. At first I was just thinking about 49-50-51 Mercurys but really a Mercury from any year is worth seeing. I will get the ball rolling with my three Mercurys from the 49-51 era but lets see your custom Mercs from any era. At the left front is the just completed Hirohata 51. Behind it is the recently built Sam Barris 49. To the right are two 49s based on the AMT kit. In front is the built early last year replica of the Merc driven by James Dean in the movie Rebel Without A Cause. Behind it is the model that got me back into the hobby in the mid 1990's with which I tried all the classic custom mods such as chopping the top, frenching the headlights and rounding the hood corners. It was also my first use of bare Metal Foil and Tamiya spray paint.

Thanks Tom Thanks David - I have heard the car is for sale. I hope it is purchased by a museum where it can be preserved for the future.

I always like seeing cars Dan Gurney raced and this is one of the more unusual. It would be great to see it negotiating at slot-car track.

Thanks Bruce - glad you like it Thanks Trevor - I appreciate your compliments

Thanks Al That's what I was hoping for Thanks David - The real thing is definitely a piece of history Thanks Russ - I am really impressed with Mr. Color paints and Mr. Hobby products from the venerable Gunze Sangyo company.

Judging by your mock up this T-bucket is going capture all the best aspects of when a T-bucket looks exactly right.

Thanks Guys - Here is another photo of the car taken in the sunshine

Thanks Bob - Actually what looks black is very dark green Thanks David Thanks TJ Thanks John Thanks Ray Thanks Oliver. I recommend you try to get a Revell Custom Merc kit for the chassis and interior. It took me over twenty years to get mine built so keep it on your to do list.

THE DETAILS BODY - T&T Resin curbside kit from the 1990’s. Body was left removable to display the interior and engine - Windshield and side glass areas were enlarged - Windshield from Revell ’49 Merc and is V-butted like real car - Rear window is vacuumed the formed piece that came with the T&T kit and was difficult to fit - The vent windows and headlight lenses from Revell ’49 Merc - Windshield wipers from Revell ’49 Merc Custom - Spotlights from AMT ’49 Merc - The resin teeth on the rear fender are chrome plastic pieces. - Below the driver’s side vent window is a decal of the brass The Hawaiian badge that covered the holes for the removed side view mirror ROLLING CHASSIS - Revell ’49 Merc Custom with engine compartment area removed - Sombrero hubcaps with crests came with T&T kit. Rear wheels from AMT ’49 Ford ENGINE - Cadillac engine from Revell ’49 Merc Custom - Converted back to standard transmission like the real car was. Transmission is from AMT ’49 Ford kit optional Cadillac engine - Carburettors from Revell Tweedy Pie with scoops reversed - Valve covers from AMT ’59 El Camino - Oil filter from AMT ’49 Ford INTERIOR - From Revell ’49 Merc Custom with upholstery modified to more closely resemble the real car with extra trim on the door panels, the pleated area on seats reshaped, the front seat split cut open. - The ’51 dash is a super nice kit mastered by custom car historian and great car modeller Rik Hoving and cast by Replicas & Miniatures as are the armrests and door handles - Pinstriping decal on glovebox from original done by Von Dutch - Dash and shift knobs on real car were laminated plastic turned on a lathe by Bob Hirohata - Rear package shelf from AMT ’49 Mercury covered with grooved Evergreen to simulate tuck & roll as is drivers side floor mat - Clutch pedal added - Steering wheel from Revell ’49 Merc modified with bullet centre PAINT - Mr.Color lacquer air brushed. Sea foam green is white tinted with green. Metallic green darkened with black - Clear coated with Mr. Hobby Mr. Super Clear RV Cut Gloss from the spray can I have to thank the person who mastered the body and parts for this model. All things considered; they did a great job duplicating the unique features of the Hirohata Merc which I would have found very difficult to do myself. For more about the Hirohata merc check out the great video Hirohata Merc: Custom Legend - Full Documentary on Classic Cars - YouTube

Very well done conversion of the XKSS to D-Type

I love this style of hot rod and you did it exactly right.

Big Daddy would dig this. I just started a BNB replica so can appreciate the work you have done. Very cool.

Great looking custom in all respects. Very well built. Interesting choice of engine.

Great thread. Great hot rod model resurrection using the skills you have honed over the quarter of century since you started the build. The Colors of Boyd were an excellent line of paints. Some of my best paint jobs came from those paints airbrushed 60/40 paint and lacquer thinner and once polished did not require clear.

Looking forward to this one. Some may think I am a rod & custom guy but I love sports car just as much and I take it you feel the same way

Absolutely far out !! I really dig this !!

Excellent . I am sure this will be a treasured possession for Mr. Miller

Absolutely outstanding. This is maybe the most elaborate livery I have seen on a Tamiya Mustang. It might be time for a dedicated thread for Tamiya Mustangs to see them all in one place.

You gotta build a tribute model of that car Old Yeller I. Close counts !!

Great looking A-Rod from a very welcomed back kit. Gorgeous color selection.

That looks like Old Yeller 1 which is shown and talked about in the video Max Balchowsky Story - YouTube

Hey Bill – Great video. Have you seen the recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage featuring Old Yeller II - Max Balchowsky's 1959 Old Yeller II - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube I have been aware of Max and his Old Yeller’s since I was a kid who loved hot rods and then developed an interest in road racing. In the 2003 there were classes for American Road Race Specials at both the Monterey Historics and the Pebble Beach Concours. By chance I got to help out in the Laguna Seca paddock for the HWM Stovebolt Special. I have always wanted to build a model of that car but could never find a good starting point. I eventually saw Old Yeller II at a subsequent Monterey event. I could not stop thinking about Old Yeller II and while watching the Indy 500 I decided to try to cobble together something that at least would resemble Old Yeller II. Some think Shelby was inspired to build Cobras after racing Old Yeller II so I came up with the idea of trying to modify a Revell 427 Cobra to resemble Old Yeller. I probably will not get beyond this point until later in the year but I have a plan and all the parts I need to finish it off.