Phildaupho

Great looking Cobra. Really like the photo of the Cobras and Z06 Stingrays. Two of my favourite cars.

Yes I think you are correct. I did not notice the similarity to the Sunny/Academy kit. I may build mine with an AMT body which would be more correct.

With shipping it came to just under $50 Canadian so maybe $40US. I think my friend ordered from Hobbylink Japan.

A friend brought this in from Japan for me although I will not actually get it for two weeks I had to find some pictures of it. The kit is from GTM which is a Modellers company. It is based on the AMT kit with some extras to build a replica of the car Ken Miles hammered the trunk and broke the windscreen with a wrench in the movie Ford vs Ferrari. I have the Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby figurines that came with the Revell USRRC kit so they will look good with this one

Thanks to everyone involved for a great virtual model car show two years in a row. Hopefully you can have a live event next time

Please let us know when the results have been posted. Thanks

I was so impressed with this project that I blew my previous post but I am utterly blown away with what you have accomplished so far. This technological is amazing. When I first heard about it many years ago it was almost top secret for producing parts for future navy ships and it sounded so Star Trek and here you are creating a model of the latest Aston Martin F-1. Far freaking out !!

A friend had a Danbury Mint Hirohata so I could not resist comparing it to my model. The DM is slightly larger so may be 1/24. It is an incredible model. The gaps are amazingly tight. The shape of the rear fenders are more accurate as are the window sizes. I do however prefer my more greenish shade of sea-foam.

Thanks Carl I always appreciate your comments

Great looking early McLaren. Would be great to have this reissued

Fantastic looking racing car. I also saw Mark race in 1967 at Kent Washington in a USRRC event. Both the Lola and Camaro were there. I instantly became a fan of Donohue, Sunoco, Penske, Can-Am and Trans-Am.

Very creative and interesting

Thanks Les - I look forward to seeing yours Thanks Chris

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