Lowlife ! !

That's brilliant, these were so common in the UK and every one looked just like this ! ! I don't think they ever came clean and shiny from the factory...... ...... So glad you built it used and abused, looks great ( but needs UK no. plates !! ) ......... Lowlife ! !

James..... ..... How you doing ? Not seen any of your builds for a while, glad to see your still at it ! ! Anything looks cool with Astro`s , but a wagon is just killer ..... ...... Going to be following this one, hope its stays that low too, perfect stance ! ! Lowlife ! !

Really nice job with the Scort !! Funny I owned 2 of these, but always wanted a Mk1.... They was cheap run-arounds when I was a kid, but there BIG money now. Your doing a fantastic job on this, a excellent tutorial too, ( not just on the Mk2 but a great way of building any car ) . Ever part is as clean and accurate as possible and I look forward to more progress..... ......Lowlife ! !

Looking good, a slammed min-bin....... ......just a suggestion here but.... if you look at the pic from the back the car sits very much on the edge of the tyres. In real life they would squash down a bit, so if you sand them a little on the edges it will also lower the car more ! Looking good its nice to see something a bit more unusual being built !! Lowlife ! !

Now this is my kind of thang ! ! You nailed this one, so cool I just hope it gets copied in real scale. For those of us who didn't see the mag feature any chance of posting it up ? Great stuff I look forward to more of your Crazy builds .... .... Lowlife ! !

Incredible start John.... ..... Ive admired your work for years, not surprised you were asked to build this for the museum. Good luck with the paint, I think that could prove one of the hardest parts of this build, im sure your manage anyway ! Looking forward to more of the same....... Lowlife ! !

Absolutely amazing paint job, don't worry about the how-to video, can I just send you my models to paint instead ....... ...... Are you going to finish the jag now its painted, or was this a paint trial, for now ? .... ..Lowlife ! !

Thanks again guys, and Jason I would be interested to see what you could do with a bug, your 49 merc is amazing....... .... ! I was in my local hobby shop once ( in the UK, so they don't sell many cars, mainly just Tamiya sports cars. ) and couldn't find anything I wanted, and I saw this bug. It was so far away from anything id normally buy, that it just seemed a cool challenge to build it ! Once home I nearly regretted getting it, I considered a pro street version, a lowrider, a sled, even a gasser, but it went back into the box till I could decide. Its fun now, though I still hate bodywork, but at least I will (hopefully..) be a little better with the filler after this things built...... ..... Thanks for taking the time to comment on this build, like most people say it does inspire the builder to get back to the modelling desk and get a bit more done. Talking of which I will post pics of it in primer soon, just need to find my filler, I threw it somewhere..... ..... More soon........ Lowlife ! !

Thanks guys, hey Rob I love cars `layin frame` too, but this is 1mm off the floor ! ! And thanks for the suggestion Rich, yeah been thinking I might blend in the top and bottom of the foglight hole, leaving slits as indicators maybe ?? Not sure yet, thought id get it on wheels, then go back to the bodywork ! More soon.... Lowlife ! !

Here is a couple more pics, how the bug sits now the suspensions all done...Radiator and engine are fitted too, ........... I said this thing sits Low...... .......

Next up was the rear end... Now I thought id try something different here, seeing as the rear suspension is more visible, so I thought id scratchbuild it. I wanted hydraulics, so I devised a swing arm system with a triangle kind of 2 bar support, !! In real life it might work, it might not, but I enjoy this kind of thing so if it looks cool that's fine with me ! I remade the axle with metal tubing too so it didn't break again, added the prop, and wired up the hydraulic lines..... Heres some pics, hope it makes sense now.......

Thanks, thought id get you up to date with this one, front suspension first... As I said I wanted this as low as possible, so I used 1mm plastic to hold up the chassis and built the suspension around it ! The spindles were scratchbuilt, coils cut, and I had to trim a little of the tyre edges to fit...... ...... They are made to turn slightly too, so when the body fits on the wheels can settle in. Cant see much of the details but heres pics.......

Hey this should look cool, great engine choice ! As your going for a modern feel how bout colour coding the engine, add a smooth engine bay too ?? Wheels look great , im looking forward to more progress...... ......Lowlife ! !

Wow I thought heres just another merc build, but I read through it and Im hooked .... ..... You do great modifications, and there are loads of ideas to copy..... ..... Thought you would go for a old style engine set up, the new one looks fantastic ! Have you considered making the rest of the car look more modern, new wheels, interior parts maybe ? Love it whatever you do mate, very inspirational build I will look forward to more......... Lowlife ! !

Thanks, yes the engine is quite set back but does fit under the bugs bonnet (hood??) Made the engine, ive changed the induction pipes as they didn't fit, and its painted ! Colour is plasti-kote Lavender for the engine and Tamiya lavender for the chassis, these are the colours im using for the rest of the car too. The first engine pic looks pink.... ...., after a couple more pics I got a true colour in the second pic... Funny how different two shades of lavender can be eh? .... More soon, thanks for looking in and as usual comments and suggestions etc gladly accepted ....... .....Lowlife ! !

Very nice, paint looks great, where are the flames from are they a transfer ? ........ Lowlife ! !

Thanks again guys, bit more done on the chassis..... ..... The front bumper was extended underneath to hide the rad etc, rear end of the chassis is part 350z and part scratch built in plastic. The front and rear parts are part of the bodywork, and the rest of the chassis now slides in ! Still needs rear inner arches but it fits the wheels front and back with a tiny gap for suspension ! The rear end is also 350z , which was bent and I snapped it straightening it out .... .....So you can just see in the pics I inserted a metal rod through the rear end, for strength and to keep it straight. Wheels have discs and calipers now too, engine is together and the front suspensions coming along......More Soon..... Lowlife ! !

Thanks for posting this up, I LOVE that colour, wow that's awesome. Got to get some of that paint, suits the 40 really well .....Lowlife ! !

Love this one Paul, beautiful paint as always and a perfect choice of wheels n` tyres, slammed stance helps too...... ..... Lowlife ! !

Very nice, you do great paint.... Have to ask what colour is the 40 Sedan delivery, I LOVE that colour. Look forward to seeing you building again...... Lowlife ! !

Thanks guys, much appreciated, Slusher hadn't heard from you in a while, glad your still around ! Man this guy can spray paint.....And thanks Sonny, talking of chassis......... Bit more, at this point I thought id start on the chassis, the 350z had a nice engine with lots of chrome so thought id go with the 350 chassis, (and the engine) and maybe scratchbuild the running gear. The most important thing in my builds is stance, if its not right (usually on the floor, hence the Lowlife tag . .. ) then I rip it apart and redo it till its right. After removing the temporary floor, i found with these wheels it was going to need some major work so I tried the chassis fit, then trimmed a bit off, and another bit, till it was in 10 pieces !! I made the centre section fit, then had a couple of tries to do the front and rear....... More soon....

I PM`d you mate, don't want to waste your thread chatting about the good ol` days, eh..... .......Now get on with the Galaxie I want to nick more idea`s...........Lowlife ! !

Wow, this is fast becoming a masterpiece..... ...... You do great bodywork, to compliment the 3D chassis and parts, hope you keep the wheel / tyre combo ( are they Astro Supremes ? ) Really looking forward to more Andy, thanks for posting...... Lowlife ! !

Ok so the front lights are...... 1937 Ford !! I removed the chrome and slightly flared out the beetle holes, thought they looked better angled inwards too. Rear lights are now smoothed out, as are the door handles, boot lock etc I removed the lower part of the rear bumper too, might add a defuser here or big exhausts...Some may like the lights, some maybe not, but hey I love em ! More soon.......

Thanks guys, really appreciate the replies..... Ken , A kustom klinic winner eh? Never heard of this, but im glad you think its worthy ! I wasn't sure about the bumper either, but im pleased with how it looks now ..... And Rob, yeah I thought about the front light openings like that, but then I went all through my spares boxes and found some I think are perfect ! When the pics upload I will show you... Thanks again guys.......