Ace-Garageguy Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) I got a rear body and fenders from a Johan 1934 Mercedes 500k Special Sports Roadster for about a buck in one of the junk bins at the last year's NNL South. The previous owner had started hacking and filling on the tail of it, making a fastback coupe, and I hated to see his work and vision end up in the trash. Though I didn't really know where he ultimately intended to go, there was something about it I found oddly inspiring. The previous work had some interesting ideas, but was very fragile and mostly carved out of lacquer putty, plastic scraps and some balsa. I thought about it in the back of my mind for over a year and finally got motivated to pull it out and do a hard mockup of the parts of the vision my imagination had filled in. This is what I started with, the $1 rescue (minus the wheels, of course) There's a long way to go with this one, but I've about got the general theme, major proportions and stance where I like them. Edited March 6, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy
bobthehobbyguy Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Interesting project. Looking forward to seeing more of this.
Shardik Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 I absolutely love where this is going. I'm a big fan of art deco styling.
DeeCee Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 I really like this project, way left field, yet still looks like it should be built, some one had VISION!
Deathgoblin Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Like it a lot! I'm looking forward to see where it goes.
Foxer Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 I love the look of this ... from that sloping fastback to the stacked ribs of the grill/hood to the shape of the front fenders!
aurfalien Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Totally killer. This will be an awesome build!PS So now I know what you'll be doing with that Revell parts pack turbine engine thingy. Wow man, this will be a car I'd love to drive in 1:1 even. Edited February 2, 2016 by aurfalien
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 2, 2016 Author Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Thank you all for your interest and kind comments. Again, this was the $1 starting point. No frame, no wheels, no hood, nothing but what you see here. The fenders weren't attached when I got it, so I juggled the proportions to this point. Before I could do anything, I had to reinforce the previous work that had been done. It was VERY fragile, and began to disintegrate as I handled it. A layer of glass and epoxy inside should hold it together long enough to get a final shape, a finish, and molds made. Edited February 21, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy
Scott Colmer Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 The lines are right. This is gaining to be nice!
Miatatom Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Love it! Can't wait to see the finish. What color?
wayne swayze Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Another very cool build you've got there Bill ! Very nice side profile !
Matt Bacon Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Concept looks great, Bill... though it'll be a real labour of love to rework that plastic/balsa/putty hybrid. But I guess that's "sympathetic restoration" rather than a "replica" ;-P Was your name Saoutchik in a previous life? Some of the best looking automobiles ever created, IMHO... you're in great company! bestest, M.
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 3, 2016 Author Posted February 3, 2016 Again, thank you all for your interest and comments. Matt, I'm sure that Saoutchik, as well as Figoni et Falaschi, and even Capt. Nemo's car from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" were all at least strong subconscious influences on the looks of this thing. So now I know what you'll be doing with that Revell parts pack turbine engine thingy. You guessed it. This one will use a large turbine made up from the Revell kit, in the front, powering a generator that drives wheel-motors and charges a battery pack. I have something somewhat similar going that uses two small turbines in the rear in a setup inspired by the Jag C-X75. ... What color? I've been experimenting with faux-bare-metal finishes for a while, and in keeping with the kinda dark tech-noir feel I'm after for this one, I'll probably be doing something like what finally worked out for my Challenger I a couple years back.
drsnapper55 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 Great approach to something different - looking forward to seeing this come along, and thanks for sharing with the pics.That may be a common tip with the fiberglass and epoxy, but I don't think I have ever seen that done before. Could you elaborate a little more on the fiberglass fabric (where to get?) and maybe what set you used for the epoxy? Also, do you just sand that out further after it sets or other? Thanks,
talon63 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 Loving the concept, looking forward to the execution. This will be a work of art.
om617 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 I like your vision of this,going to be really cool.
Spex84 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 Yesss more AceCarGarageGuy insane projects!I love this. I liked the original starting-point, and what you've planned with the skirted fenders, rear fin, and new nose. Looks like a monolithic undertaking O.O
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