traditional Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) Danbury Mint has made some outstanding diecast models over the last 15 years, but not every one 'reached for the top'. Their pair of limited edition 1951 Fords (both hardtop and convertible) had notable proportion issues {sagging rear quarters, overly wide front bumpers and windshields, too tall roof, simplicity of engine compartment details, overly deep gas tank and spare tire well, etc.) Compounding the problem, the early production issue of the 'Victoria' hardtop often suffered from extreme metal fatigue, a condition caused by impurities in the casting metal. In this case the result was a progressive expanding and/or cracking and crumbling of many key diecast components...trunk lid and hinge, hood and hinge, doors, and main chassis. The normally rare and costly model soon becomes junk.My brother, Larry, bought one of those very inexpensively a few years ago and, using the pristine '51 trim components, has combined a Unique Replicas '49 Ford convertible (copied closely from a similar Danbury '49 Ford), a very basic MotorMax '49 Ford Coupe, and salvageable components from the otherwise 'fatigued' Danbury '51 Ford.Carefully cutting, grinding, bending, and mechanically fastening (screws, pins, etc) the diecast components, and applying Bondo to achieve reasonable panel shut lines and fit, he has produced a durable model of a '51 Ford Coupe...a vehicle not currently produced in 1/24 or 1/25 kit or diecast form, and seldom seen in resin. Though certainly not one of his usual scratch built projects, the model, none-the-less, took a full month of fairly steady work to complete and becomes an additional shelf model that isn't likely to be seen often in other collections. DM's somewhat disproportionate original '51 Victoria....Larry's was decaying (hood, trunk-lid, doors, chassis) due to metal fatigue Body sag eliminated and Motormax roof fastened on Coupe upper door mated to Unique Replicas lower door (to take advantage of the DM hinges) Unique replicas '49 Ford trunk-lid and engine hood modified to replace decayed DM '51 Ford version Unique Replicas chassis (with floor detail ground away) to replace fatigued DM chassis Body and doors being blended and finished Edited March 10, 2016 by traditional 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traditional Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) Window trim fabricated using plated jewelry wire Edited March 10, 2016 by traditional 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traditional Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne swayze Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 As usual....WOW!! The photography is superb as well! My hat is off again to your brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMCMAN52 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Can I have the key, I just want to take it around the block a few times..................Wow , That's some great work there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Beautiful work ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plastheniker Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Knowing your truck models I didn't expect here anything else but perfection - and I was right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Absolutely excellent work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Cliff... you and Larry make the rest of us look like hacks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 And all of the work in metal instead of styrene. . Really, really nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 AWESOME!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 That looks great.I recently learned about the metal falling apart and hope none of mine do that now that they do not make them and doubt the lifetime warranty still applies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Beautiful work, very nice save and rebuild. Quite inspiring. Just one little point...metal "fatigue" is a specific kind of failure caused by repeated flexing of a part, like bending a piece of aluminum can back and forth until it breaks. The disintegration of the die-cast model cars due to impurities in the base metal isn't at all related to "metal fatigue". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Rollins Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Now thats determination... beautiful car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Nicely done Cliff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
花火 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 never thought that one can make window trim with wire.. nice work Cliff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekay Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Stunning replica, the best shoebox I've seen (and there have been some beauties). The window trim is exquisite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom99 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 That is awesome, wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangodart Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Very impressive, I'm always impressed when seeing work on Die Cast, the paint is perfect !!!! The only thing which upset me are the hood hinges, typical of Die Cast model, that are very thick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Trucker Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 wow, what a great work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnslow Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 I've always liked the 51 grill with the twin bullets, beautiful job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Beautiful save Larry !! You two make a great team,... you don't work at the same bench do you ? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfan Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 You guys really raise the grading curve for the rest of us! B-E-A-Utiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Beautiful work, very nice save and rebuild. Quite inspiring. Just one little point...metal "fatigue" is a specific kind of failure caused by repeated flexing of a part, like bending a piece of aluminum can back and forth until it breaks. The disintegration of the die-cast model cars due to impurities in the base metal isn't at all related to "metal fatigue". Good point, Bill, but "metal fatigue" just rolls off the tongue more readily than "intergranular corrosion" or whatever the the true cause is called. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flathead Fred Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 Great work! I drove a real one (same color) as a teenager back in the late 50's; it was practically indestructible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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