Eric Macleod Posted March 16, 2020 Posted March 16, 2020 While I was a high school student I built this old Thomas and "weathered" it, mostly using thinned out paint and brushes. I uncovered it and it clearly looked even worse for wear. I am going to reassemble it and maybe add a few things. Here it is on the messy bench as of this morning.
robertw Posted March 16, 2020 Posted March 16, 2020 Hope you'll post pics as you rebuild the Thomas. Years ago I found a book on that race and became fascinated with it which led to hunting down more books. Got hold of one of the Flyer kits but have yet to build it. Reading about what the Great Race drivers went through and how we live today brought forth a new respect for our ancestors. This was an event that deserves a truthful movie and not the silly comedy with Tony Curtiss. There have been several excellent books published on the 1908 race although most are now out of print.
64Comet404 Posted March 16, 2020 Posted March 16, 2020 Looking forward to this rebuild, Eric. It’s a kit that I have wanted to build for many years.
Eric Macleod Posted March 18, 2020 Author Posted March 18, 2020 I have the main components of the kit back together. I decided to photograph it together with my other Thomas to show the difference between the factory stock and the car as modified for the race.
Eric Macleod Posted March 18, 2020 Author Posted March 18, 2020 More details will be added but for now, I shall return to my again delayed L-29 Cord project. Thanks to all who have looked in on this one!
Bainford Posted March 18, 2020 Posted March 18, 2020 Cool model. I always wanted to snag one of these, but never did. Your model looks like it would be a great start on a barn-find build. Looking forward to learning more about this interesting kit.
robertw Posted March 18, 2020 Posted March 18, 2020 I like what you've done so far. How did you create your canvas fender look. Did you ever read the story about how the original leather fenders were stolen by crew aboard the ship that took them to Asia., the crew using the material to make shoe soles.
bbowser Posted March 18, 2020 Posted March 18, 2020 (edited) Eric, what did you use for the fenders on the stock build? I'd like to do that with my kit. Edited March 19, 2020 by bbowser
Eric Macleod Posted March 20, 2020 Author Posted March 20, 2020 On 3/18/2020 at 7:59 PM, bbowser said: Eric, what did you use for the fenders on the stock build? I'd like to do that with my kit. I used front fenders out of a distressed MPC Darraq kit and the rears were from a 1/32 Rolls Royce...a Pyro kit I believe. The rear seat assembly was sort of cur and pasted out of a Revell Lil John Buttera Model T Touring. The whole car was very much of a cut and paste but actually came together pretty well. If I were to do it again, I would use a different rear seat and carve pleats into it to match the front seat and I would add half round moldings to the fenders. Alas, I am reluctant to tear apart anything that is done with 150 unbuilts calling my name!
Mike999 Posted March 20, 2020 Posted March 20, 2020 I remember somebody building a stock Flyer, using the fenders from the MPC 1914 Stutz Bearcat. Maybe another memory in here is better than mine.
Eric Macleod Posted March 20, 2020 Author Posted March 20, 2020 3 hours ago, Mike999 said: I remember somebody building a stock Flyer, using the fenders from the MPC 1914 Stutz Bearcat. Maybe another memory in here is better than mine. I sort of remember that also. I really wish I would have thought about that at the time I put mine together.
Richard Bartrop Posted March 20, 2020 Posted March 20, 2020 I remember that one as well. For anyone contemplating doing a stock Flyer, there are some shots floating around the Internet of the New York to Paris car from the start of the race, when it still had its stock front fenders. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/1908_New_York_to_Paris_Race%2C_Roberts.jpg
Eric Macleod Posted March 21, 2020 Author Posted March 21, 2020 7 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said: I remember that one as well. For anyone contemplating doing a stock Flyer, there are some shots floating around the Internet of the New York to Paris car from the start of the race, when it still had its stock front fenders. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/1908_New_York_to_Paris_Race%2C_Roberts.jpg And I think the actual Thomas Flyer used for the New York to Paris race started out as a Runabout, not a Touring Car. Of course I didn't learn that tidbit until my model had been finished for 10 years!
Sam I Am Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 I built this one as a kid as well. I might even have a couple wheels left from it.
Eric Macleod Posted March 28, 2020 Author Posted March 28, 2020 I remember this one being a model that almost every one of my friends built. Straight out of the box with almost no paint, they looked halfway decent. A little black, some gold and a little red really woke them up, mostly because of all the brass. I hsve not abandoned this one. I just decided to go back to the Cord for the weekend.
charlie8575 Posted March 28, 2020 Posted March 28, 2020 I have one of these downstairs. I'll be watching with interest. Charlie Larkin
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