From days of long ago - 1909 Hupmobile (OOB)

[Faust]

We all know that “retro modelling” is now a major force. We’ve seen the reissues and the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia have never been put to more use than now. There’s a lot of demand for repops of old, hard to get kits of weird, not-kitted-since subjects. I thought this was a new trend. I was surprised to find out just how “not new” it was when I got my big box of models in the mail from Alan.

In that box, among all kinds of cool stuff, was a Hawk Hupmobile Runabout. This is certainly a subject you don’t find kitted today, and I wasn’t surprised to see it was from the mid ‘60s. However, I was surprised to find out that even then, the model and the subject were both retro, being issued in the mid ‘50s by Kaysun. Thus, you could say that this unusual model really is an early example of a retro-repop!

Check out this ancient replica of an even more ancient relic at the link below. It won the poll I put up, but I’m glad I did. I find Brass Era cars fascinating, and this kit is pretty awesome.

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/hawk-kaysun-1-24-1909-hupmobile-model-20-runabout-oob/

[Tom Geiger]

Tis a funny thing Adam, in the late 1950s when Pyro did that 1909 Hupmobile, it was nearly a 50 year old car... like a 1970 car is to us today.. and we have plenty of model cars like that. And many of our aging herd still thinks of them as fairly new!

[Faust]

It's a Pyro? I thought it was a Kaysun!

You're right, of course, about the time thing. I've noticed it too. For me, it's when people talk of 1995 like it's a quarter century ago, and I'm all like... wait... it IS! Shoot. 

[Danno]

13 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Tis a funny thing Adam, in the late 1950s when Pyro did that 1909 Hupmobile, it was nearly a 50 year old car... like a 1970 car is to us today.. and we have plenty of model cars like that. And many of our aging herd still thinks of them as fairly new!

What are you saying, Tom?  That 'many of our aging herd still think of [1909 Hupmobiles] as fairly new?'

I'M not that old, Tom!  Are you?

??

[Rob Hall]

2 minutes ago, Danno said:

What are you saying, Tom?  That 'many of our aging herd still think of [1909 Hupmobiles] as fairly new?'

I'M not that old, Tom!  Are you?

??

He’s saying 1970 is fairly new to some in the hobby.   I’m a 1970 myself, but don’t feel particularly ‘old’.    But a 1970 car seems quite old to me.  

[Danno]

Rob, you are way too literal. 'Wrapped too tight,' as used to be said. It was a joke that needed no analysis.

My sense of humor is dry. And, that was directed to Tom, who would get and enjoy the humor.

But thanks for explaining the obvious.

??

 

 

 

[bbowser]

I have this kit, hoping to do it justice.  I have been bitten by the brass bug as well.

[Faust]

22 minutes ago, bbowser said:

I have this kit, hoping to do it justice.  I have been bitten by the brass bug as well.

My question is, how DO you do the brass on a brass-era car?

[Motor City]

Adam,

Thanks for another of your always-interesting reviews.  1909 is the first year Hupmobile was made, and most were manufactured in Detroit.   

[dimaxion]

These are two more survivors from the Ideal - KaySun - Strombergh run . 1902 Jefferies Rambler . 1st year for this make also .  I have a built Hupp also . Windows 10 Ate it !  Thanx .. 

[bbowser]

23 hours ago, Faust said:

My question is, how DO you do the brass on a brass-era car?

I've been using Rustoleum brass spray that comes pretty close.  There is also Model Master brass for brush painting that looks good as well.

[Faust]

I find the Rustoleums aren't that "chromy". The polished brass looks like whitish-gold chrome, usually, when it's new and shiny. Is that how the Rustoleum looks, or does it look like antiqued, patinaed brass?

Same question for the MM.

Is there an Alclad, or AK that's polished brass, or something you can do to overcoat Molotow?

[Classicgas]

I wonder if a clear yellow and orange combination over BMF or something like that wouldn't replicate it?

[peteski]

I was wondering why nobody was mentioning Alclad II Polished Brass.  If it is simpler to their Chrome paint (successfully used by many here), then Polished Brass over some glossy paint should look like  . . . polished brass!

[Motor City]

Why not use a brass-colored paint then clearcoat over it to provide a glossy look?

[Richard Bartrop]

BMF makes a brass finish foil, but the colour does come off if you burnish it too much.

[charlie8575]

One tip I was given was to use the Testors brass paint, followed by a topcoat of transparent yellow. I tried a little on a piece of sprue, and it looks good. Just be sure the brass paint is nice and smooth first, so you might want to give a pass with some 1000-1500-2000 sandpaper first if you have brush-marks, or airbrush it.

I now want one of these.

Charlie Larkin

[Motor City]

Thanks for the tip, Charlie!

[peteski]

On 12/20/2020 at 2:54 PM, Motor City said:

Why not use a brass-colored paint then clearcoat over it to provide a glossy look?

Because it is not about glossy coat, it is about the reflectivity of the metallic color.  Most brass-color metallic paints look like metallic paints - gold, but dull.  Clear coat will not magically produce a polished-brass look. It will still look like brass paint with glossy clear coat.  That is why I suggested Alclad II Polished Brass.  It should produce that polished-brass metal effect its name implies.

[Motor City]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

Because it is not about glossy coat, it is about the reflectivity of the metallic color.  Most brass-color metallic paints look like metallic paints - gold, but dull.  Clear coat will not magically produce a polished-brass look. It will still look like brass paint with glossy clear coat.  That is why I suggested Alclad II Polished Brass.  It should produce that polished-brass metal effect its name implies.

My thought was that gold colors tend to look flat and have a faded look to them and the clear coat would prevent oxidation and provide the glossy effect that brass typically has.  I understand and agree with what you are saying, Peter.  What about spraying a flat clear coat over the Alclad to prevent it from rubbing off? 

[peteski]

5 hours ago, Motor City said:

My thought was that gold colors tend to look flat and have a faded look to them and the clear coat would prevent oxidation and provide the glossy effect that brass typically has.  I understand and agree with what you are saying, Peter.  What about spraying a flat clear coat over the Alclad to prevent it from rubbing off? 

I guess we are going after different things.  As I imagine a brass-era car, I picture one where the brass items are smooth polished brass. Like well maintained brass doorknobs, candle holders, or ship's hardware.  Somebody is always polishing those things.

Brass doesn't rust, but it does get dull if not kept in good condition. I suppose if you are going for that weathered look, then any brass color paint will work.

As far as Alclad is concerned, it doesn't rub off *THAT* easily. But any organic-solvent based clear coat (even glossy one) will dull the reflectivity of Alclad.  Clear-coated Alclad chrome will just look like a silver paint, and polished brass will look like brass color paint.  I suppose that using water-based clear on Alclad woudl not dull the finish.

[dimaxion]

On 12/18/2020 at 1:16 AM, dimaxion said:

These are two more survivors from the Ideal - KaySun - Strombergh run . 1902 Jefferies Rambler . 1st year for this make also .  I have a built Hupp also . Windows 10 Ate it !  Thanx .. 

The Brass on these are Clear Coated w/Humbrol Tins Brush Paint . Still all is as shiny as then is now . Testors Brass Bottle Brush Enamel . Both were built in the '80's . EDIT :  <kasun hawk strombecker>  Thanx 

Edited December 27, 2020 by dimaxion

[Faust]

4 hours ago, peteski said:

I guess we are going after different things.  As I imagine a brass-era car, I picture one where the brass items are smooth polished brass. Like well maintained brass doorknobs, candle holders, or ship's hardware.  Somebody is always polishing those things.

Brass doesn't rust, but it does get dull if not kept in good condition. I suppose if you are going for that weathered look, then any brass color paint will work.

As far as Alclad is concerned, it doesn't rub off *THAT* easily. But any organic-solvent based clear coat (even glossy one) will dull the reflectivity of Alclad.  Clear-coated Alclad chrome will just look like a silver paint, and polished brass will look like brass color paint.  I suppose that using water-based clear on Alclad woudl not dull the finish.

 Yeah, that's what I mean. I am looking for brand new, shiny but chromy too, brass. 

I've found that Alclad II Chrome (And Molotow, to a greater degree) get dulled SLIGHTLY by the Alclad II Aquagloss, but are still okay. Anything else, though, and yeah, the chrome goes to complete poop. 

I didnt' know Alclad made a Brass. 

Now all I have to do is find a hobby shop that sells the Alclads. London (Ontario) doesn't have an Alclad dealer that I know of. Of course, it's academic, since everyone's now locked down for COVID again, so no more hobby shop runs for a while. 

Thanks for all the awesome ideas, though, guys!

[charlie8575]

My Hupp just arrived in the mail today. Looking at some pictures now for ideas.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffhp&q=1909+hupmobile+model+20&atb=v222-1&iax=images&ia=images

Charlie Larkin

[Faust]

Nice score, Charlie!

I'm going to be doing mine in a variant of that creamy colour, with red-maroon under the fenders. I think that' is just mega-sharp! 

One thing on these old Hupps (and old cars in general) that worries me is the wooden dash.  Would it really have been polished wood? The pics online of that tattered blue one with the red interior shows the dash painted. I don't know how old a paintjob that is, and have no clue if it's original or not.

However, the wood dashes strike me as being like the beds of 50's pickups. They were all painted black, but when you see "restored" examples the beds are usually chromed rails and polished wood. It looks stellar, but it's wrong. I have a feeling that the "restored" Hupps with their polished dashes (and those rails beside the hood) have actually been "over restored" because it looks nicer and that's what people expect. 

Any ideas anyone?