curt raitz Posted June 24, 2011 Posted June 24, 2011 (edited) Found this model on a local hobby shop's shelf on sale for $20.00 each. I was kinda hesitant at first...had not heard of the Chinese company Fuman. The LHS opened the box so I could get a look at the model, was impressed with the number and quality of the parts...so picked one up. Upon researching the car, found out Aurora and Bandai had both previously released a version of this car in 1/16th scale. The Fuman kit is a re-pop of the Bandai kit...even has "Bandai" stamped under both running boards. This kit was fun to build and something just a little bit different. Paint is Tamiya TS-34 Camel Yellow Decals are a little stubborn...none of the decal setting solutions I have did anything to help settle them down! Fuman Kit: Bandai Kit: after building this car, went back to the hobby shop and picked up another kit. gonna build a fender-less racing version of the Mercer thanx for lookin' Edited June 25, 2011 by curt raitz
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2011 Posted June 24, 2011 That turned out beautifully! Great detail all around. I love seeing the old "brass age" cars getting their turn in the spotlight. Well done!
Crazy Ed Posted June 24, 2011 Posted June 24, 2011 That turned out beautifully! Great detail all around. I love seeing the old "brass age" cars getting their turn in the spotlight. Well done! Yea, What Harry said! I look forward to the Speedster version. Crazy Ed
kenlwest Posted June 24, 2011 Posted June 24, 2011 Beautiful Job! Every time I see a build of an early brass car, I can't help but wonder what it must have been like to own one of them. I have seen these on Ebay from time to time... and from the looks of it, I guess I don't need to hesitate to bid! Thanks for posting!
Guest Gramps-xrds Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 That looks just great. Nice and clean and well detailed. I commend your work. It looks a lot like the old MPC Stutz Bearcat.
Rob Z Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 HOLY COW!!! That really looks great... I have had one of these in my stash for 5 or 6 years now and was just getting ready to sell it to one of my club members... After seeing this I am definately thinking twice about that... AWESOME JOB!!!
charlie8575 Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 This is a new reissue? I'll have to keep my eye open. Really, really nice, Kurt. Charlie Larkin
mrm Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 awesome!!!! I really like how the paint looks just right. Not too shiny and just makes the model look authentic.
Dave B Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 I had this kit back in the earlier 60's when just a kid. Needless to say it's long gone. Never looked that good though!! Dave B
Rade8boy Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 (edited) Wow great job on the Mercer! I have the Entex version in my stash, which probably is a reboxed Bandai. Unfortunately my kit does not have any of the decals in it. Edited June 25, 2011 by Rade8boy
GTMust Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 Beautiful build Curt!! I'm a brass car lover. Here's picture of a racing Mercer that may help you with your racer version. I believe it was an entrant in an early Indianapolis 500 (I haven't checked this, but it should be easy to do) and is now located in the Simeone Foundation Race Car Museum in Philadelphia, PA. I used it as the basis for my 1/32 scale build of the same car. Hope this helps. Tony
Art Laski Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 What a beauty, Curt! Can't wait to see the next one. -Art
sjordan2 Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 Fabulous work. As mentioned above, Fuman reboxed a number of 1/16 Bandai kits including the Bugatti Royale, Excalibur SS, etc. The 1/16 Aurora kit is a low-detail curbside, as is the Aurora Stutz Bearcat. I have a Lindberg 1/16 Stutz racer with engine detail and full frame, which I plan to combine with the Aurora Bearcat for a better-detailed stock version.
Harold Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 (edited) Love the brass era cars. Can you imagine actually racing one of those? It would probably be a bit like going over Niagra Falls in a barrel. Sweet. Love the 'monacle' windshield. Edited June 25, 2011 by Harold
ZIL 111V Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 Beautiful! Bandai outdone themselves, nearly 40 years ago, with the introduction of this superb Mercer kit, surely one of Bandai best 1/16th scale kits. Got a few Mercer 1/16 kits, in Chinese FUMAN Edition boxes, on eBay for dead cheap a few years back.
sjordan2 Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 Beautiful! Bandai outdone themselves, nearly 40 years ago, with the introduction of this superb Mercer kit, surely one of Bandai best 1/16th scale kits. Got a few Mercer 1/16 kits, in Chinese FUMAN Edition boxes, on eBay for dead cheap a few years back. Insanely cheap, as a matter of fact. Someone had a shipload of 1/16 Fuman Mercers that they were unloading on eBay a couple of years ago, and I got mine for $7.99. Going to use it for upgrading the Aurora Stutz instruments, levers, etc., and adding the monocle windshield.
Harry P. Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 Insanely cheap, as a matter of fact. Someone had a shipload of 1/16 Fuman Mercers that they were unloading on eBay a couple of years ago, and I got mine for $7.99. Going to use it for upgrading the Aurora Stutz instruments, levers, etc., and adding the monocle windshield. What a deal! There are a couple on ebay right now going for a lot more than that!
Art Anderson Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 All original 1911 Mercer race car (not a raceabout, this was used strictly for racing on the east coast), found in a warehouse in this condition in Elizabeth NJ, photographed right behind the Tower Terrace Grandstand South at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Concours d'Elegance on May 14: Love the original patina! Art
davyou5 Posted June 26, 2011 Posted June 26, 2011 You kill me every time with your Outstanding Builds.. Awesome! ;) .
curt raitz Posted June 26, 2011 Author Posted June 26, 2011 Thanx for the great responses to this model Already started working on the fenderless racing version...basing it on this car I have nothing other than a few photos of the car, but liked the color combo and will try and dirty-it-up just like the real thing
sjordan2 Posted June 26, 2011 Posted June 26, 2011 This is going to be awesome based on what you've already done. Can you show more photos of the 1:1 or provide a link?
Jim Gibbons Posted June 26, 2011 Posted June 26, 2011 Wow...that is a beautiful model you built! I remember reading an article of the racing version you're going to build that was owned by the artist Peter Helck. His vintage racing paintings are magnificent. I agree with many of you; it's so great to see this recent influx of brass era cars being modeled.
sjordan2 Posted June 26, 2011 Posted June 26, 2011 Wow...that is a beautiful model you built! I remember reading an article of the racing version you're going to build that was owned by the artist Peter Helck. His vintage racing paintings are magnificent. I agree with many of you; it's so great to see this recent influx of brass era cars being modeled. Peter Helck owned one? His paintings are among the best ever done.
Jim Gibbons Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) Peter Helck owned one? His paintings are among the best ever done. Yes, Skip; the very one that Curt is going to model. Here's the Hemmings Classic Car mag article on it: http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2009/04/01/hmn_feature6.html Edited June 27, 2011 by Jim Gibbons
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