STRIPTEASE 49 MERC (The Sultana of Old Burlesque)

[Dr. Cranky]

I know, I know, this thread has a silly title, but I mean every word of it. Lately, several of you have been building some fabulous 49 Mercs (again, and again and again) and I can't get enough of it. I can't get this kit out of my blood stream. I have a million and three projects and suddenly--after a month-long slump and a lot of real life responsibilities and work, I return to the bench to build a what?

You guessed it, another 49 Merc. Those of you who have built one know what I am talking about. The LIMITED EDITION kit, it's the way to go, it's certainly the way that I always go. It's one of my favorites (next to, of course, 1950 Chevy Pick UP by AMT, and the 41 Willys by Revell, yadda-yadda). You've heard it from me before.

I have all the parts in primer, but for some reason I am trying to build up my confidence by sharing a brief history of where I've been with this kit so far in hopes that I do something different, again.

Here's a little glimpse of where I've been with this before:

BAJA LOCO:

BLUE VELVET:

FRENCH QUARTER VOODOO RAT MERC:

HOMAGE TO H.R. GIGER PAIR:

KILLER "J" (Homage to Heith Ledger's JOKER)

And there have been a few others, both shiny and rusty . . . but this next one . . .

BURLESQUE, I don't know where I am going with it yet, but we'll all soon find out . . . hope you will stay tuned in . . .

Edited April 30, 2012 by Dr. Cranky

[Dr. Cranky]

I am also borrowing some styling cues from a couple of masters, including:

Lyle Willit's beautiful work:

And a couple of fabulous illustrations by Jairus Watson:

The plan is to go hoodless and go with either primer colors or a bit of rusting . . . I don't know yet . . .

[ValvEasy]

I'm building one too: "Crime & Punishment"!

[cobraman]

Sounds like you may be building a Bettie Page special.

[Dr. Cranky]

More self-inflicted inspiration:

[Dr. Cranky]

I'm building one too: "Crime & Punishment"!

LOVE IT, bring it on . . . man, I hope others will join in. I've gotten a few more copies of this kit and I am AMAZED at how suddenly I am paying like 24 bucks per kit. I hope to buy up a few more before the prices continue to skyrocket. For this kind of high quality kit, I don't mind.

Hope those of you who want to join in will feel more than welcome to post your builds here . . . if you want to, I don't mind.

Sounds like you may be building a Bettie Page special.

Ray, it's certainly what I have in mind. The name "burlesque" came to me because this is going to be a "hoodless" build, so you know . . . topless, hoodless equals burslesque in my crazy mind. LOL!

[Dr. Cranky]

By the way, those of you who have built HOODLESS customs, please share your builds here if you want to too.

It's a particular look I am after . . . well, see some of the pictures above.

I have not been able to get Lyle's model out of my head since he posted it here, and also Jairu's illustrations which I think are going to be in the box art of the new GALAXIE kits being reissued.

[Dr. Cranky]

Darn it, now I'm going crazy with Betty Paige and this "burlesque" stuff. Of course, we'll try to keep it clean. Last time we didn't, ahem, ahem, we didn't make it into the magazines. LOL!

Gee, I wonder why:

:lol:

[Dr. Cranky]

I am sure other ideas will happen along the way . . .

[JasonFL]

You have some great inspiration there doc. Excited to see we're your going to take this one. I have the revell kit sitting on the workbench untouched with no plans except to slam it, but when I get to it, I'll make sure to jump in on this party.

[Dr. Cranky]

Give it a go, Jason . . . you never know how much fun it is until you jump in . . . looking forward to it.

Shoot, I am even thinking of using the 41 Willy blown hemi and painting it red! I see some lace too . . . Leather and lace!

[Jantrix]

Kinda wierd timing you pulling this out because I've finally solved my front seat design issue for the Jolly Roger Merc. So that one will be coming up soon!

[Dr. Cranky]

Rob, I know . . . there's something in the air (or here on the forum) going on with all these Mercs. I just finished seeing John Teresi's 49 MERC, you know the one painted with Alclad. What a great build that is.

And I've also been hearing these two songs for more inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4LZr8OksM

[Dr. Cranky]

The other model inspiration I've been following is this build Steve Boutte's been working on and which is going to be so AMAZING and SICK:

Of course, if you know Steve's work, he is always raising the bar way high. Way high!

[Chuck Most]

You had my attention with 'burlesque'.

[Grumpa]

You had me at "Baja Loco". The leaves on the fenders look really...I mean really familiar! I'm looking forward to whatever way the wind blows you on this one.

[Trans Am Erik]

I'll keep my eye on this one, go Cranky!

[LoneWolf15]

You're driving me crazy , you know that ? I really enjoyed building Miss Indigo , the kit just falls together. The end result , well , that goes without saying ! What a great kit to build !

I had no plans to build another anytime soon and then you throw up this post ! I did promise Kathie that I would build one in her color and I bought those beautiful wire wheels from Modelhaus so .......

Thanks , Virg ! Appreciate the new project ! Lol!

Edited April 26, 2012 by LoneWolf15

[JasonFL]

Give it a go, Jason . . . you never know how much fun it is until you jump in . . . looking forward to it.

Shoot, I am even thinking of using the 41 Willy blown hemi and painting it red! I see some lace too . . . Leather and lace!

I would love to doc believe me but I have to get these other ones done so I can jump on it. I like were your going with this. A hemi, leather, lace, gonna be one sexy merc. Btw, great choice in music

[JasonFL]

You had me at "Baja Loco". The leaves on the fenders look really...I mean really familiar! I'm looking forward to whatever way the wind blows you on this one.

Lol I was thinking the same thing with the "leaves" on the fenders. Gives it that extra plus factor

[Bernard Kron]

Gil Ayala showing us all how its done ... and nothing's sexier than a slammed kustom in white primer ... unless it's Ms. Page!

And thanx for the look-back at the Mercs - you sure had the creative "glow" on there...

Some additional white primer action:

Edited April 26, 2012 by Bernard Kron

[Joe Handley]

I'm liking that one in white primered convertible too, was that Hirohata inspired by chance?

Edited April 26, 2012 by Joe Handley

[JasonFL]

So after all the inspiration from your 49 builds and others I dug the kit out and came up with a cool concept for when I'm ready but better yet it also helped solve a problem I was having with a current build. Just wanted to say thanks

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, everyone. Bernard, thank you for the extra pics of these white primered beauties.

Donn, you know me, I will never say never to building another 49 Merc. They come together like butter on toast!

Hope to get some painting time at the bench today, so stay tuned in for some pictures and videos.

[Kustom Rodder]

Great to see your back on the bench building Doc great subject to cant wait to see how it turns out.