'49 Ford Coupe Mystery Roof - Mystery solved?

[Bernard Kron]

I'm the first to admit my model history is more than somewhat wanting. Recently I was given an AMT '49 Ford coupe in a fairly advanced state of work: nosed, decked and shaved with the conservative custom rolled pans installed. The problem is that the passenger side A pillar is gone. I put out a search for a donor pillar and Mike Kucaba sent me a whole roof instead. He thinks it was cut from a body but inspection of the edges and the presence of a mounting tab in the center of the front cowl would indicate it's a kit part. It's styrene and came with the glass. It's a perfect match to the AMT body. The molding is super crisp and it even has a hole for an antenna at the base of the passenger side A pillar. Where does it come from?

Edited September 13, 2014 by Bernard Kron

[Ace-Garageguy]

... Where does it come from?

My guess: a nearby alternate universe, or A-line (also known as alternate line of probability). This is where socks mysteriously go when you KNOW you put only matched pairs in the dryer, and car-keys, when you KNOW you hung them on the same hook you've been using for 15 years. Things sometimes just 'slip' a little, and I believe your roof is "from elsewhere".

[Guest]

Is it possible that it could have been an optional hardtop for the AMT '50 convertible at one time? That or it's from a multi piece body kit like IMC or another company.

[VW93]

I know you stated it was styrene, but could it possibly be resin?

Modelhaus sells a '49 and '50 Ford 2 door sedan roof.

[Art Anderson]

Is it possible that it could have been an optional hardtop for the AMT '50 convertible at one time? That or it's from a multi piece body kit like IMC or another company.

I don't believe it's from the '50 Convertible kit, as the only optional tops I've ever seen for that in styrene were the padded Carson top in the original issue, and the "half-top" that's been in just about every reissue since.

Art

[ZTony8]

That central mounting tab is for that old metal clip that AMT used to use for keeping hoods open.The hole at the right front could have been made at any time.This roof section just looks like a well done cut job.

[VW93]

I have to agree with Tony. I don't have any early bodies to compare, but the later kits did away with the hood clip.

[Art Anderson]

I know you stated it was styrene, but could it possibly be resin?

Modelhaus sells a '49 and '50 Ford 2 door sedan roof.

That's not a sedan roof, but rather the Club Coupe roof.

Art

[VW93]

Art, I see that now after looking at the pictures above and a sedan roof.

[unclescott58]

I'm interested still in finding out the mystery to where that roof came from. And why? I'm curious about this one.

Scott

[Bernard Kron]

Based on your comments I went back and carefully inspected the roof. While the mystery builder was indeed incredibly meticulous, there are some very minor flaws, blade marks on the lower edge under the driver's side window and below the center of the rear window that confirm that it is indeed as Mike Kucaba originally supposed, a roof cut from an AMT '49 Ford Club Coupe. Very impressive!

I love the crispness of detail and have decided to include the entire roof in my project based on this body. So I mustered up as much courage and as steady a hand as I could and cut the roof of and trimmed the donor roof just below the base of the rear window. I then glued some .010 styrene strip along the base of the donor roof to allow a mating surface for gluing and to be able to snap the roof into position. The pictures below are with the rood mocked up into position but not yet glued. Along with the door lines, I used a stock hood as a guide for locating the cowl.

The actual modeler remains a mystery but I'm pleased to be the recipient of his skill and Mike's generosity. Thanks to all for the insights. Now onwards to a new project!

[unclescott58]

This would be a good opportunity to build a '50 Ford club coupe.

Scott