JTalmage Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) I hate having more than one project on the bench at any given time... but I just can't seem to help it. I pulled my '55 chevy truck out and it's on the bench, along w/ my Rockford Files Firebird... well, I decided that 1 extra kit on the bench was not enough to keep me from feeling burned out on the '55 Chevy truck... So I opted for another. Back story... I've had this one since I was a kid. And I remember my dad mostly building this one for me. Painted it blue... I have no idea what or where the engine came from because it's not the Hemi and it's not the flathead that the latest reissue comes with.. But yet it has the cross ram on it.. maybe it was my dad's Idea of a kit bash back then. I don't recall. Anyway, this kit slowly fell apart as it sat on the shelf and I decided one day in my early days to take it apart and rebuild it. I was probably either a pre-teen or an early teen at the time. lost interest in it after I masked it off because I realized it needed bodywork because of how the testors glue made sink marks in the roof due to gluing the windows in. Well, I didnt know how to do bodywork to a real car let alone a model car back then, so in the parts box it went. Fast forward to Friday. I was looking for some parts for the Firebird and for another member here. I came across the Merc and decided that its been shuffled around from parts box to parts box long enough and now was the time to let it come back to life. Over the past, say, 15 years or so since it's been in a box I've developed a greater appreciation for hot rods than I did as a kid. And one of those things I like are led sleds. So this will be rebuilt as a led sled and I'll drop it as far as I can go, paint it all black, and my friend said he wanted to lay down some flames all over it with some tape and cut them out, and I'll spray on a crazy color over the black. Started by shaving the trim and door handles... Also filled the roof and it still needs more work... Also shaved the hood... Several coats of duplicolor filler primer later... Probably going to go w/ this grille. I am thinking about finding some steel wheels and just using the baby moon caps and thats it... not sure on interior color either.. Engine is going to stay exactly like it is... I will post a picture of it as soon as I take one. So there's my 3rd on the bench adventure in A.D.D.... Edited April 29, 2015 by JTalmage
wayne swayze Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 It's good to see an old Merc getting some attention. Good on you for bringing it back to life!
crazyrichard Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 nice nice .. same kit i build i love these mercs !! maybe a cool idea for the hood ? > its really simple but a great effect > cut out the cross section between the headlights > glue that to the hood bondo after sanding it really looks killer and instantly gives the more clean and lead sled / custom look and here it is with some primer
JTalmage Posted February 14, 2015 Author Posted February 14, 2015 Great idea Richard. I may do that. I can't get the windows out because I apparently glued them in with a whole tube of glue. I wanted to remove the center window trim too. Oh well. Mild custom it will be. I know o want to remove the drip rails now that I see yours
JTalmage Posted April 15, 2015 Author Posted April 15, 2015 (edited) I sanded off the drip rails as previously mentioned. Got it in Tamiya matte black now. I'll let it sit a few days then my friend is going to mask the whole car and cut out some sweet flames for me since I've been so busy. Then I'll spray some color on it... and see where it goes... Edited April 15, 2015 by JTalmage
crazyrichard Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 curious on the flames , did you make your own mask ?
JTalmage Posted April 15, 2015 Author Posted April 15, 2015 I havent, but I'll be masking the whole car, and my friend is really really good and drawing flames and he'll be cutting them out on the car. I'll definitely take pics
JTalmage Posted April 20, 2015 Author Posted April 20, 2015 Friend of mine is masking it off and will be cutting the flames out since I just dont have much time outside of work. Here's some progress showing about how the flames will be. I really hope they turn out.
Sledsel Posted April 20, 2015 Posted April 20, 2015 How did you replace the wipers? You going to scallop and flame the roof too?
JTalmage Posted April 20, 2015 Author Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) I just taped them up. I'll hit em w/ BMF when its done. And yes, the roof and trunk will also be done. I am trusting my friend w/ creative control on that. Edited April 20, 2015 by JTalmage
JTalmage Posted April 29, 2015 Author Posted April 29, 2015 So my friend had real trouble drawing on the tape w/ a pencil. So I took it back and rewrapped it w/ green tape, and then free-handed some scallops on it. Not my best work but I had some free time after I got off work before I went to bed, and just wanted it DONE. So... you could say maybe the car was built by an amateur in the 60's if it were a real car. (or an amateur like myself in the 2015's hahaha) In hindsight I liked what I did on the trunk better than what I did on the roof and hood. Wish I would have done that to those instead of what I did. Oh well. Live n learn. I painted the exposed areas w/ tamiya titanium gold. Which is a neat color by the way. Then I lightly dusted it a few times with tamiya candy lime green. Which is also a killer color. I let it sit for about 20mins and then couldnt help myself and started peeling the tape! I knicked the roof a little peeling the tape off. Paint wasnt 100 percent hard. Oh well! Never intended it to be a show winner. Just wanted to finally pull it out of my parts box! Probably work on it a little more this weekend. Going to foil the front and rear window trim.
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