Chopping a '49 Merc

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

And now for something completely different (no, not a man with three cheeks...). Different for me, that is. I've decided to venture outside of 48th street and cross over into the Kustom world, for a change of pace. The '49-'51 Mercury is the quintessential kustom, so I figured it's time to try my hand in chopping one. The basis will be the venerable AMT '49 Merc. (the Revell pre-chopped Merc is way out of proportion.)  I've been studying Mercs and I looked at a few ways to chop on both 1:1 cars as well as models. Tim Boyd did an article in SAE on one way to chop a Merc way back in the mid '80s. The AMT instruction sheet showed another way to chop which incudes cutting the roof in a few pieces. From what I've looked at, it seems the way Steve Boutte chopped the top seems the best. Here's some pix of the way Mr. Boutte did.

This method provides for slanting the 'B' pillar with a minimum of slicing up the roof. One item that I don't like the look of some (most) chops is the 'swoop' below the back window and into the sail panel. I'm going to do an angled chop (lower in the rear) and hopefully get away from that 'valley'. Here's a couple of pix of 1:1 cars that of the chop I'm going emulate. 

 

After doing some mockup and fitting, I realized the Revell chassis fits the AMT body with very few modifications. I cut away the engine compartment pieces of the AMT body as those parts are attached to the Revell floor pan. The other advantages to using Revell floor pan is the separate frame and deeper rear wheel wells for that taildraggin' lead sled look. 

 

So, follow along as I attempt to turn this stodgy old hulk into a sleek sled. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve....Rev up the sawzall !!! -RRR

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2020 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[Ramfins59]

I'll be watching this one.

[stitchdup]

Neat project,

[Dennis Lacy]

Let the slicing and dicing begin!!!

?

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi Sir!

Interesting project, out of your comfort zone...

Just curious: what in your view is the "out of proportion" specific problem(s) with the Revell 49?

CT

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

14 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Hi Sir!

Interesting project, out of your comfort zone...

Just curious: what in your view is the "out of proportion" specific problem(s) with the Revell 49?

CT

I guess 'out of proportion' was not the proper term to use. The Revell Merc body is not an accurate representation of a kustom/custom (lead sled) 1949 Mercury body. The chop is wrong, higher at the B pillar than the A pillar and the lower body panels are flat while a Merc rocker panels curve inwards. I'm no expert on the 1949-51 Mercury body, but it appears to me the AMT body is more accurate than the Revell body. Comparing the two bodies, the Revell body is too 'square' where the AMT body is more 'round'. It just doesn't look right to me. I'm a big kustom fan and I was sorely disappointed when this kit was released. Certainly, the new tooling has some nice features that benefit from today's quality. The interior, engine, and floorpan/frame are superior than the old AMT offering (tooled in the 60s (?)). I will be incorporating those updated features in my build. -RRR

Edited November 30, 2020 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[Claude Thibodeau]

2 minutes ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

I guess 'out of proportion' was not the proper term to use. The Revell Merc body is not an accurate representation of a kustom/custom (lead sled) 1949 Mercury body. The chop is wrong, higher at the B pillar than the A pillar and the lower body panels are flat while a Merc rocker panels curve inwards. I'm no expert on the 1949-51 Mercury body, but it appears to me the AMT body is more accurate than the Revell body. Comparing the two bodies, the Revell body is too 'square' where the AMT body is more 'round'. It just doesn't look right to me. I'm a big kustom fan and I was sorely disappointed when this kit was released. Certainly, the new tooling has some nice features that benefit from today's quality. The interior, engine, and floorpan/frame are superior than the old AMT offering (tooled in the60s (?)). I will be incorporating those updated features in my build. -RRR

HI!

Thank you for a very detailed answer. I have this kit in my stash (Revell's), and I will examine it while paying attention to your comments. 

CT 

[Kit Karson]

RRR,

Once again your hearts desire to kustomize the ultimate chopped Merk has reared it's ugly head!  So many versions real and make believe have graced our vision of a fabulous lead sled!

 

The AMT '49 Merc Rear Roll Pan you ordered from our parts warehouse has been shipped via snail-mail!

Keep us apprised of your progress, Brother! -KK

[Modlbldr]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this. I agree with your "review" of the Revell vs AMT kits. I love the idea of using the best of both on one build. Keeping a close eye on this one!

Later-

[Beamerman]

Very nice Projekt. I´ve build the Revell Merc. It was a funbuild but as you i decided to make my own version of a choped version in the future. In my mind the old fashioned AMT Kits are not very detailed but the have the old school spirit...:-)

[James2]

Having done several of these chops and even sections, I find your approach fresh, I will be watch from afar...

[Koellefornia Kid]

Nice to see a chopped Amt Merc! I did it more than 20 years ago and ever since I think it needs a makeover! I´ll be watching this!

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Well, I revved up the Sawzall yesterday and made real mess!! LOL. This is the easy part, cutting the roof off...

First cut along the crease between the rear window and the sail panel....

 

then cut across the top of the roof.....

cut out the B pillars and put them aside for now....

 

Free the roof from the body....

With the roof being dropped down, the difference in the roof curve will need to be addressed....

 

The plan is to make a few relief cuts across the top of the roof, carefully splay the roof open and fill in the slices with some long triangle slivers of styrene to flatten the curve a bit....that's as far as I've gotten so far. I'll see if I can make this all work. You'll notice a cut the firewall off, I'll show you why in a later installment.

thanks for looking, more later.... -RRR

 

 

[Kit Karson]

Awesome progress, Brother!  Making this Kustom Merk your own is a slow and painstaking process!!  

[Dennis Lacy]

No turning back now! 

[Plowboy]

I'll be watching this one! I'm not a big fan of the laid down rear window. But, I think it could work if done right. The biggest issue I see with laying the rear window down is what it does to the quarter windows.

Something I was considering doing on my Mercury and it may work in this instance was to invert the rear window. Instead of the top of the window curving down, it would curve upward. 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

19 hours ago, Plowboy said:

I'll be watching this one! I'm not a big fan of the laid down rear window. But, I think it could work if done right. The biggest issue I see with laying the rear window down is what it does to the quarter windows.

Something I was considering doing on my Mercury and it may work in this instance was to invert the rear window. Instead of the top of the window curving down, it would curve upward. 

There most likely won't be much left of the quarter windows by the time I'm done.... -RRR

[Modlbldr]

19 hours ago, Plowboy said:

I'll be watching this one! I'm not a big fan of the laid down rear window. But, I think it could work if done right. The biggest issue I see with laying the rear window down is what it does to the quarter windows.

Something I was considering doing on my Mercury and it may work in this instance was to invert the rear window. Instead of the top of the window curving down, it would curve upward. 

Nice work so far Rodney. I like this laid down style of roofline as much as the style Roger is doing with his. Nice to have options.

What about the idea of removing the B pillar and making it a hardtop. Then your quarter windows are not an issue.

I'm curious about how inverting the rear window would look.

Later-

Edited December 7, 2020 by Modlbldr

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

3 hours ago, Modlbldr said:

 

What about the idea of removing the B pillar and making it a hardtop. Then your quarter windows are not an issue.

 

I have been thinking of that. In order to make a hardtop, the door would need to be lengthened to keep the proportions correct...IMHO -RRR

[Modlbldr]

I agree. You would need to lengthen the doors.

Later-

[Lowlife ! !]

 

Great work with the chop ! 

The picture of that cherry red chopped merc above blew me away,  looking forward to more progress on yours !

[Paul Payne]

I think lengthening the rear fenders a bit would enhance the roof line. Moving the rear widow closer to the trunk opening would allow more length for the roof. Just my two cents, I know whatever you come up with will work fine!

[Sledsel]

I  like where this is headed. Your review on the other Merc kit is correct, and the other is slab sided also. 

Undergoing a similar milder project (although it is stalled) using parts from both kits.

To save me some time I used the Revell 1/4 glass, 

Mercs are a favorite so I will be watching to see where this goes.

[Supernurd]

So what happened?

 

[NOBLNG]

Yeah, what happened?🤓