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Topic starter
13/01/2024 10:03 am
Francis and Freelan Stanley, twins, began building steam powered cars at their Massachusetts factory in 1901. Their automobiles were fast and powerful and fairly popular during the aughts. The cars, however, were rather complicated to start with 17 steps that had to be performed. They were hardly rapid response vehicles requiring 30 to 40 minutes to get up a head of steam being heated by vaporized kerosene. Once underway, you could expect a range of 35 to 45 miles before refilling the 28 gal water tank. This 1911 Model 62 Runabout debuted when sales were already flagging. The reason: the introduction of starter motors made the gas engine cars more desirable by eliminating hand cranking. As a runabout, it was more expensive than its gas powered competition selling for $1000. Ultimately, the Stanley Motor Carriage Company of Newton, Mass folded in 1924.
The model, in 1/16, is by Franklin Mint.
13/01/2024 10:32 am
This appears to be an excellent model that I've considered many times (I only have a handful of replicas in 1/16 ). The good news is that these can still be had for reasonable prices. I recall Leno starting his... 17 steps & 18 minutes later....he said, "Well, you can see why these guys went out of business..." Nice write up and pics Rich.
My only real gripe besides that janky looking top is that oh-so-plastic-looking water tank. I'd have to find a way to make it look like metal, but it appears it's covered with an insulating material/wrap. So perhaps it's accurately replicated; I'd have to research it.
Jack Dodds reacted
Topic starter
13/01/2024 2:13 pm
@chris Interesting. I thought the top looked quite natural.
Christopher Moroni reacted
13/01/2024 3:04 pm
@rich-sufficool I agree Rich. I also agree with Chris about the water tank looking like plastic. I have this model in green as well as the red.
Christopher Moroni reacted
13/01/2024 3:48 pm
Interesting. I thought the top looked quite natural.
IMO, it suffers from the same fate as MOST working, scale convertible tops...it's just too wavey and not taunt enough. My 1/12 Sunstar VW Beetle convertible is the worst! I do NOT know how to smooth out scale material.
The BEST working, wrinkle free, scale convertible top I have is on my 1/8 1893 Franklin Mint Duryea.
David Green and Paul Rouffa reacted
Topic starter
14/01/2024 10:32 am
@chris In real life, were they ever wrinkle free?
Christopher Moroni reacted
14/01/2024 11:59 am
Nice model and post Rich. The demise of Stanley was inevitable. With the general public, convenience always rules.
Christopher Moroni reacted
14/01/2024 1:29 pm
@rich-sufficool Well.... having owned convertibles for most of my life, I can tell you that whenever you see wrinkles in a top....it's a mistake. The fabric was incorrectly installed and can be fixed. Correctly installed convertible top material will be wrinkle free, fit very snug and will look "tight & right" (taunt ) when in the up position.
Topic starter
14/01/2024 1:42 pm
@chris or... you could look at those cars as being "over-restored". LOL The convertibles I've owned (although always bought used) always slumped between the frames and on the highways they ballooned from the vacuum created by the airflow. You know? Maybe I just like my models to look slightly used. Hmmm... I think that's it!
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
14/01/2024 2:19 pm
always slumped between the frames and on the highways they ballooned from the vacuum created by the airflow.
OH NO! I can't hear stories like this, it's just too painful. 😬 😬 😬
BTW: I love your "Prince" model (top and all ) but despite those wrinkles it still looks 100% better than my 1/12 VW Beetle! As I noted, I'm not aware of a fix to eliminate all these wrinkles. 😔 😔 ☹
Jack Dodds reacted
17/01/2024 8:47 am
@rich-sufficool My wife has every monster-sewing machine & accessory known to mankind. Some of her long-arms look like Dentist's chairs. 😬 She does have a mini-iron (smaller than a travel size ) that I've thought about using.
That being said, your black top is cut (it looks better ) much more accurately than my tan top. So, even if I can remove most of the wrinkles, what's the point?
It will still look like crap! 😔 😔 😔
Rich Sufficool reacted