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Topic starter
25/04/2021 10:09 am
FM went all out on this model trying to score a home run in sales. It has features galore and a parts count to match. The image they chose was a rather arcane '36 Hudson... a rather stodgy, unappealing car with a fascinating grill treatment. They heralded a working cloth convertible top that was so frustrating to operate and looked so out of scale when up. The tonneau cover was also fairly difficult to snap over the folded down top that I decided to pose the car top down and declare that the owner didn't spring for the optional cover. FM went back to their early marketing days and finished the first issue in red... a popular choice back in the day for their ads in the Sunday "Parade" section to lure impulse buyers. For me, it was another non-period color choice that just looks garish. The re-issue was also done in silver of all colors and to my tastes, the mid-thirties were a time when metallics reigned supreme. Anyway, as I said, there's a high parts count with lovely little features from the two-piece winged hood ornament with translucent torpedo insert; a real, not simulated, banjo steering wheel; carpeted kick plate inserts on the door panel; very intricate windshield wipers and a host of other small details using mixed media to attain scale accuracy. I wish I could love this model more.
25/04/2021 10:13 am
red is the perfect color for this model, your pictures make the car "pop"
John Merritt and John Merritt reacted
Topic starter
25/04/2021 10:35 am
@galen55 The marketing execs at TFM couldn't have agreed with you more. LOL They ultimately held final word over the color based on what they thought would attract impulse buyers.... many times much to the dismay of the design crew. I'm sure George and Raffi have many stories to tell about those days.
25/04/2021 10:44 am
Magnificent photos pal! And I cannot disagree with your initial remarks at all. I had the silver version but was not happy with the model, overall, and eventually sold it.
John Merritt and John Merritt reacted
25/04/2021 10:45 am
I do love this model. I wish I had gotten it in the red, but I do have in silver. Yes the top is awkward in appearance and use, but it is so unique.
Excellent photos of this red beauty!
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Tony Perrone and Tony Perrone reacted
25/04/2021 4:04 pm
I like it too. The working top is so unique, in fact it is the only one in the 1:24 world. I have both versions and my tops look decent when up. I display them top up. The tops needed tweaking though. Will post pictures later. Great pictures and nice review Rich.
Topic starter
25/04/2021 7:35 pm
@chav Thanks, Chav. I appreciated what FM was doing with this working top, but even after finagling the top to properly seat it, it all looked so out of scale to me. I chose the top down without the tonneau cover because I think the visible framing looks nicely scaled and adds details not normally replicated in this scale as you said. We all look at our models through different eyes and look for different things. As a retired dentist, all I see on people are their teeth.... and I would rather I didn't! LOL
John Merritt and John Merritt reacted
25/04/2021 7:41 pm
Rich, I agree with your comments completely. I don't have the red one but I do display the silver one for exactly the reasons you state.
John Merritt and John Merritt reacted
Topic starter
25/04/2021 8:19 pm
@bob-jackman Great, Bob. Now I'm revising my prior comment to "Great minds think alike". I feel totally vindicated and somewhat cocky. LOL
26/04/2021 9:38 am
I think what did this one in is the seam over the rear window. It is just so pronounced that it make for the roof line to look terribly wrong. Comparing to actual photos of the car and the model, the overall look is correct, but the fabric used for the convertible could have been different to give it a smoother look and then the seam I do not think would have been so enhanced.
Anyone ever think about redoing the convertible in a different fabric? I do not own this model since I am not a big fan of the 30's cars. If I had it, I might give it a try.