The "New Age Mercury"

When the New Age Mercury was presented in Scale Auto, I invited hobbyists to submit critiques of my new custom '49 Mercury. I think that critiques (as distinct from mere criticisms), which require thoughtful evaluations and suggestions on how to improve the design being reviewed, are very important in becoming a better custom model car stylist (and in other areas of life, too). My annual Custom Clinic Photo contest, which first appeared in Car Modeler and now appears in Scale Auto, presents my styling critiques of the custom model car designs submitted.  Well, if it's good for other builders, it's good for me, too.

In response to my invitation,  I received a wonderful array of critiques, some of which were coupled with excellent suggestions on how to "fix" my design work. In the text that follows, my responses to the critiques appear in italics (I'm as bold in responding to the critiques as they authors were in submitting them. This kind of exchange is very good in my mind).  Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful evaluation of my New Age Merc." 

Twenty one years ago, Tim Boyd and I collaborated to prepare the outline and the content for the now-famous "Special Mercury Issue" of Scale Auto Enthusiast (Number 24, March/April 1983).  

Tim and I proposed the article to then editor, and SAE founder, Gary Schmidt who enthusiastically embraced our idea. Tim Boyd and I met after the 1982 NNL, in the Detroit airport, to outline what we would feature in the package that we would subsequently submit to Gary for his review, acceptance and editing. 

The special Mercury insert in that issue of SAE lead off with introductory text that I prepared and that Tim reviewed. That introduction is a bit hyperbolic, but it embraced the then-frantic Merc phenomena. I had commissioned the lead-off artwork (which later also served as the image for early iterations of the GSL Championship) locally from Ted Nagata which featured a factory stock Merc in the background with Dan Thomas incredible Hirohata Merc clone on the left and my radical front wheel drive Merc on the right. Both of these models were featured in the magazine. The cover of this issue featured Dan's great model and my traditional custom '51 Mercury convertible that started with the AMT '49 coupe. 

After the introduction, the Merc issue included these articles: "Ole Wingfoot" by Bill Coulter that took a look at an early stock car racing Mercury, two short articles by Bob Shelton ("'49 – The Ford That Became a Mercury") and Gary McNutt ("'53 Race Car Transporter") followed by an eight-page feature/how-to on my metalflake burgundy '51 Merc convertible.  After that, the unattributed "Mercury Menagerie" featured custom Mercs by Al Cozby, Bob Lameel, Ken Brewer, John Ostrenga, several models by Steve Masters and John Berry, Rod Rice, Rich Shilling, Jim Sonter, Darryl Miller, Junior Berg, Jim Stein, Scott Pavey, Andy Martin, Wayne Reick, Han Kihlen, Dan Thomas and Bernard Bennett.

After that, the magazine presented Tim Boyd's article on Dan Thomas' wonderful Hirohata clone (probably the first well-publicized replica custom model). Tim Boyd then presented a comprehensive article on all of the historic Mercury kits -- the start of his now wonderful historic feature articles. Doug Passel then presented an article on an Englishman's perspective on the custom Mercury craze. Tim Boyd then wrote an article on how to chop the top on a Mercury which presented a traditional approach to chopping the top on the AMT model. Following that, Bob Bost and Tim collaborated on the "Tips for Customizers: Adding Popular Modifications" article in which those intrepid builders taught how to add traditional customizing techniques to Mercs; Bob and Tim's great work was presented in the introductory photo and throughout the article. 

It was a great issue – one of the greatest ever presented by Scale Auto Enthusiast. It was as if that issue rode the crest of the scale custom Merc craze because relatively few custom Mercs made it into magazines after that. 

I want to express my appreciation to Tim Boyd for the great experience of working with him on that issue of Scale Auto Enthusiast. Together with Gary Schmidt and all of the rest of the terrific authors who contributed to that issue, we had a great time and sent a benchmark in the hobby.

Fast forward almost two decades. Sitting in my hobby room one night, I had a "Mercury epiphany" and decided that I wanted to do another custom Merc – my first since 1982. I wanted to do something different with a Merc to avoid the traditional styling cues which had impressed me as being baroque and unrealistic. 

What followed has been covered in Scale Auto, starting with the February 2004 issue. Editor Jim Haught was receptive to my proposal to present a custom Merc "how-to" article even as it extended into three consecutive issues because of the complexity of the model. Thanks, Jim, for sticking with me on this project!

My goal in designing and building what I came to call, somewhat inaccurately, the New Age Merc was to reduce the vertical bulk of a Merc by chopping and sectioning the body. This effort would avoid the silly mail-slot windows that characterize most custom Mercs, and have a ride height high enough, with good ramp angles, to permit the car to be used in the real world. 

The third of three articles in Scale Auto presented my strong critique of the New Age Merc. Stimulated by my strong belief that good model car customizing (and general model building techniques) can profit from intelligent critiques (as distinct from crude and destructive criticisms), I created a "New Age Merc styling critique" on the Hobby Heaven discussion board (thanks, Tom, for hosting it!). I indicated that I would evaluate the evaluations, and award a copy of my Custom Car Modeling book to the best critique of my model.

After several days, I received a very tough but fair, and certainly intelligent, critique from Rik Hoving. Juha Airio, predictably, submitted an insightful critique, as did others. 

Because of my commitment to the value of critiques, I am going to present here those comments on my New Age Merc without editing. I will respond to each, but you're getting the unexpurgated text from each of the great guys who evaluated my model. Rik Hoving, who restyled the Merc with his excellent PhotoShop abilities , won the contest and he'll receive the book. The other guys will receive a complimentary copy of my Custom Car Bibliography.  

Where appropriate, I'll comment on each critique within the body of that critique so that the commentaries can exist side-by-side for the sake of clarity. My responses will be in italic.

On to the Critiques...