FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi guys a little bit of news.
The Cordell FJ Wagon should arrive this week and was made in very few numbers.

Have some pre production shots of the transporter once used to deliver FC Holdens.

Will also have the world first release of a 69 HT Holden Van as NRMA in Sydney soon.

HQ LS Monaro to follow and did you check out the red versions of the Retro Van only 75 made.

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/DSC_1055_zpsd10ba0ed.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/DSC08387_zps8ede843c.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/DSC08395_zpsb50ec8be.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/DSC_00451280x853_zps0b691f82.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/1558570_273461879473890_2042408373_n_zps900a4e5a.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/cp4647117589929429452_zps5b901733.jpg) ($2)

forgot to add the FE Vans are well in progress.

The transporter sure is looking good, John.
Do we put our orders in with the family for Christmas?

Thanks Dave, sure hope so, the real test with the transporter is making her strong enough to take weight.

I'm not sure about the FJ Wagon,i worked at Fisherman's Bend and the wagon I saw every day,had a different rear door and side window,just say'n,no reflection on the model,just making a comparison,IYGMDrift!Gaz! 8)

Hey John
The HT and transporter are looking great.
I thought the strength based on the wire frame work would be a challenge.
I am sure you will sort it.
The trailer looks like it might be a little long based on the FJ sitting on it.
I wouldn't change it though, as it would work with some of the longer cars such as Fairlanes and it will give you a larger market base.

Fink.....this version of the FJ wagon is the one made by body builder Cordell.
They did conversions of sedans to wagons.
Regards
Alex

Hi Red Devil where can I buy the red and white ute and caravan together, please let em know as I would love to have a pair they look fantastic.

Regards
Neil H

Hi Neil, you can get a great discount on the pair on Ebay or email me on models@iinet.net.au

Hi Red Devil
Could you tell me what I look under on evil bay mate and I will have a look.

Thanks for the reply.
Regards
Neil H

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holden-FC-Ute-Retro-Classic-Vintage-Caravan-by-Armco-and-Models56-suit-Trax-/111463230909?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item19f3b9edbd&_uhb=1

Thanks DJ

Any news on the transporters progress?
Jim

Did you see my thread about transporters. If your ever bored could you put a pic there and do a bit of an explanation. These are great.

There's some really interesting history behind the transporters, like the model that John is building.

Jim, I think they should be close. Hope John can confirm in time for Christmas.

Hi guys expecting finished coloured prototype very very soon.
Stay tuned should be a cracker.
Thanks
John

Getting close now

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/F600FORDTRUCK_zpsfaeb451a.jpg) ($2)

Looks fantastic John, the only negative is why blue and not the original grey?
Jim

Jim we checked out the original photo and the shot was faded and we  believe this is closer to the real colour of the truck, any comments guys re this opinion.
Cheers
John.

What a project, looking great John.

My thoughts:
I agree that the photo is faded & I agree with Jim regarding the bright blue.
Perhaps somewhere in between & darker?
The attached has been manipulated to add vibrance. It's a tad overdone but the bright blue still isn't there.
Further tweaks working off colour charts to match the known values of the cars may get it even closer to what it was at the time.
I know that this can never be accurate & maybe the family could be a better source. I'm sure they would be happy to see this update.

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/Transporter_zps08349003.jpg) ($2)

Fantastic effort John (and Ron) the proportions of the trailer with strong enough struts have worked out really well in my opinion.
I will buy one in whatever colour it ends up, but I do agree that the blue is probably a bit too bright.
Keep up the great work.  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

The factory is making some colour swatches to tone down the colour and add a bit of grey, as much as I like it it is a bit bright.
Cheers
John

John, it'll be a winner with your open minded approach & dedication to get it right.
Look back at where it all started & the journey to date.

John, in an effort to get this right, I have done some digging and came up with this on google.
Typed in  original 1956 ford f600 paint codes and came up with,
1956 colour codes-ford cross reference.
Looked into the site and bingo!! All the paints, codes & samples for each year and cars trucks etc.
Check out 1958 ford truck colours, there are a couple that look very close to the paint in the photos.
I think one of these colours is the right one.
Regards, Jim

is this the one Jim?
http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?year=1958&con=y&page=7&rows=50
Are you thinking Silvertone?

Or Gulfstream, they both look pretty close. Did you click on the enlarge enlarge tab? Gives a better view.
Jim

Showing both on the original photo & the colour boosted version.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/Untitled-1_zps895ce7d3.jpg) ($2)
I guess it's also a matter of what we are used to seeing too, the photo we saw first is what we naturally think is correct.
I can try a few more if you like. We can match it on the screen at least if the formula is of any use.

I must admit I like the gulf stream colour. The azure colour is somewhat close to what John has got though isn't it?

Ken

How about this one for a photo match? (Air Force Blue - 58 Plymouth)

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/Untitled-1_zpsbe51f74f.jpg) ($2)

Went back to 53-54, glacier blue looks the goods.
Jim

Maybe we should try the Scott's and see if they have a build year for the truck and or details on the truck? It would be great to have it as close as possible to the original.
Jim

Glacier blue added. On my screen the Air Force blue looks closer than any, but that's not always going to be that case on other screens.
I thought the build year was nailed from what you found earlier, but Scotts may just have something more as you say.


(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/Untitled-1_zps69b8e947.jpg) ($2)

Are we looking at this the right way?
I'm thinking it could easily be GMH colours with the signage & all done at the same time.
Perhaps the wheels were the same as the sun visor & front sections but the Marlin Blue looks good on the bumper.
Granite Grey & Volcanic Grey are almost identical. Just a few years apart with the slightest variation.

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/GMHTransporter_zpsfc352cff.jpg) ($2)

Hey John
The transporter is looking great.
I agree, the colour needs to be darker and greyer, but it looks like you are working in that direction.
I don't think there is a need to get 100%, so long as it is a close representation. As mentioned, faded photos and monitor settings will change the colour anyway.
Just wondering about the white patches at the front of the trailer. To me they appear to be paper residue from posters that were glued to the truck at some stage and removed or blew off whilst driving. Similar to those remaining. If I am correct, I think these could be deleted to make a cleaner model. Can't see the need for them to remain for the sake of accuracy.
What do you think?
Regards
Alex

I agree Alex, we now have a great representation of a transporter that transported FC's.
Those patches certainly look like poster residue and don't need to be recreated as in 1:43 scale it would be too small to read.
I vote to leave them off as well.

Cheers Stewy   8)

Ok good input guys but now to muck with your heads a bit more, here are some shots of other Neil Scott trucks. This was his colour it would appear at one stage possibly after the 56 F600.Here is a comment from a guy that dos some research for me. The factory is sending some more colour samples to me which I will post.
Great work guys we will get it right.

Looks good but it might be a little too bright, but it is hard to tell from a photo with a flash as well. I attached a couple of pictures and I think the colour should be like the trailer colours on them. As I say again it is hard to tell if the colour is right with a flash. Does the person who said it should be grey actually have a picture of the truck at all and not just the old ones we already have? Maybe explain to them that the colours are off on the photos and put these pictures up of his other trucks.

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/Scott6_zps1ade7538.jpg) ($2)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/Scott5_zps89afe00a.jpg) ($2)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/F600FORDTRUCK_zpsfaeb451a.jpg) ($2)

Did you ever think we would have this much discussion about a Ford.
Cheers
John

Just got a response but not clarification from Niel's son,
Hi John
I have found out a bit more, I think a 1956 F600 may be painted Hobart Grey or that what the later trucks were painted.
Not much more that I can tell you at this stage.
Cheers
Bruce

What a difference in the newly added shots. The one with the wool load looks as though it hasn't suffered from too much colour shift.
If it's the same paint, we're just used to looking at the photos posted here carrying Holdens.
Can't find the colour name on a chart (the old Hobart Bros welders?)

It is funny that we are spending this much time on a Ford, but I think we all agree that this one is worth the effort. Did some more checks, it would appear that the grey was deleted in the sixties, but 56 has Platiunm Grey so maybe that's the one.
Jim

Beats me. The more I look at those charts & the photos, the more I think the Holden transporter is a different colour to the other two.

My old eye's can tell that the wool transporter and the Kenworth are similar in colour, but the car transporter is definitely a darker colour. As Bruce has replied, he thinks it is painted in Hobart grey so it would suggest that the photo would be close to it's correct colour. Weather that be Hobart, Platinum or a GM grey remains the question.
Jim

One of John's new samples may just be close enough to the photo of the car transporter.
Don't know that we can do any more to match a discontinued colour with so many variables (different trucks, inconsistent hue in photos, viewing on different screens, flash light).
I think the detail in the signage & the complimentary colour on the visor, bumper & wheels will certainly add to make the model faithfully represent this particular transporter.

It's certainly grey in Hobart at the moment  :-\

I wonder what shade John is now.

Guys you are a very kind bunch with your time and effort and above all support.
The sample truck is on the way and the factory will send some toned down flatter colour swatches and we can than decide.
Thanks again so much it is a great comfort to have people offer so much of there time and that makes me really happy.
Cheers
John

Hey John, I think I can speak for the others when I say that we are glad to help in whatever way we can. It is the same with the project cars, all the forum members help and advice goes a long way in being able to fix problems that arise during the rebuild process. I know with mine, the help from the forum was and is invaluable.
As I said when this first started, the model will be a great addition to your range and I an definitely buying one when they are ready.
Regards, Jim

My thoughts exactly  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

and that's why we build them THANK YOU ALL.
:)
John.

Guys 278C looks the goods

Can't find that code in the ford paints, which one is it?
Jim

Nor can I find it in the GMH codes I looked through.
Is it from a red_devil list?

sorry guys it is a PMS colour............

Thanks John,
278C looks closer to the wool transporter but the car transporter still appears darker & greyer. But, that's with the screen I'm viewing (27" iMac calibrated for Photoshop). I thought it was reasonably close being used for my son's photography but other people's screens may be more accurately calibrated.

Dave I think most people will judge us on the original photo colour being what they expect would you say it is a safer call.
Cheers
John

John, I think first impressions play a part for sure. We were looking at the two of the car transporter before seeing the others.
I see them as different colours this end but it still can't take anything away from the construction & level of detail that's gone into it.

Will post the next shots of the sprayed sample. I asked them to make the trailer again as it was way to wide and to long so we should see the revised master very soon and it will have its new coat as well. If we are not happy we have one more opportunity to revise colour.
Thanks
John

It's quite a project & something I'll bet no one else would take on. Sure do admire & appreciate your dedication.

A labour of love for sure.
Thanks

Hey John, any news on how the transporter is going?
Jim

Hi Jim we destroyed the model and started again as we had a few issues I would not accept.
I believe the finished date is early May so pretty close now and it will be worth the wait. The FE Vans are closing in as well.
Cheers
John

Thanks for the reply John, will be good to see the end result.
Jim

Happy to wait for the right outcome after such serious dedication.

My thoughts as well.
Keep up the good work John.

Cheers Stewy   8)

Final pattern, thanks Stewy.
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/F600%20APR2015_zpsxhejaipn.jpg) ($2)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/models56/F600%20APRIL%202015A_zpstoyuqsh2.jpg) ($2)

That looks fantastic John, the scale seems too be spot on and the colour is more in line with the original photos. Just needs the signage too finish it off, any idea of an eta and final cost?
Once again,well done and your persistence has paid off.
Jim

The previous pattern was 35mm to long and 15mm to wide. The sad part of fixing things is the huge delays. When we started the F600 project the A$ was worth US.96 now we have to pay for the truck it is .79. I paid a US$10,000.00 bill last night for pattern and modification cost on another project and it cost A$12500.00 so for  ever 10K I change I loose $2500.00.Never mind we have to keep going. FE Van and HQ LS Monaro and a HK Van will all happen soon.
Thanks for your patience.
Regards
John

What a pain, I suppose this sort of thing happens all the time with the way the dollar changes, but as you said, too much time and effort has gone into it to let it fall by the wayside. I just looked back through the post and noticed the wheels are grey and white in the original shots so that would be the only change I can see.
Jim

Jim that is only the undercoat so wait till you see the painted item.
Waiting for the final bills to come in it is all a bit of a lottery but as I just wrote we are going to get slugged pretty hard and what the $ will be worth on the day I have to pay them. I would suggest upward of $170.00 as the box and outer packaging has now grown dramatically which will make the freight cost also double as we have to make sure this fragile piece survives Aust Post when we mail them which will be the next test for this fragile baby.
I know we have the brains and expertise to build these here it makes me so sad that we cant. My goal when I started this venture ten years ago was to have Australian Made on the bottom of Aussie cars. I don't think I will ever live long enough to see this through.
John.

It is a pity that the costs involved in having things made in Australia is so cost prohibitive, as you say it would be fantastic too have Australian Made on the box but it's just a sigh of the times.
Thanks again for your efforts, Jim

A pleasure Jim. We wanted to stand apart from Trax and the likes, and build with passion and love.

We have no doubt the passion is there John, and it's evident with every model you produce.
A Made in Australia stamp would be the ultimate but I don't think any of us will see that again, and neither will our kids I expect.
It's interesting to see the changes you made. The scale of the first version looked good compared to the photo, but I can see the latest one suits the car models loaded - & that's exactly how I intend to display it.

Cheers Dave.

Hey John.
The model is looking great.
Trailer scale looks spot on.
It will be interesting to see the final product.
Do you intend to put the posters on the trailer as well as the sign writing? (Be sure to check everything for spelling typos.)

Keep up the great work!!
Regards
Alex

Yes Alex it will be fully decorated and are expecting shots very soon that I will post and if colour is not right will have possibly one more chance to change but if I modify the master any further it could set us back months as we loose our production place every time we modify the pattern.
Thanks every one.