Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Tamiya Mercedes 300SL Announced, new pics added to OP


martinfan5

Recommended Posts

I just picked up my Gullwing kit and I am very pleased. I friend order kits from Hobby Link Japan and our price all in was $48 Canadian [$38US] which I consider very reasonable. I just had a quick look at the instructions and a little item I am really impressed with is the outside rear-view mirror which has to be one of the nicest I have seen in this style in scale.

Victoria is home to one of the top 300SL restoration shops - Rudi & Company - so I have had the pleasure of seeing maybe two dozen fully restored 300SL's. The Rudi & Company website would be a good resource for anyone building a 300SL model.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Besides the one I ordered off of HLJ, I picked one up (the last one he had) at the NNL East yesterday. Wow! I'm VERY impressed with this kit now that I can see everything in 3D, and I hear that there are already backorders for this kit!

That stands to reason as this kit is one of the nicest I've seen from Tamiya! Lets hope they'll see fit to do other European classics...........cough.......Ferrari 250 GT SWB.......Ahem........Ferrari 250 GT Lusso..........cough................. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Besides the one I ordered off of HLJ, I picked one up (the last one he had) at the NNL East yesterday. Wow! I'm VERY impressed with this kit now that I can see everything in 3D, and I hear that there are already backorders for this kit!

That stands to reason as this kit is one of the nicest I've seen from Tamiya! Lets hope they'll see fit to do other European classics...........cough.......Ferrari 250 GT SWB.......Ahem........Ferrari 250 GT Lusso..........cough................. ;)

Yeah, I had two SLs at the show yesterday - they lasted all of 45 minutes. The Strawberry Red paint lasted about 2 hours.

A Tamiya SWB??? wow......I have 2 SLs for myself right now and will probably end up with 5-6. I could easily see a couple cases of SWBs ending up in my stash.

Good to see you at the NNL yesterday Bill - thanks for the stories... :lol::lol:

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am speculating that an additional release might be coming our way. Acustion shows on their web sight separate and a full upgrades sets for the 300 SL along with photo etch knock-offs and a flip top fuel filler as a special release. Maybe a race version in the future?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I had two SLs at the show yesterday - they lasted all of 45 minutes. The Strawberry Red paint lasted about 2 hours.

A Tamiya SWB??? wow......I have 2 SLs for myself right now and will probably end up with 5-6. I could easily see a couple cases of SWBs ending up in my stash.

Good to see you at the NNL yesterday Bill - thanks for the stories... :lol::lol:

Steve

Do you have any pictures of what the strawberry red looks like on the car or even a plastic spoon? I ask this because I could use it for larger scale versions. Having reviewed the 1/24 Tamiya kit with its extraordinary detail, there is no way I can build this small kit with my skills or even suggest doable detailing options (though the interior can easily be accurized). My only real quibbles are the absence of rear deck luggage tie-down rails and the very faint trunk lid scoring, making it very hard to open the trunk and add more of the car's unique elements. Otherwise, there's never been a better Gullwing kit, and I have almost all of them.

One question -- what do you mean by SWB? Short wheelbase? No such thing on a Gullwing.

Edited by sjordan2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you have any pictures of what the strawberry red looks like on the car or even a plastic spoon? I ask this because I could use it for larger scale versions. Having reviewed the 1/24 Tamiya kit with its extraordinary detail, there is no way I can build this small kit with my skills or even suggest doable detailing options (though the interior can easily be accurized). My only real quibbles are the absence of rear deck luggage tie-down rails and the very faint trunk lid scoring, making it very hard to open the trunk and add more of the car's unique elements. Otherwise, there's never been a better Gullwing kit, and I have almost all of them.

One question -- what do you mean by SWB? Short wheelbase? No such thing on a Gullwing.

He was referring to Bill's suggestion Tamiya continue along a series of classic European sports cars including the Ferrari SWB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a world-wide exclusive to report; HRM will be releasing a set of Ridge wheels and Englebert tires for this kit. I've held them in my very own hand and they are awesome!

edit: Sorry made a typo "Rudge" wheels. I was so excited my typing finger (not sure if it was the left one or the right one) got out of control.

Edited by afx
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For anyone who's interested Studio 27 has announced a little more budget friendly photo etch/detail up set - compared to the monster one from Acu Scion - for release possibly as early as this week - it says "Late April" - and we're running out of April. It's said to contain the following (excuse the odd wording for the machine translation from Japanese to English)

TAMIYA 1/24 300SL corresponding [iTEM 24338]

[Part Contents]
- Lightweight drum brake top
- Front grille mesh
- Wiper arm
- Wiper blade
- Radiator mesh
- Pedals
- Rear wing wing end plate
- Front wing flap
- Pedals
- Metering
- Switches
- Mirror surface
- Oil cap
- Plug cap
- Emblem
- License plate
- Door fittings
- Seat belt
- Seat belt harness

★ seat belt for the ribbon is also included ★

$19.96 based on current exchange rates -

http://www.hlj.com/product/S27FP24176/Aut

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a world-wide exclusive to report; HRM will be releasing a set of Ridge wheels and Englebert tires for this kit. I've held them in my very own hand and they are awesome!

edit: Sorry made a typo "Rudge" wheels. I was so excited my typing finger (not sure if it was the left one or the right one) got out of control.

Yeah, he gave me two sets of the copied AMT versions, but they are smaller (1/25th), and do not really look right for the Tam kit. I gave him a Tam kit at the NNL and he was going to see what he could do. Did he make a new pattern for 1/24th?

I also told him about the Dunlops (which are nice in the kit, but not really accurate). The Engleberts in the 250TR would be fine (and is what he used for the 250 TdF). I know I have a set of Continentals somewhere, but I'm not exactly sure where.

I might post a pic of the copied Rudges later this weekend.

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, he gave me two sets of the copied AMT versions, but they are smaller (1/25th), and do not really look right for the Tam kit. I gave him a Tam kit at the NNL and he was going to see what he could do. Did he make a new pattern for 1/24th?

I also told him about the Dunlops (which are nice in the kit, but not really accurate). The Engleberts in the 250TR would be fine (and is what he used for the 250 TdF). I know I have a set of Continentals somewhere, but I'm not exactly sure where.

I might post a pic of the copied Rudges later this weekend.

Steve

Steve, Brad took the center from the AMT wheel and fit it to the Tamiya rim. Not sure where he got the Engelbert tires (neither is he :) ) but they are very nice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used the AMT knock-offs on the Tamiya wheels. With 1/8 Evergreen tubing to space them away from the hub and the knock-offs "snap" on just right. Looks good to my eye on black wheels,no hub rivets tho someone with a steadier hand could likely make the rivets with tiny drops of epoxy...but I can live with that "error" on mine.

Edited by mike 51
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got mine two days ago. Outstanding quality as usual. However, I expected this kit to be a breakthrough in detailing, but it turned out to be of the typical level Tamiya "detailed" kits. The multi-piece tube chassis is inspiring. It is an excellent guide to build a brass chassis. Never worked with brass tubing before. What kind of equipment are needed for soldering brass in this scale??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

However, I expected this kit to be a breakthrough in detailing, but it turned out to be of the typical level Tamiya "detailed" kits.

What made you expect that? The 300SL seems to me to be fairly cheap for a Tamiya kit. I got mine for less than £25 shipped from Japan, and it's retailing here for under £30. That compares to more like £45 for the LaFerrari and LFA kits. I'm pretty pleased that they decided to go for "well detailed and affordable" rather than insane levels of Fujimi Enthusiast style detail and a £60 price tag... I can contemplate building two of them, which I certainly wouldn't with the LaFerrari...

All the best,

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What made you expect that?

No idea. Perhaps because the car is so special. Perhaps because it marks a turning point for Tamiya doing great classic cars. These two points created the impression it will be an exceptional blockbuster.

BTW, I digged my ancient, still unbuilt Revell kit. It dates back to 1986.

http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=3320

Quick comparsion showed it was a very good kit for its age, at least accuracy-wise. However, it has a two-piece body. Now with the Tamiya kit released I do not have to fight with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No idea. Perhaps because the car is so special. Perhaps because it marks a turning point for Tamiya doing great classic cars. These two points created the impression it will be an exceptional blockbuster.

BTW, I digged my ancient, still unbuilt Revell kit. It dates back to 1986.http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=3320

Quick comparsion showed it was a very good kit for its age, at least accuracy-wise. However, it has a two-piece body. Now with the Tamiya kit released I do not have to fight with it.

Looks to be the same as the Italeri kit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...