fredo84 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Hello Guys! Does anyone has some info about this kit ? Quality ? sink mark? fitment ? Thanks you for your answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I never built one but I did hear it was a bit tricky to assemble. I am sure someone else will be along with better info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillyb1 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Skip Jordan knows a lot about this and other 300 SL kits. Send him a message and I'm sure he'll be happy to share his knowledge and opinion. I used to have the kit but sold it. I can say it looked very good with great mold quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Ok guys !! Thanks for your answer...! Found some kits on Ebay for a good price .... might get one ..... Cheers ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonekrosha Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I was thinking of getting two of them at some point to make a stock one and a mean one with a blown big-block something for an engine. Fredo, if you hear something on these, shoot me a pm will you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Ok Michael i will...! If I end up to buy one ,iI will make a review... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 If I told you everything I know about this stuff, I'd have to start another website. I have masses of reference gathered over several years, to help me build this car (which I haven't yet). But here are some observations - a few pros and cons off the top of my head... • There is no ideal Gullwing kit in any scale by any manufacturer. But at 1/16, there are the Minicraft and the Italeri (hard to find and expensive). Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and my build plan is to moosh them together. Do not even consider the sucko 1/12 by Renwal, Revell and Monogram (until I start putting mine on eBay). They make Barbie cars look like museum-quality models. Minicraft has: • A better body shape, while Italeri front fenders are too high and bulbous. But you'll need to deal with more flash on Minicraft, and both require proper body surfacing. With the exception of the opening parts, Minicraft has a single-piece body, while Italeri has separate front and rear lower valances. • Minicraft has more accurate seats, but Italeri has a more accurate interior, including a chrome luggage rail and proper door upholstery missing on Minicraft. • Italeri has far superior engine detailing. • Either way, you'll need to devise your own method for door lifts (maybe 1/24 working shock absorbers?) or choose between down doors and up doors. • Italeri has proper retaining lips for opening hood, doors and trunks, Minicraft has none - you may want to add some Evergreen strip (no big deal). • Minicraft has an accurate space frame, which is the hallmark of the Gullwing, plus the underside belly pan. Italeri has neither. • Minicraft has chrome wheels with separate beauty rings to provide for many accurate wheel variations, and the Italeri wheels are too large and clunky. • Italeri has separate chrome trim for windows, grille and scripts/logos. Minicraft has molded-on window frames, and would require sanding off the grille mesh, and has incorrect script with only gray decals for trunk and dash trim. So it's a BMF deal with Minicraft. • Minicraft has a more accurate stering wheel. That's just a top-of-my-head basic overview. If you can't find the Italeri Gullwing to add detail to the Minicraft, you can get the cheaper and more available Italeri Cabrio (roadster) for the chrome badging/scripts and a better engine (and not much else). You'll still need to add detail to the Minicraft Gullwing interior, though. For a good build analysis by the late, great Martin Swire (who had warping problems that are not typical), go here: http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/1955merc300sl.htm If you're really interested in building a Gullwing, the Minicraft may be the best, but Italeri parts can add a significant improvement. I'd go ahead and get the Minicraft kit (pay no more than $45 with free shipping) and check it out. Until then, I remain your humble servant and stand by to answer any further questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 WOW !!! thanks a lot Sir for your knowledge !! So i think i will follow your opinion and go for a Minicraft for start and get an Italieri kit for some interior part and other bit ( maybe i could find a part box or an already started....) will see.... Thanks again for sharing your knowledge !!! Cheers Fredo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samurai7 Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 what about the Entex 1/16 300SL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) what about the Entex 1/16 300SL? Entex and Minicraft are the same kit in different boxes. Edited September 11, 2012 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Kool ! thanks for the tips on the Entex ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Kool ! thanks for the tips on the Entex ! I don't have the Entex kit, but the thing to remember about different issues of the same tooling by different brands is that they can vary in terms of crispness and flash (and some have better instructions than others - Minicraft instructions in the newest form are generally the best). This is particularly the case for 1/16 kits, which have been issued by a variety of manufacturers and often end up in the hands of Minicraft. 1/16 kits that have made the rounds through many different brands include the Jaguar SS 100, Mercedes 540K Maharajah/Roadster, Mercedes SS Sonder Kabriolet (quite different between Revell, Academy and Minicraft in terms of quality and finish) Mercedes 300 Sl Gullwing and Rolls-Royce Phantom III Saloon. Since I don't have an interest in the 1/16 Fords from the 30s, I don't know about their background. I've listed the 1/16 kits that I'm familiar with, and there are others I'd love to have and don't have any knowledge of - Cadillac, Packard, Duesenberg, etc. But I will make this statement: In my opinion, with some notable exceptions, the 1/16 kits have much better accuracy, detail and engineering quality than equivalent cars in smaller scales. Once you get into 50s and 60s cars, it's a little spotty. And they make superdetailing a whole lot easier. Just a little addendum to the Gullwing discussion: The Italeri 1/16 roadster was also issued by Revell with electric lights. Edited September 11, 2012 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Sweet !!! thanks for sharing !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekay Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Tomy from Japan made a very fine 300SL but it's in 1:32nd scale. I also have their Jaguar SS100 in the same scale and they're probably the most refined kits I've ever seen in any scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Just checking to see if this Photobucket image, which shows how a Gullwing's door windows pop out, will show up here. It doesn't at SAM, and Photobucket keeps going crazy on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredo84 Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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