1961 Mercedes Benz 190SL - Revell with a few modifications

[peteski]

5 hours ago, slusher said:

Those are really nice!

Yes they are!  And for my large order I was able to deal with that seller directly.

[89AKurt]

19 hours ago, peteski said:

Thanks Bill.  I checked out zoomonmodel.com and they have lots of goodies listed there. They seem legitimate. Placed a substantial order last night (including those Mercedes logos).  Good stuff!  The purchase was also super-easy with PayPal.  Plus the scripts are much less expensive than from the French seller on eBay.  Don't let the Hong Kong dollar prices scare you.

I checked them out, never heard of them before, thanks.

[89AKurt]

I have entered the what have I got myself into, why am I showing this on a public forum, I better pull a rabbit out of a hat trick time. 😣

It seems that the body needs to hang on the interior instead of the frame.  I tacked the interior together, then tried to get the body put on the chassis.  Something ain't right.

Tried to use the subframe, modified it to the point of wrecking it.  There is no way this engine would fit, so I'm going to rework the suspension by shortening the lower A-arms, and mounting to the side of the frame.  That will require new coil over shocks, which I like fabricating.  I'm not sure if I should keep the frame, or redo that now.  I do know the tiny radiator will get wider, and I have photo-etch radiator face so that's doable.  Why.... why did I have to make an already difficult kit even more so?!?!?

Been applying several layers of Tamiya putty, that's progressing as expected.  I find it funny how Revell made the trunk open, yet no sides up to the body, my wider fenders show huge gaps.  They also seemed to expect everyone to put the top on, there is no convertible top cover, so it looks like the trunk hinges will be seen.  Will have to make that cover, or make SLR style headrests.

[David G.]

Wow!

This one is really dragging you down the rabbit hole, isn't it? At least you seem to be keeping up with it well enough.

It's like I say: "Model builders, we're problem solvers who create our own problems to solve!"

David G.

[slusher]

Stay with Kurt, your a great builder buddy!

[89AKurt]

Thanks guys! 😁

I know it doesn't look like I've made much progress.  Been dinking around throughout the week, a few minutes here, maybe half an hour there, working mostly with putty.  The leading side of the rear fenders needed the guard to be wrapped around, and I thought the wedge "running board" completed the flow.  The trunk hinge came into the canopy area of the interior, couldn't handle that, so filled in the holes.  Scribed the door jamb lines.  Flipped the box over, have blocks to hold the car in position, much like a jig.

Contemplating flares for the front, but don't want to wreck the flow of the fender spear (or whatever it's called).  My goal this Memorial Day weekend is to fabricate the engine mounts, front suspension, and maybe the trunk sides, and if I'm really ambitious the engine compartment needs fender liners.  And if I don't do anything else this weekend, the exhaust system, SLR style headrests, front air dam, trunk hinge.  If only.... 😅

[89AKurt]

Made major progress on the body today!  First was doing the front fender flares.  Glued on 0.02" styrene first, then got the radius sanded to match the original opening, then Dremel ground off the inside.  Made a few paper templates of the air dam, before cutting out the 0.02" styrene.  Filled the transition with scrap.  Gooped on a bunch of superglue on the back with sprinkled on baking soda.  Used various sanding sticks to rough shape.  Last thing I did was putty all that before stopping tonight.

Added 0.1" styrene rocker part.  Cut cardboard mockup for the headrest, which I would make out of a chunk of Corian®.

Whipped out the trunk sides.

To give an idea of what I plan on the headrest, this is my Monster Miata, but the shape would be more like the 300 SLR.

[David G.]

Holy Cow! 😮

The flares and air dam look fantastic! So does the headrest / tonneau.

It must feel great to have made such progress.

David G.

[89AKurt]

18 hours ago, David G. said:

Holy Cow! 😮

The flares and air dam look fantastic! So does the headrest / tonneau.

It must feel great to have made such progress.

David G.

Thanks, and yes it's nice to be doing something.

Started on the Corian® headrests.  First thing is to cut out a chunk with the woodshop saws.

Used the Dremel to rough out the shape.  Brought the shop vacuum into the hobby room, because this makes a mess!  I'm not thrilled about the fit.

Added trunk jamb, and fusee chain hinges.

 

This is the first time I have tried Tamiya epoxy putty, seems like other putty I have used.  Taped aluminum foil on the body so it wouldn't stick.  Made rope and put along the contact area, squished the part into place, then worked around the edge with a knife handle that was dipped in water.  Fingers crossed.

If it appears that I'm avoiding working on the engine and suspension, I am. 😬

[cobraman]

That is going to be one cool model, hang in there.

[89AKurt]

😎

I like this Tamiya putty.  The trick with the foil worked.

Did a little more grinding, then sanding.   Really like working with Corian®.  All of this is by eye, so maybe it's lopsided but I can't tell.

I better get going on the engine and suspension.

[89AKurt]

Suspension is mostly done!  This is what I had to start with.  Didn't take pictures of the attempt to use the subframe, the lower A-arms were taking up space where the engine needed to be.  Found some cig lighter parts in my stash for coil over shocks.  Measured and drew lines on the jig box, this is about the only time I measured, and I use millimeters because it's easier to divide in half. 😆  Everything else is by eye.

Tools used are scattered all over the bench. 😅  The Dremel with cutoff disk was used to modify the shocks, Waldron punch made spring retainers.  Scrounged for plastic to fabricate various pieces.

One side is done.  I'm no engineer, have just looked at many vehicles in my life.

Designing it took some time, duplicating in mirror image is another trick, and there was lots of trial and error.

I was shocked that it sits on all 4 tires.

Didn't get to mounting the engine, so now I'm behind schedule.

[David G.]

Nice progress on the headrest. The coil overs look great.

David G.

[89AKurt]

I've entered the dig a hole and fill it up stage.  Tonight I worked on the engine mounts.  Something I've noticed in all the pictures I found of the engine, the oil filter is in a different location.  Couldn't find a picture of the right side mount, the exhaust hides it.  Started with cutting a parts box part for the mounts.

 This is far as I got.

The oil pan is really low! 😬  But the hood clears.

This is not looking good.  If I don't add a turbo, the header will work.  The intake is another story.

Even if I rework the upper A-arm mount, still don't think the intake will mate correctly.  A more drastic option is to modify the intake runners.  Like I said, I'm not an engineer. 😟

[peteski]

You are planning on shaving off the Revell copyright lettering from the floor pan, right? 

[David G.]

That does look like a tight squeeze. Maybe it's time to fabricate some headers?

David G.

[Bainford]

Coming along great, Kurt. Nice custom mods with a good eye for style. I'm really digging the crafty work integrating the front flares with the 'eyebrow' character line, and the front suspension really looks the business.

[stitchdup]

Cool build, i wouldn't worry too much about the intake, in the 1/1 world they cut the tubes and reshape them to fit each application and it looks like a couple of pie cuts will soon get it in place

[camaro69]

Great build, Kurt...

Just a thought. But maybe you only have to cut the intake headers in the middle and rotate the lower half for 180 degrees so the mounts to the engine become the same angle. Maybe this requires adding some material to the center section of the headers but I think that´s an easy fix.

As I said only a thought.

Rico

[CabDriver]

On 5/31/2022 at 1:32 AM, 89AKurt said:

I use millimeters because it's easier to divide in half.

I like mm’s too - it’s just inches, but in 1:25!  

Love the modest thread title - “a few modifications’ 😂.  I really enjoy your work and have so much respect for the craftsmanship you share in your build threads - GREAT project!  Keep it going!

[slusher]

Really nice progress, Kurt!   Great crafmanship!

[89AKurt]

22 hours ago, peteski said:

You are planning on shaving off the Revell copyright lettering from the floor pan, right? 

NO!  That's critical to the purpose of doing this project to begin with.  Not to annoy the rivet counters. 🤪  But then again.... 😈

18 hours ago, David G. said:

That does look like a tight squeeze. Maybe it's time to fabricate some headers?

David G.

The intake runners are the issue.  The exhaust headers might work as is.  But If I add a turbo, that's another story.

16 hours ago, Bainford said:

Coming along great, Kurt. Nice custom mods with a good eye for style. I'm really digging the crafty work integrating the front flares with the 'eyebrow' character line, and the front suspension really looks the business.

Thank you.  Some of the renderings of modified 190 SLs discount the unique fender detail, but that's just me.

16 hours ago, stitchdup said:

Cool build, i wouldn't worry too much about the intake, in the 1/1 world they cut the tubes and reshape them to fit each application and it looks like a couple of pie cuts will soon get it in place

Thanks.  Yea, not too wigged out about it.

11 hours ago, camaro69 said:

Great build, Kurt...

Just a thought. But maybe you only have to cut the intake headers in the middle and rotate the lower half for 180 degrees so the mounts to the engine become the same angle. Maybe this requires adding some material to the center section of the headers but I think that´s an easy fix.

As I said only a thought.

Rico

Thanks.  I'm not sure if I have the angle of the engine correct, pictures I have found, the engine is out of the car, and hard to tell with engine bay shots.  The oil pan is what I'm going off of.

2 hours ago, CabDriver said:

I like mm’s too - it’s just inches, but in 1:25!  

Love the modest thread title - “a few modifications’ 😂.  I really enjoy your work and have so much respect for the craftsmanship you share in your build threads - GREAT project!  Keep it going!

Thanks for saying that.  I can be sarcastic at times, but I also feel like this project is snowballing.

1 hour ago, slusher said:

Really nice progress, Kurt!   Great crafmanship!

Thanks for cheering me on!

Received the photo-etch stars today.  I'm extremely impressed, the price was really good, and the shipping was incredibly fast for going across the Atlantic.  So I made progress and didn't do anything today. 😁

Thanks for all the comments.

[peteski]

15 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

NO!  That's critical to the purpose of doing this project to begin with.  Not to annoy the rivet counters. 🤪  But then again.... 😈

LOL Kurt, whatever floats your model. 

BTW, was the shipping cost included in that 8.33 Euro?  That is a good deal.

Edited June 2, 2022 by peteski

[camaro69]

5 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

Thanks.  I'm not sure if I have the angle of the engine correct, pictures I have found, the engine is out of the car, and hard to tell with engine bay shots.  The oil pan is what I'm going off of.

To me the angle of the engine looks quite good. That's why I think rotating the lower half of the intake should solve the problem mostly.. 

[89AKurt]

On 6/1/2022 at 11:31 PM, peteski said:

LOL Kurt, whatever floats your model. 

BTW, was the shipping cost included in that 8.33 Euro?  That is a good deal.

Yes, that was a nice surprise to me.

On 6/2/2022 at 4:36 AM, camaro69 said:

To me the angle of the engine looks quite good. That's why I think rotating the lower half of the intake should solve the problem mostly.. 

Got it, see below. 🙂

Saturday was spent on getting a new battery for my car, this is #3 in 6 years.  Also wanted to make a part that I couldn't find in stores, used my dad's tap & die set to make the adapter, what I'll do to save a couple of bucks. 🙄

Now I'm thinking of calling this Snowball, seems like every thing I do, leads to another thing, and on it goes.  Wasted time trying to modify the intake runners.  Revised the upper A-arm location.  Called it a night.

Made all new runners from copper wire.   After I got all this done, realized I had rotated the plenum, the doohickey at the front should be on the side.

Made the exhaust pipe with copper wire, Honda Civic cat and Lexus muffler.  First time I have used the circuit board jig.

Dawned on me that the engine accessories might be an issue, and sure enough.  Didn't really like how the front of the frame was, needed to fit the radiator in somehow.  So I whacked that off with a hacksaw and goober "welded" it in a lower position.  Then I figured there was no need for the body behind the air dam to be there.  When that got finished, made the radiator wider, then fabricated the fan shroud, and used the kit's fan, I have photo-etch for the fin area.  I had a resin copy of a cone filter, modified a sprue for the intake tube.

I've always had a thing for exhaust tips. 🙄  Will need to make exhaust supports.

Now I need to think about what to do with one of the heater ducts, and the steering shaft going to a rack & pinion, the kit just has the column shaft that ends at the firewall. 😑

Like I don't have enough to do, am thinking of making 450 SL headrests, piping on the seats, photo-etch pedals, hand brake (the real car parking brake handle is a t-handle to the left of the steering wheel, which my dad's 190 sedan also had), seat belts.  Outside details are all the lights, a different fender mirror.  Debating about doing anti-roll bars.  I'm crazy. 💀