Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

1955 Mille Miglia Mercedes 300SLR


Recommended Posts

On 1/21/2024 at 7:55 AM, MarkJ said:

Pierre, you are doing your usual excellent job on the body mods. The cutting out of those doors is crisp and basically perfect. I usually try to avoid cutting out trunks and doors if I can. I don't trust myself not to ruin a body and have to buy a whole new kit which might be hard to find. Plus, it is very labor intensive.

I just carved out a body side panel  (jest behind front wheel opening) as it was not on the car at that race. Just like you I would not do opening doors & deck lids. I just don't have those kind of skills.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Home made windshield using a paper card to make the template, 0.25 x 1.0 mm styrene for trim and food container plastic for the glass. Can't make it more home made than that.

It's possible I may have to cut a new piece of clear plastic as this one has been tormented in the fitting process but I'm happy with the result.

300SLR wip30.jpg

300SLR wip31.jpg

300SLR wip32.jpg

300SLR wip33.jpg

300SLR wip34.jpg

300SLR wip35.jpg

300SLR wip36.jpg

300SLR wip37.jpg

300SLR wip38.jpg

300SLR wip39.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pierre, I find that food packaging is better than the clear evergreen styrene I have purchased. Somehow the evergreen gets scratches in it where the food packaging doesn't. That windshield looks just like the one in the ref pics. The tonneau cover and base for the windshield looks perfect too. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Bob and Mark. I lowered the windscreen a bit, finessed the trim pieces and did a mock up with the interior (minor interference relief needed).

Looks a bit better like that. Not perfect but this method only allows single axis curvature but it's reasonably close. The body of this car is looking more and more like Fangio's ride.

 

300SLR wip40.jpg

300SLR wip41.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys. Trying to get the details right is where all the fun is and why I chose to do Fangio's car, and not just as the kit was designed (Moss car). Lot's of changes needed but I love it.

Speaking of getting the details right I have excellent news. Jason Hupin has agreed to take on a new project to design and 3D print the wheels as pictured below. These wheels should also be a good fit for some Ferrari front wheel applications (250LM, P275)

 

Jantes Borrani JPEG.007.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, absmiami said:

taken at Goodwood Fest 19 yrs ago ...

Mercedes.034.jpg

Mercedes.077.jpg

The chance to be in person near this incredible race car... goosebumps! The restored Moss car has seen changes relative to how it was at the 55 MM but still an amazing reference. Imagine if Mercedes had not left racing at the end of 55? I adore Ferraris but this Mercedes was a game changer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It hadnt occurred to me - but a the Mercedes wire wheels are alot different than Borranis - so there are a bunch of kits that could use 3D printed wheels with the outside laced wire pattern - Mercedes, of course, made the right decision to leave competition - but if there had been no Lemans disaster - it would have been interesting to see if MB would have abandoned front engine design in grand prix comp before the engine capacity change in ‘61 …

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, absmiami said:

It hadnt occurred to me - but a the Mercedes wire wheels are alot different than Borranis - so there are a bunch of kits that could use 3D printed wheels with the outside laced wire pattern - Mercedes, of course, made the right decision to leave competition - but if there had been no Lemans disaster - it would have been interesting to see if MB would have abandoned front engine design in grand prix comp before the engine capacity change in ‘61 …

Thinking the Mercedes may have been using the out-laced Borranis. If not a look similar enough that a common design at 1/24 scale would work. Stay tuned, working with Mr Hupin on that.

 

Jantes Borrani JPEG.007.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All I can say is, you did it again, Pierre. What a crisp, and clean body. Man, that thing is going to look good with paint on it, not to mention decals and everything else that makes up a beautifully finished build. Can't wait to see it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MarkJ said:

All I can say is, you did it again, Pierre. What a crisp, and clean body. Man, that thing is going to look good with paint on it, not to mention decals and everything else that makes up a beautifully finished build. Can't wait to see it.

Brush painting silver...😩 or bail out to the spray can?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Brush painting silver...😩 or bail out to the spray can?

You know what I would pick, but if you feel a need to go to the dark side and use the can. Well let's just say you might be expelled from the Brush Painter's Society of America. Let your conscience be your guide. Just kidding of course.  If you feel the need, the need for speed, go for it. It's your model you have a right to create it however it feels best to you. No matter what you use, it is going to be awesome. That is for sure.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/15/2024 at 5:27 PM, Pierre Rivard said:

You are absolutely right Helmut. I have 2 choices of wheels and what I need is a mix between the two. Ideally a version of the Borrani with the outlaced forward row would be the better fit but Jason does not have it designed and I would not ask if I was the only customer for it. It's a lot of work for just one order.

 

300SLR wip JPEG.009.jpg

I'm building this kit as well. Building it as the Moss / Jenkens car. I'm using Indycals decals but I've bought a set of wire wheels from Fernando Pinto. He has a set that will work on both the Targa Florio car and the Mililla Miglia cars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, kitbash1 said:

I'm building this kit as well. Building it as the Moss / Jenkens car. I'm using Indycals decals but I've bought a set of wire wheels from Fernando Pinto. He has a set that will work on both the Targa Florio car and the Mililla Miglia cars.

Happy that you are building one of these too. It needs work but it's a reasonably good kit. Can you post a picture of the Pinto wheels. They are pricey but wonderful. I just could not find a 3x24 outside laced wheel when I checked out his offering.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At this stage I want to start work on the chassis, with a primary objective to set wheelbase and ride height. A deal breaker for me when assembling the chassis to body produces unattractive ride height or wheels not centering into wheelhouse openings or track width that looks wrong.

I usually do mock ups and alterations before committing glue to the assembly but the multi piece space frame chassis on this kit will require some glued pre-assemblies. So I initially did some engine assembly to see how it interacts with chassis and body components. First change needed was taking a bit off from the legs of the suspension frame element to give clearance to the water pipe running above it. The engine air inlet also needs to be located properly and a bit of material was removed to the underside of the hood to allow it to shut flat. I glued the air inlet to engine to set that dimensional relationship. I did the same (not shown here) with the exhaust headers to properly line them up to the body side openings. This differs from the instructions but I thing it will work out better this way

 

300SLR wip43.jpg

300SLR wip44.jpg

300SLR wip45.jpg

300SLR wip46.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next step was to see how much of the chassis structure I could pre assemble and glue together, to provide a good foundation yet allowing to load engine, fuel tank, axle and inboard brake assemblies etc.

This should seem the logical way but not the way the instructions were set. Do a bit of engine, install it, add structure, then more engine components etc. Hard to manage the painting process with such an assembly sequence so I tested different sequences and see what's possible. Following pics are the mockup of the chassis/engine/interior tub, then stripping up the parts and leaving as much pre-glued chassis structure as possible, both for paint and setting up ride height and etc.

300SLR wip47.jpg

300SLR wip48.jpg

300SLR wip49.jpg

  • Like 1
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...