Tommy124 Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Hi there, I built the Italeri re-issue of this old Esci kit. I did not find any images of the road-going version, only of the Bandama Rallye version. Now I know why... I'm not one to blame everything on the kit, but this one really is sort of bad. The whole chassis is a joke. If you build it and attach the wheels as designed, it will look like someone stepped onto it. So I concentrated on fixing these issues and basically made a primitive curbside kit of it. The engine is not worth building either so I skipped that too. Painted with Tamiya TS-21 and gun metal on the lower part of the boday. I added the lower chrome trim using Evergreen strips. The exhaust has been made using aluminium tube. I also used aftermarket metal sticker emblems. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 The body finishes look great, and the body trim looks very cleanly done. What scale is this kit? I built on of these several years ago, didn't look this good, that was a 1/12th scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Nice looking Mercedes. I agree with you on this kit. I built one a little while ago, and I had trouble with the wheels as well. The just didn't fit under the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrb124@sbcglobal.net Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Great subject matter. Those are beautiful automobiles. Nice details. I just don't understand how these scale model kit manufactures can allow such poor products out of their door. Quality Control is a real thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Very nicely done, certainly has the look of the 1:1. I have one to do someday, so it was helpful to read your comments. I think mine is missing its chassis, but perhaps I'm not missing much and I'll just make it look right on a spare one off something else. 2 hours ago, espo said: What scale is this kit? 1/24. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeah Nah Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Nicely done in spite of the issues. Esci was one of those companies that could produce second-to-none quality kits yet also come out with some absolute duds. Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Gorgeous Mercedes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koellefornia Kid Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Beautiful rendition of my all time favourite Mercedes! I remember one of these in my neighbourhood (way back in the late 80s) in a similar colour. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 Many thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 You turned this lousy kit into a nice representation of the classic 450 SL, Thomas - very well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 A very nice build in spite of all the difficulties. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Very nice Benz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Many thanks for your kind words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelbuilder Mark Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Good looking model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Quality looking build Tommy, great job👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Thanks Mark and Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 You definitely did a great job on this Mercedes. Probably the best looking 450 I have seen. I had a 450Sl for a years but never really warmed up to it. It just was not my sort of car. That being said I was given a 1/12 Doyusha 450SLC kit I might convert to a 450SL someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy grumpy Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Nice and clean Mercedes. Always liked this body styles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 Many thanks for your kind words! 15 hours ago, Phildaupho said: You definitely did a great job on this Mercedes. Probably the best looking 450 I have seen. I had a 450Sl for a years but never really warmed up to it. It just was not my sort of car. That being said I was given a 1/12 Doyusha 450SLC kit I might convert to a 450SL someday. Sounds interesting. You might aswell sell the 1/12 Doyusha for a lot of money and buy several better kits off that. 🤓 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbuckeye67 Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Looks like your efforts paid off, I think it looks great! I picked up one of these in a bag for $10.00 at a recent show. It had been stripped of all paint & put in a zip-lock. I really liked the body lines, but after really looking at everything, I was less than impressed. I ended up trading it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 7 hours ago, Tommy124 said: Many thanks for your kind words! Sounds interesting. You might aswell sell the 1/12 Doyusha for a lot of money and buy several better kits off that. 🤓 Thanks Thomas - I just checked out your gallery. Fantastic collection of models. I have never gotten into selling kits I might never build. Maybe I should. The additional cost of shipping has discouraged me from coming up with an appropriate selling price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 17 hours ago, Phildaupho said: Thanks Thomas - I just checked out your gallery. Fantastic collection of models. Many thanks Phil, that's very kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Thomas, your model came out great! Also, superb job on the BMF. I have couple of those kits to be built and I just hate the kit's tires. Their tread that looks like it belongs on a truck. The wheels scale out to only around 13" too. But they look pretty darn good in your photos. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy124 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 On 2/10/2024 at 2:15 AM, peteski said: Thomas, your model came out great! Also, superb job on the BMF. I have couple of those kits to be built and I just hate the kit's tires. Their tread that looks like it belongs on a truck. The wheels scale out to only around 13" too. But they look pretty darn good in your photos. Many thanks Peter. I agree 100% on your opinion regarding the tyres/ wheels. But I had to use them, as I did not find a suitable replacement in my parts box. Scale Production have these "Barock" rims on sale, but they are available in 17" only and I did not want a restomod look. https://www.scaleproduction.de/product_info.php?info=p2477_17--mercedes-barock.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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