Mercedes Benz 300SL

[70 Sting]

Yes, it is possible to screw up a Tamiya kit.  

Don't know where I went wrong, but the body didn't fit the chassis very well - resulting in the doors and hood not closing flush. Also had to leave one of the chassis mounting points out of position in order to sit all 4 wheels on the ground.

Make plenty of other mistakes along the way including reactivating the paint with heavy applications of clear.  During final assembly I must have got some glue on the top right of the trunk. I tried to spot repair the area, however the application of the metallic paint looked so obvious that I didn't include it in the photos.  I assume this is because the metal flakes in the paint aren't running in the same direction?

Body is Tamiya TS-42 Light Gun Metal cleared with TS-65 Pearl Clear.  Chrome is original from the kit.  Wheels are TS-42 and AK Xtreme Matt Aluminum.  Interior is darkened Tamiya LP-21 cleared with X-35 Semi Gloss.

There's always the next one.  8^)

[Rich Chernosky]

Harry, don't know why you beat yourself up so badly because if the pictures are any indication this is one outstanding model.  The interior shot with the door open just blew me away. Having just recently completed the Mercedes 300SL in several scales I can appreciate your struggles. But the pictures simply don't show it.  Great job and thanks for sharing. 

[crazyjim]

Looks pretty nice to me.

[Nacho Z]

I wish all of my “screw ups” came out like this!  If they did, I would screw up a lot more…lol.  Seriously, that is an outstanding piece.  The awesome photography just highlights the beautiful model.  You always do nice work.  Thanks for sharing this one.

[Roger U]

Beautiful model and photography. Despite the struggles the finished product, interior and exterior, turned out great.

[Jim B]

Great looking Mercedes. Very well done. 

[espo]

Can't tell from the pictures that you had any problems that you described. Classic looking shade of silver with a great finish and clean body trim. Excellent door hinge details in the picture. The interior has a very realistic looking finish. 

[DanL]

Great work on this one... Paint is excellent

[Greasefinger]

That´s as good as it gets! Tolerances are small in these good quality kits so the small misfits could be anywhere. The kit chrome in this kit is exceptionally realistic, not at all toyish. What did you use for the window trims?

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

What a dissapointment. I was expecting to see a totally screwed up Tamiya kit, and you show us this beautifully built 300SL. You'll have to try harder to screw up next time.

[karbuildr]

What a great looking 300SL. We're our own worst critics, I think it looks fabulous, very nice in silver with red interior.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Very nice work. Great amount of realism.

[70 Sting]

8 hours ago, Rich Chernosky said:

Harry, don't know why you beat yourself up so badly because if the pictures are any indication this is one outstanding model.  The interior shot with the door open just blew me away. Having just recently completed the Mercedes 300SL in several scales I can appreciate your struggles. But the pictures simply don't show it.  Great job and thanks for sharing. 

Appreciate the kind words, but if you saw it in person you would see the crooked license plate, the fact that it tilts to the right, the various areas all over the body where the paint was reactivated, the fact that I could not install the chassis plate which covers the entire bottom of the car, the horrendous patch job on trunk (not shown)... and that's just what I can recall.

I just pretended I was photographing a McDonald's hamburger for their menu... smoke and mirrors.

No doubt we are our own worst critics - when I look at the kits I've built, I don't see the good qualities, only the things that went wrong.  It's my issue I guess.

P.S.  Yeah, I've recently been photographing the interiors with a fisheye lens - pretty much right up against the model.  I like how they've been turning out.

[70 Sting]

7 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

I wish all of my “screw ups” came out like this!  If they did, I would screw up a lot more…lol.  Seriously, that is an outstanding piece.  The awesome photography just highlights the beautiful model.  You always do nice work.  Thanks for sharing this one.

Thanks Z.  I know I'm being overly critical, however, there are so many flaws hidden by this photography technique.  It's my secret weapon.  As the song goes, "you're just a 3 dressed up as 9."

[70 Sting]

6 hours ago, espo said:

Can't tell from the pictures that you had any problems that you described. Classic looking shade of silver with a great finish and clean body trim. Excellent door hinge details in the picture. The interior has a very realistic looking finish. 

Thanks @espo. The interior is my favourite part of the build. 

[70 Sting]

4 hours ago, Greasefinger said:

That´s as good as it gets! Tolerances are small in these good quality kits so the small misfits could be anywhere. The kit chrome in this kit is exceptionally realistic, not at all toyish. What did you use for the window trims?

I thought the kit chrome looked good as well.  To match the shininess, I used that new Revell Chrom < (spelling on the can) for the front, rear and passenger windows. For the 2 small side windows, the trim is actually moulded as part of the glass and I used chrome markers I bought online (not Molotow).

I was extra careful not to touch the Revell chrome as it doesn't like to be handled and you cannot seal it with clear as it dulls the finish.

[70 Sting]

2 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

What a dissapointment. I was expecting to see a totally screwed up Tamiya kit, and you show us this beautifully built 300SL. You'll have to try harder to screw up next time.

🤣😂

[70 Sting]

2 hours ago, karbuildr said:

What a great looking 300SL. We're our own worst critics, I think it looks fabulous, very nice in silver with red interior.

You are right.  At the start of every build I think this will be my best work with no mistakes. Then the mistakes start piling up and your realize it's gonna be another learning experience.  Just have to stop making the same mistakes.

I do like this darkened red for interiors as it doesn't scream 'look at me' and detract from the rest of the vehicle IMO.

[TC]

That looks great 

[bondo bill]

beautiful

[Kah puts]

Dang! Herr Benz sure is special 🏆

[beeRS]

Despite the problems you encountered, this looks absolutely fantastic! The last picture, showing the interior, looks like a 1:1.

[Dann Tier]

I actually like this alot still, and your photos are great!

[ChrisR]

Looks great1

[happy grumpy]

Looks darn good from here. Too bad you had issues, I had the opposite experience when I built mine. Everything when super well. You may have had issues, but the end results are astounding. Very good job.