Lago-Talbot race car by SMER

[cobraman]

This will be my next wip. Model by SMER which I had never heard of. Bought the kit off of ebay. The box art drew me in and I just had to buy it. Well... it is not the quality of kit that I had hoped for. The wire wheels are ... lets just say leave alot to be desired. I searched for a set of wires and tires that would be the right size and look better. Unfortunatly all I found were way more than I was prepared to pay for a kit of this quality. I have decided to go ahead and build it right out of the box and do the best I can. Anyone ever built one of these ? I think it's 1/24 scale. No english in the instructions just photos and no painting guide. Maybe I can find some info on line. Wish me luck. I don't think this is going to be pretty. : )

[lordairgtar]

Although simple, with detailing, the car looks rather good. There are a few models of this and the Alfa racer on the forums. These are old Merit tools kits made by SMER.

[slusher]

This kit is new ro me Ray, but will be watching you build it....

[Chillyb1]

Do a search here for SMER or maybe the kits they made. They offer a range cars like this one. There is a modeler who I think is German and who builds these thing to an unbelievably high quality standard. I'm thinking he's posted a couple of his builds here recently.

I've never built one of these though I do love the subjects.

[Ace-Garageguy]

This can make a really beautiful model. Cool project. Lotsa pix, lotsa linx...https://www.google.com/search?q=talbot+lago+model&client=firefox-a&hs=2jF&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=47J5UqfIMpTQkQeW94HYCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1572&bih=738#q=talbot+lago+1%2F24&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

Edited November 6, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

This one is especially nice...http://www.arcair.com/Gal1/501-600/gal558-Talbot-Dalton/00.shtm

Edited November 6, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[mole53]

I've got one of these in my stash.and your right, this thing is basic, with a capitol B. I'll be watching this thread with extreme interest.

[PappyD340]

Good luck Ray, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

[cobraman]

Thanks guys. Bill, thanks for the links. Those builds are very nice and I can only imagine mine looking anywhere near that nice. Building it with only the kit parts will insure it doesn't look that good. The worst part of the kit has got to be the way they handled the wire wheels. Without going to the aftermarket for a set of nice wheels and tires this will look very toy like. I just can't justify 50 bucks or so for a nice set.

[PeeBee]

This kit is indeed 1/24. Lace up your own wires. This kit was re-released recently as a double kit which includes the old Merit Alfa Romeo Alfetta GP car (with engine and same level of detail as the Talbot Lago) by a company called Atlantis. It is still available from all the major on-line hobby retailers, although limited to a production run of 500.

If you crave a model of the same car (in 1/24) with more detail and higher parts count, Heller released a kit of this car several times over the years. You can find them on eBay, and they came with two-piece wire wheels with individually moldeded spokes and vinyl tires, although the Heller kit tires were slightly crude, and generic.

[crazyrichard]

cool !

[sjordan2]

Great 1:1 reference here...

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/474-Talbot-Lago-T26%20Course-4.5%20litre%20inline-6

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/866-Talbot-Lago-Type%2026%20Course%20Formula%20One%20Racing%20Monoposto-4.5%20Litre%20DOHC%20Inline%206-Cylinder

Astonishing 1/8 scale scratch build journal here...

http://www.scalemotorcars.com/forum/large-scale-cars/18730-article-motm-29-winner-tie-1-8-talbot-lago-t26c.html#post67047

Edited November 6, 2013 by sjordan2

[LDO]

Measure the wheels and tires and look for better parts from another kit, or even consider getting a damaged diecast off ebay. I got resin hood sides with arc-shaped louvers by getting a damaged Greta Garbo Duesenberg ebay.

[sjordan2]

Do a search here for SMER or maybe the kits they made. They offer a range cars like this one. There is a modeler who I think is German and who builds these thing to an unbelievably high quality standard. I'm thinking he's posted a couple of his builds here recently.

I've never built one of these though I do love the subjects.

That would be Plastheniker (Jurgen).

[cobraman]

Thanks for the comments and links. I want to build it box stock but will look into finding some wheels that would look better.

[sjordan2]

These assembled wheels come in different diameters as shown in the listing, and he will sell in multiples.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-24-hand-laced-wire-spoked-wheels-for-GP-sports-cars-fully-assembled-sets-of-2-/121194593083?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item1c37c2bb3b

[Nxr]

They are a decent Czech brand http://www.smer.cz/toys-and-models/cars i wouldnt mind some of those, the thing with eastern european models is that they often do come simple, crude and with a lot of that molding fuzz and such, sometimes parts may not even align properly, but thats the gem and challenge of those kits, i built plenty of the icm, amodel and eastern express aircraft and man, that was a challenge and the windshield canopy often came clouded and scratched as it just gets thrown in the box with no baggie or anything.

[curt raitz]

I have always wanted to build these, just picked up the double kit of the Alfa and Talbot by Atlantis...re-pop of the old Merit kits.

Almost finished with the Alfa...will be posting the build on the forum later

As you've noted,,,the wheels/tires are fairly "lame"

For tires, I picked up a couple sets of the "Big &Little" Dunlop Tires from Replicas & Miniatures of Maryland.

Norm doesn't have them listed in his catalog, but he will sell ya a set for $6.95. They are the same size as the kit tires.

For wheels, scratch-building them with a jig I put together, not easy but can be done

Good luck

[sjordan2]

There was also a Heller version of this car (not related to the Merit/Smer kit) with fully dimenionsal wheels, though a bit klunky.

[cobraman]

Thanks guys. Those wire wheels are beautiful but I just can't justify the cost for a 10 dollar model. I will keep looking for some kind of replacement as I build because these stock ones very lame.

[Brizio]

Looks a sweet project!

[sjordan2]

Thanks guys. Those wire wheels are beautiful but I just can't justify the cost for a 10 dollar model. I will keep looking for some kind of replacement as I build because these stock ones very lame.

An upfront $10 investment is peanuts compared to what the final product can be. As shown above, and especially in Ace's arcair link, this can be spectacular. You got a major deal on the kit price.

Edited November 6, 2013 by sjordan2

[cobraman]

10 bucks is nothing but the wheels and tires i found are about 25 bucks a pair and 10 bucks for shipping. That's 60 bucks ! I would love to make some wires myself but I don't have the talent for that.

[slusher]

Ray did you think about searching ebay for some wheels? There are deals out there but sometimes it feels like work.....

[cobraman]

Thanks Carl and yes I searched ebay as wrll as the web. I worked on the stockers and did noit have any luck. The bmf idea while good just can't be done well. I painted them black and then used a silver sharpie and that doesn't look good either. I just don't believe anything will help these things. I may finish this project up to the time I have to mount the wheels and hold of on finishing till I find something that will look better.