Harry P. Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 This is the 1/16 Minicraft (or should I say "miniCRAP") version of the 1936 Mercedes 540K. A bad kit with tons of flash, sink marks, mold misalignment, etc. This one was tough to build, even tougher to make look halfway decent. I drilled out the gauges and made my own by photoreducing gauge faces I found online, made bezels out of aluminum tube, added real wood trim to the door panels and dash, "chromed" the wheels with Spaz Stix "Mirror Chrome," added the whitewalls with acrylic craft paint, replaced the kit's out-of-scale thick glass with Lexan, added a bunch of missing underhood detail, added photoreduced license plates, and just generally tried to finesse this kit to make it look good. Paint is Krylon "Short Cuts" Red Pepper and Future clear. As usual, a WIP here if you're interested.
cruz Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Very cool Harry, those Minicraft kits are a piece of %$#% but you sure make 'em look good!
Lunajammer Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 If you're calling it a sow's ear, then you've made a silk purse. Luscious.
Twokidsnosleep Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Another masterpiece of gorgeous gleaming red and chrome Your work puts the box art to shame! I really have liked my Minicraft kit for subject and scale...yes the manufacturing is only fair, but most brands are that way. Kits are only starting points on building your particular version of the kit. Edited January 21, 2015 by Twokidsnosleep
doctor phillips Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Great job, Harry!! I've always been impressed by your awe-inspiring craftsmanship... just thought I'd tell ya so.
cobraman Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Looks much better that the halfway decent you suggest. Very sharp !
Harry P. Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 Very cool Harry, those Minicraft kits are a piece of %$#% Yeah, they do need a little TLC to make them look presentable.
Porscheman Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Beautiful as always Harry!!! Have you ever built the 37 Packard from Entex?
mcandela Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Wow!! For a piece of KAKA it came out really good!! Got anymore of them?? Lol.. Edited January 21, 2015 by mcandela
Ramfins59 Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Great work Harry, and great determination to get the car looking so good from such a poor kit.
kruleworld Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 two words popped into my mind when i saw this build: "holy cow!"
Harry P. Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 Have you ever built the 37 Packard from Entex? No.
o-man Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Awesome job for what you refer as crappy kit! I wish I had 1/3 the skills of some of you guys.
Belugawrx Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 The interior came out looking great Harry..! Even with all of your manhandling Another beauty Cheers
ss2000 Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Very nice. Have you built any of the Entex Packards or the '33 Cadillac?
Harry P. Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 Very nice. Have you built any of the Entex Packards or the '33 Cadillac? No on the Packard, I have a partially built '33 Cadillac that I started like 20 years ago and put away... never finished it, I lost interest because it was so visually boring... black engine, black chassis, black body, black interior. I prefer cars with more visual interest.
bbowser Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Beautiful work. The chrome accents on the red body are just right and the interior is very convincing.
slusher Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Man, Harry that does not look like a Minicraft kit. Excellent looking model..
Sixties Sam Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 Yet another incredible build from Harry! Great work! I like how you clean up the small details like thinner glass, better gauges, etc. Those little things add up to a big improvement. Nice work! Sam
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