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Esci Mercedes 450 SLC - differently


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corrrado
03-13-2018, 04:55 PM
Hello everyone,
You probably all know the almost 4 decades old Esci Mercedes 450 SLC. Being one of the very few V8 powered rally car, it was unique to have an automatic gearbox which prooved to be quite reliable to win some races in Africa and Waldegaard managed to have some good results in some tough european rallyes as well.
The box has been facing me for almost 20 years from my stash and I have to admit, it did not look very attractive to me in it's Bandama outfit. My opinion all changed after I found some photos from the 1980 Portugal Rally, with wide wheelarches, slick tyres and without the fornt protection bars. In the night stages, even the headlight protection grills were removed, so the car looked really pretty and pure.
After a closer look I found that the kit is really well proportioned and detailed compare to its age. The parts has some minor flaws but otherwise they look pretty good, especially the V8 engine. With some changes would make a very different 450 SLC.
I started with the chassis, replaced the cast on driveshaftsand torsion bars and also started to build the visible rear part of the interior. I changed the seat to look a bit more realistic.
https://i.imgur.com/g7Sqm8G.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/f619FbP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/facMrXm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eOK7AC1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OUlbivM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fajooWf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/smwZnka.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eHiOvxp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BJWwjmt.jpg

lovegt40
03-14-2018, 10:48 AM
This merc is too nice. Good luck

gionc
03-14-2018, 12:18 PM
Very nice racing interiors jobs!!!

corrrado
03-21-2018, 06:17 PM
Thank you guys. I managed to make some progress on the interior, I nearly finished the rear part, only needs some sanding. Meanwhile, I did some work on the dashboard and central consol to make it look closer to the original. I changed the dials and hollowed the air outlets to make them more convincing. That rosewood trim on the dash, done with acrylic colors, required some tries to get it reasonable.
https://i.imgur.com/yG4z4uj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xDlKeUQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RcKwOgj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Z4lB9o4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MT4m9iY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VCqTMCs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/av8vVay.jpg

corrrado
03-23-2018, 06:31 PM
I managed to make some small progress on the Mercedes. I modified the steering wheel and started the engine. After spraying with TS 30, I soaked it with some black-brown enamel. I started to add the injection lines, when halfway through I realized that nothing would be visible on the top of the engine because the large air filter covers it entirely :frown: I will do it anyway...
https://i.imgur.com/PUwat1K.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Zudq6rE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qNlzBOV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vnkMkHP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Dgq3T1S.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dzMiaBG.jpg

corrrado
03-25-2018, 05:08 PM
Small progress on the interior, after painting it, I started to put it together. I tried to moderate myself with the weathering and keep it to the minimum...:) The air-vent needs to be casted 5 times...:frown: I also started the exterior, sanded off the side trims and started to cut the fenders in order to make the wheelarches. Quite big chunks need to be cut off from the fenders.
https://i.imgur.com/pS9LpPP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/LTK5PJ7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aXjDfos.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pv2eBfX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rnFl4Wo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dQ57OuU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/z9VEIxB.jpg

corrrado
03-26-2018, 04:54 PM
Some progress with the wheelarches, (long awaited and most exciting part of the buid for me :smile:),.I put some ordinary car bodyfiller on. I like this method because you can easily carve the filler right after it starts to set and you'll have a quick result. It needs lots of refinement obviously, both in shape and width.

https://i.imgur.com/CFCMOaY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cEyui2T.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OhgDFxX.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/JchkwkE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/q6u0ebC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WEYLzlg.jpg

corrrado
03-26-2018, 05:15 PM
By the way, anyone could help me to identify this decal on the car? Unfortunately, I don't have any clear image of it. Looking at thephotos from other rallyes, Mercedes seems to put the local importeurs names on. I think it is the Portugese importeur name on the car. I would be really thankful if anyone could help me with a photo.:smile:
https://i.imgur.com/j7dnX2S.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Yo5OM8v.jpg

corrrado
03-27-2018, 05:19 PM
Small progress on the wheelarches, I took them off, sanded them in shape and glued them back. Still needs some adjustments with the shape and thickness.
I put some reference wheel to look at the proportion. The BBS will be changed but the tyre diameter (Tamiya BMW 635 CSI) looks right, although it is 16" in theory.
https://i.imgur.com/RJCSOl6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gvXnM6J.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/YoF8j8f.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ViGuysr.jpg

chris24
03-29-2018, 03:47 AM
I love it, very unique and inspiring as always. Looking forward to seeing the modifications on the BBS central wheel nut ;)

corrrado
04-02-2018, 12:42 PM
Thank you Chris, the whole BBS inside will be changed to the BMW 635, since that looks closer to the original. I made a little progress meanwhile, finished the front wheelarches and corrected the lower line of the headlight which was strangely angled, whereas the original is almost horizontal with a slight angle.
I also started to build the non existing rear springs and absorbers.

https://i.imgur.com/EwTBGgR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RWl7clf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/uTFs221.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cXMgXkv.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/E7OefvX.jpg

lovegt40
04-02-2018, 05:47 PM
Really big work so far, but this car deserves it.

corrrado
04-03-2018, 05:13 PM
You are right Paolo abot this car and kit, it seems to be forgotten somehow. Mercedes had some serious plans with this car, even Walter Rohrl was hired and tested it but unfortunately, the top management scrapped the program in early 1981. I advanced a bit with the build, I roughed in the rear arches and cut the grill in pieces, to replace all the horizontal bars to get closer to the original.

https://i.imgur.com/jxHSrr1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Fn1gB9V.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3RZJUSi.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/Xa48ovz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TdKRUlF.jpg

corrrado
04-05-2018, 05:25 PM
I managed to do some progress, finished the rear arches and did some work with the engine, scratched the alternator from my scapbox and made some pulleys.

https://i.imgur.com/WdEYEAX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AeDvjaA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CflkpCY.jpg

corrrado
04-07-2018, 05:27 PM
I rebuilt the alternator, the distributor and the steering servo pump. Still long way to go as the engine room looks really like a maze, I don't even know the fraction of its use...

https://i.imgur.com/aGORsYO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UltKaC5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xMYZm3w.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6sHgjcJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ipqAp0L.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FfhPTlj.jpg

malscar
04-08-2018, 02:44 AM
You are nuts! Great work, but by the look of the real engine, a lot of what you are doing will be hidden.

Need some popcorn whilst I await your next update.

corrrado
04-08-2018, 04:42 PM
Hi Malscar, you are right, I am not going to go nuts on the parts hidden by the air filter or other things. Since I have only two bad quality photos on the original rally engine bay and very little knowledge on the 450 SLC wireing and plumbing, I will only try to make a resemblance to those references on the visible areas.:smile:

corrrado
04-11-2018, 03:10 PM
Little advance on some of the visible engine parts, I finished the distributor, the servo pump and the alternator.

https://i.imgur.com/0YqDPls.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gnKMUpg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/N4GgEkT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KeN5bg5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FpSVGSb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/i1IKt4i.jpg

mrceej
04-13-2018, 04:03 PM
Love the detail and hard work you're putting into this!

corrrado
04-13-2018, 05:06 PM
Thanks Mcreej. I think this forgotten kit deserves the attention, since it is very good in detail and proportion to start with.
Little advance on the engine, corrected the exhaust manifold - although it will not be very visible - and assembled the distributor and put on the belt with the pulleys. At the end, the air filter covers most of it, so not much more to do on the engine itself.

https://i.imgur.com/f7ajLUT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iNieCM1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WN5aSzu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wMpaB9c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yHPwntt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/koT4xjQ.jpg

corrrado
04-15-2018, 05:24 PM
Small progress on the Mercedes, I scribed some lines to represent the non existent lower window frames and cut off the thick "B pillar" which was just a thin chrom piece, as the real car had a frameless door with no pillar. Also made a mold and deleted the rear side window louvers since this was behind the side windows on the real car. I'll cast it and put it behind the glass. Than trimmed off all the chrom stripes around the front and rear lights and made the inner sleeves of the front fenders from 0
5 styrene strips. Assembled the exhaust manifolds, made from solder but it will be almost invisible on the model.

https://i.imgur.com/OBAOC5B.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bd09E1K.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mUzp82W.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZWdNl00.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lD5tK7s.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/u0GbHZe.jpg

afxracing
04-17-2018, 05:06 PM
Outstanding work here.

corrrado
04-26-2018, 03:34 PM
I managed to spend some time on the model, added some extension to the inner arch on the front, since there was a huge visible gap. Put some Tamiya putty on to the rear lower windsield frame to get some bold section for the chrome frame and started to build some accessories in the engine room. Still long way to go though...

https://i.imgur.com/NehQAex.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/18cEzRx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5iimkaw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6tMfeEb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pJHSrNW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4sVvEiK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ysphgTZ.jpg

corrrado
04-29-2018, 03:37 PM
Small update on the Mercedes, I closed the gap between the chassis and the front wheelarches and scratchbuilt the crossmember which connects the front fenders. I also made the heat shielded battery case from styrene and chocolate foil :smile:.

https://i.imgur.com/FaLyg7I.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FLzQHgX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Q5dW9WG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BKYHjwY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/p9eNrUD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/uYMVWit.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fSfJ738.jpg


Meanwhile I received the Belkits Opel Manta and hoped for some good BBS wheels which also could be used for this car. Well, it is bit of a disappointment since the Belkits wheels are not the same design and their quality and sharpness is far behind for example the Tamiya BMW 635 which was released in 1986!!!

https://i.imgur.com/ZzbBQR5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XNn2lRw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CdjuwIu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WzEKbtG.jpg

afxracing
04-30-2018, 05:32 AM
Really enjoying this project.

chris24
05-03-2018, 04:24 AM
Wow !

corrrado
06-24-2018, 05:00 PM
Small progress only, not much time for modeling though. Improved some details and finally painted the body with tamiya mica silver. Weathered the chassis, added some mud, since the race was partially run in heavy rain and dirt stages.
Finally I started to add some rivets to the arches.


https://i.imgur.com/wUFdFxW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JTXuSCI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2HdIj1V.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/utikdAo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sjOo9H6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MSjhZUI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/btn0I9M.jpg

360spider
06-24-2018, 06:23 PM
What a terrific build! Excellent attention to detail, and I totally dig your weathering!
Like the car a lot too, will be certainly following the progress on this one!

corrrado
06-27-2018, 05:21 PM
Small progress on the interior, I modified few things around the steering wheel and scratchbuilt the CB radio and the Halda twinmaster. Still missing loads of things, belts, handbrake, steering logo, seat fixing, rollcage, etc, etc.


https://i.imgur.com/YlUYTEl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I1wcvBB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/G9j7SHQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Rkzsbjw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sfxz14d.jpg

360spider
06-27-2018, 10:49 PM
Very cool bits! CB radio is a highlight.

firun
06-28-2018, 06:14 AM
Wow, that's gets better and better with every update!
I would remove seam line from the gear lever, but still it won't be seen when the model complete.

lovegt40
06-28-2018, 03:12 PM
amazing work. Very nice.

afxracing
06-30-2018, 05:29 AM
Coming along great.

corrrado
07-01-2018, 04:13 PM
Thank you guys. A little update, almost finished the interior, still missing few bits like intercom, steering logo, door panels, co-pilot light, etc. Also put some bare metal foil, to represent the chrom window trims.


https://i.imgur.com/mqBWqpy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/T0xOQRt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j22fxG3.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/NfYPrRC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/81q5RMR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/b3z0vXr.jpg

corrrado
07-22-2018, 04:22 PM
Small update on the Mercedes, I finished the interior and moved on to the engine bay. Trying to make it look busy, although still lots of bits and wires to be added. Next things will be the grill, wheels and all those damn rivets on the wheelarches. About 100 of them...:frown:



https://i.imgur.com/CXoT4gI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RPsVp2e.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fMJ82FC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HHfICXU.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/hOcUEIu.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/3jGCIsr.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/hXsNX13.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/a9u0KW6.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/hfmLmDt.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/wKfrvEk.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/SbgmlkP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NwXYxNm.jpg

afxracing
07-23-2018, 05:30 AM
Very impressive Attila.

360spider
07-23-2018, 10:55 AM
Very cool details. The more you add, the less it looks like a model from a distance!
Terrific work.

corrrado
09-14-2018, 03:08 PM
Little update, I had some time to scratch the grill and work on the lights.Changed the outer lenses and reshaped the blinker on the headlights

and used Esci Ford Escort lenses for the extra lights. Reflectors were painted Alclad Chrome which works quite well in my opinion, although it is extremely fragile.


https://i.imgur.com/AiMVJV8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zsDlWQK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/IxNDSY5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5yIXjGq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yr4AKRa.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/uimIaxO.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/8gAdBLi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pIBPd6B.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eYjL3en.jpg

corrrado
09-14-2018, 03:47 PM
Next step will be the replacement of the windsield, which is too thick and has a big distortion.

360spider
09-14-2018, 05:29 PM
The headlights look exceptional!

LucaC.74
09-15-2018, 01:56 PM
I like it so much
how you work
very very nice!

chris24
09-18-2018, 07:39 AM
Still impressive, keep it up !

racer1
09-19-2018, 06:47 AM
Very nice build.

corrrado
11-12-2018, 04:40 PM
Little update before the final assembly of the Mercedes. After riveting the arches I casted the wheels which wer put together from several different components.I wanted to make the Dunlop markings somewhat worn looking so I opted for Rescuemodels excellent laser cut Kabuki stencils.I sprayed the logos with RLM yellow at low pressure, several thin layers. It will be sanded later with fine paper to optain the worn look. I build the reflectors for the taillights to make it a bit more realistic. For the vipers and door handles I used the first time the Molotow chrome marker which works pretty well on those small pieces. I also painted the rear window louvres with a greenish grey tint to represent the green window tint.



https://i.imgur.com/0TNLQ1n.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ka2aBVw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ub0zMa5.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/lwxGGa8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dJ1c91G.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JG4Gd0l.jpg

360spider
11-12-2018, 05:35 PM
How in the world have you cut the Dunlop logo from masking tape?

lovegt40
11-13-2018, 10:44 AM
Amazing job on that wheels. Love them

DasWiesel
11-15-2018, 12:17 AM
How in the world have you cut the Dunlop logo from masking tape?
Exactly my thought! Would be very curious to know that, too.
Looking at those dark cutting borders let me think of laser cutting?

Amazing work with the wheels, they look great. But why didnīt you take rubber tires? So much work with that resin... :eek:

corrrado
11-15-2018, 05:00 AM
Thank you Paolo!:) 360 Spider and DasWiesel, the excellent Kabuki stencil for the Dunlop logo is lasercut. I got them from Rescuemodels, they make different makes, and sizes. It is fantastic to work with, because the laser surely cuts through the material unlike the traditional plotter, which is close to useless in this scale anyway.
For the tyre I used the Tamiya 635 CSI and since they are the same width front/rear I had to cast the wider rear tyre in resin. About 50 percent of all my models has resin tyres because width issues.

DasWiesel
11-15-2018, 07:17 AM
Where do I find Rescuemodels, please?

mel79
11-15-2018, 11:26 AM
Super work on a very interesting subject! So nice to see a high quality build of something out of ordinary with all the extra build steps well documented.

I also got the Esci SLC a long ago with a rally conversion in my mind but it is still waiting for my modeling inspiration to return.

br
Mikko

AAlmeida
11-16-2018, 05:50 AM
I'm still trying to figure out how some modelers can miniaturize themselves :P

corrrado
11-17-2018, 04:59 PM
Little update on the Mercedes, final look at the interior before I glued the body to the chassis and test fitted the wheels with it. Glueing the wheels was a bit of a challenge since it had to be adjusted to the wider resin wheels.


https://i.imgur.com/oeZkjy2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/LA31eXn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZiSkX8w.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qUCubm2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lm2am8S.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3K0nluy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xEJPeOD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sxnuVmO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/f0LZhOw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WuIXael.jpg


Some parts to be glued on;


https://i.imgur.com/tUnyMyq.jpg

stratos75
11-18-2018, 08:20 AM
Wonderful! Do you plan to change the Mercedes logo on the trunk lid to the metal?

firun
11-18-2018, 03:49 PM
You nailed it. Terrific!

chris24
11-19-2018, 05:32 AM
Little update on the Mercedes, final look at the interior before I glued the body to the chassis and test fitted the wheels with it. Glueing the wheels was a bit of a challenge since it had to be adjusted to the wider resin wheels.










https://i.imgur.com/f0LZhOw.jpg



Some parts to be glued on;




Every update is pure pleasure :) Where did you get the metal emblems ?

corrrado
11-19-2018, 04:05 PM
Thank you guys! Stratos 75 and Chris, I used the ZoomOn metal transfers for the rear logos, changing the letter orders from CLS to SLC The line below the text came from Scaleliveries chrome strips, they have the proper thickness, fitting to the metal transfer. Unfortunately the biggest star emblem on the ZoomOn sheet is only 3mm and I need 4mm for the trunklid. Any idea where to get that size? I saw the Hobbydesign metal transfer but couldn't get it.

LucaC.74
11-22-2018, 02:25 PM
Hi Corrado

you did an incredible job, the work on the tires is really beautiful!

I love your way of working, old style, everything by hand without 3D

this is the real modeling..


compliments again!

chris24
11-23-2018, 08:46 AM
Hi Corrado

you did an incredible job, the work on the tires is really beautiful!

I love your way of working, old style, everything by hand without 3D

this is the real modeling..


compliments again!

I totally agree with Luca.

Would love to see the rest of your collection, as I am only aware of the TR7, the Rothmans Porsche and this 450 SLC. Any other pictures to share ?:)

DasWiesel
11-23-2018, 09:31 AM
Nice progress again, interior looks great!

Where do I find Rescuemodels, please?

You might have overlooked it, but I still would like to know where to find Rescuemodels. Google isnīt helpful at all as I only get manufacterers of rescue stretchers and toys. :banghead:

stratos75
11-28-2018, 01:02 PM
Unfortunately the biggest star emblem on the ZoomOn sheet is only 3mm and I need 4mm for the trunklid. Any idea where to get that size?.
I can send you the 4 mm metal star emblem. The needed emblem is on the 5th line from above.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4854/46092101691_8f37bc3586_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2de151t)IMG_E5985 (https://flic.kr/p/2de151t) by Mikhail Petrenko (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93935557@N04/), on Flickr


You will pay for shipping from Russia only.

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