Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

[WRCfan]

Usually more of a rally builder, I am tackling a circuit build this time. The kit is a Fujimi 1/24 SLS GT3. I am lucky to work for a GT3 race team which campaigns three of these cars, and will be recreating the endurance machine. I will be able to throw in a few reference pictures of the actual car throughout the build as well.

Here are a few shots of the kit before I tear into it and the 1:1 race machine.

[potsie]

I am looking forward to this. Does your team run with the bright orange as the base for it's livery? That would certainly make it eye-catching.

[firun]

Looks interesting! Good luck.

[Shunter2402]

This will be fun to watch..

[WRCfan]

Gidday everyone, thanks for the comments and following the build. Potsie, yes we run with the bright orange livery. Usually the rear of the cars are black, so they run a triple colour combo of orange, black and silver accents. I have attached a photo of the car as per the race livery. The car I am replicating is owned personally by the boss of the team and is his 'baby'. It usually remains in full orange unlike the other 2 SLS GT3s.

Firun & Shunter, glad to have you along for the build!

Progress has started. I was happy to spot a photo etch sprue in the kit so have added this to the brakes. The chassis is pretty crude but in a machine such as this, you don't notice it once bodywork goes on so no worries there.

I will concentrate a bit of my attention to the interior as that is going to be most visible. I will do what I can in terms of adding some detail. Attached are some shots I took of the cockpit for anyone who is interested and I grabbed the 1:1 steering wheel to compare against the kit one. They did good! More updates to come soon!














The cars as they are run in competition:

[da_ashman]

Great build, always good to see models built of race cars that race in NZ! Can't wait to see more!

[WRCfan]

Hi everyone, a wee update tonight on the SLS. Have been busy with the 1:1 car but snuck some building over the last week. I have finished up the cockpit, trying to recreate (a simplistic version) of our team cockpit with the basic colours and belts. I need to paint the internal sides of the cockpit to give the feeling of the gullwing doors closed as well before moving on. All parts are mocked up currently without being glued in.

I have sprayed the body with a (close) orange too and went with a Tamiya spray paint.

[indy1977tx]

Looks great. Loving this build.

Jordan

[WRCfan]

Things have moved along, and the progress between before and now hasn't been overly exciting hence the model is almost finshed.

I did try for the first time using oven cleaner to remove chrome, and wow! Ten seconds and it was totally gone, no scrubbing needed, and no damage whatsoever to the plastic parts. Very happy with this outcome and will be using it again for sure.

The car is complete as of now so watch for the finished pics later on today. In the mean time here was the final parts of the build. Now to give it to the team boss as a belated Christmas present!