Tamiya's Mercedes SLR 722S

This one was built for Scale Auto's Dec. 2010 issue.

I built the earlier SLR and enjoyed it, and was happy to hear that they upgraded the kit to the 722S. That said, there's very few changes; just the wheels, decals, and the front fascia (that is now broken into 3 parts that you must glue and fill together to make smooth).

Knowing what to look for in terms of assembly issues didn't help me that much; everything goes well until it's time to put the body together. Getting it all to fit together "all closed up" is a challenge.

The colors that most SLR's seem to be delivered in are deadly dull...since it's a McLaren car, I thought it might look good in "McLaren Orange", and funny enough, they did make a few of the very last SLR convertibles in orange. I used Testors Grabber Orange for the paint.

Would I build another? No...unless Tamiya decides to do the Stirling Moss edition :wink:

http://images116.fotki.com/v1596/photos/8/10258/8762249/17314-vi.jpg
http://images12.fotki.com/v236/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9948-vi.jpg
http://images21.fotki.com/v577/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9949-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v544/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9930-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v1593/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9934-vi.jpg
http://images56.fotki.com/v1600/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9982-vi.jpg
http://images22.fotki.com/v518/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9978-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9979-vi.jpg
http://images58.fotki.com/v696/photos/8/10258/8762249/IMG_9981-vi.jpg

Stunning! Beautiful color too!

Nice job you did!

I like the color and of course, clean building techniques at usual! A couple of things about the kit I'm troubled with (and relate to fit issues that you mentioned): 1) looks like large gaps btw the headlights and hood and 2) always felt that the exhausts sit too inboard of the body...something either attributable to the photo angle or a Tamiya mistake.

A beauty. I can see what you mean with fitment issues as I see a horrid gap between the headlights and the hood. But you still managed a stunning piece. I really need to get back to modeling but been slammed with drawing orders and school. =(

looks superb in orange!! it is eye catching :lol:

Amazing work as always, can't wait to see it in the magazine!

Very pretty color. Fine work.

that color looks sexy on that car

Looks fantastic, the colour looks great on it

That's one HOT Mercedes

It actually looks good in orange. Nice one!!

Grea Colour, Looks amazing, cant wait to see it in the Mag.
You did a great job (as always) of getting the doors to close pretty smoothly

Wow, that is an awesome color for SLR.

Fantastic model Bob! What a beauty! Surprisingly, the color suits it rather well.
The only thing I would add while its not too late - a bit of a brown wash in the panel lines.

Ecepcional!!!

I'm not a fan of the real car but that is a great colour, a great build and great photography.

Colour and execution: both great !!!

Gorgeous work as per usual! i really love the color.

As usual, great job Bob, love the color!!!

Thanks for the replies :sunglasse

I had to do some dis-assembly recently; I had to ship this one to Scale Auto and it returned w/one wheel/brake assembly that had come apart and one inner taillight loose inside the body. When I took the chassis off I adjusted the angle of the side pipes so they look better, and I also was able to slightly adjust the angle of the headlight pods so they fit tighter to the hood when closed. Before our show in a couple weeks I'll add some panel line washes that I missed. I build so quickly for a deadline sometimes that it pays to go back and revisit the subject to do final detailing tweaks.

Bob, fantastic color and great build. Per the usual Downie builds I always see.

Funny that you painted it in Orange. Why funny you ask? I will be painting mine in Gulf Blue.

I hope it looks as good as yours.

Chris

Bob, fantastic color and great build. Per the usual Downie builds I always see.

Funny that you painted it in Orange. Why funny you ask? I will be painting mine in Gulf Blue.

I hope it looks as good as yours.

Chris

Thanks! Wish the final fit of the doors and hood was better, but it is what it is...you might try test fitting doors w/door panels and glass before final assembly; the tolerance stack of the doors/door panels/glass makes them fit not as well as just the door itself to just the body. Tamiya had similar issues w/their Enzo and FXX...both look better "all open" than closed up.

Which shade of blue? The vintage Gulf Blue or the more modern darker metallic blue that was used on the McLaren F1's? Either will be cool, since most SLR 722's seem to be shades of gray with no color.

Can't wait for the SLS :sunglasse

OMG Bob that is awesome !! How did I miss this... The color makes it !!

Bob, was it you that recommended trimming the female attachment point of the air-intake to make the hood fit better?

I sat in an SLS a few weeks ago. Me likely. I'd get either Daytona Blue or Alumabeam with the saddle woven leather (if I had $200k). I wonder if Zero Paints or Scale Finishes can duplicate Alumabeam paint for Revell's model.

Excellent model, clean, very good paint, congratulations, thanks for sharing ....

Alfredo M.R.
León, Gto.
México.

Bob, was it you that recommended trimming the female attachment point of the air-intake to make the hood fit better?

I sat in an SLS a few weeks ago. Me likely. I'd get either Daytona Blue or Alumabeam with the saddle woven leather (if I had $200k). I wonder if Zero Paints or Scale Finishes can duplicate Alumabeam paint for Revell's model.

Yes, trimming the mounting boss does help that piece sit lower and the hood to fit better.

Here I am last March at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, sitting in one of the new SLS that they had at the show...I loved it too!
http://images19.fotki.com/v327/photos/8/10258/8552747/IMG_8771-vi.jpg

Do they have an online configurator? I love the one Ferrari has.

Lookin' pretty happy!

Thanks for the tips Bob. The color is the lighter older blue. I suspect we both thought the same thing about these cars. The light blue just went off in my head. I do have the orange as well, but am saving that for something else. Porsche I suppose, like a Cayman or something.

Chris

Do they have an online configurator? I love the one Ferrari has.

AMG has one, but you can only choose the exterior color, and the color representations are way way off. Bentley has a great configurator, why can't AMG (or MBUSA for that matter)? I don't get it.

Superb finish and looks great in McLaren Orange!

You almost fooled me! After showing a real car, I thought the second one is a real car too! What can I say except stunning!