WIP Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM Original Teile

The actual car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/hood_B.jpg

These are the first pics of what will be one long progress thread.

In the end, I intend of having a "garage" kind of view. Something like this (I know that the picture shows the 2006 Salzgitter CLK :wink: ):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/imm032_33A.jpg

I plan on leaving the front bonnet open, to see all the carbon fiber I install using the SMS carbon fiber templated set.
For the first time I opened a door on a kit.
I also will add as much photoetched parts as possible, so I will have the wheels set aside when the build is completed to give a view on the brakes and normally hidden by the wheels.

I started with the putting all the carbon onto the underbody. I will clear coat the underbody this week to give it the shiny carbon fiber look!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0008.jpg

I also started on the engine (or of what´s included in the kit) I will rework major parts of it, but put it in for fitting purposes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0001.jpg

Watch for more updates to come and feel free to comment.

THERE YOU GO ! :D This I will follow with big interest.. good luck with the rest :)

AHHH this is going to be interesting... i have the same kit also just that mine is the d2 version

Wait until the decals. You're going to kill yourself. Check out my thread if you wanna see what they look like.

Don't worry about the decals! It's a pain and there's plenty of them. Just take it easy, don't rush and it'll come out just fine.

Go to www.spc.org.uk in the modeling forum under completed cars to see a really detailed Benz to give you a target to aim for. You might even be tempted to tell him to do yours for you . I'm sure you'll be very impressed.:2cents:

I clear coated some parts. They are not cured long enough to polish them. But - promised - it will happen. These pics are to show the difference between clear coated and just decaled parts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0013-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0017-1.jpg

Just a small update. The engine parts are almost done. I applied photoetched engine cover parts which are based on a carbon fiber base (found this on a reference pic) and a heat shield. Now it just needs some more polishing as well as some touchs up on the heat shield and I´m off for the brakes!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0021.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/SIMG0020.jpg

:eek: Looks wonderful so far... Ill surely follow this thread all the way as I myself is doing this kit now... :grinyes:

Looks like its coming along pretty well. This exact model is in line for my next build.

Do you have any pictures of the interior/engine of the car? I'm building one as well and I'm trying to figure out any wiring. Thanks

I took this out again after being almost done with the Ferrari. I thought I should restart this kit, because there is a lot more work to do I feel like doing a mad decal job again...Thanks Klutz100 for tempting me of doing a massive decal job again. When I took this kit out, I started where I left it - with the engine compartment, which is almost done except for some touch-ups.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/14e569ee.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/682a873d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/a1f0ebe7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/22b3a264.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/ce02844a.jpg

Let me know what you think. What´s next? Brakes, etc. I will add the SMS-Photo-Etch-Set as much I can do...Oh, and of course more CF.

Robert

Do you have any pictures of the interior/engine of the car? I'm building one as well and I'm trying to figure out any wiring. Thanks

I´m sorry, I have not many reference pics of the engine. Give me your PM and I can send you what I have.

Looks like a good start, just make sure to add a wash to the airfilter...

anymore updates?

Nice to see this WIP reserected. I'll be following closely!

Great work on the CF!

anymore updates?

It will take awhile.
Wheather over here is way too nice to spend too much time modeling as summer is usually not too long. So please re-check once in a while. If you see the post up high in the list, there is a chance of me having added updates.

...Thanks Klutz100 for tempting me of doing a massive decal job again.
You are very welcome :D :smokin:

Keep up the momentum!

Alright. I just want to give you a small update. I´m almost done with the rear suspension. I added the PE-Set to do the brake disks, the brake caliper was painted titanium gold and a coat of clear (TS) has been added. I know about the sinkmarks as well as the PE not being a 100% on the disk... I already checked and will redo them, when I´m back at the project.
Besides that I added C/F-Decals. As I checked my reference pics there will be alot more C/F to be added. As you all know...once you started to walk down the path, there´s hardly a way back... :grinyes: . To the pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/9008a384.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/aa843a66.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/297991c1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/7f07b761.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/3cc8963a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/395af9e7.jpg

Until next time and please comment to give suggestions on what to improve. Should I give the PE-brakes a wash. They look mighty shiny when cleaned?

Robert

"...once you started to walk down the path, there´s hardly a way back", -sooo true.
Nice work on this so far. Looking forward to more on this project.

Robert, I would be inclined to wash them or, if they were ceramic discs in the original, even paint them?
Also, would they be ventilated discs?

Keep the updates coming - you are on a roll!! :thumbsup:

Robert, I would be inclined to wash them or, if they were ceramic discs in the original, even paint them?
Also, would they be ventilated discs?

Yeah, you´re right, the discs are venilated. But to make them goes way over my abilities, except you guys have some sort of inspiration. I started to wash the discs-centers and will add a more metallic-greyish look to it on my way to the finishing lines.

Update is small, but I got a new camera, which I tried out today. Please donßt mind if some of the pics are repetitive.
I started to work on the interior a little further. The dashboard as well as the "speedometer" are decaled and clearcoated and await a final rubbing to make the surface smoother.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c6a96a99.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/21dbd414.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/7263612c.jpg

The roll cage has been painted with two coats of metallic-grey and clearcoated afterwards. Right now it awaits a final rubbing and surfacecleaning. The interior has been almost decaled. I used different types of C/F to have different colors. It´s not necessarily duplicating reality but, when the right door is displayed open, I´d like to see different shade of colors. The interior needs clearcoating. The front brake setup has been finished on the drivers side. I will give them a final wash on final assembly. Right now, some teasers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c056c8db.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/66c6bff0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/18f8fcac.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/69255e73.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/26d59cc1.jpg



A mock-up with the rims (the drivers side will be displayed with wheels on):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/2cd640f3.jpg

Last - not least. Outside pics with a chassis mock-up. There still is a lot to do. I just like to play with my new camera:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/5ad59266.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/b2b687aa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/98b0142d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/632cea67.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/b04e7d35.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/7f5b901e.jpg

The view with the right side door open:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/68a68d3a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/e7fc7c76.jpg

Again, if you have ideas for the final wash on the brakes, please tell. Enjoy the pics and please comment on everything coming up to your mind.

Coming along well :)

Quite a bit of work done! Love all the C/F detail work.

Thanks everybody for your nice comments. Somehow it seems to me that I´m not able to capture on camera the work that I´ve achieved ...Especially the CF looks strange. I should really do invest in time and build myself a little photo booth. Nevertheless Klutz100 kicked me in the ass during the week, so I worked a little on my weekend schedule and managed to have an hour to reach some progress - which will be small, but now let´s see, what we have:

I prepared the parts for painting, which took quite a while to do. I started off with 320 grit paper and finished everything with 2000 grit paper. Then I laid to layers of white Tamiya primer on the parts and let it dry for 48 hours. Afterwards all parts where prepared for paint with 2000 grit paper again and a severe wash with warm water was used to get all the dust off the parts. The parts dried 24 hours in the microwave and I started to apply paint. First a very light coat using the suggested Tamiya TS-54 and AS-20 was laid on. The parts dried for 15 minutes in the microwave (most dust free space in the apartment as PrimeraMan once suggested) and then a second coat was applied marking every spot of the part. Then again drying for 15 minutes and a heavy wet coat of paint was applied on to the paint.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/1dcba2bf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/cabb819c.jpg

So what I have painted now are the front bonnet (AS 20), rear bumper (AS 20) and the front bumper (TS 54). I painted the front bonnet as well as the rear bumper separate from the rest of the body because I want to try out the decals as well as the my plans on securing the decal job (using Gunze Clear coat). Next step: I will apply TS 13 clear coat on all of the parts to get the paint sealed and afterwards the decaling beginns. I´m quite excited whether the blue in the decals will match the blue of the front bumper.

The body will need some more preparing with 2000 grit to get it all smooth.

Interesting as well is the paint comparison between the white primer and the suggested AS 20 (Insignia White) for the body, showing in the following picture. It is really hard to distinguish. The front bonnet seems to be a little greyish, but sticking with realism made me got for it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/adcb3c54.jpg

The main reason for this update ist show that I´m still around and doing some work as well as to show the difference in the shades of white out there. Thanks for looking and make sure to remind me of sticking with the build. A PM once in a while helps a lot (right Klutz??).

Robert

:evillol:

Well done, Professor :thumbsup:
Keep at it!

Great stuff so far, i like the effort to cut the door open. Paint looks nice.

I would like to give an update on the most challenging decal job I have ever started. After the body and all the necessary parts were - described early -prepared with AS-20 and TS-13 I used 2000 grit paper to get the surface really smooth and started applying the decals using a vast amount of MicroSol.

The front hood:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/908117e6.jpg

This shows you the progress of the MicroSol getting the decals around the bends. Even though in the first moment the decal starts to look wrinkly it works out very well. To give you a comparison:
While at it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/1d1c8d33.jpg
Afterwards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/9dd78123.jpg
Just compare the blue areas up front.

A couple of other decals being applied.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/95276ed9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/6ecef5d5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/a58e5d7d.jpg

Thanks for watching. I´ll get back to my best friend now...MicroSol.

Robert

Looks good, the decals seem to have laid down well and look great.
I am glad it was you doing the decals rather than me...lol

Good progress, Robert :thumbsup:

I love this livery and your build is tempting me to pump up my GTR Original Teile to the top of my pile (but I will fight the temptation.... :lol:)

Your decal work is flawless, great job! I will be following this thread with interest, as I just recently bought all 3 Tamiya DTM 2000 kits. :)

The decal work is fantactic!!

Ro

Great WIP, love the decal/CF work!:thumbsup:

I have this one in my to do pile, and its a good thing i haven't started on it as the decal application looks overwhelming. You made it seem easy though, keep it up your almost done! Sweet cf job too.

Small update. I´m still busy with the decals and started to detail the interior a bit. Now, I need some help. I´m sure I won´t use TS-13 to clearcoat over the body. Klutz stated that he will use Gunze Mr. Top Coat for his Aston as I planned on using this:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/klutz100/KITS/ODDS%20and%20SODS/GunzeMrSuperClear.jpg
Any thoughts on that topic?
Now for some pics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/51d52503.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/db07150a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c1ad764f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/e019e347.jpg

Coming along very nicely, Robert :thumbsup:

One thing, what are those "bumps" on the CF in the last photo? IF they are air bubbles, you could remove them but pricking them with a pin or slitting them with a sharp scalpel and applying microsol.

I won't comment on the clear question ;)

Hi,

great work on the body decals. I hate it to process thus big decals.

To the question because of the clear coat:

I use exclusively the Tamiya TS-13. With the Tamiyadecals I had there only once a problem. However, there I probably had too much clear coat on it.

Greetings from the Baltic Sea, Jens

Everybody, who is tired of decals - just go back. i don´t want to annoy you!

So - I have finished decling the hell out of me. The body is done waiting for Clear Coat. I will give it a treatment using Gunze Mr. Super Clear. But only light coats will be applied, nothing heavy. I also finished the seat - only the seat belts need to be worked into the frame. I also redid the rollcage - I sanded the paint down and spraid it using Tamiya Acryl Lacquer (TS 17?) - just needs a little more detailing. The front hood doesn´t fit as well anymore as it did before the decals went on. I need to sand it down a little, but will do so after clear coating.

Some pics of the body and a quick mock-up of the chassis with the body!

The interior -with not yet detailed rollcage.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c17d4f09.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/354a906f.jpg

The seat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/713f72a7.jpg

Chassis with body:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/a2cc9c02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/ce316cfd.jpg

All decaled and ready for clear coat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/485e09f8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/605bd1c4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c3a19fe1.jpg

Comments welcome!

Superb job J. on all those fibers, I liked the kevlar one mostly. The seat's texture seems a bit oversized but at naked eye should be a beauty. I don't like so much Merci (except for a couple of vintage '50 SL and SLR that I keep jelaous in my stash) but very BRAVO!

Excellent work, that interior looks great as does the body!

Looking very nice Robert.

I love that seat!

Why did you chose Gunze Super Clear in the end? Have you tested it on decals?

Why did you chose Gunze Super Clear in the end? Have you tested it on decals?

Yeap, it worked great. I just applied some minor and very light coats on a spare yet rather big Tamiya-decal I had in my stash. I´m not as scared as I was before...but I keep you updated. Thinking of it, I might do another test.

Robert

Ah yes Robert. So who's Julian? I guess I spend any day some hours in a parallel univers LOL. You know... when one become aged ... LOL

This has to be one of the coolest liveries ever done a car. Nice job with your seat also, as is all the work done so far.

This is looking great. :) I only hope mine will turn out half as nice as yours.

omg... the decaling work is amazing.

there's a special corner of hell where people are damned to an eternity doing nothing but applying decals to MB CLK DTM and BMW "Map of France" kits - without Microsol. :lol:

If I had a choice, I´d do that for an eternity. I donßt find it very stressful to apply these decals. To be honst, I like it more than detailing the interior or the engine. I´m kind of an exteriour - it´s all about the looks - guy.

Just a small update, but I got something done. I finally clear coated the body. I used semi gloss Mr. Gunze Super Coat doing 3 very mist and fine coats. I wasn´t going for that big shine you see on street cars since race cars in my opinion are do not have that shiny paint job. Adding to this point I desperately wanted to seal the decals so that they are protected from finger tips and other influences.
Nevertheless the clear coat I used worked great - no problems with the decals. Of course it will need some more work to have a super smooth surface, which I will do next.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/2f9dc5cb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/7f695295.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/0a9574e7.jpg

Also, I did some work on the interior. It is almost finished. Only the driver door inlay and the some touches on the rollcage is missing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/b85437dd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/e3c3e50d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c5d99f2b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/70ff16d1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/f481eb95.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/199819d1.jpg

That is it for now. This build sure will take a little further while. Nevertheless I´m starting to think about the next project...Something with a 9 and a 1 and a 7 and a K - e will see :naughty:

Looking very nice and great work on the body :thumbsup:

The only comment I would have is on the roll cage. Are you going to paint that padding black?

I was so busy lookinig at all the work and details, I completely missed the padding. I love the overhead views.

All this CF job.... incredible...

Great C/F job, the seat is REAL !!!

Robi

Woah, thanks guys for your kind comments. This means a lot coming from you. I´m very happy that the clear coat worked out. That kind of troubled me a little bcause there have been a lot of discusions on the forum lately about what and how to use.
The pads will be blackened using blackened masking tape. And maybe I weather the joints of the roll cage a little in order to add some more realism... We´ll see.

Any updates? This is fantastic work so far. Can you show some shots with the body on and the door open?

Very nice. But shouldn't you pick out those bumps on the box by the seat because they're bolts?

Any updates? This is fantastic work so far. Can you show some shots with the body on and the door open?

At your request. The door is not attached to the body, yet. I´m still working on the paint job - polishing and making everything smooth - as well on the door window. So this is qhat I have so far:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/43518497.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/bebebe82.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/fe34bf02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/9ae8477e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/b8e65793.jpg

I also finished the wheels. Painted with gloss aluminium and the hubs were done in metallic blue adding PE bolts on top:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/67cf7d0b.jpg

Also the drivers door inlay is done and I added the front grill as well as the all famous Mercedes-Star using the SMS PE-Set:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/c533d2ae.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/e5918ee6.jpg

Very nice. But shouldn't you pick out those bumps on the box by the seat because they're bolts?

I recognized this as well and it will be tackled just before final assembly!

This is what I have up to now. More updates as soon as I have something to show.

Great job! As a side note, are you sure that all four wheel hubs should be painted blue? My understanding was that race cars use blue for the right side and red for the left side hubs....(or vice verse..I forget)

Great work! Thanks for the interior pictures.

Great job! As a side note, are you sure that all four wheel hubs should be painted blue? My understanding was that race cars use blue for the right side and red for the left side hubs....(or vice verse..I forget)

I thought it was Red=Right although I've seen it both ways. I just painted the nuts gunmetal on mine.

Incredible work you're showing.
The interior looks very impressing and real.

The last update before this one goes into the finish section. I pretty much have evrything done. Only things that are missing are the front tow-hock (?), the right door (of course) as well as the windshield-wiper and some touch-ups (bolts, etc.) The assembly went rather smooth. The only problems I faced concerned the fitment of the front. Somehow it didn´t really line up correctly.

Also I introduced this project being displayed in a certain manner. I will keep that idea until I find out how to make myself these stand you see in F1 and DTM they keep the cars on during preparation. I also need to make myself a decent wooden floor for the display box.

But enough talking...Now for the pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2047.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2044-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2060.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2064.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2068.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2069.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2071.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2063.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2062.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/CLK%20DTM/CIMG2058.jpg



I know that there are some touch ups needed to make it more decent (f.ex. in the interior and up front the inner wheel arches need to be cleaned up. Everything will be done for the completed section as this is still a WIP. Comments welcome and I will be glad to answer all questions!

Robert