1:24 Mercedes Benz 600SEL

I thought I'd better start my own thread to avoid hijacking this one: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=637310

I've just bought one of these too so will be following this build with much interest! The one I'm getting is branded as 'Hypa', but again it looks like it's just a Tamiya, to the extent that I think it has the Hypa stickers over the Tamiya logos :rolleyes: . The kit hasn't arrived yet so can't check for sure, but I got it very cheaply on ebay so I think it's worth the gamble! :grinyes:

It's just arrived this morning & aside from ever so slightly bent 'A' pillars (in almost exactly the same places as on anopanjo's kit, & very poor chrome on the wheels (why do they chrome them anyway, they're just normal alloys :screwy: ), it looks like it will be a good kit :)

However, it turns out that the 'Hypa' logos are indeed stickers, but over the 'Lee' logo rather than Tamiya's, so it's the same the one in the thread linked to above. The kit itself & all paint references etc appear to be Tamiya though, but so far I can't find the Tamiya logo moulded onto any of the parts or sprues.

Does anyone know if this is actually a pirate version as suggested in the other thread or just a re-release / alternative packaging? Although, as long as the quality is good..... :wink: Seriously though, my main interest is whether the moulding & fit of the parts is up to Tamiya standards & / or whether there are likely to be any problems building it.

Hahah, it sounds like a pirated pirate version :).

How is the quality of the mold? Did it include the metal transfer that's in the original Tamya Kit? And how is the decal quality?

Could you maybe take some pics?

Thanks.

The wheels on the real car are anodized aluminum, not chrome, so Tamiya (or Lee's) satin plated wheels are accurate.

I remember seeing this kit while I was visiting china. When I opened the box, it looks like the kit was "reverse engineered" from a tamiya kit because the details on the plastic parts aren't as crisp and defined as tamiya. Looks like they bought themselves a tamiya kit and made injection molds using the tamiya kit. I didn't bother picking it up since the fit and finish didn't look so good and the plastic was too soft.

The wheels on the real car are anodized aluminum, not chrome, so Tamiya (or Lee's) satin plated wheels are accurate.

From memory, the ones in my kit are normal (but poor - some visible surfaces are wrinkled) chrome, rather than satin, but I'll double-check.

How is the quality of the mold? Did it include the metal transfer that's in the original Tamya Kit? And how is the decal quality?

Could you maybe take some pics?

I'll take plenty of pics & inventory it all properly later today. The kit does include all the metal transfers & decals, but I haven't looked that closely at the mould quality yet, as it's all still bagged. Aside from the already mentioned issues with the A pillars (could easily have been due to damage rather than the kit's fault), it all looked fine on initial inspection.

If it is a pirate (which it does sound like), I'm quite surprised that there aren't more (not just of this M-B, although I've just found 3 Lee ones on eBay!) on sale - I've certainly not heard mention of them before either although it doesn't surprise me that kits (& especially Tamiya's) are being pirated.

Ah well, looks like it was a good thing that I only paid about £5 inc p&p for it :lol:

Thanks,

Heheh, I don't have problems with pirated kits - if the original product has been out of production and you can't get the subject matter in any other way, at least with the bootleg you willbe able to build it.

Especially if the quality is decent.

Piccies as promised are here (http://x-files.serveftp.com/paulharkerdesign/personalgallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=MB-600SEL).

Overall, it's not a bad kit but IMHO it is indeed a pirate, as it lacks the quality of the Tamiya kit's I've built before (Mini Cooper, Jag Mk2, Morgan, Volvo 850). However, I haven't seen a genuine Tamiya 600SEL for a true comparison.

The body scribing isn't great (shallow depth & slightly uneven lines), the dash moulding is very simple, without the slats for the heating / air con vents (however these are shown in the instructions....), there's a few noticeable sink marks both on the body & other parts - most conspicuously on the intake plenum / manifold. There's plenty of flash to clean up too.

I've done some quick trial fitting of the major parts to get a better idea of how well (or not) it fits together. Both the bonnet & adjoining edge of the front wings need plenty of fettling to get the bonnet to align properly but, the bumpers are a good fit. So far, none of this is anything that a decent modeller couldn't deal with. However, the glass is very thick & although it fits ok when pressure is applied, the view through the top of the side windows is distorted & there are some ever so slight ripples in the rear screen (visible only from the right angle). There is also none of the internal markings / masking lines for the opaque tinted borders around the windows & the glass shown in the instructions has recesses to fit around the pillars, but these are lacking in this kit.

Painting the window borders will be fun & I also need to work out how to sand & polish the glass, as I've never done that before. I'm tempted to print the borders & mount them behind the glass, to ensure a perfect edge. I might also remake the side windows in acetate, to solve the problem at the top. I don't trust any masking tape, however good it is, when there is no edge & the surface is glass, since there is very little room for error!

Overall, I would probably buy it again, at the price I paid, but certainly not for anything like the prices I've seen being asked for this same version (ie not genuine Tamiya) on eBay.com!

Wow, that is bad!

I had a Tamiya 600 SEL and I have to say that this pirate version differs A LOT. If they cloned a Tamiya this is the natural consequence. Be careful with the plastic, somewhere I read about strange reactions to primers and paints.

Robi :)

I've looked inside the Lee MB ripoff kit, and thought it was pretty crude. I've built a Tamiya 600SEC and the parts were magnificent, finished appearance is superb; well worth Tamiya's price of entry. The Lee MB looked like a 3rd world kit, as that's what it is. I wouldn't pay any more than $5 for a kit like that.

Those metal transfers aren't. They're simply hot-stamped foil emblems printed on die-cut clear sticker film. That's right, they're stickers. Not transfers, not decals. And that right there proves this is no Tamiya kit, it's merely a ripoff to get people to think they're getting a Tamiya kit cheap. The Chinese are usually a lot better at reverse engineering than this example.

In addition to the foil-transfer omission, the LEE kit lacks a lot of details like a/c vents, control knobs, radio face, power window switches etc. Also, the air inlet at the top of the bulkhead is missing. Brake lines are also omitted from the chassis, and the window part isn't as even and clear as the Tamiya one. In other words, LEE is a typical example of "penny wise, pound foolish."

I have the Tamiya AMG 600 SEL downstairs and the kit is excellent in detail as all Tamiyas are. The engine is also very nice.

I think the funniest part is that the decal sheet says LEE. Is Hypa ripping off LEE who is ripping off Tamiya?!