1/24 Protar - 1955 Mercedes W196 (Fangio)

[BRM]

Okay, this is one of few kits available of the W196. Now I wasn't expecting a lot of detail but lets be serious. There is no engine, no fire wall even, the exhaust pipes are basically glued to the side of the body, there is a seat and a gear shifter...nothing else except for a dashboard and poorly scaled steering wheel. So, I've been searching the entire net for photos for some idea of at least what color things should be. The thing about the interior is that the gearbox went right up to the seat and Mercedes had a cover over it which made the driver stradle it with a brake pedal on one side and the accelerator on the other side. Protar completely neglected to add a hunk of ill fitting plastic to show this. So, I'm going to scratch build the space frame chassis (where visible), and add the important transmission cover. Here are some shots of day one progress. (I'm unemployed so I have a lot of time everyday).

Extent of detail


Parts - lots of flashing


Took me 8 hours to fit these few pieces they were all WAY to thick and out of shape. Luckily on the real car there were gaps and things, not like modern cars.


Rear suspension and wheels



Day 2 of build Body 2nd primer coat.



At this stage now...figuring out size and shape of tubes for space frame, firewall and tranny cover.



More tomorrow. Damn this is going to be tough to make a good looking car out of this kit. I'd buy another though. What gets me the most is that they put time and energy in designing the model so the steering wheel turns the wheels...should have molded a rudimentery engine instead because when you look at the side of the body there is a big cooling hole on both sides that opens to an empty engine bay I'll have to make something so it at least looks like there is an engine in it.

[marci-blitz]

The W196 had an in-line 8 cylinder engine, very similar to the 300SLR.
Revell had to kits, the 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé and the 300SLR Mille Miglia. Why don't you search one of those on ebay and take the engine from it?

All the best, Marc

[tsuchiya]

cool!
I like it!

[Silver82x]

there is this page http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame...car.mv&num=362

[Veyron]

Watching this one.

[ales]

I have an extremely hi-res version of the last picture form the page mentioned above. PM me with your email addy if you need it.

[bigfrit]

looks to be a very interesting kit to say the least!
Makes me want to completely finish my gullwinged 300 sl!

Hope you succeed in building the spaceframe!
IIRC these cars had same engine more or less toned down in the 300 sl convertible and gullwing, which italeri brought out again. you might want to check it out, it has a fairly detailed engine and frame too?

Either way, you made me want this kit badly!

Cheers and good luck

Olivier

[marci-blitz]

Originally Posted by bigfrit

looks to be a very interesting kit to say the least!
Makes me want to completely finish my gullwinged 300 sl!

Hope you succeed in building the spaceframe!
IIRC these cars had same engine more or less toned down in the 300 sl convertible and gullwing, which italeri brought out again. you might want to check it out, it has a fairly detailed engine and frame too?

Either way, you made me want this kit badly!

Cheers and good luck

Olivier

Olivier,
not quite right, 300 SL Roadster and Gullwing had an inline 6-cylinder whereas the W196 had an inline 8-cylinder engine.

Cheers, Marc

[BRM]

Thanks Silver82X and ales. I have that photo already but I thought I'd share this one... I found this morning. Here is some progress this morning.



Template out of cardboard


Ready for BMF or paint have not yet decided. You won't see it really.



Here is the side shot of the big gapping opening where there is no engine! One on either side. Still need to polish the paint.

[jgmodelcars]

wut if you stole the i6 from the revell datsun 240z kit and made it looks somewhat like the mercedes engine, but not full engine just enough to see through that hole? that way you wouldn't have to remove the hood for full engine view but it would look good from the outside.

[BRM]

Template for tranny cover. It'll be covered in BMF and have some rivet details.

[bigfrit]

Originally Posted by marci-blitz

Olivier,
not quite right, 300 SL Roadster and Gullwing had an inline 6-cylinder whereas the W196 had an inline 8-cylinder engine.

Cheers, Marc

Thanks for correcting me!

BTW great looking progress btw

Olivier

[BRM]

Originally Posted by jgmodelcars

wut if you stole the i6 from the revell datsun 240z kit and made it looks somewhat like the mercedes engine, but not full engine just enough to see through that hole? that way you wouldn't have to remove the hood for full engine view but it would look good from the outside.

Yeah good idea. Whatever I do it'll be just a partial engine as I'm going to glue the hood down. I will have too scratch build something unless I can find a cheap kit. Maybe I'll go to Walmart and have a look around...a tractor engine would even work!

[jgmodelcars]

i can sell you the engine from my abused 240z kit i wont use it, though its painted but i can strip it. great work by the way.

[BRM]

Does does the size of this tranny cover look close to the original? Needs detail work but overall size is what I wanna know. I think it needs to be a bit wider.