Mercedes SLS AMG - Revell 1/24

[mattbacon]

This is a superb Revell kit - well up to the standards of their Ferrari California and 458. It's a big, brutal-looking lump of a car, but I think that's its charm!


This is my attempt at what they call "Alubeam Silver", a VERY expensive paint option which is supposed to look "as though liquid metal has flowed over the car". It's DOESN'T look like chrome plate, though the right Alclad might be one way of achieving it. I think it has a slightly "softer" look, but you certainly shouldn't be able to see any metallic "flake" in it, which rules out most silvers. This is Tamiya Mica silver, polished with bronze "craft powder". It'll certainly need doing again to touch up once the whole thing is together to remove any marks from assembly, but it's the effect I wanted.



The wheels are not prototypical - though I'm sure you could spec something like these if you could afford an SLS in the first place. They are graphite grey from Zero paints, with red brake callipers and "carbon" brake disks. Again, I don't know if you can really get them in that combination, but red, grey and silver is the colour theme running throughout my build of this car.



Work begins on the chassis, with the nice, but simple, engine in place.

bestest,
M.

[MidMazar]

Looking really good, keep us posted.

[luchoteam]

I like it...!!

Im suscribed to this thread

[mattbacon]

Thanks, guys... latest update.


The chassis is pretty much together, with some mountings for the wheels now, as well! That's a pretty beefy rear diff, and the torque tube isn't bad either (though it will be pretty much invisible when the interior is in place...) There are a LOT of decals to add around the engine before I can call this done, though.



I'm not overdoing it with the carbon fibre, but a few parts add a nice accent, I reckon. These are done with my usual technique of painting a base colour then overspraying the contrast "weave" through a piece of decorative metallic mesh ribbon. The console is black with graphite overspray, the seatbacks the other way round. It's not accurate or true-scale, but it looks the part at a glance amongst all the other materials on view in the cabin, and it's a LOT easier and cheaper than decal!



I think you can see where I'm going with the interior colours for this one! Eventually, this will sit next to an original-vintage 300SL (the Heller kit) in silver with a red interior, and I want the "compare and contrast" to be as complete as possible. Of course, I'll have to BUILD that Heller kit first!

bestest,
M.

[mattbacon]

and because I couldn't resist:







bestest,
M.

[Ferrari TR]

Nice progress. I really like the way your CF paint worked out. Do you have a picture of the ribbon you used?

[mattbacon]

I'll try to do a step-by-step of the CF effect with decent pics of the ribbon as well. In the mean while, here's the interior. You really could spec it like this.









It's mostly painted with Citadel Chaos Black, and Vallejo Red, German Grey and Basalt Grey. The "parcel shelf" is pre-sprayed with a Plastikote "Velvet" to give it a "carpet-like" texture, and to get some contrast with the textures in the rest of the cabin. The bright silver elements are painted with the ink from a Pentel silver marker, which if applied wet flows to a beautifully smooth chrome-like finish.

bestest,
M.

[mattbacon]

That's the inside, well... inside. I trimmed off the extended bit of the location tabs on the dash so that I could get it to join the transmission tunnel, when the tub is in place. My driver's door opens fully, whereas the passenger's won't go up so high and click into place. The bonnet shuts with a nice positive snick, as do the doors, and they stay shut. I'm not sure how one is supposed to open the doors when the windows are in position!

On the home straight now, I reckon...

bestest,
M.

[Ferrari TR]

Great progress. This does seem to be one of the nicest Revell kits yet.

[drunken monkey]

Just noticed that you mentioned Plastikote Velvet.
Have you tried their Suede Touch?
If so, which one is finer/coarser?

So far, I've only seen Suede Touch so it's all I've been using.

[mattbacon]

Thanks, guys. No disagreement from me... this is without a doubt the best Revell car I've built. The way the tub is engineered to fit into the body is very good, and the chassis literally snaps into place.

@drunkenmonkey: I'm afraid I've not seen the Plastikote "Suede". This one ends up like 100 grit sandpaper, but it's the contrast in the textured materials that works, not the precise scale effect. Personally, I think it's a more convincing "carpet" effect than flocking...

I think it's pretty much built now. Just the last decals to do (WHY do they want you to put a decal over the chromed Mercedes star on the boot????), and the if the weather is OK, a proper photo session in the morning. Note the scale accurate bonnet prop ;-P









bestest,
M.

[marlinspike]

All the pictures are gone

I'd be happy to host them if you'll send them to me. I'm interested to see how the duplicated Alubeam looks.

[BVC500]

I'm building one too, using Scale Finishes Alubeam. It works like Alclad. You must spray it over a gloss base, then use a water-based clear coat, like the new Alclad 600 to achieve the desired effect. The surfaces must be completely perfect, otherwise flaws show up.

[dynosam]

Can't see any of the pictures! Would really like to see another of your builds but I can't!