Completed - Mercedes SLK (56K Warning..!!)

[mickbench]

My latest build, Tamiya 1/24 Mercedes SLK – painted with TS-17 silver, and clear coated with TS-13 clear. Front head light is missing, due to my puppy deciding on eating the clear parts tree as it was still in the bag. Lost the hood cover, and front light, managed to save the rest to continue with the build, however I have ordered a new clear parts tree from Tamiya spares UK, but will take around 10 more days to arrive. So this is the build, minus 1 headlight.

This is my forth model now, and wanted to get panel lines correct, get a decent finish with clear coat, do a two tone interior finish with blacks and grays, and do more washes with some of the parts on the under chassis. Struggled a little, made a few mistakes, learnt from them, fixed as best I could, polished the hell out of the clear coat, managed to get a “decent-ish” shine. All truth told, not really that happy with it, but it's another model for the shelf.

The body for this kit doesn’t fit the chassis well at all.. The car looks too high for my liking, but it’s located in the locator pins correctly, but it just looks a bit – well 4 x 4 really.. It’s a sports car, not a 4 x 4, so this is wrong.. Tamiya, this isn’t one of your better kits I’ve build thus far, but on the whole, the kit feel together easily enough.. It was a nightmare to mask of though. Managed to fumble my way through it, and without anymore waffle, this is the “near as damn it” finished build –

Enjoy – Comments are so welcome, so please give them..!! Thanks for looking, and oh, for those who want to see some progress pics, they are here - http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=418550

[JTRACING]

Very nice work!!!!

[Alfa 147]

Nice and clean build, to bad for the missing headlight

[alakai]

Looks clean, great job on the paint! You're right, the stance does look a bit 4x4-ish, and IMO the tire sidewalls look a bit high... but maybe I've just been loking at too many low profile street tires lately.
Keep up the good work!

[BlownSS454]

Looks awsome! Even though that one headlight.. That is why I never let my puppy near my stuff!

[KTem]

Very nice build! You're right about ride height, it is too high...

Is your puppy all right?

[ImolaEK]

Great model, even with the missing parts

[mickbench]

Thanks all for the great replies. The ride height is perhaps also to do with the wheels. The tyre profile is too big, I might try and get some new rims and tyres for it, as this might make it look a little better, but it won't lower it none. Shame really, I know the real car is a little high, there was one in the local supermarket today, and I looked, but not this high. Also, Tamiya paint guide is a little off, as I don't know why it asked for a black strip at the bottom.. Not seen this on the real one, will not in the UK anyhow..

The puppy is fine. She doesn't know any better, she is only a four month old rough collie, but she is a big puppy, and for some reason, likes plastic bags.. Supermarket bags in my house are all being ripped to bits, and the parts I was using were still sealed in the bag.. Hmm went the dog, argh..!! went me after I realised she had chewed the bottom half of the bag and broken bits off.. Found one light in the garden, just by luck really.. Tamiya spares are supplying a new parts tree so will be able to add the missing part.

[klutz_100]

Only just noticed the finished thread - sorry for that

Very nice build! Good cockpit detailing - I love the silver lock on the glove compartment !!

I agree with you that the ride height definitely seems a bit off, although I don't think it's a Q of the tyres. Did you test/dry fit during the build. I don't know my a**e from my elbow when it comes to lowering ride height, but I've heard a lot about it in various threads

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Only just noticed the finished thread - sorry for that

Very nice build! Good cockpit detailing - I love the silver lock on the glove compartment !!

I agree with you that the ride height definitely seems a bit off, although I don't think it's a Q of the tyres. Did you test/dry fit during the build. I don't know my a**e from my elbow when it comes to lowering ride height, but I've heard a lot about it in various threads

I did test fit the body to the chassis before I began painting the whole lot, but I didn't fit the wheels. I was shocked when I saw how high it was when all put together. I tried to push it down further, but it's not going to go any lower, this is it, if I push any harder I will crush the whole car... Not a great kit, all truth told, and not all that happy with it. I love the real car, but this kit doesn't do it total justice IMO.

It goes together just like any other tamiya kit, really good fit etc, but I think they have mucked up the ride height, and searching these forums, I'm not the only one to notice it.. Others have built the same kit, and had the same problem.

As for dashboard detailing - I'm trying really hard to get this right, but it's just so damn hard.. The radio player isn't the best - bad blotch of paint for what is meant to be buttons, and the steering wheel isn't totally mounted bang on straight, and the air blowers are a little blotchy, but it's not "that" bad. I was sitting for hours with a tooth pick, and thinned down black paint attempting to detail the dash. Compared to some dashes I've seen, even more so on this fourm mine is truly a mess, but it's only my forth build.

Hopefully I will do better with the S2000 I'm about to start.

Thanks all for the comments. Shame about the ride height. IMO, not a great kit..

[Lurchio]

Looks good Mick!
Pnel lines look great. Love the weathering on the exhaust. Nice finish on the rear lights as well!
Is that a decal over the headlight?
Does sit very high (surprisingly!)

Keep up the good work!

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by Lurchio

Looks good Mick!
Pnel lines look great. Love the weathering on the exhaust. Nice finish on the rear lights as well!
Is that a decal over the headlight?
Does sit very high (surprisingly!)

Keep up the good work!

No I hand painted the black trim around the light. Looks OK ish..!! Should look better once I get the replacement fitted.

The rear lights were VERY tricky to paint. Surprised myself with these in the end..!!

[chaos]

Looks awesome! Very clean!