The 2007 Dakar challenge Mercedes 230 G

[Jon MW]

I have always loved the Paris-Dakar rally, together with LeMans it’s the best motor sport event of the year. So I thought I would build a Dakar rally car during the rally itself. The only model I had from the rally was the Italeri Mercedes 230 G.



It might not be the best model, but it has one really nice thing, the decals.





I started filling the gaps in the frame rails by making a template from masking tape. And then cut it out of a sheet of styrene.





Glued in place, I added some putty to it later.



Next on the list was the interior. This is the way Italeri thinks it should look.



I’m not sure how the interior looked on the real car and I can’t find any reference pics. So I’m just going to build it the way I think it was done. First up was moving the main roll hoop forward so it would be at a right angel to the floor. I also moved the fuel cell to where the rear seat would be on a street car.

The reason to move the fuel cell was mainly because I tink it should be there. It lowers the center of gravity and it also moves the CG closer to the center of the car. But mainly buy doing so the filler neck and the filler cap lines up really good.

I have started to brace the roll cage, it will need some more bracing and the rear half needs to be scratch build. I also changed the seats, didn’t really like those stock truck seats and replaced them with some modern rally seats. I will probably fill the hole for point five and six and then make a four point harness.



Last job for today was to open the rear doors, went really easy as they were only held on be six small tabs.



Tomorrow will be a lot of sanding to get the frame rails ready and I hope to get some more work done on the interior.

[stevenoble]

Nice start and something a little bit out of the ordinary.Can't wait to see more.

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by Jon MW

I’m not sure how the interior looked on the real car and I can’t find any reference pics. I also moved the fuel cell to where the rear seat would be on a street car.
The reason to move the fuel cell was mainly because I tink it should be there.

hello,

You must be right with fuel cell (see tank filler cap under the "S" of Sonauto") :



and this one should give you and idea of how is the inside:



this model is from the 3rd Dakar, so think that they probably still have some camping stuff as sleeping bags in the cars...

I'ml not sure decals are complete and exact, here is a corrected decals sheet but normaly resized for 1/43rd scale model:




I will follow this build very closely as I like dakar models, too !

Phil

[speeddemon92]

Originaly posted by rallymaster
so think that they probably still have some camping stuff as sleeping bags in the cars...

i don't know much about rallyraiding, but what happens if you can't find a hotel on top of a sand dune in the middle of the sahara?

I will follow this build very closely

[XrunnerSWB]

you better hope your racing buckets are sleep worthy haha.

nice build ill be following it as much as possible

[mikemechanic]

Cool, this is the first build-up I have I seen of this model. Looks great so far.

Mike.

[Martin S]

This will be nice ! Fun to see something different !

Watching the Dakar on eurosport makes me want to build a Dakar rally-car every year about this time, but I never seem to get started..

[Jon MW]

Thanks for the comments. And much thanks for that second picture rallymaster.

I finally made some progress, had quite a lot to do in school making wheels for a Formula SAE car. The interior is almost completed, I have added a tool box, a first aid kit, an extra box and a tire rack. The sand boards(?) still need some holes and I still have to make two sleeping bags and a tent.





I think the body is going to need some work next, the rear doors need to be removed. But I'm not sure if I'm going that far, I only got eleven more days.

[SteveK2003]

Cool build, I will be following this one. I have the fire truck version of this, also want this edition too.

Besides styrene, Microballoons are also supposed to be very good at filling large gaps like that. It's finely ground phenolic powder you mix with CA or epoxy to make a sandable filler that (supposedly) doesn't shrink. I have some, have yet to use it in anger.

If you can find a copy, the book Against Gravity details a privateer preparing a G-wagon (And themselves) for the 1987 Paris-Dakar. No pictures unfortunately, save one of the truck on the cover, but lots of good descriptions inside. It's a good read, and pretty cheap online. Just be careful you don't get another book by the same title, it's a total 'chick book'. LOL

What do you mean "sand boards(?)", do you not know what they are?

[lechatnoir82]

Sweet, I just won this bad boy on ebay. Still have quite a few projects in the pipeline before it, so I look forward to following your progress.

[Cheif xB]

NICE! Ive been wanting to do a Dakar kit, I wish there were more.

[stevenoble]

Very nice progress.Keep the updates coming.

[Dave5.0]

Nice work so far.......

[Jon MW]

Thanks for all the comments. The project is moving along good right now, but I'm running out of time.

I got the chassis done and the right hight seems good out of the box.







I also got the roll cage done, it still needs some sanding and some paint. I think it looks a bit safer now.





I hope to have the body done for painting tomorrow night so I can paint it before I go to school on Friday.

[Enzoenvy1]

Very original, I like the mods to it!

What size plastic rod did you use for the roll bar?