Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (my 1st model!!!)

[mrawl]

Here's my first ever plastic model! This came about after I gave my nephew in Australia a plastic kit from Frys last Xmas - I had no idea what was in the box, just thought it was a decent looking toy. I was watching him build it, and vaguely helping out, so I guess technically it was my first, and I just couldn't believe what a fantastic kit it was. It was the Tamiya Ferrari 360 Modena - no doubt one of the all time classic plastic auto kits. When I got back to the US I stumbled into a model store and came across this one - the SLR - I figured why not have a go at it? I kinda randomly chose between it and the Enzo Ferrari (!!!!), thank Dog I chose this one I think my main motivation was just to see if it was possible to build anything remotely resembling the box artwork as we didn't do any serious painting on the Ferrari.

I actually finished it before I discovered this forum and have been too lazy to post the pics, but I finally got around to it. I guess I was lucky to choose this kit, because although it is a very slick and beautiful kit imho, it's really sort of basic and went together very well of course, which was perfect for my first attempt.

Then I discovered automotiveforums and I was severely deflated - I just can't believe you guys, seriously, there are so many demented geniuses here. I doubt I'll ever become one of them, but I did try pretty hard with this kit - took about 2 1/2 months I think. It was too late to do a WIP but I've tried to take some pics. Yikes!, I thought modeling was hard, the photography is insane, not aided by my camera going mental on me.....

Here's my WIP, yes, painted on newspaper


And the first images, imagine my excitement!!!




Crap!!! Talk about a bad paint job Oh wait, that was just my $650 (circa 2001) camera being creative

Then I got lucky though, one camera recall and a free service later...


That's Tamiya TS-13 over TS silver, it took me a while to get the hang of this, the paint darkens up a lot when you apply the TS-13, I think it's because when you lay down the silver the flakes tend to settle on top, but the TS-13 partially redissolves the base coat and draws the color forward. At the same time it seems to "float" the metallic particles which creates an amazingly realistic finish. So I'm in love with TS-13 over TS metallics, I've since tried other combos and could not really get the same effect.

The Mercedes Star was done painstakingly with masking tape and enamel (yeh, novice)

I painted the rear plate white and scraped back the edge for the frame...








I tried some outdoor shots, my photography is terrible, for every decent pic, I took 250 duds...





Very difficult to capture the interior, it's a nice leather-look red, done by mixing gloss and flat acrylic and deliberately spraying with a bit of orange peel. It looks very good up close. I discovered this because of my poor a-b technique!


The B pillar should be silver, the instructions don't show it, but it should be - I might fix it sometime. The door sill is Alclad chrome with the SLR metal sticker on it.


Unbelievably, I got all the decals on intact.




The TS-13 is deliciously shiny, I love that stuff!!!








I've started my second model now, doing a WIP for it too, will post asap.

~Mark

[KevHw]

Simply gorgeous! For a first model it's beautifully built and finished with a great shine to it. Photography is good too...what camera do you use? Fantastic build dude, and welcome to AF

[stevenoble]

Very nice work on the model and incredibly nice photography.

[cyberkid]

For a first model:
It took me ages before I could get a shine like that.
Your hood seems to sit extremely well compared to the others I've seen.
Awsome work!!

[CHIPPY06]

If this is your first model i will love looking at your stuff in 5 years time when you have had more practice ,superb finish superb photos what can i say ,apart from brave shout for your first model .keep them coming and good luck

[little.collector]

First model??????....well is a very good begining!!...your built is very clean and the finish awesome! I can't wait to see your 2nd model

[godfather23]

Thias cannot be your first model - judging from what I have done back in the days. This looks really good, congratulations...I see some talent!

[georges99]

Hi,

Your built is really nice, I cant believe this is your first model...

Do you mean, the first SLR ???

Some people cant even do one as nice after many years.


Congrats this is an extra model.

George

[BVC500]

Looks good for your first model! The B pillar should actually be black. An early production car had a silver b pillar, but thats it. Also, Tamiya says the windshield base (where the wipers are) should be black, but it actually should be silver, like you did. Good job.

[Joe Blyth]

Geez, this doesn't look like a first model! Great job, I can't wait to see what you do next.

[mrawl]

Thanks for the comments guys, it means a lot to get some feedback.

My camera is an Olympus C5050 zoom, 5.1M I think. It's pretty old now, nothing too special, but it does have a decent size lens.

Yeh, it really is my first model, but it's a pretty easy model. Tamiya did a brilliant job, for example, the windows and tails just pop in, no glue to worry about - I know some purists hate that, but it makes it easy to eliminate mistakes.

Getting the shine is not that hard I think - the store guy sold me some micro mesh. I just put down a few progressively wetter coats of TS-13 straight from the can. The final coat needed some very minor orange peel cut off, then it's almost straight to the 12000 mesh for a great shine. I found the trick was to examine the surface carefully as you go - in good light you can easily detect when the peel is gone, then you just rub up the shine. I realise you guys know all of this of course

The damn hood snapped in half as I was naively exploring the strength of the plastic! To line it up perfectly, I just pushed the hood around while the glue on the hinges was setting to get in the perfect position.

Btw, I modified the star - I made it sit further back, didn't think the kit placement was correct. The real car has it well and truly tucked under the hood.

Yeh, BVC500, (I've drooled over your work btw), correct - Tamiya got the color of the frame at the wiper base wrong. I found this out by looking on ebay. And the B pillar is indeed silver - you are correct that the door frame is black. But not the B pillar - you can verify this by looking on ebay.

~Mark

[Viccario]

Looks superb, hard to believe it's your first one, looking forward to seeing the next!

[SeanyG]

simply unreal for a first time build, such a cracking result and what a finish on your top coat too.
TS13 is a very good silver but you still have to know what your doing when appyling it, cannot congratulate you enough and welcome to one of the best modeling forums around, you'll learn a lot here from the guys.
so what is the next project Mark? and are you addicted to modeling yet? If not its only a matter of time mate!

[The Sheene Machine]

Originally Posted by mrawl

Thanks for the comments guys, it means a lot to get some feedback.


Yeh, it really is my first model, but it's a pretty easy model. Tamiya did a brilliant job, for example, the windows and tails just pop in, no glue to worry about - I know some purists hate that, but it makes it easy to eliminate mistakes.

Getting the shine is not that hard I think - the store guy sold me some micro mesh. I just put down a few progressively wetter coats of TS-13 straight from the can. The final coat needed some very minor orange peel cut off, then it's almost straight to the 12000 mesh for a great shine. I found the trick was to examine the surface carefully as you go - in good light you can easily detect when the peel is gone, then you just rub up the shine. I realise you guys know all of this of course

The damn hood snapped in half as I was naively exploring the strength of the plastic! To line it up perfectly, I just pushed the hood around while the glue on the hinges was setting to get in the perfect position.


~Mark

Your first model.....yeah ok. Trouble is you talk and use terminology like you've done it for years. I have read hundreds of first time posters on here and none of them talk so confidently about the model they have built and painted. Maybe you paint cars for a living!
Anyhow, that aside the model is superb, very good paint and finish. I look forward to seeing your second model...

[vrossi85]

Looking really nice!! very clean