Completed Build: 1886 Benz Patentwagen

Very nice build.  Well done.

What a beautiful piece.  There's a ton of PE in this kit correct?  Nice job and what an eclectic model for the collection.  Very cool.

keavdog

What a beautiful piece.  There's a ton of PE in this kit correct?  Nice job and what an eclectic model for the collection.  Very cool.

 

Thank you - yes it definiltey stands out along all the other builds, thats for sure! I'm not sure what PE is, but its mostly built as it comes in the box. The only real after market addition are the Uschi van der Rosten wood and leather decals (which I highly recommend). Other than that (and the white belt which is from my wife's pillow case - i she hasn't noticed yet) its as it comes in the box!

goldhammer

Very nice build.  Well done.

 

Thank you for your kind comment. 

Great build and great photos too.   

Jim  

Stay Safe.

Love it!  Ordered one a week ago and Amazon says it will be two more weeks before I get it!  Hope mine comes out as nice.  Looks great!

A few tips as you embark on the build:

(1) If you don't have any, then definiteliy buy some wood decals (i used Uschi Van Der Rosten), also used leather decals for the seat. I cut the wood decals into strips for the floor so that every piece had a different grain which I think makes a huge difference. 

(2) The wheels are a bit of a struggle - I ended up having a little gap, which i filled, sanded and then painted over. So have some handy!

Its a really really fun build, and super satisfying, so I can't wait to see yours!!

fox

Great build and great photos too.   

Jim  

Stay Safe.

 

Thanks Jim!

BuildingCars4Fun

A few tips as you embark on the build:

(1) If you don't have any, then definiteliy buy some wood decals (i used Uschi Van Der Rosten), also used leather decals for the seat. I cut the wood decals into strips for the floor so that every piece had a different grain which I think makes a huge difference. 

(2) The wheels are a bit of a struggle - I ended up having a little gap, which i filled, sanded and then painted over. So have some handy!

Its a really really fun build, and super satisfying, so I can't wait to see yours!!

 

I started making inkjet decals almost two decades ago, and have kept the graphics for some, like wood grain.  I photographed some plain oak doors in the house and also shot some other woods to have the images in stock.  I make floor decals for WW1 cockpits, trailer sides, etc.  So I am in good shape for that. 

I have made thin styrene tires for those WW1 wire wheels from TMW.  They have you use the tires from the kit, but some kits do not have half-wheel parts, but the whole tire/wheel is in one piece.  You have to make your own half tires then, so have some experience with that.  Did the Motorwagon have tires on the rim, or did it run just on the steel rim?

Those decals sound amazing, i really need to buy a printer so that I can make my own! What kind of printer do you need? I tried printing some with my home printer, but they just wiped off the decal paper. 

Re the wheels, you DEFINITELY want to use the kit ones I think. There is a rather elaborate (but very nice) tool for making them because the spokes don't sit flat, they are angled. You'll see what I mean. 

The issue comes when you put the two sides together - in my case they didn't sit flush, so there was a thin gap. Very easy to fix - just a bit of filler, sanding, and then another coat of paint over the top. Maybe you'll do a better job getting the two halves to fit - the issue for me was that i did not get the top of all the metal spokes to sit perflectly flush inside the rims. 

Aha!

 Question: How long will you be taking those nerve pills? Those wheels would've done it to me -AWESOME !

Tanker-Builder

Aha!

 Question: How long will you be taking those nerve pills? Those wheels would've done it to me -AWESOME !

 

Thank you! Glass of wine is all I need to calm my nerves!!

BuildingCars4Fun

Those decals sound amazing, i really need to buy a printer so that I can make my own! What kind of printer do you need? I tried printing some with my home printer, but they just wiped off the decal paper. 

Re the wheels, you DEFINITELY want to use the kit ones I think. There is a rather elaborate (but very nice) tool for making them because the spokes don't sit flat, they are angled. You'll see what I mean. 

The issue comes when you put the two sides together - in my case they didn't sit flush, so there was a thin gap. Very easy to fix - just a bit of filler, sanding, and then another coat of paint over the top. Maybe you'll do a better job getting the two halves to fit - the issue for me was that i did not get the top of all the metal spokes to sit perflectly flush inside the rims. 

 

From what I can see in pictures, it looks like there is no tire- it just runs on the metal rim.  I still may cut a circle from styrene just to give the rim some width.

I wonder if shipping from Europe is on hold. I have received a shipping update, with a new date of mid-June!