I just finished this one yesterday after a two month build, and would you believe the weather turned in the UK! (maybe Fred is chasing Wilma, or the other way round - I don't know)
Anyway - this is my take on a 1928 Mercedes Benz SS - 7.2 litres, straight six, supercharged, which would do over 120mph (I wonder if you needed you own petrol tanker following?). At just over 17feet long and a two seater this must have been just the thing to waft your latest Fraulein down to Monte Carlo. for the weekend..
Enough of my fantasies- here's the model::
(click to enlarge)
This is a 1/16 Academy Minicraft kit - for those interested #1520
It has it's good points and a lot of bad. Parts fit is very good for a model with an assymetrical body (about 12 basic Pieces - total is over 20) so you don't spend a lot of time shaping and sanding. The chassis and engine take approx 60 pieces and need to be aligned preciisely - otherwise the body will not fit, Most of the parts are butt jointed and the plans only show vaqgue arrows as to where they attach. (I spent a lot of time drilling holes and making pegs to strengthen joints).
For a car of this quality the kit is very poor - there are no decals and the dash is supposed to be painted brown!! I made up a set of decals on the computer and mounted them on a .6mm veneer Oak Burr dash (instrument bezels are fusewire),. this was finished off with a screen rail (from refernces) in Chestnut with 1mm Sycamore 'string' to give contrast. The door cappings were treated in the same way with Oak Burr inlays, chestbut and Sycamore stringing.
After that - it looks more like a Merc!
Usual critiques welcome - it's the only way we learn!!
Cheers - Martin .
P.S. After reading this back it sounds more like a revue. I'm going to leave as is - maybe someone, somewhere, can take a tip or a bit of inspiration from something here - - that's what it's all about. Isn't it !!
Martin
http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/