Project 038 -- 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing'

Bob Hall
classicdriver.com/en..loured-bird-paradise

According to this the standard colors were Silver, White, Red, Black a British Racing Green and this Cyan color I would call Turquoise. Has some good detail shots of the dashboard for you too. Looking forward to another get build !

Chris Greathouse
Body color will be Vallejo's Old Rose. 70.944 Old Rose, Vallejo Model Color Matt, Acrylic, 17ml .

Bob Hall
I like it, cool beans !

Chris Greathouse
Thanks for the link, good pictures for reference 🙂

Chris Greathouse
70.814 Burnt Red - RAL 8012, Vallejo Model Color Matt, Acrylic, 17ml will be the interior color, the reference pictures show a dark red leather.

Chris Greathouse
We have pieces, and we have a color code. Time to batch together pieces for primers.

Chris Greathouse
There were plenty of mold lines to scrape/sand off. Then I sanded the body starting from 180 to 1000 to get hopefully a smoother finish.

Chris Greathouse
Got everything onto bamboo sticks ready for the painting process, splitting everything into primer batch groups is next, then party on Garth!

Nathan Dempsey
This one should be interesting. Those doors are awesome🙂

Chris Greathouse
Indeed. I hope I can get a good finish out of it. I'm going to wet sand 1200 between each layer to try and keep everything smooth as I go.

Bob Hall
Wow ! Looks like a million pieces in there ! Did it have all the car show parts in the kit ?

Bill Newcomer
Good subject. Very iconic car. I expect you will do it justice.

Chris Greathouse
It's mostly the bits and bobs that make up the suspension is where all the pieces are. Unfortunately All the under belly pieces are covered with a bland "belly pan". It's complicated to look at the instructions, gives me a headache following all the little arrows and dashes. But the final product will show at the wheel joints and such, so 110% forward... 😄

Bill Newcomer
So what you are saying is it will raise your blood pressure to assemble the tiny bits then hide it all in the final assembly?

Chris Greathouse
Yes... Kind of sucks. And I'm bad at those blasted tiny pieces in the first place... but the show must go on 🙂

Chris Greathouse
What's the best way to repair this... Thus far... washed in warm water with Dawn. initial sanding 180-1200, Sprayed grey primer, started sanding with Tamiya 3k sponge, then this.

Tom ...
Ah what a bummer. You'll have to do a James 🙂 Strip it and rip it.

Chris Greathouse
Damn it :'( , seriously? (not that I was all that far in the process but still.)

Chris Greathouse
20 mins in a ISO bath and a toothbrush did the trick. Now it's just soaking in warm soapy water while I do other things

Nathan Dempsey
Nice save Chris. 🙂

Chris Greathouse
Welcome to the toothpick farm 😛 On the body: Gave it a quick 2k sand out of the bath and dry, then primed with grey. Next I'll hit the grey with a quick 2k sand, then I will do 2 layers of white primer sanding after each. That should give me a damn smooth finish for the paint 🙂

Bill Newcomer
That does suck, I usually try to avoid priming. I hate sanding (no patience) and it loses detail and adds orange peel.

Chris Greathouse
I only really care about the outer body pieces with the priming and the sanding and such... I find that if I don't, then paint may flake off if I'm not careful handling it (I have bull in a china closet syndrome 😛 ), that sucks too...The body/shell may only ## pieces, but it's 95% of the visual result... I don't mind the extra elbow grease for that (most the time... grumble grumble... )

Bill Newcomer
With enamels I would paint a bunch of bodies (bare plastic) in the summer then build them over the Winter. Lesson learned from fingerprints in paint jobs from being too eager.

Chris Greathouse
Old Rose body with a Burnt Red interior... The Old Rose looks boring... hopefully when I get the silver window trim and other painted bits that it'll look better.

Nathan Dempsey
I like it. The interior color compliments it well.

Chris Greathouse
Thanks guys!

Bob Hall
Looking Good ! Definitely will stand out in your collection !

Michael Hickey
She looks pretty in pink.👍

Chris Greathouse
Looks better with a little bit of chrome on it... and I'm glad I picked up a detailers brush set from 5/0 to 3... Could not have painted the logo on the trunk with the medium brushes I had before.

Chris Greathouse
All the pieces are done... Building time!

Chris Greathouse
Steps 1 and 2 done... Wheels and interior tub is done... I'm trying out a new PVA glue... I heard that you can wipe excess of it away with a wet brush... a HUGE plus in my messy glue world... so I'm trying it out. Anyone else have experience with PVA glue?

Chris Greathouse
Step 3, the engine, done. Step 4, glass and attaching doors to body, done.

Michael Hickey
Yeah Chris, using a wet cotton bud is sometimes easier than a wet brush.

Chris Greathouse
Le Done. I did NOT like assembly at all. Instructions were the worst out of my 38 projects, leaving out placement/orientation on many pieces. I goofed the engine and most of the suspension stuff to the point that I made sure the wheels were secure, then I ripped everything (engine stuff) out. You can call it my blond car... all beauty, no brains 😛 All the hinges on the doors/hood/trunk sucked in this car, broke most of them 🙁 But all that aside I think I did pretty good on the body.

Bob Hall
AMT at it "Best" *cough-cough* quality ! Still looks great aside from AMT's short coming ! Bravo !

Chris Greathouse
Once I realized that I had to scrape the engine and and suspension due to bad assembly. I just made sure that the wheel axles were proper and glued... didn't worry about anything else. Thank god it's all hidden under the body/shell and that bland belly pan. 😛

Munkyslut
Chris that body shell colour is very nice, almost period perfect looking in fact I do t think you could've chosen better! Even just with the whitewalls to liven up the exterior it looks spot on.
Now you mention the damage you inflicted on the opening parts & the comment that you at least "did pretty good on the body", do you think that like the recent trend in static models like the resin 1/18 to 1/12 scales, that we may see that move in to model kit building?
The bodyshell moulds, shut lines, panel fit etc are all perfectly controlled allowing for flawless finishes.

Chris Greathouse
Thanks for the color callout, I agree, it's a great color for the car. I just say I did pretty good... because it's pretty good, not great... I don't have the patience to do amazing like you guys do... but I enjoy the hobby at my own level, and have fun (mostly grumble grumble..). That's the point of the hobby right. To enjoy.

Chris Greathouse
Thanks James! Now I'll sit back as watch a real master at work on your Superbee!

Munkyslut
Looks better that pretty good to me! By the way Chris I am firmly NOT in the category of amazing or patient, I like the idea but I don't think I'll ever achieve it with my Simian fingers!

I was more interested in opinions on fixed body parts doors, hood, etc, allowing even utter novice level loonies like me the opportunity to achieve an excellent overall appearance.

Chris Greathouse
Munky - fixed hinges/doors would be awesome!

James - your car 'trip' with this kit that your doing is informative and also inspiring... sure there are cock-ups but you are patient enough to go through the fixes and make things just so.... me... if a part goofs and I can't/don't know how to fix... it usually gets forgotten about/thrown away because I don't have the patience (unless it's a visible piece then I'll at least try something). This hobby has helped me with gaining patience and skills... but I'm miles from where I want to be.

Tom ...
I've come to the conclusion that it's much better to buy quality kits where possible. It's hard enough already without making it harder. I did not enjoy my MG TC build.

Chris Greathouse
I agree... but better quality, means more money, means less kits... I can buy 3 Revells for 1 Italeri truck... Or 2 for a mid-grade Tamiya... and even though they may be frustrating and complete sh!t, it's the A-Z process that is most satisfying... and, I'm ok knowing they aren't going to be the greatest... Heck I just bought a bakers dozen (13) of craptastic cars for only $9 a piece and couldn't be happier... but I do sprinkle in some good kits too so I don't go completely insane 😛

Michael Hickey
Nice work Chris, you made a beauty out of a beast.👍👍👍

Chris Greathouse
Thanks ya'll

Nathan Dempsey
Sometimes it's fun polishing a turd Chris! I'd say you pulled it off pretty darn good!

Chris Greathouse
I'm so glad that the body pieces accounts for almost all of the visual. Under the hood is all empty 😛 It is really smooth and shiny, so there's that 🙂

Christian W
You are so right with the kit - not the best overall. Bad fitting, bad instruction... mine is in idle mode. Already painted and waiting for BMF.
Your color choice is tough😉 and looks quite interesting because of that. Like it, to be against the main stream.

Chris Greathouse
Hee, well the pink practically jumped off the box, and Bob (The good Bob, not the bad Bob, and for sure not Silent Bob 😛) Gave me a link up top, and I really liked the dark red leather, and thought the 2 colors went well together. 😄

Christian W
They do!