Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 (Esci/Italeri, 1/24 scale)

[Tommy124]

Hi there,

I built the Italeri re-issue of this old Esci kit.

I did not find any images of the road-going version, only of the Bandama Rallye version. Now I know why... 

I'm not one to blame everything on the kit, but this one really is sort of bad. The whole chassis is a joke. If you build it and attach the wheels as designed, it will look like someone stepped onto it. So I concentrated on fixing these issues and basically made a primitive curbside kit of it. The engine is not worth building either so I skipped that too.

Painted with Tamiya TS-21 and gun metal on the lower part of the boday. I added the lower chrome trim using Evergreen strips. The exhaust has been made using aluminium tube. I also used aftermarket metal sticker emblems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[espo]

The body finishes look great, and the body trim looks very cleanly done. What scale is this kit? I built on of these several years ago, didn't look this good, that was a 1/12th scale. 

[Jim B]

Nice looking Mercedes.  I agree with you on this kit.  I built one a little while ago, and I had trouble with the wheels as well.  The just didn't fit under the body.

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Great subject matter. Those are beautiful automobiles. Nice details. I just don't understand how these scale model kit manufactures can allow such poor products out of their door. Quality Control is a real thing.

[Spottedlaurel]

Very nicely done, certainly has the look of the 1:1.

I have one to do someday, so it was helpful to read your comments. I think mine is missing its chassis, but perhaps I'm not missing much and I'll just make it look right on a spare one off something else.

2 hours ago, espo said:

What scale is this kit?

1/24.

[Yeah Nah]

Nicely done in spite of the issues. 

Esci was one of those companies that could produce second-to-none quality kits yet also come out with some absolute duds. Weird.

[slusher]

Gorgeous Mercedes!

[Koellefornia Kid]

Beautiful rendition of my all time favourite Mercedes! I remember one of these in my neighbourhood (way back in the late 80s) in a similar colour. Well done!

[Tommy124]

Many thanks guys.

[ChrisR]

Very nice!

[1959scudetto]

You turned this lousy kit into a nice representation of the classic 450 SL, Thomas - very well done!

[David G.]

A very nice build in spite of all the difficulties.

David G.

[PappyD340]

Very nice Benz!

[Tommy124]

Many thanks for your kind words!

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Good looking model

[TransAmMike]

Quality looking build Tommy, great job?

[Tommy124]

Thanks Mark and Mike.

[Phildaupho]

You definitely did a great job on this Mercedes. Probably the best looking 450 I have seen. I had a 450Sl for a years but never really warmed up to it. It just was not my sort of car. That being said I was given a 1/12 Doyusha 450SLC kit I might convert to a 450SL someday. 

[happy grumpy]

Nice and clean Mercedes. Always liked this body styles.

[Tommy124]

Many thanks for your kind words!

15 hours ago, Phildaupho said:

You definitely did a great job on this Mercedes. Probably the best looking 450 I have seen. I had a 450Sl for a years but never really warmed up to it. It just was not my sort of car. That being said I was given a 1/12 Doyusha 450SLC kit I might convert to a 450SL someday. 

Sounds interesting. You might aswell sell the 1/12 Doyusha for a lot of money and buy several better kits off that. ?

[ncbuckeye67]

Looks like your efforts paid off, I think it looks great! I picked up one of these in a bag for $10.00 at a recent show. It had been stripped of all paint & put in a zip-lock. I really liked the body lines, but after really looking at everything, I was less than impressed. I ended up trading it away.

[Phildaupho]

7 hours ago, Tommy124 said:

Many thanks for your kind words!

Sounds interesting. You might aswell sell the 1/12 Doyusha for a lot of money and buy several better kits off that. ?

Thanks Thomas - I just checked out your gallery. Fantastic collection of models. I have never gotten into selling kits I might never build. Maybe I should. The additional cost of shipping has discouraged me from coming up with an appropriate selling price.

[Tommy124]

17 hours ago, Phildaupho said:

Thanks Thomas - I just checked out your gallery. Fantastic collection of models.

Many thanks Phil, that's very kind.

[peteski]

Thomas,  your model came out great!  Also, superb job on the BMF.

I have couple of those kits to be built and I just hate the kit's tires. Their tread that looks like it belongs on a truck. The wheels scale out to only around 13" too.  But they look pretty darn good in your photos.

[Tommy124]

On 2/10/2024 at 2:15 AM, peteski said:

Thomas,  your model came out great!  Also, superb job on the BMF.

I have couple of those kits to be built and I just hate the kit's tires. Their tread that looks like it belongs on a truck. The wheels scale out to only around 13" too.  But they look pretty darn good in your photos.

Many thanks Peter. I agree 100% on your opinion regarding the tyres/ wheels. But I had to use them, as I did not find a suitable replacement in my parts box. Scale Production have these "Barock" rims on sale, but they are available in 17" only and I did not want a restomod look.

https://www.scaleproduction.de/product_info.php?info=p2477_17--mercedes-barock.html