Colin M's Matchbox Mercedes SSKL 1:32

[colin m]

Well, ok I like to say fashionably late, to the GB. Now summer is over, I have a bit of spare time and so thought, why not. I love a bit of old Matchbox. The thing is I'm an aircraft builder. I build aircraft, that's what I like, so here's a car. Something I normally avoid like the plague.
The chosen subject looks a bit like this.

And in true Matchbox style, the plastic is in three colours, yes three.


Rubber tyres, luxury - no masking of wheels for me during this build.


The clear parts will need a good polish.


I started by drilling out the 'light weight' modifications to this race car.

I've already defaced the chrome with a bath in bleach, it's black underneath. So, I stuck a few bits together.


A spot of primer and the chassis scrubs up quite nicely for an old dear.


After a bit of thought and playing around with bit and pieces, it seems to me that I'll have to approach building this thing, devoid of wings, in a different way.
Just about everything will be painted, then assembled. That might work.

[PaulTRose]

did this one a few years ago, a nice kit as i remember

[mrtintheweb]

Not often you get a chrome sprue in a kit, though some of the moulding leaves me wondering how it will look once fettled to fit?
T

[SimonT]

Brings back memories - don't think I did this one though. Do remember doing the Jag SS100

Black for the chrome sprue is a sensible colour at least - one I stripped years ago left it as a translucent green which was horrible to work with

Nice improvement with the cross drilled chassis rails

[papa 695]

Nice one Colin, and a nice start.
You could put wings on it like I've done with the Jaguar.

[Dave Ward]

Those Matchbox kits bring back memories! - My favourite was the Auto-Union - I had a look recently, to see if I could get one, for nostalgias sake - WOW, a real collectors item, going for high prices..............
Dave

[peterairfix]

I never built a matchbox car so I think I you just persuade me to go hunt one down

[colin m]

did this one a few years ago, a nice kit as i remember

It's quite good, not much detail, but a good fit.

Not often you get a chrome sprue in a kit

I think Matchbox liked the stuff.

Do remember doing the Jag SS100

I think I've got the bug for these kits. I wouldn't mind one of those Jaguars.

going for high prices

Some prices are just silly. They are nice little kits, but nearly £50.00 is daft. Including postage, I think this cost £7.95 - missing decals.

I think I you just persuade me to go hunt one down

From building this one so far, they do appear to be hassle free builds. I'm definitely interested in another one or two.

So, progress has been made. I've been learning how to build a car. It seems I've removed, prepared and painted all parts ready for assembly. A bit like the real thing on a production line.
Plastic chrome removed, primed, gloss black, then Alclad chrome - and I'm back where I started.

A test fit of the body, all looks very nice. Looks like I built a properly aligned chassis.


I do like a bit of Alclad.

Then it was time to flatten the primer ready for the top coat. Now then. This car is white. But, modern white just seems too white, too clinical. There are some incredibly expensive models of this car for sale, so expensive, I like to think they done their homework and got every detail correct. Well, these models aren't white. They're a definite 'off white' I'll have to experiment.

[Dave Ward]

Colin,
I agree, pure white is too stark - I've found that Vallejo Ivory just has that faint creamy touch, which takes the edge off
Dave

[colin m]

Ivory

Good call Dave, Ivory is the shade I'm after. I couldn't quite put my finger on it !

[Guest]

What colour does Matchbox recommend? I have a feeling it’ll be Humbrol 41

[spanner570]

Good call Dave, Ivory is the shade I'm after. I couldn't quite put my finger on it !

Colin, have a look at Vallejo Model Air 'Aged White' ......as close as you are going to get toIvory, I would suggest.

[Tim Marlow]

You could try this one.....

https://www.hiroboy.com/Vintage_Jaguar_Paints_E_Type_etc_60ml--product--10083.html

The colour is the E type third back on the right....they probably do the BMC colour old English white as well.....

[colin m]

What colour does Matchbox recommend?

H22, gloss white. It just doesn't seem right.

You could try this one.....

Thanks for the suggestion Tim. If I go into cars in a bigger way (remembering I'm an aircraft person) I'll have a proper look at that site, right now, I'm keeping things cheap, so probably going to end up mixing my own.

So, today was a three tank Sunday. No, nothing to do with armour, just three aquariums to clean out. With that little job and four hours of my life quietly disposed of, I managed to photograph last nights work on the Mercedes. The colour still looks a bit white in the picture, but in real life it's not too bad.


Now, I'll flatten that paint down and re-spray. I think that's what the professionals do !

[Guest]

H22, gloss white. It just doesn't seem right.

Odd, it’s clearly not pure white in the boxtops illustration. Then again, this kit is not from the era of exact colour matches