1936 Mercedes 540K Maharaja Sport Roadster

Who remembers tube cement? 

Although the chrome was brilliant it appeared toylike and due to bad casting quality will be marred in the process of cleaning up the parts. I removed the chrome using bleach. On the photo you may observe that the castings were not lining up and needed some work. 

Before and after clean-up. 

There is no protrusion linking the prop shaft F-6 to the engine’s gearbox G-117/G-18. I found F-2 that may be used linking the prop shaft to the gearbox. 

The orientation of the steering arms, part F-24 and F-25 is not clear in the instructions. The correct - orientation should be as shown on this photograph. 

The chassis, part C after being assembled was painted in its entirety with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18 and picking out the rubber parts (shock absorbers and other rubbers) with Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. 

The engine has been assembled and painted with Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminium. 

Showing off the assembled, painted engine and installed with minimal upgrades limited to scratched build plug wires and scratch building a coil.
The paints used:
Engine block – Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18
Tappet cover and details –
Air filter – Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18 and panel liner to bring out the details with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color (Brown)
Fan – Tamiya Black X-1
Plug wire covers – Tamiya White X-2
Upgrade materials for plugs and coil wires – Tamiya Cable 0.5mm outside diameter. 

More views of the completed chassis, engine and drivetrain. 

Although, the picture herewith do not depict the Maharaja version, I have decided to paint the car in a similar two-tone scheme of black and ivory/light yellow and this is the design that I am aiming for. 

At this juncture the decision has to be made to build Maharaja version or the sport roadster version as it involves radical surgery. The Maharaja version require opening recesses on the mudguards to Maharaja version accommodate the spare tyres. Following the recessed outline on this lower body part where the spare tyres will be located, using a pin vice and drill, the area was drilled out at intervals. Using a scalpel and a half round needle file the recessed area was enlarged to its exact size. Using the D-12 and D-13 (spare wheel wells) to trace the actual size in which wheel shells M-2, M-3 x 2 can fit. There are no location pins. The spare wheel wells were blended in using Vallejo Plastic putty on the top. The underside shows plastic card used to fill gaps left by the spare wheel wells. 

Mr. Surfacer 500 was used to stipple the floor pan to simulate carpets. The first layer of primer Mr. Surfacer 1500 thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. 

The carpet surfaces were then taped off and painted with RAL8012 Rotbraun A-MIG-0014 followed by Tamiya Flat Clear XF-86 to simulate the carpets. After taping off the interior, the rest of the part was painted Tamiya Black X-1 top and bottom. The black surfaces were wet sanded using 1200 grid sandpaper. Everything was locked in using Tamiya Clear X-22. The threads on the running boards were recommended to be painted black. To show contrast the threads were picked out using Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. After everything dried, I mated the chassis to the body. Mating the lower body part A to the chassis part C are accomplished by cleaning the mating surfaces and use the standard Tamiya slow setting glue. 

The exhaust supports, D-2 and D-3 were left in the original plastic body colour, yellow and sealed in with Tamiya Clear X-22. 

The chrome in general looks toylike and therefore have to be removed. The chrome of the downpipes, I-18 and I-19 from the manifold to the exhaust were de-chromed using bleach. The exhaust parts had ugly mould lines and needed serious efforts to align the ribs. The spare wheel covers will hopefully cover the misalignment mostly. I first primed the parts using Mr. Surfacer 1500 and then based using Tamiya Black X-1 and then painted with Super Metallic 2 - Super Chrome Silver 2 SM206, sealed in with A-STAND Acrylic Varnish Aqua Gloss Clear A.MIG-2503. 

The rest of the exhaust consists of two parts, F-17 and G-16. F-17 being closest to the manifold was primed with Tamiya Black X-1 and painted A-STAND Jet Exhaust A.MIG-2312. G-16 was primed using Tamiya Black X-1, painted Tamiya Gun Metal X-10 and misted with A-STAND Jet Exhaust A.MIG-2312 starting dark at the front and lighter towards the back. 

The seats, inside door covers and dashboard were painted with Red Brown Shadow A.MIG-0912 and accented with RAL8012 Rotbraun A-MIG-0014. The seats were painted with Tamiya Clear X-22 to capture a polished leather look. 

The gear lever, J-27 were de-chromed and the knob was painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18 and the rest was painted with Humbrol Polished Aluminium 27002. The handbrake, J-28 was accidently snapped in two and de-chromed. The handgrip was painted in Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, the metal part painted with Humbrol Polished Aluminium 27002 and where attached to the body painted in Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. Everything was locked in using Tamiya Clear X-22. 

The brake and clutch peddles, part G-13, the battery, part G-9 and the accelerator peddle, part G-6 were first primed using Mr. Surfacer 1500 thinned down with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. When dried the stems of the peddles were painted in Ammo METAL Acrylic Color Steel A MIG-0191. The foot surfaces with Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85 to simulate the rubber pads on the pedals. The battery was painted in Tamiya Semi-Black X-18 with the raised details were picked out using Ammo METAL Acrylic Color Steel A MIG-0191. 

Attaching the small bits and bobs. Starting from the firewall, working my way back towards the rear. I am of the opinion that the battery cover, G-9 is not shown to be on the correct side of the floor panel (righthand side) but should rather be glued on the lefthand side covering the cavity in the floor. No locating marks/pins are available. This battery will in any case not be seen.  

The instrument panel was now tackled. The panel itself, H-2 was painted with Red Brown Shadow A.MIG-0912 and accented with RAL8012 Rotbraun A-MIG-0014. Everything was locked in with Tamiya Clear X-22. Trimmings were accented using a silver pen. Again, everything was locked in with Tamiya Clear X-22. The instrument cluster was primed Mr. Surfacer 1500. The entire cluster was then covered with Tamiya Black X-1 and locked in with Tamiya Clear X-22. Trimmings were accented using a silver pen. Note that the side with the log switches, highlighted with Tamiya White X-2, should be facing towards the bottom. The decals were applied and locked in with Micro Kristal Klear. 

All the parts were primed in Mr. Surfacer 1500. The inside of the firewall, H-1 was taped off to retain the look of the carpet. All the parts were painted in Tamiya Black X-1. Parts G-4 and G-10 were then painted in Ammo METAL Acrylic Color Steel A MIG-0191. Finally everything was covered with Tamiya Clear X-22. 

The body panels have a lot of flash and mould lines that needs careful addressing. Because the Maharaja Sport has been chosen, part E-1 is to be mated to part B. Therefore, part D-8 must be cemented to the backseat. 

In mating part E-1 to part B, the fit is less than desirable. Using styrene sheet, additional supports were glued to part B in order to allow more surface area to glue E-1 to B. 

To ensure a secure bond a dechromed windshield, part I-25 was glued the upper body, part B. Because there are no positive attachment points holes were also drilled to accommodate the spotlights, parts J-11 and J-12. 

After the glue on the bond between part B and E-1 dried a primer layer of Mr. Surfacer 1500 thinned down 50/50 with Mr. Color Leveling thinner was airbrushed on top of the panels. To get the surface smooth, I wet-sanded the entire upper body. 

After some tedious masking, using the reference photo as a guide the upper body was painted with Tamiya Black X-1 and the windshield frame painted with Super Metallic 2 - Super Chrome Silver 2 SM206. After some super fancy touch-up, everything will be sealed in with A-STAND Acrylic Varnish Aqua Gloss Clear A.MIG-2503. 

 

The firewall assembly are now installed and the air intakes painted in Humbrol Chrome Silver Metallic 191.
The top of the body has been mated to the bottom part of the body.