[X-Filer]

As I mentioned earlier, I finished modifying the interior of my Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahnkurier from KK Scale some time ago and decided to leave here the step-by-step photos. The original car, chassis # 408336 and belonging to Prof. Ignacio Barraquer and his family for almost 70 years, has the interiors upholstered in red leather but, go figure, KK Scale thought tan was a better option ... I couldn't let it be that way.

So, this is what I did:

- Change the interior colour to red like the original car;
- Add chrome trim to the seats and door handles, as well as a wooden strip on the upper part of the door covers;
- Carpet the interior in red and black as in the original;
- Detail the suitcase behind the seats and include leather straps;
- Exchange the plastic pedals for metallic ones (Tremonia);
- Replace the steering column (in black plastic) with a chrome metal bar and change the steering wheel inclination (it was too diagonal, it should be more vertical);
- Add some detail to the chassis (braking lines, differential, crankcase, gearbox, exhaust line, some cables, nuts and bolts);
- Sand down the tire tread for greater realism;
- Improve the fixation of the front wheels in order to eliminate the play that generated excessive camber;
- Smoke the tail lights (the originals are almost black and not red);
- And anything else that I came up with!

This is the how it started like:

This is what I aimed for:













Disassembling:







A bit of red and a bit of flock:





Added a bit of depth to the panel gaps, chromed the door handle and added a strip on the upper part to simulate wood. Not a fan of how the later turned out but I'm keeping it like that for now:



Added the black carpets:





Added some chrome trim to the seats and painted black the leather strips around the sides like the original.



Photoetched pedals (from Tremonia):





That "bulk" behind the seats should actually be a suitcase. So I painted it up, decorated it according to the original suitcases delivered with the car and added a couple of leather straps so the case doesn't sway side to side.

The new metalic steering column. Since it really isn't attached to the front wheels, it doesn't need to be that long:



Finished interior. Looks a bit different IMO:



Will post some more WIP photos later.

 

[jandro_f1]

Amazing work! Just superb every detail of that awesome car.

The leather in the belts is top notch.

Still don´t know why CMC didn´t do this car.

 

[jazzy426]

I think KK-scale did a pretty good job on this model and your magic touch on the model definitely bring it up another notch. Love the interior details and the leather straps look realistic and the floor mats are very nice touch. I've tried to avoid pre war cars for fear of opening another flood gate into my already expansive collecting theme but after looking at your photos I think I might re-consider my position and might cave in and get one before they all disappear from the shops. Perhaps a black Bugatti type 57 from Solido to go along with it as well since i have been wanting one secretly since Solido announced it.

 

[X-Filer]

I think KK-scale did a pretty good job on this model and your magic touch on the model definitely bring it up another notch. Love the interior details and the leather straps look realistic and the floor mats are very nice touch. I've tried to avoid pre war cars for fear of opening another flood gate into my already expansive collecting theme but after looking at your photos I think I might re-consider my position and might cave in and get one before they all disappear from the shops. Perhaps a black Bugatti type 57 from Solido to go along with it as well since i have been wanting one secretly since Solido announced it.

Yes, I totally agree! It's well proportioned, the moulding is very very decent and it sits so well alongside the 500K Spezial Roadster... In fact, I've compared it with the more expensive (and resin moulded) BoS and I honestly don't think it's that better to be worth almost 3x more. I know what you mean about "expansive" but the pre-war era is so rich! In fact, for me, it's the golden era of automobile. I have quite a bunch of pre-war beauties (Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster, Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic and Type 41 Royale Coupé de Ville Napoléon, Duesenberg SSJ La Grande, Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster, Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, Cord 810 Phaeton, Cadillac 425-D Fleetwwod Aerodynamic Coupe, Horch 855 Spezial Roadster or Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, just to name a few) so, guilty as charged!

And as for the Atlantic: it's my all-time favourite car so, go for it! Guilty again...

 

[jazzy426]

Thanks! I have added both black Atlantic and the 540K to my wish list for my next binge shopping trip LOL. Totally agree with you about the pre-war beauties.. there are so many of them and it can easily be a slippery slope once i venture into that area LOL.

 

[winstoncds]

That is a big improvement on the otherwise lackluster interior. Love the details you have added. The car certainly needed justice to be done to it.

 

[X-Filer]

Thank you guys! A bit more on the work I did to finish the car. When I removed the headliner I noticed the inside light was just a "bump" on the "fabric" and I couldn't let that be:



All the details I could add to the (non-existant) engine. A few touch-ups on the block, painted gloss black, and a slap of silver on the oil sump and gearbox:



The exhaust was "chromed" with aluminium duct tape:



Sanded the tyres thread for a more realistic feel:



A few touches on the differential case:



Few last steps: I decided to add a few more details to the chassis, like painting the fuel tank grey, adding the brake lines (which, in the case of the rear wheels, was cable-operated so I scratchbuilt the actuators and ised a thread of steel cable for the actual... cable!









At the rear axle, KK-Scale moulded the coil seats but added no coils. One ball pen later and here they are. Not very perfect, will have to improve next time:



On the front axle I added a few bolts to simulate the suspension arms and damper tightenings:



Also, the front axle always looked too narrow to me. Added a couple of plastic washers on each side... there, much better!





And it's finished!

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AFTER:



BEFORE:

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BEFORE:

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BEFORE:

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[slartibartfast229]

Excellent work.
For seats I usually run a soft (2B) pencil along the 'valleys' to add a bit of depth and shadow.
And if you don't like the result, a toothbrush and water will remove the graphite.

 

[X-Filer]

Excellent work.
For seats I usually run a soft (2B) pencil along the 'valleys' to add a bit of depth and shadow.
And if you don't like the result, a toothbrush and water will remove the graphite.

Thanks! I'll try that one the next time!