Jim Rae takes a look at a very recent release from the Ukrainian manufacturer, Masterbox Ltd. of their Mercedes Benz Type 170V

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I was really excited to see this kit finally released and it looked great on the sprue[despite the crushed box--and mine had broken parts too] The instruction sheet was huge but at first appeared to be very clear---but once in mid build it becomes appearent that for some parts it is not at all. While the CAD drawings are nice---placement is actually not indicated on several parts. Moulding seams run the length of of the one piece chassis, inside and out, and the soft plastic chatters when scraped to clean-up. The chassis assembly is very detailed, but just as tedious and requires adding a part and waiting for full curing beofre continuing. Things don't get any better moding on to the bodywork, as the parts suffer from poor fit---very little of my kit really seemed to go together in fact and this became the first build I can remember not caring to finish.
Jim's review is another review of this kit that is obviously from someone who hasn't tried to build the kit yet.. .

Well, it doesn't on my copy, yes it's an area which would be subject to that kind of my problem, but in mine it simply doesn't.

As to your comment about part placement, I'm interested in your comments but some of the parts, their placement is really obvious, and NO, i'm not justifying ommissions in the instructions at all, there really is NO excuse for that...

Jim~ Hey forgive me there's nothing wrong with you're review as an in-the-box review---it's similar to several others I've read----but just as off-the-mark when it comes to the reality of building this kit.
It looks great-- but its a dog.
.Im not one to give up easily but to show you some of what Im talking about:



There's my chassis---A LOT of work to clean up for something hardly seen later-fun huh?

I did get it built up


but it was yards of work to get parts to fit and a guess at several positions--to give an example--and this is not the most obscure one:


Part "A-52" is drawn very clearly---but it's placement is not indicated what-so-ever!
neither is C7 but we can guess its a windshield frame and guess how it attaches

At 1st I was very impressed with the look of these CAD drawing-instructions----after trying to assemble the Masterbox MB I am not so much. Below--it's easy enough to guess where gearshift [C34] goes & even brake lever [C29] but what is that tiny disk?[C27] DO you see any direction where to attach it?? what does it do?



Anyways if you build it-good luck--you'll find the rear doors wont fit well no matter what---theres 2 huge deformed holes right behind them in the body, a large parting line down the fender next to that, and on & on & on.........


..at $42 or so around town its expensive garbage.

Well, following your comments, I began building the model yesterday.

There WERE moulding seams on the chassis which, scraping with the X-Acto, I got rid of in a couple of minutes. Now, the angular ones, towards the rear, they could (just could) be weld-lines? Whatever, they are, clean-up time was minimal.

The attachment of the fuel tank I found extremely simple it slotted on neatly and a couple of sweeps with the glue brush held it in place.

Now the rear section being attached to the floor, did give me a few minutes of concern, The fit was far too tight so I had to do some vertical sanding on either side to get it to click into place agin, it was a few minutes work, but fit was very good.

Later on, i'll be starting a proper Build-Log and take photos of the build...

I too am building this kit for a full build review and have noticed all the same problems mentioned earlier (including a crushed box) and will add two more. One, they make no mention of the one piece hood in the instructions and two, my tires SU_K. There is large pieces of rubber flash on mine and a nasty seam that runs along on one side of all of them. Good thing is that side can be placed on the inside of the vehicle and not be seen. I'm hopeing Hussar comes out with some resin replacements. Other than that I think the model is o.k. Definately lots of options for those wanting to supper detail the engine. As for the crushed box, the kit wasn't sent direct to me but to my friend who wanted me to do a build review for a site he helps on. The kit was sent to him from MB. The box was flattened and the fenders of my kit were damaged as a result. I am leaving them as is and will contribute it to bad driving.

Roy

Well Jim, its possible your example was not as bad as mine, still, do you really think that a Mercedes-Benz may have had a weld build anything like that jagged raised parting line my arrow points to?

come on really
As for the fuel tank, I had no comment about it. I never said no part of the kit fit, but to deny the kit may have a lot of issues is a bit of a dis-service--
Enjoy the build--I'll look forward to seeing some detailed pics

Roy~ I think that all the kit boxes are arriving crushed because a much over-sized soft box is used to give the impression that more is in the kit --a closer sized box wouldn't crush & squish so much
Yes--the tires a covered with flash that's impossible to cleanly remove