I’m sure it’ll put up a fight but we’ll see how I go given I’m in the ultra featherweight division!
The steps (should have put this up first but live and learn) for the engine assembly;
More engine additions;
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Sam, looks like you have a good start on the kit! Looking forward to following the build! A+++
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And some colour on the engine along with my reference photo. The wiring to connect to the rear parts of the engine bay is overly long as I’m unsure how much I’ll need to hook it up.
Left side of the engine;
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Great extra detailing … Looks neat
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Next step; suspension.
The steps up to step 10 were all fairly simple and straightforward. Step 8 is a double up of step 6 so can be ignored.
Step 10, the springs are attached to longer pieces that lock into each side of parts A30/A19. Given the pieces lock in, you’d think the pins on the end of the springs would then orientate to the pinholes on either end of the brace. They don’t. Tried swapping then bending etc but the plastic pins weren’t strong enough to hold. Ended up drilling out the plastic pins and putting in wire which seems to work.
Also the loops that are parts A25 broke whilst removing from the sprue so I replaced with lead wire flattened out.
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And the remainder of the suspension.
Steps 14 and 15, no worries. Steps 16 and 17 with the exhaust were a bit clunky. The connections circled in blue sit on a brace but need to be placed very carefully to ensure there is the right amount of length for the pipe connection (two half moon shaped ends) to meet neatly. I muffed it so had to fit a small bracket/cover to go over the gap.
The shaft fitted nicely as did the engine. Radiator needed a bit of fiddling to sit square but looks ok now it’s in place. And an undercoat has also been put on the suspension.
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And I suppose you’re going to add that to the invoice as ‘dealer prep’?
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Well of course! It’s a high grade, titanium undercoat with subtle amounts of high cut diamonds seeded through to ensure years of durability and driver pleasure! By subtle amounts of diamonds I mean you can’t find them……
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And with the radiator in place. I’m not putting the wheels on yet as I want to paint the rims and hub caps. Once the tyres are fitted and glued on, I find it harder to paint neatly.
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Very nice job so far Sam. The engine looks great!
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Ta Richard!
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So at this point things become a bit more fluid.
I’m going to place this in a Western Europe context; some time post D-Day but prior to winter 1944, which means painting it in a base of dunkelgelb.
Question; the last 170VK were produced in September 1942 and the final batches dispatched from Mercedes production by very early 1943. So maybe only the very last wartime 170VK would have been produced in dunkelgelb, if any. Accordingly what colour would the engine bay be seen in?
Generally vehicles that didn’t come off the production line in dunkelgelb would likely have the dunkelgelb, if needed, sprayed on by the customer along with any required camouflage extras. Given the required colour being applied by the customer is post assembly line, means it’s unlikely the engine bay or undercarriage would get a coat of dunkelgelb as that would involve removing the engine, raising the vehicle, etc….
So would the engine bay and undercarriage have stayed black, dunkelgrau, red oxide or what?
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I am also tossing up options for what type of vehicle it will be; a standard radio vehicle, a telegraph vehicle or a repair vehicle. All are possible with the base kit being used here and some tweaking.
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Sam you’re doing a very fine job…so far heh heh, see what you think of the body panel fits/shut-lines 
. As for the engine bay colours, is the car going to be seen with open bonnet lids, or is it a case of IKIT (I Know It’s There)? Whatever, given the production dates surely grey can’t be disputed – hard to believe post-early ’43 over-sprays of dunkelgelb would’ve extended to engine bays…?
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My thoughts as well …
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Ok. Ta. It will have the engine open and I might mix around the steps to make painting, and hopefully the fit, a bit easier.
I suppose the question was really; most VK170 were produced before dunkelgelb was declared as the primary colour for Wehrmacht vehicles, so would these be coming off the production line in grey? If so, those that were later over sprayed would probably not have the engine bay or undercarriage over sprayed.
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Having the inside of the engine bay in grey adds visual interest if the hood/bonnet is left open
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The engine looks great! Excellent progress and quality work!
Speaking of color options, was the 170 VK used by Afrika Korps?
If so that would open up the possibility of two different color sets than RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb or RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau if other options are wanted.
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