1996 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Hardtop Convertible

I am 76 years old, and what you see here is attributed to trial & error. I learn by trying as many ideas until it finally works. If you follow from my earliest model videos, that at least I think so, improves every time I make one. I have!27 to date on YouTube with more to come.
Description
We have here a brilliant yellow with some black models of the iconic SL230. Made from die-cast metal & plastic, this model has a higher amount of plastic than most models I have seen. This is no doubt due to the hardtop roof, which is not only visual, but also mimicking the real one in its opening & closing. But before examining this, we need to look at this model in general.
The main body has been well made, with its eye opening colour grabs one's eye. The paintwork is excellent, with no flaws. However, one of the first things that one notices is that the left hand door has too large a gap, which is a little off-putting. Another fault is that when cloning the hardtop roof, there can be a tendency not completely close, causing the boot section to be open.
We now look at that convertible roof. You can open and close the roof easily, and it moves with all the parts moving, just as on the real SLK230. So as a display representation, it allows the collector to show as open or closed. Or even as we display it, as half open to give that roof mechanism to be shown.
The detail of the engine is on par with other vehicles of this scale. While it could use more detail, it is still usable. I feel there should have been more attention to quality control, and that door gap is a disappointment. The interior shows the display of the console and the other controls excellently, and cannot be faulted. However, while the front of the seats remains well represented by the real SLK230, I am disappointed by the back of the seats.
So, does this model have these defects, how do we display them? In the museum, we now have the policy that all vehicles need to have all components, such as the bonnet doors and rear boot, to allow the visitor to be capable of seeing all the details of that model. As on a real vehicle, you have that right to see that vehicle in close contact. In our models, its simply smaller.
So overall, an interesting model. A few items are out of place, but when displayed in an open display as the museum does, it still catches the eye and represents the Mercedes Benz brand well. I give it a 3.75 /5.0. Robin Finlay 14/02/2024.