I have searched for a nice lorry to place at the lorry loading ramp for as long as I have had plans for my 1/19 scale Nystrup Gravel layout. In 1/19 scale the selection of lorry models is quite limited, the models are large and comparatively expensive. Now the lorry is here!
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| 'Looks like good German quality!' Nystrup Gravel workshop manager Petersen seems to think of the Mercedes L 3500. |
My hunt for a lorry in 1/19 scale (for car models the most usual scale is actually 1/18 scale) hasn't been easy. As mentioned the selection of lorrys is limited and they can be quite expensive (usually in the range of 150-200 €). I have a closed van and a small 3-wheel lorry in my collection and I've been lucky to find them quite cheap on Ebay. For years I have been looking at the Schuco Mercedes L3500 as the smallest lorry fitting my layout's time frame. I have been holding back buying one due to the price, but I've now been fortunate to get my Mercedes at almost half the usual price, even including postage.
The Schuco model holds the usual high quality of the company's products. The model is a mix of metal castings and injected plastic parts with vinyl tires. There are far fewer clumsy details on the model than usually on die cast models as parts with delicate details have mostly been done in plastic resulting in more finesse. The model is huge (particularly so when I have just finished a 1/87 narrow gauge locomotive) and measures 40 cm in length. As such it fits the lorry loading ramp on my layout. Unfortunately the Mercedes is 9.5 cm high over the sides, exactly 3 mm higher than the chute on the lorry loading ramp! I'm now planning how the ramp can be rebuilt to accomodate the Mercedes.
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| 40 cm of 'Wirtschaftswunder' Mercedes lorry ready for service on my small layout. |
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| A peek into the cab shows a detailed interior. Perhaps a driver figure could be fitted? |
The lorry model will not need many details added apart from new license plates and hand tools like showels. I will definately fit custom made decals to the model before detail painting and weathering.
If you are a reader from Scandinavia and want to know more about the prototype Mercedes L 3500 I can recommend a visit to the Sundborg blog, where the author goes into detail with the history of the first post-war classic Mercedes lorry. Check the blog out for plenty of other interesting stories. The blog is a testimony that ideas and creativity can inspire across scales and themes. Dive into Sundborg's abundant inspiration - but set aside some time for the experience!
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| Period advertisement for the Mercedes L 3500 even showing then end of a typical DIN steel skip. |
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| The rear end looks good too and will probably be adorned with the local haulage contractor's name. I have built models of haulage contractors lorries before, among them was the double cab Ford i 1/35. |
I'm starting work on the lorry anytime soon, but will probably design and order decals this summer in preparation for a winter project.
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