Farfel

I have no connection with the Modeling Site contributor who wrote those articles. I found the 2 Mercedes articles when I was searching for an article on the 917K (which Modeler Site doesn't list) since I have the 917KH kit and have bought a few of these detailing articles in the past for some of the Tamiya 1/12 F1 kits (with varying quality and value, as you suggest). I'm not on any other modeling community sites and so, for me, the articles have provided a one stop source of ideas for detailing and addressing kit shortcomings. I appreciate your point about the value of collaborative, commerce-free exchange of ideas on enthusiast sites and I wholeheartedly agree, but I think there is room for other avenues of gaining knowledge from other's experience, even though it may be "at a cost". As a case in point, I haven't been able to get anyone to respond to my post in the 917 forum regarding the lack of a correct rack and pinion steering gear and linkage and would love to get at least some commiseration on this issue if not an answer or, in a perfect world, some sort of solution. That's one reason I was searching outside of Agora in what, for me, is a familiar resource.

This may be a well known resource already, but if not: Modeler Site Eaglemoss 1/8 Mercedes 300SL detailing photo array.

I'm not sure whether this is common knowledge, but in case its not: Detailing the IXO 1/8 Mercedes W196R

Does anyone have any insight into why IXO came up with a peg and lever steering device (can't really call it a gear) rather than a correct rack and pinion steering gear and why they went with an incorrect one-piece "rack"/tie rods unit rather than separate articulated tie rods? The Cobra and E-Type managed to get R & P steering gears, although they also have an incorrect one piece rack/ tie rods unit. The Miura, at least, got a R & P gear along with correct separate articulated tie rods. This is a very disappointing design decision for a model in this scale & price class and is such a large departure from the level of accuracy and detail throughout the rest of the model. It begs the question: why? Its hard to argue that these were cost-related decisions in light of the fact that the Miura, at least, managed to get an accurate steering system. I'm guessing that the one piece "rack"/tie rods was used to keep the front suspension from drooping too far when the model is lifted, causing the shock piston rods to pull completely out of the shock bodies with the resulting difficulty in reinserting the rods in the bodies. I'm also guessing that the use of the incorrect peg and lever steering device was simply expedient; it's easier to produce and won't be seen when assembly is complete. I hope I'm wrong and that there are more compelling reasons for these design decisions. Any theories or perhaps an authoritative explanation from an Agora rep.? From Mark's Official Build thread: