B Roll

From the July / August 2010 issue of The Car Room Magazine

The 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B was an enlarged version of the Type A, with added rear seating and a host of minor detail and design differences. Massive in size, this car was no slouch. “K” meant “Kompressor”, indicating the Rootes-blown 5.4 liter straight eight engine, mated to either a 4-speed manual or optional 5-speed transmission. Stopping power was controlled by vacuum-assisted hydraulic brakes, and 1939 was the last year for production of the 540K chassis.

Tin Wizard of Germany has done themselves proud with this model. Though this color scheme is a little too sedate for my taste, the good news is that the manufacturer also offers this model in a very sharp two tone black and red version, as well as in top down images offered in no fewer than four different color schemes. If that doesn’t make you happy, consider that you can also buy this model in kit form, and have it built for you - sort of like the original buyers of the real car did, but without the substantial price tag attached.

As with the Tin Wizard Horch, this Mercedes model is made up of white metal and photo etched parts, and it comes off as a throwback to older hand built technology. It’s got better proportions than the more attractive Horch, and more presence, even if the overall quality of the presentation isn’t quite up to the levels offered in today’s specialist hand builts. There are a great many separate cast and plated metal parts, but for some reason certain details and assorted trim strips are still cast in place and only accented with silver paint. That runs counter to what many collectors will want and expect at this model’s approximately $255.00 USD price.

With the exception of the two separate exhaust pipes running from front to rear, there is no chassis detail to speak of - and I’m fine with that. I’d prefer more and better exterior and interior finery over chassis detail. Maybe I’m a little odd about that, but I don’t display any of my models upside down. The chrome wire wheels, with their terrific ultra thin spokes, look great, with two exceptions: as with the Horch, the center hub cap is just a tad undersized. The bigger problem is a complete and total lack of brakes behind the wheels.

Back to the good stuff. The model has been expertly and caringly assembled and has perfect fit and finish all around. The high gloss paint work has a clean, smooth and consistent finish all around, which is not an easy achievement when working with any shade of white. All the window glass is very clear (though the glass would benefit more without the finger prints found on this sample). Looking through those windows, you’ll find a moderately detailed gray interior. The door panels are very simple, with all detail cast in place - and none of it picked out with any paint. The steering wheel is well done, and the dash does have gauges in place; looking around, you can see some inside walls of the body with the black and white showing in places where it should not. I’d have to say that the interior is the weakest part of this model. Maybe it’s better in the open top versions, but they’ve cut some corners here on this closed version.

As with the Horch, this Mercedes comes mounted inside a clear plastic display case, though here the car rests on a piece of black Plexiglas, to which a tiny photoetched “Tin Wizard Factory Built” plaque is applied. This appears to be an open ended run, and based on the current availability of Tin Wizard’s earlier releases, the 540K will probably be on the market for a while. Still, as nothing is guaranteed forever, if this is the type of model that fits into your collection, I’d recommend you buy one now, nits and all.  - CRM

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B, item TW-351-3, around $250.00. Also available as unbuilt model kits for approx. $75.00, and as built-ups, in other colors. www.tinwizard.de

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