Mercedes Typ 770K (W150) Tourenwagen
ModelFan
First Impression
ICM
No. 35533
1/35
Injection moulded, 5 frames, one with clear parts
240 parts
Price: between 25,00 and 45,00 euro
The Mercedes-Benz 770, also known as the "Großer Mercedes" (big Mercedes) was a luxury car built by Mercedes-Benz from 1930 to 1943. It is probably best known from archive footage of high-ranking Nazi officials before and during World War II, including Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring but also Six and a Quarter as was the nickname of The Reichskommissar of the Netherlands Arthur Seyss-Inquart.
The 770 was extensively revised in 1938, resulting in the new internal designation W150. The all-new chassis was made with oval tubes and was suspended from coil springs all around, with independent suspension at the front and a de Dion axle at the rear.
The engine had the same basic architecture as that of the W07, but was tuned to produce 155 braking power (116 kW) at 3000 rpm without supercharger and 230 rempk (170 kW) at 3200 rpm with. The transmission now had five forward gear ratios with a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth.
In 1938, the Mercedes 770 would have been the most expensive German passenger car offered for sale up to that point, although it was not on any price list: the price was only published as "auf Anfrage" (available on request)
88 W150-series cars were built before chassis production ended in 1943. The last cars were actually given a body and were delivered in March 1944.
This Mercedes got my attention when I was watching a NOS (Dutch National TV) documentary on YouTube about the liberation of the Netherlands. It's been quite a while back. In it was footage of Prince Bernhard (husband of the later Queen Juliana of the Netherlands) in and next a kind of German staff car. From the accompanying commentary it turned out to be correct: it was the MB 770 of Seyss-Inquart. A small tease from Prince Bernhard during new negotiations on the surrender in Achterveld, The Netherlands he arrived in the confiscated Mercedes of Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart, with the registration number RK-1. The car had recently fallen into the hands of the resistance in the east of the country.
Bernhard parked the car, now with an Allied white star, at the school where they were talking to the Germans. So Seyss couldn't ignore it. Later, the car was given a Dutch registration. I collected some more pictures and started looking for a model. At the time, I only came across the Ace version in the Prince Bernhard outfit. I didn't find 1/72 interesting at the time and left it at that.
Not so long ago I came across the photos again while strolling my files and model building "buddy" Willem Dierijck drew my attention to ICM, which had already included this Mercedes-Benz 770 in its program for quite some time. When I also saw that as of August this year (2024) there was a group of figures on the roll that bore a very close resemblance to a very well-known photo of Montgomery with Faulkner and Prince Bernard, at least a figure that looks very much like it, I was convinced. I got the ICM model and I will keep a close eye on the figure group.......
The Model
If you've seen or bought any of ICM's other staff car models, you'll know how beautiful and detailed they are. The kits are not "side models" and come not only with a full engine, but also with a complete transmission, exhaust and highly detailed suspension. Fortunately, the chassis is made of one piece, because puzzling with the individual pieces of the crossbars and everything that goes with them is just a bit too much for me with a model of this size, but that's my opinion. So, you can go all out, and yes, the hood can be opened.
The contents of the kit consist of 240 injection-moulded parts made of sand-coloured plastic, a decal set and the assembly instructions. This allows the 171 mm long and 46 mm wide model of a (DB) 770K to be assembled. The parts are quite well detailed and neatly moulded. They are divided into four sand-coloured plastic injection moulding frames and a transparent plastic frame. The latter is packaged separately and free of scratches and streaks. There is no significant flash from the injection mould. The same applies to ejection points in visible areas. There are no sinkholes in the parts and no deformation of parts.
The wheels consist of several round parts that are glued together. This has the advantage that the usual tire seam is not there, but that construction takes a little longer. The inner and outer parts contain the inner hub and the outer wheel, respectively. The first ten of twenty-seven construction steps relate to the engine and chassis. Then we come to the bodywork. This is in different sections with separate bonnet, floor, doors, fenders and so on. Those who are used to one-piece bodies on cars will find that this one is very different. The model can be built with the side windows up or down, in which case different clear parts with different numbers are used.
This is a convertible and doesn't have an option to have the roof up, so there's a nice boot present. Apart from the optional windows up or down, there is the option to display the bonnet open or closed and various headlight covers, with those being used in a war situation with the small beam slits. There are four marking options, one of which doesn't have license plate. You can paint the car gloss black, RLM 75 gray or Panzer Grey. Three of the four options have chrome parts that need to be painted. Fortunately, ICM has decided not to produce actual chrome parts and even to construct the parts in question in such a way that they are easier to paint individually
I always find chrome parts very unrealistic, however, it does saddle you with finding a good chrome option in paint. The instructions are pretty good with colour designations from the Model Master paint line.
There is a small decal set for instruments and standard flags, where there is no possibility to apply actual swastikas to the flags. ICM has not chosen to print them separately on the decal set. However, the after-market has a solutions for this. None of the 'units' are described, three are from 1940 and one from 1941. The possibilities are:
Version Germany June 1940
Version Germany "summer" 1940
Version Germany 1940 without registration
Version Germany 1940
Conclusion
As a first impression, it's a fine model from ICM and I hope they continue this line with some of the other staff cars. Detailing of the parts is fine, but also of the model itself, such as engine, chassis and bodywork, etc. The bonnet, for example, can be opened to show off the extremely detailed engine if you want to. I highly recommend this kit not only to military modelers, but also to car modelers. My only advice to those tank builders who want to try out this kit... First, practice your Chrome techniques. Because this car has a lot of chrome. Fortunately, ICM has made the right choice not to supply chrome parts.
If you still want to make a German vehicle but with a Dutch twist, this is definitely a good choice. For me, another journey out of my comfort zone. I can't smuggle here like I did with the Revell Unimog fire brigade car with weathering etc. This car shines and shines from head to toe and that is something I don't find easy to achieve.
With the new figure group "Montgomery's Staff" (35617) scheduled for August by ICM, of which I sincerely hope that the English major at least has the face of Prince Bernhard, I will build a small diorama, at least that is the intention. I hope to be able to realize the license plates, markings, stands for this staff car of the Prince by using the example of the ACE model, possibly print it myself or have it printed. A colour example can be found on the internet as well as the drawing of the box of the ACE model. Photos can also be found there! The model alone will also look great in your display cabinet, by the way.
Thanks to ICM for making the model available for a review.
