Mercedes SK WIP

This Italeri kit (#793) represents a SK series truck. SK series (Schwere Klasse = Heavy Class) replaced the NG series in 1989-1990. Some spotting features of the new SK cabs compared to the NG cabs are forward slanting side windows, different dashboard, full width grille and different door handles. Italeri made a good work modelling these changes except for the dashboard which the re-used the incorrect NG design. Also the gear shift in the kit represent a manual shift whereas the EPS version used a different, smaller handle, with different surrounding area.
The 2448 model designation mean maximum approved weight of 24 ton (tractor unit alone) and 480 HP engine which was very rare. 

The fuel tank assembled quite nicely except a little gap around the end parts. Used Perfect Plastic Putty to fill it, let the putty dry (only take couple of hours) and then used a wet q-tips to clean the excess 

Assembled the two large air tanks and removed the moulded in valves. Filled the resulting hole with scrap styrene 

Same thing on the little air tank. Needed a little work and several application of primer (Mr. Surfacer Mahogany) and putty (CA glue + talcum) 

Had to add thin styrene shims to the bottom of the lower flanges of these chassis cross-members to be able to mount them at right angle to the main chassis rails 

Getting the chassis to this stage took some work cleaning ejector pin marks from the inside of the rails and on the cross members 

The suspension too took some work to clean moulding lines, ejector pin marks and sink holes. 

The intermittent drive shaft needed to be extended with a 9mm piece of aluminum tube 

For some reason the right engine mount is position differently on the right and left chassis rails. Took me a awhile to understand way the engine don't fit well in the chassis - first thought that my chassis was badly bent. Probably a design mistake by Italeri 

The left engine mount is 1.4mm to the rear compared to the right one. 

The engine - nothing special to say. As usual a little work to make the seam good 

The upper engine part {#47) had 3 ejector pin marks that need to be filled and also had to scrap some surface details to get the diesel ejectors part (#57) to fit level on top of part #47 

Two sink holes on each side panel had be filled on the outside and some ejector pin marks to be fix on the inside.