CMC 1:18 1937 Mercedes-Benz W125 #12- Caracciola- GP Nürburgring Winner- Ltd Ed of 3000

If it’s 1937 and you are strapped into the fastest Grand Prix car of the age, you’d be staring over the front cowl of the intimidating Mercedes W125. At the world’s greatest tracks, the W125 would prove dominant, whether it be the uniquely banked AVUS or the romantic locales of Tripoli and Monaco. At SPA, the W125 would set a torrid pace, ripping through the old track at 193 mph. And those weren’t even accomplished by their best driver. In 1937, that driver was Rudolph Caracciola and he piloted the W125 in victories in several Grand Prix including the one that CMC has modeled here, the car that one the race on what is arguably the greatest race circuit of them all, the Nurburgring.

The W125 won because of several mechanical innovations made necessary when the 1936 W25 was totally outclassed by Auto Union. Mercedes reorganized it’s racing operations under Alfred Neubauer who brought on 30 year old “Technical Director” Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Uhlenhaut smoothed operations between racing and design, often testing the cars himself, lapping the Nurburgring with lap times competitive with the drivers.

The Uhlenhauth directed improvements included the suspension, specifically vastly improving handling by instituting a softer front suspension. He also added engine power by having the supercharger work on an induction system instead of the “push carbeurator”. This and a change in engine size boosted performance to 654 hp compared to the 354hp of the W25.

Like most CMC models, the car is not so much a model but a precision engineered sculpture. But you wouldn’t know it from the packaging. The model comes in the austere plain box packaging all CMC models arrive in, which is unexciting yet completely faultless and perfectly protective. The English in the notes is somewhat broken (but hey AUTO art, at least they try). The car comes complete with polishing cloth. Mine did not have tweezers, but that could just have been mine. You’ll need them (more on that in a minute).

This is my first “silver arrow” and the execution of the model is breathtaking. Just start with the basic shape and stance, the models looks like no other car from the 1930’s. I swear CMC must have magic elves (or is that elfin magic) execute their paint these days because it is miraculous for silver paint to be so stunning, rich and even. Not a tool mark, orange peel, inappropriate metal flake or chip in sight.

Like buying a new colorful fish for an aquarium, putting this car next to the other in your collection can suddenly make some of them appear old and poorly tooled. Much of this is do to the front grille work with the unique faux headlight design. The delicate metal work is intricate and consistent. The most persnickety amongst us will be thrilled.

The numbers and insignia are applied well, but are only a distraction in what on closer inspection becomes an amusement park for your eyes. The working front suspension replicates the revolutionary design that made the W125 unique. The big brakes are remarkably detailed to include minute vents.

The front cowl has four lines of vents across the top of the front bonnet and another pair on the side of the chassis. Shut lines are secured with the locking cowl system using a series of spring-lock mechanisms which you will need tweezers to open.

The in line V8 engine is artfully modeled here. Everything from textured fill caps to small specification stickers just left me whistling in my amazement (and if my wife ever asks, yes it was a model of a car I was whistling at). Not only is there wire, but things like pigtailed linkages to the cabin controls. While many of the materials are plastic, that is not the overall impression your eyes will dwell on, there are too many other interesting details such as the supercharger assembly and the headers which lead to a raced-look exhaust, complete with heat discoloration.

The in-line eight engine is artfully modeled here. Everything from textured fill caps to small specification stickers just left me whistling in my amazement. While much of model is plastic, that is not the overall impression your eyes will dwell on, there are too many other interesting details such as the supercharger assembly with heat fatigue discoloration.

In terms of wheels, no one today is making wheels equal with CMC and that is certainly the case here, the delicate filigree wire wheels are modeled with painstaking care, a lover’s attention to detail. The tires are deeply treaded and every trademark and specification imaginable is embossed on the originals faithfully replicated here.

The cockpit it a multi media delight with the textured, cloth seat, riveted metal dashboard, mirrors and windscreen. Ironically the steering is not functional through the steering wheel, however, the wheel itself is jewel-like, with the enameled logo center.

CMC claims there were over 1,000 parts used in this model and I’d take them at their word. Seeing photos of the model on web is one thing, experiencing it is magical. Don't you deserve a little magic?

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