MarGe Model in Zwolle, the Netherlands, has manufactured a 1:32 scale Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van in China. The model comes in a glossy black box and has a Daimler license, but no specific designation. On the rear side 316 CDI can be read under the magnifying glass. It must be the W 906 built between 2006 and 2013. It is also available as Dodge Sprinter with a slightly modified radiator grille.

The almost 19 cm model has a die-cast body and a plastic chassis. The headlights, rear lights and vents are also made of plastic, as are the interior fittings of the driver's cab. The steering wheel rotates against the direction of travel of the steering axle. The buttons and knobs on the dashboard are delicately printed. The rubber tyres are finely profiled.

All doors are movable. The sliding door can be opened with a handle under the car floor. For the four doors with a minimal gap, a kind of plastic crowbar is included to open the doors. With this aid it is easier to reach into the door handles than with your fingernails. The hinges of the rear doors are somewhat coarser than on the original - this is the only way with injection moulding.

The loading space is painted from the inside and invites to loading scenes. The mirrors are equipped with mirror foil, the side fenders are plastic parts. A spare wheel is mounted under the floor of the car. The step can be replaced by an enclosed towing hook. License plates for ten European countries are also included.

I can highly recommend this model. In silver, black and white, the Sprinter costs 67 €, with Veenhuis, Nooteboom or Claas printing € 69,95.

The high-gloss finish was a particular challenge when photographing. Of course, everything is reflected, you have to work with large light shapers like automobiles. And if you move the flash units, there will be differences like in pictures 6 and 7. This slightly cloudy varnish is also found in the products of the automotive industry, but the effect is greatly increased on the model. The railway industry paints locomotives, multiple units and coaches glossy. But I now understand that the model railway industry prefers to use matt to semi-matt paints. As the Sprinter model demonstrates, even the smallest dust particles and fingerprints become visible. They are easy to remove, but they are not fun to photograph, clean or digitally edit.

MarGe Models