Jerobee McLaren M8B

First step on this is to sort out the body and chassis. The instructions are adamant about following them carefully, but I want to make sure the body fits before step 30. I just don’t trust them 100%.
It is in the first coat of primer; once the body work is done I’ll shoot the white for the sides…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00023.jpg

Awesome car. Is this one of the Accurate Miniatures kits?

Yes, it is an AM kit.

Ooooo...really looking forward to this as I have recently acquired the Tamiya 1:18 M8A. Loads of detailing work and corrections needed upon first inspection - what a surprise!!!

As a Can-Am fan, I can't wait to see more :biggrin:
Here's a rare rear picture of the car.
Note the white #54 wich AM forgot on the decal sheet

http://nsm07.casimages.com/img/2012/02/19//120219025002598949458892.jpg (http://www.casimages.com/img.php?i=120219025002598949458892.jpg)

I've got two of those kits in my stash. Must subscribe to this.

I have seen a built model, and it looked very crisp. I must admit that the builder always exposes the model with the different body parts off. I will see him in a week or 3, I will ask for his opinion on this kit.

Nice subject Mark, I look forward to following your progress!!

I am all over the map with the parts/steps I am building assemblies for. But I have this to show for some of my efforts.
The kit wheels were not as clean as I hoped, so I machined new outer rims from aluminum.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00026.jpg
The body has been prepped and primed and the white areas have been shot. Next up for the body is to mask and shoot the orange.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00027.jpg

The Wheels look great Mark, nice job. Can't wait to see you tackle the paint job. Looks like it might be tuff to get everything lined up on this one but I'm sure you have a plan :iceslolan:iceslolan

Hello!
Nice car and nice work so far.
When you arrive for the wires I recomand you to change the vinil parts for some other material. I made this car about a year ago, and the soft vinli wires were terribille. The paint was't dry on it, and you can't glue in a beautyful way.

Yes, a plan...
I masked off the white on the doors and the engine cover and airbrushed the TS-12 Orange. I built it up in light coats to limit the chances of bleed.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00028.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00029.jpg
One last semi-wet pass was done from the can, and then I took the tape off while the paint was still wet. The lines do not have to be perfect since decals will cover the color break.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00031.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00032.jpg

I have just started this one as well. I have assembled the engine, mounted it to the firewall, and installed the headers. That is where mine stands at this point. I will be watching your build, because I have just set mine aside to build the Simil'R GT1 GT40.

Looks like I have caught up to you Goat...

Step one is to assemble the engine, so I started doing that while the body dries.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00033.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00034.jpg
Due to all the handling required to fit the headers and engine mounts, I left off everything above the heads. I also installed the plug wires before mounting the heads to the block. Installing them after the headers looks to be a very tough job as it was difficult enough after drilling out the heads and wiring them with nothing in the way. There’s gonna be some touch up needed…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00036.jpg
The instructions say the triangular engine mounts/supports can be installed through the headers, but it “will tax your patience”. I don’t see how, the headers and the supports occupy the same space. (They do suggest leaving them off entirely), but I found a compromise of removing the lower “leg” of the supports is about as close as it gets. The lower section can be bent to fit, but that just looks even worse than removing it.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00035.jpg
I textured the injectors/manifold to look like it was a cast part. I am installing the vinyl hoses and lines because I want to see if it can be built out of the box using them, and if so, what it looks like… (I have heard all the stories…) They are a pain to work with and very difficult to clean up. A better option would be to replace them, but then it would not be OOB… And what I learn from this one I can apply to the next one.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00039.jpg

Nice work so far. I am considering a different method for the plug wires. I was more concerned about getting the headers on correctly this time around. Looks like your spot on with their installation.

I shot the black on the nose and tail… Once dry it is onto the decals…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00020.jpg

The wheels/tires are done except for the nuts. Since I machined the outer rims I cut the valve stems from the kit parts and used them.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00021.jpg

Awesome - I have yet to see a build-up of this kit and it's always been a little daunting in my stash. It will be nice to see you build it OOB since it will be more accessible to us... less experienced builders... and maybe get me motivated! Great work so far, your paint and detailing and paint-detailing look great. Awesome work, I will be watching this!!

The main decals are on. Still doing some minor touch up of the lightning bolts and adding sponsor decals…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC000315.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC000305.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC000325.jpg

The engine is coming along and there are fit issues. Rather than fix them all, I am going to see how it goes on this one. I found it easier to install many of the vinyl lines to the sub-assemblies before mounting them to the engine. In some cases it looks like it would have been impossible to install the lines if I followed the directions verbatim.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00045.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00044.jpg
The body has the decals on it and has been cleared.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00048.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00047.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00046.jpg

You are doing a fantastic job. The paint job is really excellent. But I think you shall do your own wiring. The wiring included sucks big time.
I tried to do this project some years ago, but the fit is as far as I remember bad. The quality was disappointing, so it was put on-hold.
Br
Allan

Great job! I actually saw this car race at Mid Ohio in '71. Got third I think. I still remember getting my Autoworld catalogs.

Time to attach the engine/rear suspension assembly to the tub.
I built quite a bit out of sequence and added as much of the vinyl wiring and plumbing as I could beforehand since it appears many of the mounting points for them are obscured if following the instructions to the letter.
The vinyl does a very good job of making a model look like a pre-built die-cast.
I applaud the thinking outside the box, but I wish these parts were made of styrene. Cleaning up the flash is next to impossible, and they don’t fit well. Even trying to use just the fittings and replacing the hoses & wires is not worth the effort for me on the next one. But that is part of what I wanted to find out by building it as intended…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00127.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00128.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00131.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00132.jpg

Looking good Mark, have this one finished by Friday??? :grinno::grinno:

Not even by this Friday...

The chassis is getting close to being ready to accept the wheels…
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00211.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00212.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00213.jpg

wow. nice work!

The dash is done and installed. The wheels are on and all touch the ground…, now. There are some alignment issues, but since the rear wheels and tires are so small, I think the eye will be drawn to that problem and I doubt the other issues will be all that visible.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00228.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00230.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00232.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00233.jpg

With all the plumbing and wiring crammed in the engine bay, the engine cover does not (as expected) fit well. I found it is possible to attach the center section of the engine cover to the main part before installation then feed the wing supports through and mount them to the framework.
The roll bar cross brace had to be cut and raised to allow the engine cover to fit under it.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00346.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00347.jpg
I used the kit provided seatbelts and they were not difficult to work with. While they are a bit heavy handed, I wish more kits came with something like them.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC00345.jpg

Looks great Mark. You are going to end up with a great looking model from what I've been told is a very challanging kit.

I shot the wing with Alclad Chrome and then cleared it before applying the decals.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09702.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09705.jpg
The body panels are on; it was a bit of a fight to get them even partially lined up. As you can see, it looks like sits a bit high in the rear; the look is exacerbated by the undersized wheel & tires.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09691.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09692.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09693.jpg

The wing and the injector stacks are installed. Instructions call out for the stacks to be installed in step 1, but this way worked much better for me. The wing supports are victims of some of the other alignment issues. I didn’t cement them firmly to frame earlier so I could make adjustments to them and align the wing to the body better.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09841.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/BigRulerModels/Jerobee%20McLaren%20M8B/DSC09842.jpg