McLaren MP4/6 + Thunder Valley detail kit

Hi all,

After completing the Williams FW14B I took a break and have recently started the the Tamiya McLaren MP4/6. I've gone for the Thunder Valley detail up kit, but apart from that it will be a pretty standard OOB build.

I purchased the formula perfect manual for reference photos and also spent some time looking at Bill Attridge's McLaren and some of the other excellent builds on this site.

Started work on the electrics box.
Carefully cut off the electrical connects from the Tamiya item.
Folded up the metal pieces for the Thunder Valley box. Glued together. primed and painted a mix of grey and matt black Vallejo air. Then lightly sanded back to expose the metal lines on the sides.
Used brass rod for the box legs.
Painted the thunder valley connectors holders in gold and glued into place, then re-attached the tamiya connectors, also gold.
Ends painted matt black then shrink tube added.
Thin strip of masking tape painted black then wrapped around as the box holder.

Result:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/14809323812_2def09b43c_z_d.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14806567981_cb3c2f29b1_z_d.jpg

Rear brake ducts.
Sanded off the raised area which the drive shaft fits into
Thinned & smoothed out the ducts as they were a bit thick & bumpy
Vallejo primer >Vallejo gloss black, humbrol gloss.
Tamiya polish, then glued in the metal thunder valley parts.

Result:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14623137387_6fc23dc2e1_z_d.jpg

Next the cockpit & seat.
Removed the seat belt harnesses and drilled out the bolt holes. Painted then added scale motorsports CF decals.
Seat is painted grey + added matt blacked masking tape for the padding.
Sides of cockpit were drilled out for bolts, then covered in CF decal and then clear yellow.
Used the metal TV gear shifter and metal TV seat belt pieces. Used the Tamiya seat belt material.
Still quite a bit to do on the CF’ing the sides and fixing in the left hand switches.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14806582801_05a24cda2a_z_d.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/14622982480_03d794230f_z_d.jpg

Started work on the monocoque.
This is a really simple piece, but I wanted to add the cabling which is on the real car but largely absent from the Tamiya kit.

Drilled out the holes to feed the cable tie downs into. Also drilled holes to place the rivets around suspension arms, and sanded down and drilled out all the holes for the bolts on top of the fuel tank.
Sanded off the triangle raised pieces on the rear of the monocoque. Cut off the plastic antenna holder on the left front side.
Glued the cable tie downs into place.
Primed in Vallejo.
The back heat shield section was masked and painted in clear orange.
Then for the rest gradually built up layers in a mix of gun metal, matt black and a tiny touch of clear orange.
This has to be done carefully to allow the texture of the monocoque to show through.
Then added CF decal to the front element.
Once dried added the all the bolts and the screw heads in, started adding the cables in, painted and added the red kill switch holder. Added the TV triangle metal parts on the back. Added the holder and bolts in to attach to the engine.
Then started adding the gold electrical connectors, using the TV holders and top studio pieces.
Then added the cabling. This part is tricky and takes a while.
Then added the breather line and shell + FIA decals.


How it is starting to look, dry fitted with cockpit and seat mostly completed.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/14623014609_a1bf26f543_z_d.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14809315732_1d494e1060_z_d.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14806552811_6bedf4a875_z_d.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/14809335192_a29d019d08_z_d.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14809332072_ed02299a16_z_d.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14623145727_ebfb982151_z_d.jpg

That is all for now.

KC

Great start - looking forward to this.

Really nice start KC -
I will follow your MP4/6 build too
What are you using to glue the bolts and rivets?
Thanks
John

Wow, I didn't realize anyone actually received a tvm detail kit.

Looking very nice already...looking forward to this

Great start!
Congratulations

Very nice so far...

Any more progress?

Later,
Lee

I don't know how I missed this one
I've just started mine, I'm on the waiting list for the thunder valley kit but it's been 5 weeks and that's all I seem to be doing....is waiting

Great start mate, I'll be watching this one very closely!!

Please keep updating !

Hi all,

Thanks for following.

Sorry but only a small amount of progress since last update so I haven't posted. And now no more painting until Spring.

The only thing I am doing at the moment is studying the formula perfect manual and writing out the build plan and wiring diagram.

You won't see more from me on this thread until probably March.

KC

Hi all,

Small update.

The cockpit CF is now completed. Drilled the rivet holes, then covered with CF decals. After decals were set, trimmed and then painted the raised section in matt black.

Inside right hand side:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8617/15950210793_23169ab7fe_b_d.jpg

Inside left hand side (you can also see the other additional detail lines absent in the stock kit): https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8618/16544411846_c7dab4da8f_b_d.jpg

Next, sidepods. Drilled the parts to add bolts. Used the tissue & white glue/water method Bil Attridge came up with, then primed in Vallejo, painted a mix of german grey, blue, brown and black. Once dried added the CF & polished and then varnished the main section with Humbrol gloss. roughed up a little with 2000 sandpaper and then finished revell with matt aquacolour varnish. Then added the metal washers (one has fallen off, needs to be reattached).

Result:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/16384484117_fb3d05239b_b_d.jpg

Then CF'ed the other part:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/15947851424_654e79ebc1_b_d.jpg

The left hand side is already assembled. The radiator retention pieces are from the Thunder Valley kit. The radiator piece is just checking for fit, hasn't been worked on yet. The sidepod will get a light dusting of chalk before final fitting.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7316/16384483917_a075fdcb10_b_d.jpg

The top part of the nose cone CF has been done. After, gave top and bottom parts a mix of clear yellow, clear orange and black. Then roughed up and matt varnished. This needs more work, probably a light dusting of white chalk.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/16568752761_70198aed9b_b_d.jpg

And some other bits done. Additional decals. Roll hoop drilled, added Thunder Valley metal guide, bolts added, painted matt black, then sanded back to reveal bolts. Needs a wash I'll do later.

Also added the electrical boxes on the left and right side. Removed the Tamiya plugs and sanded the boxes smooth. Then added the TV metal retention lines and painted matt black. Sanded lightly to give scruffy look to the boxes. Still to add the gold connectors.

How it is looking now:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8565/16384123489_9464e1f75e_b_d.jpg

That is all for now. Thanks for looking.

KC

Kieran - the paint applied to the cockpit is fantastic - the "grainy" effect is perfect
Can you tell me which brand and type of rivets you are using? for the various areas?
Also which brand and type of CF you are using? for the various areas?
Really clean work as usual Kieran - this might come out better than the FW14B you built and that was fantastic - did you see where Mac is going to do another Run of the aluminum anodized wheels? - I got a set from the last production run - I can tell you they are excellent and well worth the $175 for the detail they add - one just can't replicate the look of the black anodized wheels in plastic - Mac's wheels also come with the air valves.
What all are you using for references?
also the "fiberglass" look on the side pods looks a little "coarse" big for fiberglass work, but maybe it's just the pictures are close ups.
The cockpit and roll bar detail looks great.
Really inspiring work Kieran
John

Kieran - also the bigger pictures are much better than the smaller ones from the start of the thread - please keep things up - pics and descriptions.
Thanks
John

Never get tired of seeing MP4-6 being beautiful! Keep up the good work!

Hi Kieran - how is this MP4/6 going?
Any recent updates - work done and pictures?

Cheers
John

Looking great so far!

Lovely work so far, looking forward to seeing more as you progress.

Hi,

Great detailing work!
Well done.

Pascal

excellent work, really neat and great attention to detail

Ufff....I have no words for your master work! !

Never get tired of seeing MP4-6 being beautiful! Keep up the good work!

+1 I totally agree!

Jordan

Hi all,

Been a while but still going.

Sidepods redone. Painted grey-blue, then added clear CF decals, then matt clear. Gloss CF decals added, then the bolts.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5668/23519172309_7b5d707b07_z_d.jpg
Worked on the wheels. Drilled hole for valve. Used a circular file to open the centre hole to accept the wider bolts from Acu-Stion. Then cleaned and primed.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/705/23804603621_fe2cf1f9e1_z_d.jpg

Working on airbox. Lots of gaps and holes to fill, then sanded back.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/640/23258897774_43a656fe83_z_d.jpg
Started engine. Drilled out connectors as will be adding metal parts. Sanded off the molded bolts on the exhaust outlets as these will be replaced with TV pieces.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/759/23860980526_b37388b1eb_z_d.jpg

These are the inside pieces of the front wing. Drilled to accept the RB Motion metal pieces which will be attached to the restarining cables to the monocoque. Primed, painted satin black then matt finish.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/699/23778752672_21e92365d3_z_d.jpg

Body is coming along. This has taken ages to get to this stage. Glued in the pieces behind drivers head and the side air exits. Sanded off all the molded bolt heads. Filled the screw holes as out of scale and the model will be displayed with cowling off. Drilled new small bolt holes, then sanded everything back and primed. Took mutliple layers to have very smooth finish.

Then painted Tamiya gloss white from the can. 4 coats, with sanding back between. After cured for a few weeks, taken back with tamiya coarse polish and washed.

Then left it for a month and layed down tamiya fluro red from the can, 3 coats. After removing the masking tape there was a flaw in the red so I waited 2 months before polishing back and adding a final 2 coats. Then polished again to be smooth.

Decals added a few days ago, still need some softening but pleased so far.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5832/23519169489_72589854b8_z_d.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5834/23778751232_664ef693a5_z_d.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/695/23804602431_fb061a52fc_z_d.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5815/23887086535_6bf7649580_z_d.jpg

Will be a while before this is cleared and polished. Hoping to make some more progress on the other bits for next time.

That is all for now.

KC

Wow the paint and decals look freakin good. Nice job on the kit, will keep this thread as a reference when I go to build mine

beautiful. and to think this hasn't been polished yet!

Beauty!