Tamiya McLaren-Honda MP4/4

I just got a steal on a Tamiya McLaren-Honda MP4/4 tonight. I was at the Clevelnad AutoRama, and looking for 1:18 die-casts when I saw a whole bunch of Tamiya F1 cars under the table, I picked the McLaren, and it was only $22. This is also my first plastic model.

So, my questions are:

1.) Are there any important details to keep in mind while doing this project?

2.) Are Tamiya paints already pre-thinned?

3.) Is there any place where I can get molded driver figures to fit a 1/20 Tamiya car?

I just got a steal on a Tamiya McLaren-Honda MP4/4 tonight. I was at the Clevelnad AutoRama, and looking for 1:18 die-casts when I saw a whole bunch of Tamiya F1 cars under the table, I picked the McLaren, and it was only $22. This is also my first plastic model.

So, my questions are:

1.) Are there any important details to keep in mind while doing this project?

2.) Are Tamiya paints already pre-thinned?

3.) Is there any place where I can get molded driver figures to fit a 1/20 Tamiya car?

Congratulations - and welcome to plastic modeling! The MP4/4 isn't exactly the most simple kit to start with, but it is a good kit with good fit and no real issues to worry about. Out of the box it is very detailed. Perhaps the most difficult aspect will be painting the unique flourescent red/white paint scheme. The kit comes with orange decals which are okay, but if you're adventurous, ask modelers for advice on doing a two tone color scheme, because there's some important things to know.
:nono:
Tamiya acrylic bottle paints are fairly thin, if you intend to airbrush them, using denatured alcohol or Tamiya thinner, you won't ever need more than 25% thinner to paint. Depending on your airbrush nozzle size, you may find you don't need to thin at all. For brush painting, these paints to me seem very thick and globby, and I can't get a smooth finish from them. Testor's ACRYL paints are phenomenal in this respect.
:boink:
There used to be seated driver figues available from a company named MODELERS, they were resin cast and a bit pricey, $25 or so. They also made 1;24th scale as well. However, some Tamiya F1 kits aome with a driver figure, so if you hunt around at some swap meets, NNL shows, pick up some kits and you'll come across them. Off the top of my ehad I don't which ones had driver figures and which didn't, but Im sure if you post that question in this forum, you'll get all the info.

Good luck!

There is a spanish company called el olso that make 1/20 F1 figures designed to sit in the car. You can get driver decals from somewhere like Studio 27. I don't know if there are any earlier McLaren ones though. Here are some links


http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/index.php

http://www.racingminiatures.com/

http://www.detailanddesigninscale.com/

Thanks guys for the responses. I can't wait to start this kit, I'm definetly not going to start until I have all the supplies I need, I'm going to the hobby store on Wednesday, and I found some driver figures, but the problem is that theyr'e sold out from a site I found some time ago.
It even has Ayrton! Gah! (http://www.f1specialties.com/main/tamiya/20027.php)
I'm also getting a decal kit from the same site to convert the barcode decals to Marlboro, and lastly, I'm going to place carbon fiber decals under the body and on the chassis.






P.S: I'm not a first time modeler

$22 is kinda high right now for an MP4/4, unless it has the original Marlboro box art.

You can get them on eBay for less than $10 from time to time.

Tamiya has a Driver and mechanic figure for that MP4/5B. I'm sure the driver will fit into the MP4/4. It comes with decals for Senna and Berger. I guess you would use the Senna ones as the MP4/4 was driven by Senna/Prost if my memory serves me right. Coicidentally the MP4/5 was my very first model ever. It doesn't look too good because of my inexperience. I will be stripping the paint one day and refinishing it. This time I will go with the two tone colour as the decals aren't the best for that. Post some pics when you are done!