McLaren MP4/6 - Tamiya 1/12

[to-mek]

Hello, I'm currently working on McLaren MP4/6 from Tamiya in 1/12 scale with Top Studio super detail set. Carbon and kevlar templates are by myself.





Where possible, I use soldering insted of glue:




Most of 1/12 scale auto-moto models use tiny screws to hold some parts. They are tiny but visible once model is completed. Idea is to replace all those screws with rivets. Look at these huge holes on calipers for example:





Made lines which connect cylinders:




Completed calipers with smaller rivets instead of screws:






CF on brake ducts is painted with clear yellow:




Completed rear brake assembly:




Shocks:



I made new springs from thicker wire. Somwhere on this forum I have read that automotive springs are left hand wound so I made them like this. Later I found that it's not always true. Luckily it won't be very visible at the end.




Engine is semi gloss black while gearbox and diff are Mr.Color Steel. All parts are drybrushed.





Heads are scale model for themself:







Alignment:






Installed anti-roll bar:






Fueling unit with bunch of wires leading nowhere:











Lower part of airbox in kevlar:




It required a lot of Tamiya smoke paint to look like real thing::





Current status:










Now water and oil pump installation. Box with finished parts is getting empty which makes me happy. It is important to wok in small subassemblies otherwise I would get lost.

[LeeABC]

Fantastic detail, love it!

[MS71]

Very nice build. Love all the little screws and rivets you replaced. The effort is definitely worth it in this scale. It's nice that you share your work with us. I haven't been in this forum for a while but that will change. I'm looking forward to your progress.

[Chinamalc]

This is looking very good, painting the carbon with layers of smoke has worked very well.
M.

[to-mek]

Update.

I decided to upgrade exhaust manifolds. Parts where one section is pressed into other were made more pronounced with thin styrene strip. Also added welds for which I hope that they won't be so visible after additional primer and paint.








Welds on coolers were easier as I could place them into the grooves made with scriber.






Here will be challenging to glue mesh without ruining it.







Oil lines were preshaped and insulated with BMF foil.



Connected pumps and coolers:







Pedals won't be very visible, but I tought I could do better.



Metal parts were made by me. Anti slip surface was made with needle pressed into thin brass sheet.







Seat looks like rough fiberglass so I diluted putty with Tamiya Extra thin cement and used brush to stample it on surface:



Satisfied how it looks as it's very close to reference book.





Cockpit required few additional parts and switches.





There is some weird carbon (fiberglass) pattern inside cockpit which I couldn't find so I had to paint it over mesh. It took me 4 paint layers to get this washed look. Sides are regular CF with clear red.











Cockpit by itself has 4 different patterns (3 CF decals + painted CF) which makes it more interesting.



Pads were painted with Zero colors textured paint:



Body is simple:



First attempt with Zero paints went into the brake fluid. Zero paints color is more orange and there is always discussion about correct shade for Mclaren formulas but that wasn't reason to remove it. Paint was very thin with poor coverage so as I would get some dust particles into the paint I would remove them with fine sandpaper. Sanded locations were lighter tone than remaining and additional layers couldn't cover it. It was always visible so I got into magical circle of repairs and decided to start again. Second attempt was with Number 5 color. I thinned it to my taste and achieved desirable result after 3/4 layers.









Tabu Design decals, rear wing decal took almost as long as all other decals combined

[to-mek]

Double post. Can be deleted.

[MS71]

Great start. I really like the welds on the exhaust and water cooler. I still have the 4/6 with the top studio super detail in my stock. I will follow your WIP with enthusiasm. I wish you a nice New Year and a happy start to the year.

[lasagna99]

remarkable work
It's a pleasure to watch
Bravo!

[Balls77]

Thats super