Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

[dr_gn]

Masked the recesses with Blu-Tack, and sprayed with Vallejo Air Aluminium:



Then masked the flat parts of the aluminium (I wanted to have the edges of the recess black), and over sprayed with Tamiya Satin Black:



After re-polishing the photo-etch, they look OK:



So far so good for the painting, now to add the rest of the photo-etch and wiring.

[caterhamnut]

dr_gn said:

I know they were working on sets for the FW14B and 641, but I’ve not seen anything recently. They usually update their Facebook page with latest news etc.

ETA Just seen a preview on the "Top Studio Family" FB page, looks like it's the cockpit set first for the FW14B.

Edited by dr_gn on Monday 2nd September 09:07

That's the one!!

[tyrrell]

Love this thread, any up dates please.

[The Brummie]

I have this amazing kit.

Sat in its box. All bags still sealed. Original price tag (£69 I think) still on the box.

Haven’t the time or the patience to build it so it will forever remain in the cupboard. Along with 20 or so other kits which I will never build.

I couldn’t do justice to the MP4/6.

[generationx]

The Brummie said:

I have this amazing kit.

Sat in its box. All bags still sealed. Original price tag (£69 I think) still on the box.

Haven’t the time or the patience to build it so it will forever remain in the cupboard. Along with 20 or so other kits which I will never build.

I couldn’t do justice to the MP4/6.

20? Pah - amateur.

I also have this kit in the same condition plus, er, a few more...

[dr_gn]

Hoping to get some photo etch colouring chemicals from Telford. If not I’ll have to paint it all.

[dr_gn]

dr_gn said:

caterhamnut said:

I can't find where I saw it now!! In the last week or so, it was a 'preview' (ie: not released yet) of a cockpit detail set - I *think* it was Top Studio....I'll keep looking...

I know they were working on sets for the FW14B and 641, but I’ve not seen anything recently. They usually update their Facebook page with latest news etc.

ETA Just seen a preview on the "Top Studio Family" FB page, looks like it's the cockpit set first for the FW14B.

Edited by dr_gn on Monday 2nd September 09:07

Front chassis set released now...

[pierrejr12]

I am building mine based on this thread. I used a lot of dr_gn advices, thank you all for sharing all of this.
Mine is still a work in progress. I still need to get a clear coat and to finish some parts but here is how it looks so far:

[Drawweight]

A beautiful model.

Is there any way to get rid of that centre ridge on the tyres?

[dr_gn]

pierrejr12 said:

I am building mine based on this thread. I used a lot of dr_gn advices, thank you all for sharing all of this.
Mine is still a work in progress. I still need to get a clear coat and to finish some parts but here is how it looks so far:

That’s great! Although I’ve barely started mine! Do you have any images of the engine detail? Did you use the Top Studio sets?

[dr_gn]

Drawweight said:

A beautiful model.

Is there any way to get rid of that centre ridge on the tyres?

No need to remove them; the real tyres had a mould line down the centre, exactly as per the model tyres. Of course it soon wore off with use.

[dr_gn]

Minuscule amount of progress on this one today. I’ve given up on finding a method of chemically darkening the stainless photo etch, and resorted to mixing Vallejo Gold and Black to give the right effect. Also glossed the coil cap retainer insulation, and painted the throttle cable holder NATO Black, and made a start on the ignition loom:

[dr_gn]

Still progressing with the cylinder head details. According to my references, most of the stuff has a pretty much black finish. Despite using a few different shades, I’m also using a bit of license to make some parts stand out (the loom clips for example), otherwise a lot of the details will just blend into the background:

[tyrrell]

Fantastic to see this build back, thank you.

[dr_gn]

tyrrell said:

Fantastic to see this build back, thank you.

Thank you! I've cleared the decks of most models, so I want to get some progress on this one.

Trying to avoid listening to the news and bbc website. I'm done with the virus stuff; just having a 10 minute break from working at home at the moment.

[p4cks]

This thread is up there in my top 5 best threads ever!

[dr_gn]

p4cks said:

This thread is up there in my top 5 best threads ever!

I’ve hardly done anything yet

[dr_gn]

Just ignoring the news and losing myself in concentration - adding the first details to the heads:



Still a lot to add, including the throttle linkages and wiring.

[tyrrell]

This is way better than any Netflix box set !

[dr_gn]

Slow but sure progress. Part of the throttle linkage and rose joints, wiring loom and connectors fitted to the right bank head:



Throttle spring and a few rivets and then on to the other side (of the engine hopefully).