1:12 Tamiya McLaren MP4/6 Upgrade Options?

[dr_gn]

I built the 1:12 Tamiya McLaren MP4/6 many years ago, totally OOB. Now I've got more experience of detailling standard kits, every time I see it, it niggles me that it's not anything like detailled enough for the scale:



Having see RF's link on my MP4/4 thread in "General Motorsport":

http://members.shaw.ca/bil_attridge/Gallery/Formul...

I was wondering how easy it would be to retro-fit a full detail kit to it would be, and where to get the components? The major pieces of the model are screwed together (IIRC engine-monocoque, undertray, wheels and most of the suspension) and can be fairly easily disassembled. The rest *might* be easy enough to break apart, but I have no idea of how much dis-assembly would be needed?

I've seen Thunder Valey in the USA as a source of detail parts for this kit, but didn't get an answer to my e-mail.

http://www.thundervalleyf1.com/main/products/formu...

Any thoughts on whether I'd end up trashing it beyond repair (Despite the crazy prices these kits now command on EBay, I'm 50:50 willing to risk it rather than keep wishing it looked better!), or where to get detail parts?

[Red Firecracker]

You might like this thread;

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthre...

Thunder Valley seem to have a reputation in some quarters for being a touch slow, shall we say, to deliver.

I say go for it, if you can get the super detail parts.

[ecsrobin]

Red Firecracker said:

You might like this thread;

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthre...

Thunder Valley seem to have a reputation in some quarters for being a touch slow, shall we say, to deliver.

I say go for it, if you can get the super detail parts.

There goes next months pay!! Cheers

[dr_gn]

Red Firecracker said:

You might like this thread;

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthre...

Thunder Valley seem to have a reputation in some quarters for being a touch slow, shall we say, to deliver.

I say go for it, if you can get the super detail parts.

I think I will...if the parts are still available. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not made to order?

[Red Firecracker]

ecsrobin said:

There goes next months pay!! Cheers

You're welcome.

dr_gn said:

I think I will...if the parts are still available. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not made to order?

Not sure, but I do know that delivery times are quite long. I think what they may be doing is using order money to pay for the supplies to fulfil the orders. Their parts do have a good reputation though.

[dr_gn]

Red Firecracker said:

ecsrobin said:

There goes next months pay!! Cheers

You're welcome.

dr_gn said:

I think I will...if the parts are still available. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not made to order?

Not sure, but I do know that delivery times are quite long. I think what they may be doing is using order money to pay for the supplies to fulfil the orders. Their parts do have a good reputation though.

Fair enough. I'm in no hurry - it's been like that for 13 years after all!

[Skodaku]

dr_gn said:

I think I will...if the parts are still available. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not made to order?

Surely first port of call must be Hannants to see if they have any PE in stock for that kit.

[dr_gn]

Skodaku said:

dr_gn said:

I think I will...if the parts are still available. I wouldn't be surprised if they're not made to order?

Surely first port of call must be Hannants to see if they have any PE in stock for that kit.

I think hannants is a bit mainstream for this kind of thing. Ill check though.

[fatboy69]

I bought that kit when it was originally released. It remains in the box, unopened & unbuilt, along with the 1/12 scale Williams FW14.

Both are in the lounge waiting to be built. I want to build them but, somehow, I can't bring myself to even opening the boxes let alone start the build of them.

I know I should build them but I'm not sure that I want too.

[fatboy69]

I bought that kit when it was originally released. It remains in the box, unopened & unbuilt, along with the 1/12 scale Williams FW14.

Both are in the lounge waiting to be built. I want to build them but, somehow, I can't bring myself to even opening the boxes let alone start the build of them.

I know I should build them but I'm not sure that I want too.

[kenny Chim 4]

I too have that kit- but half built as I wasn't happy with the results that I was trying to achieve 20 odd years ago. Also, because a section of the bodywork snapped and I've not been able to repair it, the model resides in its box.

However I have not given up on it and a while ago, I bought the more realistic Marlboro decal sheet from Decalpool via ebay at a cheap cost. This one: http://www.decalpool.com/dp009.htm
There's loads to explore about this kit on the internet- you can even add your own Japanese girl and Senna crash helmet: http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~mokei/e-gallery-mc6.htm

Edited by kenny Chim 4 on Tuesday 26th March 00:12

[dr_gn]

fatboy69 said:

I bought that kit when it was originally released. It remains in the box, unopened & unbuilt, along with the 1/12 scale Williams FW14.

Both are in the lounge waiting to be built. I want to build them but, somehow, I can't bring myself to even opening the boxes let alone start the build of them.

I know I should build them but I'm not sure that I want too.

I'll be getting the fw14 & 641 this year. In two minds as whether to sell the 4/6 as built and buy a new one to detail fully. I could make you an offer for both yours if youre not building them?

[Red Firecracker]

This seller has some complete bodywork sprues for the MP4/6 as well;

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Jasons-Store?_trksid=p204...

(you'll need to search his store)

[fatboy69]

They are not for sale unless I get made a silly offer & even then I don't think I would let them go.

I have got my model collection for sale & had an offer made for them collection as a whole which was a joke offer.

One so called 'dealer' said that the Tamiya kits I have got, all unbuilt, where worthless & he offered me £250 for the Tamiya kits so I told him to do one.

I know how much the Williams & McLaren have sold for on fleabay so I know what they are worth.

[dr_gn]

fatboy69 said:

They are not for sale unless I get made a silly offer & even then I don't think I would let them go.

I have got my model collection for sale & had an offer made for them collection as a whole which was a joke offer.

One so called 'dealer' said that the Tamiya kits I have got, all unbuilt, where worthless & he offered me £250 for the Tamiya kits so I told him to do one.

I know how much the Williams & McLaren have sold for on fleabay so I know what they are worth.

The 1:12 Williams and McLaren (and 641 for that matter) aren't worth *that* much - about £100 each BNIB, untouched.

A built-up OOB MP4/6 went recently for about £170. If I could get that for mine I'd probably sell it and buy two unbuilt 1:12 kits out of the three I want, but build them to a much higher standard than I did previously.

[fatboy69]

I have a dozen or so unbuilt Tamiya kits so the offer was a joke. One of the McLarens sold on the bay a few months ago for in excess of £250 whilst a Williams went for over £150.

That said I probably wouldn't sell either of them as one day I will, hopefully, get round to building them.

[dr_gn]

fatboy69 said:

I have a dozen or so unbuilt Tamiya kits so the offer was a joke. One of the McLarens sold on the bay a few months ago for in excess of £250 whilst a Williams went for over £150.

That said I probably wouldn't sell either of them as one day I will, hopefully, get round to building them.

Hmm, last month:

Williams at £57.50 inc. delivery

MP4/6 at £97.50 inc. delivery

The £250 MP4/6 must have been the "full view" clear body version which is quite rare.

[fatboy69]

I don't think it was the clear view kit. The kit I was watching sold maybe 3 or 4 months back - I think it might still be saved in my 'watch' list so I will have a look earlier.

Same with the FW14. I'll check that as well.

[dr_gn]

fatboy69 said:

I don't think it was the clear view kit. The kit I was watching sold maybe 3 or 4 months back - I think it might still be saved in my 'watch' list so I will have a look earlier.

Same with the FW14. I'll check that as well.

I'd be interested to know - I'll be looking out for these kits at the next shows I attend. I think as ever with EBay, if you're lucky and find a "Buy it Now" item at a stupidly low price - and you're quick - you're laughing as a buyer, and if as a seller you get people into a bidding war, you're also laughing, but the 'real' value is probably somewhere between the two extremes.

[fatboy69]

Two MP4/6's on fleabay at the moment - buy it now prices of £87.60 & £124.81 (both coming from Japan with one having shipping costs of just £5.60.....)

There is one from the USA with a buy it now price of £131.07.

My watch list on eBay has gone so I can't check out the price or which kit it was although I am fairly certain it was the normal original kit although i can't be 100% sure.

Incidentally, someone is selling a 'perfect manual for the MP4/6' on cd for just 5.99 if anyone is interested. Or rather they were as I have just bought it!!

Also bought a full set of Marlboro decals (£6.90) as well as Senna driver figure which has cost me £25.00!

Might just give me the impetus to build the kit!


As for the FW14 - buy it now prices are currently anywhere between £65.88 & £130.50.

I have also just bought a set of Camel decals for the Williams for just £6.00!