Top Studio / Tamiya McLaren MP4/4 (adult content)
Top Studio / Tamiya McLaren MP4/4 (adult content)
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dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Monday 20th June 2011
quotequote all
The Missus bought me the latest Top Studio super detail kit for the 1:20 Tamiya 1:20 McLaren MP4/4 for my birthday. Result. It arrived today and I had a quick look (before I can officially have it on Wednesday!).

Wow. Just Wow. Looking at the stunningly machined parts, sheets of photo etch and hyper quality resin bits is an experience. Shame to actually build it!







Instructions here:

http://www.topstudiohobby.com/instruction/MD29011_...

I'll post a quick review when I finally get my hands on it. I think I can safely say it will be positive!

yorkieboy

1,845 posts

198 months

Tuesday 21st June 2011
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Well that is just bonkers! I personally would'nt have the patience!! Good luck tho :-)

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

220 months

Tuesday 21st June 2011
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That is definitely on my wish list if I win the lottery lol

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Tuesday 21st June 2011
quotequote all
The_Jackal said:
That is definitely on my wish list if I win the lottery lol
It's £115 for the detail kit. It's not a great amount if you enjoy modelling mechanical detail. I look at it in terms of tanks of petrol: about 1.5 tanks for me, and all that does it get me to work!

tangerine_sedge

6,154 posts

241 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
The amazing thing isn't the quality of the detail set, or the eye- watering price, but the fact you've managed to train your wife to not only think this is reasonable, but also to buy it for you.

You sir, are an inspiration to modellers everywhere!

Nicholas Blair

4,111 posts

307 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Build this model yonks ago but this one looks the real deal.

Good luck!

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Nicholas Blair said:
Build this model yonks ago but this one looks the real deal.

Good luck!
Yeah I built a 4/4 in about 1990 stright from box. The plan is to use that chassis as a base for the new super-detailled body and wheels, and display the new kit (still need to buy the base model) as exposed chassis only, on stands. I'm thinking of displaying them side by side and I might even incorporate my Prost and Senna autographs into the base somehow.

Nicholas Blair

4,111 posts

307 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Yeah I built a 4/4 in about 1990 stright from box. The plan is to use that chassis as a base for the new super-detailled body and wheels, and display the new kit (still need to buy the base model) as exposed chassis only, on stands. I'm thinking of displaying them side by side and I might even incorporate my Prost and Senna autographs into the base somehow.
Superb - great diorama coming up. Remember and post piccies smile

Cheers
Nick

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Nicholas Blair said:
dr_gn said:
Yeah I built a 4/4 in about 1990 stright from box. The plan is to use that chassis as a base for the new super-detailled body and wheels, and display the new kit (still need to buy the base model) as exposed chassis only, on stands. I'm thinking of displaying them side by side and I might even incorporate my Prost and Senna autographs into the base somehow.
Superb - great diorama coming up. Remember and post piccies smile

Cheers
Nick
Sure will. Better start looking for some tiny ceramic floor tiles for the base!

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Here are a few pics which should give an idea of what's included:














dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
tangerine_sedge said:
The amazing thing isn't the quality of the detail set, or the eye- watering price, but the fact you've managed to train your wife to not only think this is reasonable, but also to buy it for you.

You sir, are an inspiration to modellers everywhere!
Thanks! As I said - present it in terms of tanks of petrol (money you burn on a daily basis for no physical end result). Never fails.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Monday 27th June 2011
quotequote all
So I got the latest release of the Tamiya MP4/4 today. What a load of st: No Goodyear decals and not even any of the Marlboro insignia. The last one I built (old boxing) had the entire red bits as decals! This one doesn't even show which bits are shaded red in the painting scheme. What a fking joke!


Red Firecracker

5,330 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
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This may help, although to paraphrase Paul Daniels, "Maybe not a lot".



http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig01/10012848t1.jpg

Although comparing the two instruction sheets, old and new, the difference is that the orange is not shaded on the new, but the demarcation line is still there.

Edited by Red Firecracker on Tuesday 28th June 10:04

Rick_1138

3,904 posts

201 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
You should be able to find good quality aftermarket decal sheets for the marlboro logo's etc.

Tamiya (and most major kit manufacturers tbh) have stopped selling kits with tobacco stuff on them as it comes under the same laws banning it from being in F1, but its retrospective etc so JPS, marlboro Rothmans etc etc are a no no.

However many produce sheets of decals for specific cars, and the MP 4/4 will have a set for it as its a very popular kit.

http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/shop/msmd070.html this was just a quick google as an example of whats about smile

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
RF, Rick,

Thanks for the comments. Yeah I know where to mask the body - I've got a completed version of the old boxing (the one in RF's painting scheme above). What pisses me off is that Tamiya state that it builds into a model of the car as seen during the 1988 season. It doesn't. There are no Good Year tyre decals (although there is a paint mask in the Top Studio kit), and no Good Year decals for the front wing endplates. I was going to mask and paint the main red areas anyway becasue the standard kit decals for these areas were too orange. The "Marlboro" text also isn't a problem because I'm modelling the 1988 British GP version that I saw racing.

So basically, all I needed in addition to the decals in the new boxing are the Good Year endplate decals and the small Marlboro logos. Without these now included I'll have to buy a complete decal set. What a joke.

Red Firecracker

5,330 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
So basically, all I needed in addition to the decals in the new boxing are the Good Year endplate decals and the small Marlboro logos. Without these now included I'll have to buy a complete decal set. What a joke.
Let me know the sizes when you're ready, I think I already have the artwork to hand.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
Red Firecracker said:
dr_gn said:
So basically, all I needed in addition to the decals in the new boxing are the Good Year endplate decals and the small Marlboro logos. Without these now included I'll have to buy a complete decal set. What a joke.
Let me know the sizes when you're ready, I think I already have the artwork to hand.
Obviously that would be brilliant!

Is there any way you can think of that I could get the number decals and small Marlboro decals in an exact colour match for the main body flourescent red?

Red Firecracker

5,330 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Obviously that would be brilliant!

Is there any way you can think of that I could get the number decals and small Marlboro decals in an exact colour match for the main body flourescent red?
In a word, no. The only way I think you can be absolutely sure of getting them to exactly match is to paint them using some masks cut from frisket on a plotter. I know I couldn't match them with my decals. It's an easy enough process, you just need to find somebody with a plotter.

Nicholas Blair

4,111 posts

307 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
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Odd no GoodYear ? Why is that - licensing or something ?

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,721 posts

207 months

Tuesday 28th June 2011
quotequote all
Nicholas Blair said:
Odd no GoodYear ? Why is that - licensing or something ?
According to my thread on Britmodeller on this subject, Goodyear now demand cash to have their logo on a model car.

Crazy in the case of Tamiya models (which are good models), and in particular this car which is one of the best F1 cars ever built.