Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

[dr_gn]

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Next is to assemble the stub axles and bells to them

I suppose it's too late to point out that the spacing of the holes round the rim aren't the same as the photo-etch?

My disc isn’t from an MP4/6...

This one is though:

TBH it wouldn't bother me either way. These cars had detail changes race to race and test session to test session, so it's pretty much impossible to find out the precise specification of a car at any point during the 1991 season. The base Tamiya kit is meant to represent Hockenheim spec, yet the cam covers are modelled as per the pre-season test engine.

I'm simply aiming for "a 1991 McLaren MP4/6", as I remember them 'in the flesh'.

[dr_gn]

All four brake discs finished now. Satisfying bit of modelling - some experimentation with painting carbon, but mainly assembling metal bits that fit together perfectly and look realistic at the end of it:





Now for the callipers.

[henryk001]

Absolutely fabulous workmanship comes to mind.

[Halmyre]

dr_gn said:

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Next is to assemble the stub axles and bells to them

I suppose it's too late to point out that the spacing of the holes round the rim aren't the same as the photo-etch?

My disc isn’t from an MP4/6...

This one is though:

TBH it wouldn't bother me either way. These cars had detail changes race to race and test session to test session, so it's pretty much impossible to find out the precise specification of a car at any point during the 1991 season. The base Tamiya kit is meant to represent Hockenheim spec, yet the cam covers are modelled as per the pre-season test engine.

I'm simply aiming for "a 1991 McLaren MP4/6", as I remember them 'in the flesh'.

I'm now wondering why the odd spacing. Common sense would tell you that regular spacing is the most efficient way of dissipating heat.

[ajprice]

Halmyre said:

I'm now wondering why the odd spacing. Common sense would tell you that regular spacing is the most efficient way of dissipating heat.

On the model discs the 2 holes / 1 hole pattern of the outer rim looks like it lines up with the pattern of the inside, erm, tabs(?) of the disc.

[dr_gn]

ajprice said:

Halmyre said:

I'm now wondering why the odd spacing. Common sense would tell you that regular spacing is the most efficient way of dissipating heat.

On the model discs the 2 holes / 1 hole pattern of the outer rim looks like it lines up with the pattern of the inside, erm, tabs(?) of the disc.

If it does, it's by pure luck.

[ajprice]

dr_gn said:

ajprice said:

Halmyre said:

I'm now wondering why the odd spacing. Common sense would tell you that regular spacing is the most efficient way of dissipating heat.

On the model discs the 2 holes / 1 hole pattern of the outer rim looks like it lines up with the pattern of the inside, erm, tabs(?) of the disc.

If it does, it's by pure luck.

Argh. I meant the big disc in this picture

[dr_gn]

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Halmyre said:

dr_gn said:

Next is to assemble the stub axles and bells to them

I suppose it's too late to point out that the spacing of the holes round the rim aren't the same as the photo-etch?

My disc isn’t from an MP4/6...

This one is though:

TBH it wouldn't bother me either way. These cars had detail changes race to race and test session to test session, so it's pretty much impossible to find out the precise specification of a car at any point during the 1991 season. The base Tamiya kit is meant to represent Hockenheim spec, yet the cam covers are modelled as per the pre-season test engine.

I'm simply aiming for "a 1991 McLaren MP4/6", as I remember them 'in the flesh'.

I'm now wondering why the odd spacing. Common sense would tell you that regular spacing is the most efficient way of dissipating heat.

I think it might be as much to do with weight saving while maintaining strength, as it is to do with heat dissipation. Carbon-carbon is a relatively poor conductor of heat.

If you draw it out as a circle, simple radial holes actually don't cover the area very effectively. Grouping them as per my actual disc gives a pattern like this (imagine it's wrapped around the disc, top is the outer diameter, bottom the inner):

\I/\/\I/\/\I/\I/\/\I/

If it was a simple radial pattern of lines, there would be progressively more un-drilled volume as you go from the inner to outer diameter - and the discs get hotter in that area becasue of higher surface speed. In addition, from a structural point of view, becasue the inner ends of the \I/ patterns merge into one opening, there's more meat left between adjagent drillings = more strength where the peak shearing loads in the disc are, and more room for the disc-bell holes.

[DAVEVO9]

dr_gn said:

All four brake discs finished now. Satisfying bit of modelling - some experimentation with painting carbon, but mainly assembling metal bits that fit together perfectly and look realistic at the end of it:





Now for the callipers.

In 1:12 scale that is an awesome result .

[mrkipling]

Those brake discs are fantastic so convincing.

[dr_gn]

mrkipling said:

Those brake discs are fantastic so convincing.

Thanks - I’m happy with them too.

[dr_gn]

Made a start on the callipers - cleaning up the mould lines, removing the bleed bumps and drilling for metal versions. Also drilled out the sides ready to fit the resin banjo unions:



Now for a thin dark wash, painting the pads and fitting the transfer pipes and hydraulic fittings.

[cheesewotsit]

The detail in this is just another level. Deeply impressive.

[dr_gn]

cheesewotsit said:

The detail in this is just another level. Deeply impressive.

Thanks!

[villageidiot]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-1-12-Scale-Mclar...

[dr_gn]

villageidiot said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-1-12-Scale-Mclar...

That's the last thing I need - another! Already got two...

How about this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1991-McLaren-Honda-Type-M...

£12K+

Been for sale for years. What a muppet.

[Murph7355]

How utterly amazing do F1 cars of that era look!?! They sounded epic too - I have very vivid memories of approaching Silverstone on race day and hearing the cars warming up.

[dr_gn]

Murph7355 said:

How utterly amazing do F1 cars of that era look!?! They sounded epic too - I have very vivid memories of approaching Silverstone on race day and hearing the cars warming up.

Yep. I remember about ‘90, going to a test and stopping at Silverstone village post office to buy some film. The sound in the distance was awesome. Waiting to pay for the film and getting to the pits seemed like the longest journey ever (about 10 minutes).

[dr_gn]

Bit more work on the callipers, painted the bodies Vallejo gold/chrome silver, with a very thin dark wash. Pads NATO black to match the disc base colour. Also added some heat sensitive paint stripes to match the discs:



Still a lot to do - decals, satin coat, bleed nipples, transfer pipes & nuts and pad retainers & bolts. The tape is just so I can keep them matched to their discs so that only their best respective sides are visible...

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I almost want lockdown to continue so we can see this get built