McLaren MP4/6

[Scale-Master]

I started this kit in September 2009, but I had some interruptions and shelved it for a while.  The original thread is still here but the photo host is gone and so are the photos.  I cannot edit the thread here to replace the photos and it doesn’t make much sense to continue without the photos leading up to what will come next. 

The kit is being built straight out of the box; the only addition will be decals, mostly in the form of composite patterns.

 

 

The headers were cleaned up and painted, including shading, as individual pieces, then assembled and the seams addressed and blended. Tamiya lacquers (base color) and acrylics (shading/staining) were used.

 

The airbox is mostly covered with C/F decals. Some additional shading was done with Tamiya Smoke.

The transmission color was mixed per the instructions with acrylics. However, the engine block was shot with a very dark gray instead of black. It will be "adjusted" as the build progresses.

[Pete75]

Nice! Great looking start. Which kit is it?

[absmiami]

2009 ?  You were just a pup - those look like Tamiya headers - was this shelved when you started dis-membering Super Sevens ??

[Scale-Master]

38 minutes ago, Pete75 said:

Nice! Great looking start. Which kit is it?

Thanks!  It's the Tamiya kit.

[Scale-Master]

18 minutes ago, absmiami said:

2009 ?  You were just a pup - those look like Tamiya headers - was this shelved when you started dis-membering Super Sevens ??

C'mon... Keep up Andy.  By 2009 I had already earned a TamiyaCon trip to Japan, IPMS Judges Grand Best of Show and two GSL Best of Shows with my Super Sevens.  

[absmiami]

Really?

i need to get out more often …

[Scale-Master]

The front wing end plates are finished.  The C/F is ScaleMotorSports Hi-Def decal.  I planned to use only Tamiya paints for the body exterior.  (TS-26 for the White.)  Unfortunately even though I “snuck up” with very light coats of clear (TS-13) over the decals, when the third coat was drying, the Goodyear decals cracked up.  They fractured several hours after the application of the clear.

I created a new set of Goodyear decals and had better luck with the clear.

The wing adjustment holes were drilled out, but otherwise these parts are just the way they come in the kit.

[Scale-Master]

The radiators and ducts are done.  I made the decals for the Calsonic lettering, (had a problem with the ones in the kit cracking), a little wash brought out the depth, and the bright silver plumbing was brush painted using a Tamiya Mini 4WD paint pen's paint mixed with mineral spirts.  Not as bright as sprayed Alclad or Alsa chrome paint maybe, but certainly bright and very easy to work with.  And yes, it does dry fully in a few hours.

 

The trans/rear suspension/engine assembly is growing too.  C/F decals were used for the shock arms; fronts were done at the same time as the rears for continuity.

[Scale-Master]

The injectors are almost done too.  

[Scale-Master]

A little shadowing with washes and dry brushing of parts that will be mostly out of sight once the car is completed.  Colors are Tamiya, both lacquers and acrylics.  The calipers and rotor faces were sprayed; the hubs and details brush painted. 

 

[Scale-Master]

The basic chassis pan is pretty much done.  I opted to go with paint instead of decals... 

I used the Tamiya kit provided foil for the internal heat shield. 

I also painted most of the cockpit exterior, but will accent it with some C/F decals.  Seat is ready for the harnesses...

[Scale-Master]

Mostly finished cockpit/seat.  Once it is installed into the monocoque the rest of the interior parts will be installed.

[Scale-Master]

More progress on the tub and front suspension...

[Rich Chernosky]

Mark...you are just sailing through this one.  Everything looks great so far.  Almost  makes me want to dig mine out. 

[Scale-Master]

You might to refer to the first post in the thread Rich, I'm not moving as fast as it may look.  And thanks!   I would encourage you to dig it out and build it, it is a nice kit; just be cautious with the decals if it is the first issue like mine.

 

 

The rear suspension/transmission is pretty much done...

[Scale-Master]

Airboxes/radiators and driveline are now attached to the monocoque...

[Scale-Master]

Exhaust system is installed...

[absmiami]

Nice

[Scale-Master]

The chassis pan is now attached and the engine is almost done... 

[Rich Chernosky]

The painting, the detail and assembly  is so precise. Thanks for the update..its inspiring.   And ...oh yah...I have been in the box on mine. 

[Pierre Rivard]

Beautiful work as always Mark. You are working this one at warp speed!

What are you using for seat belts, they are amazing?

[Scale-Master]

15 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Beautiful work as always Mark. You are working this one at warp speed!

What are you using for seat belts, they are amazing?

Thank you! 

Please refer the the first post in this thread for some clarification.

[Scale-Master]

Tires... Lots of time spent sanding the tread areas...

[Scale-Master]

Just a reminder, this project is 14 years old.   The painting of the body started in 2010.  These posts are a recap of that time frame.

Finally the body has the paint on it.  Tamiya Pure White and Fluorescent Red.  The nose has the decals and final clear coat on it...

The lettering on the wings cracked several months after being clear coated with the Tamiya clear, so I hand painted the lettering and re-cleared with urethane.  This picture is before clear coating.

[Scale-Master]

I had some paint issues that necessitated stripping some parts and sanding out others and repainting them.  The rear wing end plates had to be stripped and I had to make replacement decals since they are not available from Tamiya.