Accurate Miniatures 1/24 McLaren M8B - Koveleski/Adamowicz

[Justin Porter]

I had to place my Italeri 250GT California project on hold while waiting on some parts, so in the mean time I picked up another long term project to work on bringing it to its completion. This is the Accurate Miniatures 1/24 McLaren M8B Can-Am racer, specifically in the livery of Oscar Koveleski and Tony Adamowicz from 1971. It's an infamous kit, beautifully detailed but tricky to assemble. My plan is to build it as a finished chassis with the bodywork on stands next to the chassis to show off everything inside.  

[Bainford]

Cool project! I've always been interested in this kit, and have heard all the issues regarding getting it to all fit under the body work. Your plan should solve that, and produce a stunning display. Nive work so far.

[bytownshaker]

Looking good Justin, 

I plan on doing earlier version with the slot car paint scheme.

[absmiami]

Assuming you know the connection between driver and sponsor ??

[bytownshaker]

Yep Oscar owned the original Auto World in Scranton PA, I remember ordering from their catalog. They sold R/C cars (Jerobee etc), slot cars, model cars, paint etc, also performance items for 1:1 cars. He also formed the PDRA the Polish Race drivers of America with Tony Adamowicz.

[absmiami]

And for the record - i think Auto World was the first US seller of Tamiya’s early 12th sc GP kits - the Honda and the Lotus  ….

[Justin Porter]

On 11/8/2023 at 3:29 PM, absmiami said:

Assuming you know the connection between driver and sponsor ??

Very much so. Because of my own interest in slot car racing, I specifically wanted to build the Auto World #54 more even than Denny and Bruce's high wing championship cars. 

And the progress has continued. 

[absmiami]

Pay close attn to the mounting of the oil radiator …

[Rich Chernosky]

Cool project Justin. You are off to a great start.  I knew Oscar and Tony personally.  A sad day when both passed away. 

[1959scudetto]

This is going to be a great model, Justin - I'll be watching this.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Ah yes...the big, beautiful M8 series. One of my favorite race cars...and kits...of all time.  

Edited November 14, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[Pierre Rivard]

Looks awesome Justin. that engine looks like a beast and the chassis oozes realism. A beauty!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Just FYI...here's a build thread by a guy who apparently put a lot of effort into it.

http://www.alexkung1.com/scale/am/index.htm

I can't personally vouch for the accuracy of anything he says, but I've seen so much bad-mouthing of this kit over the eons, it can't hurt to look.  

[Mark IV]

I knew Oscar, a real piece of work and one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. He was the real thing, friendly, honest and enthusiastic! Last saw him at the Glen vintage a few years ago vintage pushing his kiddie formula race cars. In the late sixties he paid me and a friend to put postcards with the Tamiya F1 cars on windshields. I still have some somewhere.

[absmiami]

Thanks Ace !

alex K’s article was posted at the dawn of the  internet (well sort of)  i remember it  -  im surprised that it is still on line ….  Is there any such thing as vintage internet ?? ????

[TooOld]

Great project Justin !  Love these race cars and remember ordering from Auto World as a kid .

I always saw Oscar at Daytona and spent time helping him with his Kidracer Formula 5 project . . . super nice guy !

[absmiami]

Excellent

[Daddyfink]

15 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Just FYI...here's a build thread by a guy who apparently put a lot of effort into it.

http://www.alexkung1.com/scale/am/index.htm

I can't personally vouch for the accuracy of anything he says, but I've seen so much bad-mouthing of this kit over the eons, it can't hurt to look.  

I had a conversation with the late Tom West back when the kit was released and asked about the problems with it, to which he replied that the kit was perfect, but, the guys at Accurate had messed it up. He drew up the instruction illustrations and handed them over with very specific assembly steps, but, the guy who ended up putting the instruction sheets together put the out of sequence! So yes, you will have problems if you use the kit instructions as is. But, he also said that they had fixed them and you could request, back then, a new set of instructions. 

He also said they had goofed on some of the specs on the A/N lines and some did not fit that well in the end. So the kit was not really that perfect after all. 

I myself have yet to tackle an Accurate kit, but this is looking very inspiring! 

[absmiami]

Well - i cant claim to be a card carrying member of the Polish Race Driver’s Assn - but i still have an unblemished Auto World license plate sheet - just showin’ off … poor Justin has had his thread hi-jacked …

[Rattlecan Dan]

Justin, Nice Stuff! Good-looking build.

[Bugatti Fan]

A friend of mine has built this kit and described it as being a bit challenging, but he made a really good job of it.

[Funkychiken]

Cool project! The chassis  looks great!

[dave branson]

Does anybody know who has the molds for the McLarens?

[Force]

2 hours ago, dave branson said:

Does anybody know who has the molds for the McLarens?

They are probably at the same place the Corvette Grand Sport molds are...I don't know where tho'.
Accurate Miniatures also did military aircraft kits and I don't know where the molds for them are either.

[Justin Porter]

On 12/3/2023 at 2:30 AM, Force said:

They are probably at the same place the Corvette Grand Sport molds are...I don't know where tho'.
Accurate Miniatures also did military aircraft kits and I don't know where the molds for them are either.

I can at least tell you that the majority of the Accurate Miniatures aircraft tooling is with Academy who has kept several of the AM aircraft kits like the TBF Avenger and B-25 Mitchell in regular production.