1988 Mclaren MP4/4 F-1.

[Rich Chernosky]

My local hobby shop is doing a big scale challenge.  1/16 or larger and due by Mar 6.  With the time constraint I needed to pick something I had already started and could possibly (a challenge for 1/12 scale) not take up too much time. I chose this Meng kit that I had started and sprayed most of the parts before I moved in 2023. This kit proved to be the right choice as it practically flew together. Much of it was screw or press fit construction and everything fit together the first time. Very impressed with this kit. Actual finish time less than a week, some sort of record for me in 1/12 scale. Below the pictures are some of the build details.  The only sacrifice was I would have to forego the super detailing like I did on my last F-1 project. So this kit is mostly box stock.

Left side of the v-6 turbo charged engine.  Only thing here to do was all the paint detailing and carbon fibre decals. all was supplied in the kit. The fit on the turbo and echaust was amazing. 

Cockpit was very well detailed. realistic seatbelts, PE  fasteners and even the labeling for all the switches on the dash. Steering workd right through the steering wheel and was a half turn lock to lock. Just like the real car. 

Front suspension detail. Brakes turned easily  through the calipers  and the wheels fastened on securely.

Right side of the engine and more detail. All the lines and hoses were supplied in the kit and the instructrion were crystal clear. 

Bodywork ready to go on the chassis. All this was painted back in November of 2023.  Four screws hold the main bodywork in position and it fit way easier than I thouigh it would. Only exception to this were the rear panels that covered the suspension. In retrospect I should not have glued them on the engine and left them loose. Would have been a lot easier to adjust. 

Finished car on its wheels.  All four tires touch, another credit to this kit. 

Rear veiw. The wing attached securely and at the right angle. A usual sticking point for later F-1 kits. Lots of detail back here as well.

Side veiw shows how well the body fit. the only real addition to this kit were the Marlboro decals which came out of the archives.  This was one of the most successful  F-1 engine and chassis combinations. Pilots Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15 of the 16 races in the 1988 season.  Quite the achievement. This car represents Senna's ride. 

[PappyD340]

Super nice build!

[bbowser]

Beautiful rendition of an F-1 icon!

[Phildaupho]

Great looking F1. Well built. There was one of these on the stage at the big 2025 F1 livery reveal in London on Tuesday.

[Jim B]

That's one great looking McLaren. Very well done. I've been considering getting the 1/24 kit, but I'd need to get aftermarket decals for the Marlboro logos.

[Rich Chernosky]

3 hours ago, PappyD340 said:

Super nice build!

Thanks Larry

 

3 hours ago, bbowser said:

Beautiful rendition of an F-1 icon!

Thank you Bruce

 

2 hours ago, Phildaupho said:

Great looking F1. Well built. There was one of these on the stage at the big 2025 F1 livery reveal in London on Tuesday.

Thank you Phil...that must have been cool.

 

8 minutes ago, Jim B said:

That's one great looking McLaren. Very well done. I've been considering getting the 1/24 kit, but I'd need to get aftermarket decals for the Marlboro logos.

Jim...what a coincidence. I have that kit on my bench right now.  Its not a cheap kit but well worth it. Just get a general set of Marlboro decals. There are usually plenty of sizes on there to fit that model. You don't have to spend big $$$  for a set made specifically for this model. Over the years I have hoarded these decal sets. I keep them in a binder.   All my decals have come from here for the last few cars I have done. 

 

[ChrisR]

Looking great.

[maysula]

Nice ! You did a good job on this . I have this kit  in my pile. Will keep your pictures for refs 😁

[Pierre Rivard]

Nobody can build a beauty like this one as efficiently as you can Rich. A wonderful rendition of a historic race car. The Senna-Prost battle was as epic as it gets. Thank god for that as there was absolutely no opposition to this car. If I remember right they were so dominant they lapped the whole field.

[Nacho Z]

Very nice, Rich!  Truly iconic.  I have yet to buy a Meng kit.  Your endorsement of this kit might be the nudge that I needed…😉

[Belugawrx]

Really nicely done Rich !! Gotta love a nice 1:12 F1 kit...So much room for activities !!!  

Love the old Marlboro livery cars

[1959scudetto]

A perfect out-of-the-box build can give you much satisfaction, Rich - especially when it is done in a perfect way like yours.

You don't always to add bits and pieces to let a kit shine - your build is proof of that: very nice !

[Dave B]

Great build Rich, the last era of the good looking F1's.

Dave B.

[Rich Chernosky]

On 2/22/2025 at 4:10 AM, ChrisR said:

Looking great.

Thanks

 

On 2/22/2025 at 4:42 AM, maysula said:

Nice ! You did a good job on this . I have this kit  in my pile. Will keep your pictures for refs 😁

Thank you Thomas.   The ultimate compliment when someone uses your work for reference. 

 

On 2/22/2025 at 8:18 AM, Pierre Rivard said:

Nobody can build a beauty like this one as efficiently as you can Rich. A wonderful rendition of a historic race car. The Senna-Prost battle was as epic as it gets. Thank god for that as there was absolutely no opposition to this car. If I remember right they were so dominant they lapped the whole field.

Thank you for the praise Pierre. I would say winning 15 of 16 races was pretty dominant.

 

22 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

Very nice, Rich!  Truly iconic.  I have yet to buy a Meng kit.  Your endorsement of this kit might be the nudge that I needed…😉

John..the kit really was a joy to build. Even if you wanted to do it box stock like I did. I don't think I have ever built a kit that went together as quickly or as smoothly as this. You will have to check it out ...fer sure

 

20 hours ago, Belugawrx said:

Really nicely done Rich !! Gotta love a nice 1:12 F1 kit...So much room for activities !!!  

Love the old Marlboro livery cars

You and me both Bruce.  I have a lot of em done and a few more to do.  That flourescent red/orange is the only tricky part. and they kept changing it too. 

 

17 hours ago, 1959scudetto said:

A perfect out-of-the-box build can give you much satisfaction, Rich - especially when it is done in a perfect way like yours.

You don't always to add bits and pieces to let a kit shine - your build is proof of that: very nice !

Thank you Helmut.  I do a lot of box stock because , frankly, I have a lot of kits to do. And ,yes, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in doing something really well.  And its praise like yours that keeps me going...thanks again. 

 

13 hours ago, Dave B said:

Great build Rich, the last era of the good looking F1's.

Dave B.         You might be right about that Dave.  Thanks.