McLaren MP4-4 by Meng

[arcticwolf]

I just had to buy one. (direct from China, much less expensive).

It comes with colour instructions, a Meng specialty

55 pages of them. I kid you not. They're in Chinese, English, Japanese and Russian. I just look at the pictures.

Included is many plastic parts sprues, 3 main body sections, metal suspension arms, rubber tires, tubing, and 3 million screws. And enough carbon fibre decal sheets to cover the space shuttle twice. Not included - the Marlboro decals. Fortunately, I have my own.

So let's see if this is as good as the other Meng kits I've built.

Just a dry fit, the parts are well detailed, zero flash, and fit so snug you need a lot of pressure to get them to seat. Uh-oh.

Well, here goes.

[chrissmith]

Should be a fun build, I bet you’ll enjoy every minute 😉

[kyledehart5]

Wow Paul!! This is going to be awesome! The 4/4 is an icon, of course, and I’ll be looking forward to following along with your build of this large one.

[handiabled]

Following! This should be a great watching come together. At 1/12 scale this thing is huge!

[arcticwolf]

It's a McLaren, so basically paint everything black. Well, there are different shades of black, lol.

Step 1 complete, 31 parts and 6 decals. It should have been 8 but I painted the "HONDA" on the cam covers. Nicely detailed clutch that you'll never see again.

The parts are hard to get seated properly, almost too precise. Dry assemble and apply extra thin cement to joint is the safest method to avoid a mess.

I'm not painting all the bolt heads as they're black on the 1:1 car, although it would spark it up a bit. Might as well at least start off being authentic.

[project510]

Im so glad you are building this haha. Now ill get good solid look at the kit. I have read a lot of issues with warped bodies so it had me not buy it. Where did you order from? Cost?

Good luck! Cant wait to see your process and finished product!

[406 Silverado]

I'm most CERTAINLY going to be in on this one !!! Bookmarked!!

[arcticwolf]

I honestly can't remember what I paid for it. A lot less than listed prices and free shipping. I'll have to look through my e-mails.

I've never had a warped body on a Meng kit. This one seems to fit fine, so far at least.

[arcticwolf]

Step 2 is the transmission. I got this far and decided to attach it to the engine now before I hang any more breakable bits off it.

I'm using photos of the actual car as my colour guide, not the kit instructions.

[arcticwolf]

Sept 16, 2024 10:41:09 GMT -5 project510 said:

Im so glad you are building this haha. Now ill get good solid look at the kit. I have read a lot of issues with warped bodies so it had me not buy it. Where did you order from? Cost?

Good luck! Cant wait to see your process and finished product!

I got it from this guy.

www.ebay.ca/str/fsss7159

$179.00, free shipping, back in February.

[kyledehart5]

Excellent work!! You’re off to a magnificent start.

[406 Silverado]

Sept 16, 2024 23:50:48 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Sept 16, 2024 10:41:09 GMT -5 project510 said:

Im so glad you are building this haha. Now ill get good solid look at the kit. I have read a lot of issues with warped bodies so it had me not buy it. Where did you order from? Cost?

Good luck! Cant wait to see your process and finished product!

I got it from this guy.

www.ebay.ca/str/fsss7159

$179.00, free shipping, back in February.

 That's not a bad deal either considering the scale AND the good reputation that this model manufacture has. Good start on that engine and xmsn assy bud. 

[joelw]

Paul,
I've been waiting and hoping that after the Matra you'd pick a new kit, specifically this one. While I build 1/20 scale open wheel cars, Meng has shrunk this "Bad Boy" down to 1/24 scale, so I'll be paying double attention to your build process as I do intend to buy the Baby Brother sooner then later.

Great start on the engine as the kit seems to have as many parts as the real one. Agreed that it's a shame that the clutch assembly will be hidden from view almost as fast as you glue it to the block.

joel

[kyledehart5]

I’ve glanced at the 1/24 version a few times myself. Especially after the wonderful build that was their 1/24 GT40. I have the old Tamiya in 1/20. This 1/12 scale, of course, will be far more impressive and I know you’re going to do some excellent work with it Paul.

[project510]

Sept 17, 2024 17:32:11 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I’ve glanced at the 1/24 version a few times myself. Especially after the wonderful build that was their 1/24 GT40. I have the old Tamiya in 1/20. This 1/12 scale, of course, will be far more impressive and I know you’re going to do some excellent work with it Paul.

I also have the Tamiya 1/20 kit. Thought about this one. If I can score this one for the price Paul has, maybe I will sell the Tamiya Kit. I dunno. I already have two other large scale kits to build. A third would take up a huge amount of space haha.

[kyledehart5]

Sept 17, 2024 17:47:01 GMT -5 project510 said:

Sept 17, 2024 17:32:11 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I’ve glanced at the 1/24 version a few times myself. Especially after the wonderful build that was their 1/24 GT40. I have the old Tamiya in 1/20. This 1/12 scale, of course, will be far more impressive and I know you’re going to do some excellent work with it Paul.

I also have the Tamiya 1/20 kit. Thought about this one. If I can score this one for the price Paul has, maybe I will sell the Tamiya Kit. I dunno. I already have two other large scale kits to build. A third would take up a huge amount of space haha.

Yes, the size is what keeps me from grabbing more big scale stuff

[arcticwolf]

Sept 17, 2024 18:01:25 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Sept 17, 2024 17:47:01 GMT -5 project510 said:

I also have the Tamiya 1/20 kit. Thought about this one. If I can score this one for the price Paul has, maybe I will sell the Tamiya Kit. I dunno. I already have two other large scale kits to build. A third would take up a huge amount of space haha.

Yes, the size is what keeps me from grabbing more big scale stuff

Build an addition. 

[project510]

Sept 17, 2024 18:52:56 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Sept 17, 2024 18:01:25 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Yes, the size is what keeps me from grabbing more big scale stuff

Build an addition. 

If I wasnt renting my cousins house, I would have already converted the lower bedroom into a study with floor to ceiling shelves for my books and models.

[kyledehart5]

Sept 17, 2024 18:52:56 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Sept 17, 2024 18:01:25 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Yes, the size is what keeps me from grabbing more big scale stuff

Build an addition. 

you’re right. 😂😂

[arcticwolf]

Sept 17, 2024 17:47:01 GMT -5 project510 said:

Sept 17, 2024 17:32:11 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I’ve glanced at the 1/24 version a few times myself. Especially after the wonderful build that was their 1/24 GT40. I have the old Tamiya in 1/20. This 1/12 scale, of course, will be far more impressive and I know you’re going to do some excellent work with it Paul.

I also have the Tamiya 1/20 kit. Thought about this one. If I can score this one for the price Paul has, maybe I will sell the Tamiya Kit. I dunno. I already have two other large scale kits to build. A third would take up a huge amount of space haha.

I have 25 of them built, all single seaters, not counting bikes. I just keep adding shelves to my wall unit. 

[greg]

Coming along nicely. I've never watched a 1/12 scale Meng go together, looking forward to this.

Thank you for doing this WIP thread.

[joelw]

Sept 18, 2024 6:13:36 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Sept 17, 2024 17:47:01 GMT -5 project510 said:

I also have the Tamiya 1/20 kit. Thought about this one. If I can score this one for the price Paul has, maybe I will sell the Tamiya Kit. I dunno. I already have two other large scale kits to build. A third would take up a huge amount of space haha.

I have 25 of them built, all single seaters, not counting bikes. I just keep adding shelves to my wall unit. 

Paul,
  25 single seaters is some collection.  BTW, just how many 1/25-1/20 scale kits have you completed and displayed?  From following you and your builds for several years, you must have more then just a few shelves filled.

joel

[paddy]

Great to see someone build one of these here with a build blog (saves me the bother)
I did my research and there are some good pictures taken at the Goodwood revival in the UK on line.

www.ultimatecarpage.com/img/McLaren-MP4-4-Honda-4043.html

[adrian29341]

These are great kits 

[arcticwolf]

Sept 18, 2024 13:04:02 GMT -5 paddy said:

Great to see someone build one of these here with a build blog (saves me the bother)
I did my research and there are some good pictures taken at the Goodwood revival in the UK on line.

www.ultimatecarpage.com/img/McLaren-MP4-4-Honda-4043.html

Thanks for the link Paddy.

[arcticwolf]

Sept 18, 2024 7:52:44 GMT -5 joelw said:

Sept 18, 2024 6:13:36 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

I have 25 of them built, all single seaters, not counting bikes. I just keep adding shelves to my wall unit. 

Paul,
  25 single seaters is some collection.  BTW, just how many 1/25-1/20 scale kits have you completed and displayed?  From following you and your builds for several years, you must have more then just a few shelves filled.

joel

About 40, but some are back in a box because I don't like how they turned out. Maybe one day I'll go back and fix one or two. Some were curbsides that got replaced by full detail builds (I really don't care for curbside builds, not my area of interest. I like the mechanical bits).

I build by subject, so I build the largest size available, unless there's a really special smaller size kit. (Meng GT40 for example instead of the Trumpeter kit).

[arcticwolf]

Temporary engine install to make sure the body panels will line up correctly down the road.

The suspension arms are metal (except the push rods, they're plastic for some odd reason). It'll be a shame to paint them, but they were black on the McLarens.

[joelw]

Sept 18, 2024 16:42:40 GMT -5 arcticwolf said:

Sept 18, 2024 7:52:44 GMT -5 joelw said:

Paul,
  25 single seaters is some collection.  BTW, just how many 1/25-1/20 scale kits have you completed and displayed?  From following you and your builds for several years, you must have more then just a few shelves filled.

joel

About 40, but some are back in a box because I don't like how they turned out. Maybe one day I'll go back and fix one or two. Some were curbsides that got replaced by full detail builds (I really don't care for curbside builds, not my area of interest. I like the mechanical bits).

I build by subject, so I build the largest size available, unless there's a really special smaller size kit. (Meng GT40 for example instead of the Trumpeter kit).

Paul,
  Sounds like some collection you've amassed so far.   Funny that of late I've been buying and trying to build simpler kits that are anywhere from a curbside to kits like Platz & Nunu that have just detailed the bottoms of the suspensions and engines while concentrating on what will be seen when finished as a display model. 
joel 

[arcticwolf]

Almost done step 2

My only complaint is the screws into plastic, too easy to strip, and that applies to all kits. So i dip the screws into some CA and just snug them up. Please don't try to disassemble any of my builds, it won't work.

[kyledehart5]

Looking outstanding! I know how much you like these all black on black on black cars. 🤣😂. I agree about the screws. Always terrible.