Tamiya Mclaren MP4/4 w/ Top Studio Detail Up Kit

[Leon]

All of the above Tony,this is looking sweet with all the detailing.

[Foenetik]

Jul 22, 2014 18:41:20 GMT -5 Leon said:

All of the above Tony,this is looking sweet with all the detailing.

Thanks Leon! the more i finish the more excited i get about how it looks. 

[mrt51]

WOW!!!!  Super details I love it.

Terry

[Foenetik]

Jul 23, 2014 13:38:55 GMT -5 mrt51 said:

WOW!!!!  Super details I love it.

Terry

Thanks Terry!

[Foenetik]

Update time:

Some parts painted and washed:



Brakes added wash. looks much more real to me now. pics dont look as good.





Future Clearcoat on CF Parts. ooo shiny



Assembled suspension. need to repaint some of the bars but tamiya paints are a giant ball of suck when it comes to brushing. need to get some other brand for brush.

[Foenetik]

couple more pics, Tiny update:

Started to attach fittings and hoses. I love how they look. so cool with the fittings. The models getting exciting now.



Put the turbo assemblies on





In case anyone decides to attempt a model like this where its a lot of aftermarket parts and you dont use the OEM directions. Besides dryfitting everything, read ahead in the directions and see if a part in a future step can be done before you put something on thats in the way. Ive found that a lot with this model. From things being at a slightly off angle cause something should line up 2 steps later but if you just added it 2 steps ago, it could have lined up, to the direction of fittings (instructions arent always clear on the angle). Its nothing that cant be worked around but i could have avoided a lot of headache if i didnt exactly follow the directions. this may be common knowledge but i try to follow the directions cause its such a complicated kit.

[Teabone]

Tony

The nice work continues very nice.  I noted your comments below on the paint.  For the most part I haven't found any paint that I think brushes near as well as it sprays with the exception of craft paints on stowage items and the flat black on tires.   That said I routinely use Tamiya paints for small touchup's with a brush and it has worked fine.  I like Windsor - Newton or other good camel hair brushes.  The brushes made with nylon or synthetic fibers from places like Micheal's does not work well and quit using them early on.

"Assembled suspension. need to repaint some of the bars but tamiya paints are a giant ball of suck when it comes to brushing. need to get some other brand for brush."


Your observation below are right on target in one way and off in another.  I also follow directions to get things in the right order but have found that a lot of kits dont really have a good order.  I think Tamiya and AVF Club are the more consistent directions with the rest all over the place and the AM resin guys the worse. The Bronco Humber is such a kit you have to feel your way through the build for often places where parts just mysteriously appear in the directions about three step behind where you are working.  I think you need to look at ALL the parts read ALL the reviews you can find and then as cautiously as you can proceed with the build.

"Ive found that a lot with this model. From things being at a slightly off angle cause something should line up 2 steps later but if you just added it 2 steps ago, it could have lined up, to the direction of fittings (instructions arent always clear on the angle). Its nothing that cant be worked around but i could have avoided a lot of headache if i didnt exactly follow the directions. this may be common knowledge but i try to follow the directions cause its such a complicated kit. "

[Foenetik]

Jul 26, 2014 0:00:44 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Tony

The nice work continues very nice.  I noted your comments below on the paint.  For the most part I haven't found any paint that I think brushes near as well as it sprays with the exception of craft paints on stowage items and the flat black on tires.   That said I routinely use Tamiya paints for small touchup's with a brush and it has worked fine.  I like Windsor - Newton or other good camel hair brushes.  The brushes made with nylon or synthetic fibers from places like Micheal's does not work well and quit using them early on.

"Assembled suspension. need to repaint some of the bars but tamiya paints are a giant ball of suck when it comes to brushing. need to get some other brand for brush."


Your observation below are right on target in one way and off in another.  I also follow directions to get things in the right order but have found that a lot of kits dont really have a good order.  I think Tamiya and AVF Club are the more consistent directions with the rest all over the place and the AM resin guys the worse. The Bronco Humber is such a kit you have to feel your way through the build for often places where parts just mysteriously appear in the directions about three step behind where you are working.  I think you need to look at ALL the parts read ALL the reviews you can find and then as cautiously as you can proceed with the build.

"Ive found that a lot with this model. From things being at a slightly off angle cause something should line up 2 steps later but if you just added it 2 steps ago, it could have lined up, to the direction of fittings (instructions arent always clear on the angle). Its nothing that cant be worked around but i could have avoided a lot of headache if i didnt exactly follow the directions. this may be common knowledge but i try to follow the directions cause its such a complicated kit. "

My biggest issue is that the tamiya paint literally dries from dipping it in the bottle to the model. I was painting some yellow stickers on the mani the other day and it was gumming up as i applied it. we're only talking 5 seconds here. I think they just dry too fast to even level. theyre fine for touch ups like you said. but anything with a decent flat surface i dont get good results. i was told vallejo model color were good for brushing so i got a couple basics and will try those.agreed on the instructions.

[Teabone]

Tony

If you go to the "jackwagon Blick" web site and look for Golden Retarder it will slow the drying of acrylic paints way down, in fact yu will want to use it sparingly until you get a rate that works for you.

Bones

www.dickblick.com/products/golden-acrylic-retarder/

[Foenetik]

Jul 27, 2014 12:02:48 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Tony

If you go to the "jackwagon Blick" web site and look for Golden Retarder it will slow the drying of acrylic paints way down, in fact yu will want to use it sparingly until you get a rate that works for you.

Bones

www.dickblick.com/products/golden-acrylic-retarder/

thanks. i can probably get that at utrecht where i get my spray paint. i think theyre owned by jackwagon blick. 

[Foenetik]

Small Update:

Added some random lines:




So, this piece wasnt long enough. I precut everything when i first got the kit and this is my first resin kit so something that i thought were casting were actually parts of the part lol. so i added some styrene rod to lengthen it. woulda been nice if it was same size but ive seen plenty of step down stuff on cars so it works.




Throttle body cables:


And finally. mating of the two detail parts, the engine and the manifold. and i added a bunch of lines and such. it would be a novel if i posted each step so its easier to just take some eye candy shots. look around. theres a lot to see. i know the places that need touchups. waiting on vallejo paint to get here. im pretty happy with the model. theres stuff id do differently but its all a learning experience. when i do the bike it should be a lot cleaner. I also had a few small disasters. Almost thought id had to trash it twice. once was the strong hold micro stix i used to hold the mani setup didnt want to come off and i accidentally grabbed it by the fuel rail and wiring. the really detailed and thin part with all the wires and it snapped off. luckily it came off flush and didnt break or rip any other parts with it so i could force it into place and reglue it. my stomach dropped when i heard it snap. second time was i had the engine held with blue tape to the top of a tamiya bottle for stability. was bending a wire into place and must have used too much force cause it snapped the turbo and manifold from the engine. also has delicate wires. luckily it wasnt too bad. and last time was i manuvered some solder too much and it snapped and both ends were glued so i couldnt just replace it. so i decided to add heat shrink cause it woulda looked like a rubber tube. which woulda been fine. so i needed to shrink it to the solder and i figured a heat gun would wreak havok cause its a wide spread heat so i lit a small match to quickly shrink the tubing (i know now what a dumb idea that was), and it shrunk the tube but it also caught all the CA in the area on fire. luckily i caught it quick and blew it out before things got crazy. one fitting is dark now but it just looks oily. so now im being extra careful cause any breaks at this point with all this assembled would be disasterous....







Thanks for looking!

[Teabone]

Jul 27, 2014 13:35:59 GMT -5 Foenetik said:

Jul 27, 2014 12:02:48 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Tony

If you go to the "jackwagon Blick" web site and look for Golden Retarder it will slow the drying of acrylic paints way down, in fact yu will want to use it sparingly until you get a rate that works for you.

Bones

www.dickblick.com/products/golden-acrylic-retarder/

thanks. i can probably get that at utrecht where i get my spray paint. i think theyre owned by jackwagon blick. 

I dont know utrecht but I would suspect most real art stores would have it, sounds like you live close to some good suppliers.

Bones

[Teabone]

Some beautiful detail assembly going on there, you are doing a first rate job of sorting problems and modifying parts to work.  I think we all hate to hear that sickening SNAP when a little twist or squeeze is more that the assembled parts will bear but I can say I think it happens to everyone or maybe its just you and me but yoyr not alone.

Bones

[Foenetik]

Jul 27, 2014 21:47:46 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Jul 27, 2014 13:35:59 GMT -5 Foenetik said:

thanks. i can probably get that at utrecht where i get my spray paint. i think theyre owned by jackwagon blick. 

I dont know utrecht but I would suspect most real art stores would have it, sounds like you live close to some good suppliers.

Bones

im 20 mins from providence ri. hipster/artsy central (plus Rhode Island School of design is there) so art stores we have plenty of. i actually looked up utrecht and its now jackwagon blick so ill be checking them out for that stuff. thanks again!

[Foenetik]

Jul 27, 2014 21:56:22 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Some beautiful detail assembly going on there, you are doing a first rate job of sorting problems and modifying parts to work.  I think we all hate to hear that sickening SNAP when a little twist or squeeze is more that the assembled parts will bear but I can say I think it happens to everyone or maybe its just you and me but yoyr not alone.

Bones

thanks! yeah i mean some things arent technically right cause i made some mistakes but given the amount of detail in the kit i can kinda of blend it in with another hose and such. And even if someone notices, its my first time doing anything remotely this complicated, and im happy with it so let em complain. my current worst sound is the one where the pointy 'precision' tweezers shoots the small part across the room cause i tweezed too hard. those tweezers drive me crazy, they dont want to hold anything. hey if its just me and you thats ok, were better modelers for it but i imagine everyone has felt the nausea from breaking something.

[Teabone]

Well if you have a jackwagon Blick in your neighborhood you have struck the mother lode of Art Supplies like no other marketer anywhere.

With these words "and im happy with it" you have said it all.  Since I have snapperitis with the tweezers on almost a daily basis I have found that even with lots of practice that problem does not go away.  Its hard to not pick it up but I recognize when the danger is there and find other ways to pick up the part such as a sticky glue stick or piece of tape.

Bones

[Foenetik]

Small update.

Added ignition wires. Just have to do touch ups and the engine is done.





Did the tires. wore them down a bit. i want the car to look like it went out for a day of racing. so theres a small bit of grime and dirt on the engine but the body is still nice. they usually keep race stuff pristine anyhow.


And added the black to the bottom. its on the actual car and quite a few models i saw didnt have it. I think its a nice touch. line came out perfect. didnt bleed at all. pretty happy. im going to add some black rivets that the real car has too. just subtle stuff.

[TRM]

Looking great Tony!! Moving right along on this!! Love those sneakers!! Nice wearing! Keep it coming!!

[Foenetik]

Small Update:

Painted the wheels. Might work in some small details like decals or tire valve, not sure yet.




One of the ECU's.

This is the strap i had to make for it. the ends are PE, Tiny PE, and then i had to cut the strap from this black material they gave me. its kinda like E tape but not as soft.I basically put the strap through the buckle then folded it over and superglued it. came out pretty nice. it was a TINY bit long so i had to glue it down but it works. thats my pointer finger for size reference.



This is the bracket the strap hooks onto. that was a tough set of bends, its so small.



The ECU all put together. The close up pics makes it look worse than it looks in person. Ive touched up the paint (not shown)




The fuel tank and the pedals. I like the PE Strap detail they added.


Thats all for now. its all coming along nicely now. shouldnt be too many more updates before im done.

[Foenetik]

Jul 30, 2014 6:09:25 GMT -5 TRM said:

Looking great Tony!! Moving right along on this!! Love those sneakers!! Nice wearing! Keep it coming!!

Thanks Todd!

[wbill76]

Making good progress here Tony. Got to love the look of those tires.

[Teabone]

Tony

It just keeps getting better and better, that strap work is fantastic, are you sure this is only your third model, you are so far ahead of me I am so impressed.

Bones

[mrt51]

WOW!!!! Again!

Terry

[Foenetik]

Jul 30, 2014 13:20:52 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Making good progress here Tony. Got to love the look of those tires.

yeah. im happy how they came out first time. thought id be repainting them for sure.

[Foenetik]

Jul 30, 2014 13:22:42 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Tony

It just keeps getting better and better, that strap work is fantastic, are you sure this is only your third model, you are so far ahead of me I am so impressed.

Bones

yessir. 3rd model (well since i took a 15 year break from a kid). ive seen your work. im definitely not ahead of anyone. i just take my time, swear a lot. a lot. and redo and break stuff and fix it better the next time. if you only knew how many times ive had to redo or fix things you would see i have a long way to go, but i definitely appreciate the compliment.

[Foenetik]

Jul 30, 2014 13:53:48 GMT -5 mrt51 said:

WOW!!!! Again!

Terry

Thanks! Again!

[Teabone]

Tony

You are more patient than I am, I break them often they stay broken unless I cant hide them.  I took about a 55 year break from my youthful model building efforts and have been for around 7 years this time and the mortician will probably roll me down the stairs and into the wagon wearing my jewelers apron and optivisor before any more breaks in my building efforts except when I visit my son which will be next week.

Bones

[Foenetik]

Jul 30, 2014 18:14:01 GMT -5 Teabone said:

Tony

You are more patient than I am, I break them often they stay broken unless I cant hide them.  I took about a 55 year break from my youthful model building efforts and have been for around 7 years this time and the mortician will probably roll me down the stairs and into the wagon wearing my jewelers apron and optivisor before any more breaks in my building efforts except when I visit my son which will be next week.

Bones

im fairly stubborn in regards to a model beating me so i will do whatever i can to fix it. Bones, thats sounds like a grand way to go.. I hope to be doing the same thing when its my time (possibly in the same outfit). well considering the length of break you took, you are doing great. your work looks like you've been modeling for quite some time. keep it up. I look forward to seeing more builds.

[Foenetik]

Small Update:

so, i saw on the real car the nose is detachable. And on the model theres a definite line where this separation should be. but i already painted it and im DEFINITELY not painting it for a 3rd time and its rather risky cutting a painted model as everyone knows.. so i guess everyone can assume what my decision was.



CUT IT UP! woo.

It cut nice and clean. paint barely chipped. I must have done my job right. I do wish i had a razor saw and will be purchasing one this weekend. but i scored it with a hobby knife then finished her off with fishing line. then sanded it smooth. will just retouch and will add fasteners later. Im building a custom stand for the body and will leave the nose on the car. will look neat.


worked on the cockpit a bit. first time working with seatbelt material. looks cool, pain to work with. oh, and if you never touched the stuff. you MUST make any cuts before removing it from the paper backing. if you try to mess with it once its off its just a mess and unravels. also, its sticky backed but it wasnt enough to hold the fold overs, and when i put CA on it to hold it, it just reacted with the glue and made a mess. so i just redid it and pressed it firmly and hope it holds.

First up is the seat.

Those black strips were all cut from this square of material they gave me. same stuff as the strap on the ECU. wasnt too bad to do actually. getting it to stay down was a bit of a challenge but i used a hair dryer to soften the stickers into submission. they played nice after that.



Here it is with the belts on. Keep in mind the over shoulder ones arent there yet cause the hardware to attach it to the car required the seat to be installed.



In car view. Also i added the CF shifter box and one line. Havent done the other side yet. much more cockpit detail to come. sorry the pics are dark.

[TRM]

Another fine update!! The office is looking the business there Tony!! Nice job on the cut too!! All about the FUN...and it looks like you are having some!! Keep up the great work!!