Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Models in progress... including non-F1 models.

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dr_gn
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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

Before the T/S sets became available for these models, I’d bought some Formula Perfect stuff, including the turned trumpets and resin tray. There was also an extensive pre-cut p/e set:

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There’s one slight bubble in the resin tray that needs addressing, then it’ll be ready for some satin black and the first of the carbon decals.

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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

Hmmm. I temporarily assembled the FP trumpets in their tray, but they dont look right to me. The spacing is too much, and there is no radius on the edges:

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Here's the real thing:

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And the TS version, which I think is slightly better:

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Although ironically, the original kit items are probably the closest in terms of spacing, but they're obviously plasticky and lack the surface realism of turned parts:

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Net result - I've ordered the TS versions. For less than £20, didn't seem worth the compromise.

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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

With the inlets on hold, I continued with building up some other stuff:

The jack plates and a.r.b. Brackets are made up of laminated p/e, to simulate cnc’d plate. There’s also a base plate for the oil catch tank. There was a lot of residue from the plastic backing on these parts, easily removed with enamel thinners:

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Considered soldering, but in the end went for thin cyano, wicked into the corners with some fuse wire (sanded to make the glue cling to it better. I lightly sanded the mating faces for better wetting. I also applied cyano around the periphery of the parts and sanded it back, to eliminate the mating line:

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Cleaned off any excess with a blade and fibreglass pencil, and ready for priming:

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The a.r.b. links are turned brass, with two part rose joints on each end. I assembled these with Araldite:

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All primed and ready for a dry assembly run:

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Indy1977TX
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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by Indy1977TX »

Great looking parts, masterful work. Enjoying checking on this one for each update.

Jordan

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dr_gn
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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

Indy1977TX wrote:Great looking parts, masterful work. Enjoying checking on this one for each update.

Jordan
Thanks very much! I'm enjoying making a bit of progress too.
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Archer
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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by Archer »

Greetings!

How did you prime the metal parts ?

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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

Archer wrote:Greetings!

How did you prime the metal parts ?
I use Tamiya Grey Fine Surface Primer aerosol can. The surfaces were lightly abraded with a fibreglass pencil first. For very small parts, I decant the aerosol paint into my airbrush. You can easily do this by attaching a drinking straw to the nozzle and spraying through that into the airbrush reservoir. You can apply a much thinner coat, with less wastage that way.
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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by Archer »

Thanks! So you do not use the "metal" primer ?

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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

Archer wrote:Thanks! So you do not use the "metal" primer ?
The Tamiya Fine Surface Primer has "for plastic and metal" written on the front of the can.

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Re: Tamiya 1:12 McLaren MP4/6 Rebuild/Upgrade

Post by dr_gn »

This is the rear a.r.b. Assembly. A lot of it is pinned together with brass rod you have to laboriously cut and file to length. To be correct you then have to glue a false fastener head on the end. Would have been easier to use nut studs, but there were go:

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The brackets are fitted in the same way to the gearbox casing, but the holes are different sizes. I’ve made plastic spigots instead:

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Ditto for the jack bracket:

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It’ll all look much better when it’s properly painted.
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