WIP: 1/20 McLaren MP4/1C

seamus · Post by **seamus** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:02 am

OK, following straight on from my first resin attempt with the Jordan, I decided to give another manufacturer a chance to restore my faith. This is an Ace Models kit and I know it won't be up to the quality of an MFH kit or even a Studio 27 kit but surely it's going to be better than Treasure Hunt's attempt.

Here's what you get in the box...

as you can see, not a lot - £60 GBP's worth too!

Now with my last WIP I felt I just whinged all the way through and far too much as we all know modeling is supposed to be enjoyable, so this time I'm not going to, instead I will let you guys make your own minds up

first up, resin shell...

rear of shell...

fitment onto the chassis (I kid you not!)

radiators...

front upper suspension arms...

decals and wheels on the Jordan were its good point, the decals from Ace for this kit have only been printed in black, white and red and they have omitted the blue out on the Union Jacks for John Watson (the car I want to build).

I'm thinking this is going to be another beautifully manufactured model and outstanding value for money

Manu · Post by **Manu** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:23 am

The resin looks in some way better than the Minardi...
No way to cannibalize some parts of a MP4/4 from tamiya? (wheels suspensions etc.... .?

Mr.Grumpy · Post by **Mr.Grumpy** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:32 am

seamus, there may be less whinging in this WIP, but so far, you're much funnier.

Flemming · Post by **Flemming** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:33 am

A few years of modifying and scratchbuilding parts should do the trick. Nothing to worry about

You'd like to build John Watsons car - why not choose the S27 MP4/1 1981 car, in which he won the 1981 British GP? I have that and that looks like science fiction compared to that ACE 'blob'.

Flemming

JamesB · Post by **JamesB** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:42 am

I have some dozens of unionjacks, you'll be OK!

Nice review.
Wattie? that means black front wings I guess, for Long Beach, right?

jaykay · Post by **jaykay** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:08 pm

Hey Sean

You surely give yourself a hard time getting to like resin kits. That's like trying to convince someone british cuisine is great and starting with Haggis:-)
I'll follow with interest nevertheless!

seamus · Post by **seamus** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:36 am

a little progress...

I have a feeling Ace intended the lump on the right of this pic to be the exhaust? Needless to say I have remade some from Alu tubing and flattened the ends to match the originals...

improvements made on the shell after an initial filling, drilling and sanding, it's looking a lot squarer and the rear of the shell a lot thinner...

another observation...

the bottom of the rear suspension fits into this hole and recess right...

wrong...

more alterations required here (the red line shows the intended position, impressive eh!)...

thanks for your comments so far guys

Manu · Post by **Manu** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:53 am

did you know ST27 did this car too? Would have been esaier

just kidding.
The body looks much better now.

jaymtford · Post by **jaymtford** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:58 am

Nice work Sean! You see these aren't kits in the normal sense. They are actually a lesson in scratch-building.

An expensive lesson, but a lesson none the less.

Steffen_T · Post by **Steffen_T** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:26 pm

This kit will be a real challenge, but after all the other models I have seen of you I have no doubt that you will succeed.
In April I had the chance to take a few pictures of a MP4/1 at Hockenheim. Even if it is the ground effect version, there might be a few helpfull details for you.

The F1M Forums