WIP - Tyrrell 023

This is Tyrrells challenger for the 1995 F1 season, driven by Mika Salo and Ukyo Katayama. I actually started this kit earlier this year. I've been on sort of a model obsession these past few weeks. I'm just getting around to finishing some kits I had half built. This isn't a true WIP, but somewhat of a summary.

http://www.f1specialties.com/main/images/20042.jpg

I started on the engine and the cockpit area. Nothing out of the ordinary except for some CF on the valve covers.

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/142981921-L.jpg

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/142981929-L.jpg

The monococque and body pieces were then sanded down and sprayed with Tamiya white primer, then Tamiya pure white. The original decal sheet was badly cracked so I had to order a replacement from F1 specialties. My intention was to apply the blue decals to the body pieces, then apply a coat of clear. This was all going to plan, until I got too anxious with the TS-13 clear coat, and the decals wrinkled up horribly.

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211292182-L.jpg

After some intricate polishing and sanding, I got them to somewhat 'flatten out', but you could still see the wrinkles close up. I waited a couple of weeks, then sprayed it with more clear, this time focusing on light coats. Of course I got over-zealous again and over sprayed the clear, but not as bad this time. I'll live with it rather than go through the effort of stripping the body and buying yet another set of decals. After the dust settled I applied Scale Motorsport plain weave CF decals to the rear portion of the monococque, radiator sidepods, and the air box. i don't plan to apply CF to the chassis floor because I think it's a different material. I try to be consistent with CF, hopefully this is somewhat accurate. I saved the CF templates, so if anybody is interested PM me.

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211294355-L.jpg

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211294010-L.jpg

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211293419-L.jpg

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211293716-L.jpg

I attached the engine/rear wing assembly to the chassis floor. Some of the rear suspension pieces cracked while I was assembling the brake ducts, but hopefully it isn't noticeable.

http://zurbert82.smugmug.com/photos/211293098-L.jpg

The next step is to finish the tires and finish decaling the body. Hopefully I won't get the numbers mixed up!

I'm thinking more and more about redoing this kit. Paint scheme is cool and it's a simple car !
Good work , very clean build.

Very nice clean work looks real good. Sorry about the decals but out side of that the carbon fiber decals look great and very clean paint work around the
engine.

Great work on this model. I love the red stops in the trumpet openings on the engine... you must have a very steady hand to be able to do that! I think that the engine, tranny and exhaust could be further improved with a light wash and some weathering... it is so well painted but just looks a little too clean... the weathering would add some more depth.

Shame about the clear messing up the decals but you seem to have recovered the situation well.

Can't wait to see more,
Bill

Ohh after seeing that I would love to start a old 1-20 Tamiya F1 model :popcorn:

Looks great! Shame about the decals, live and learn with TS-13 huh.
Looking forward to the finished project!

What a great save with the decals, the picture showing the later version looks fine. TS-13 it is a killer, light mists are always the way to go with that stuff. Very nice work so far.