Mercedes Mclaren MP4/13 (2nd Attempt)

Hi guys this is officially my 2nd attempt on this beautiful F1, the Mclaren Mercedes MP4/13. I have bought and built this kit several times (5 in total in fact including this) when i was much younger and sadly none of them survived due to my inexperienced and poor modeling skills at that time. I hope i have improved :icon16:. Reason for starting this one is mainly because i have grown dissatisfied with the previous attempt, feeling i have not done the best i could with it. Although im a big fan of Ferrari but this F1 machine is just one of my all time favorite.
So, lets get started. my progress is real slow and i'm having space and equipment limitation of taking nice photo booth pictures. Therefore, i tried whatever i could to show whatever details i wish to show.

First, i start with the under panel, filling up holes and removing panels, imperfections.
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1462/dscf8530gt4.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2599/dscf8529cm8.jpg
Added some details
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8133/dscf8533xi0.jpg
This time i'm going to use a real wood plank which i got from wolf models. Although this is not really accurate for the bolt or fasteners points, but it looks good in my opinion.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7928/dscf8543tr1.jpg

The engine. Not quite done, just added some wiring , CF decals and drillings for wiring to come.
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5899/dscf8509tq2.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2182/dscf8510fa0.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9844/dscf8516vr0.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7530/dscf8534bz2.jpg

reconstructing the suspension.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/444/dscf8499cf0.jpg

More to come soon. hopefully
Thanks for looking

Ro

Great start also for one of my favorit F1 cars! Can wait to see more from the details on the engine and suspension! The details you added on the 3 picture are some PE parts?

Great progress! Another Masterpiece Mp4/13 in the making!

Great start also for one of my favorit F1 cars! Can wait to see more from the details on the engine and suspension! The details you added on the 3 picture are some PE parts?

Hi, which 3 pics are you referring to? thanks!

Ro

Sorry it was not very explicit, this one :

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8133/dscf8533xi0.jpg

Beautiful work! Love it. I think he's asking about the frame you added for mounting the cowl. It looks amazing - how did you do it?

Very nice start. Love the work on the suspension...

R :)

Sorry it was not very explicit, this one :



Haha i see, its not PE parts but something i scratchbuilt using brass sheet with some holes drilled and filed to shape. thanks

Ro

Well time for some update! Been really slow in progress. I didnt take much pictures for certain details, mainly because i lend my camera to my father. I also changed my camera actually, and the picture quality should improve much i guess. Well here are my progress. The first few pics are still using the old camera.

Decided to switch back to painting the wood blank on the underpanel.:)
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/700/dscf8568.jpg
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2229/dscf8567.jpg
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4746/dscf8565.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5246/dscf8570.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/492/dscf8572.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/840/dscf8544o.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1972/dscf8545.jpg

Seat with seat belts, but not quite complete yet
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/97/dscf8641.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5356/dscf8642.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7149/dscf8644.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6075/dscf8540.jpg

The change of camera begins here
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/7955/dsc00250jcp.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2820/dsc00226b.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9807/dsc00225syo.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/80/dsc00229btz.jpg

After applying the while decals, a white coat is applied over. Tamiya's decals are too thin! Not white enough imo.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2450/dsc00278.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6932/dsc00281x.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5349/dsc00282sxo.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/783/dsc00275c.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2624/dsc00269oap.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9650/dsc00256j.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6906/dsc00277r.jpg

Ro

very very nice, love the motor detail, was without a doubt on of the best livery's every,

keep up the excellent work :D

good work

Excellent work
Chris

STUNNING. VERY STUNNING.:smokin:
What kind of kevlar and carbon decals did you use. They look fantastic.

Superb work! It looks incredible, great detail and realism.

Wow... This is awesome.

STUNNING. VERY STUNNING.:smokin:
What kind of kevlar and carbon decals did you use. They look fantastic.

I use S27, KA Models CF decals as well as Tamiya's box Kelvar decals. Thanks for liking it!

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

Ro

Awesome!

Hi guys time for updates. It has been a tough period for me during this two weeks, i had real problems with my clear coat application. Mainly because its the first time im using zero 2K. I never knew it can be so reactive to decals! I believe it isn't entirely the paints fault, old Tamiya's printed decals are really fragile too. And of course its my fault being impatient not wanting to wait longer before clear coating. But anyway, im still getting acceptable results for some parts, so im gonna be lazy and 'thrifty' not to strip the whole thing to restart. For most of the main body, im going to make it very 'detachable', which means im not going to glue them dead, instead, i will be using rods to connect them together! The reason for me doing this is to enable me to rework when im in the mood and also more importantly, changing the front, rear wings settings for different races accordingly. I have already plan to buy the S27 Monaco transkit. Now let me show you guys what i have did

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7726/dsc00310p.jpg
I installed some rods to connect them, so as to enable me to repaint the front wings when im in the mood. Not going to fixed them dead.
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8342/dsc00355b.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5848/dsc00354l.jpg

Another example
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4051/dsc00332rlp.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5807/dsc00330.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6548/dsc00359f.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/294/dsc00358i.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/9581/dsc00335meg.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2568/dsc00336fuq.jpg

Some wiring installed
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7237/dsc00323e.jpg

I've been thinking how to create this tire pin for some time, and finally decided on this.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8173/dsc00294h.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1049/dsc00295r.jpg

Another small part finished
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1156/dsc00338umb.jpg

Thanks for looking
Ro

looks beautiful bro. the paint just shines. digging the details. the tire pin is a great idea. keep it up man.

Looks like you're getting excellent results with the 2k for your first time. It will be interesting to see how the main body looks and stays when it goes on as I remember mine being slightly warped. Or do you just plan to display it separately? It would be a shame to cover up all that amazing detail. The carbon fibre on the steering wheel works really well!

Well done Roland! I'm sorry to read over your problems! From the pictures i can't see any problems of your decals... But is interesting to read that 2 k Clear reacts with decals because everything i read here on the forum in the past was highly recomanded and safe over them.
But any way, your work so far is excelent! Really, really great!

Looks like you're getting excellent results with the 2k for your first time. It will be interesting to see how the main body looks and stays when it goes on as I remember mine being slightly warped. Or do you just plan to display it separately? It would be a shame to cover up all that amazing detail. The carbon fibre on the steering wheel works really well!

First of all thanks for the comment! Maybe its the photos that doesnt surface all the problems i guess, but some other photos i took may be evident. Yeah, i agree with the warped part because my previous attempt had been worse. For this i tried my best to 'unwarp' it but it still appear slightly. And yup, you got it right! im gonna display the cowling separately! :icon16:

Well done Roland! I'm sorry to read over your problems! From the pictures i can't see any problems of your decals... But is interesting to read that 2 k Clear reacts with decals because everything i read here on the forum in the past was highly recomanded and safe over them.
But any way, your work so far is excelent! Really, really great!

Thanks for the comment too! Like i said maybe its the angle of shots i guess. I think I will upload some photos too just to show you guys the problem. Basically its really not entirely the paints fault, i think we are aware of the fragility of old tamiya printed decals, and of course my impatience. Zero 2K wont dissolve or crumple the decals like TS-13 but it can create bubbles like Gunze Mr Hobby Clear when decals are not properly dried. Most of the bubbles are removed and invisible when it comes to the black decals but for the decals over aluminum surface, bubbles are really visible. Whatever it is, i must still sing praises for zero 2k its really good stuff, it creates shiny glossy surface like nobody business!

Thanks!
Ro

Amazing work, especially the Carbon Decals

Roland, one more question : - did you clear the body befor decaling, or you put the decals direct on the paint? I looked one more time the pictures and i spot some things there. Are the same things like my experience with TS 13... I think your problem was "silvering"( traped airbubbles under the decals) and that's why you got the bubbles on the decals. They are very hard to spot on silver or white paint! To spot them befor clearing you need to look on the decal surface from many angels, that will show up!
I had hard last week two with some Hasegawa decals for an F 16 C, they are the worst decals i ever worked and needed not less then 4 days to eliminate the silvering!

I hate Mclaren :evillol: but I love your job.
Extreme clean and detail work.
Good luck until the finish... :smile:

Roland, one more question : - did you clear the body befor decaling, or you put the decals direct on the paint? I looked one more time the pictures and i spot some things there. Are the same things like my experience with TS 13... I think your problem was "silvering"( traped airbubbles under the decals) and that's why you got the bubbles on the decals. They are very hard to spot on silver or white paint! To spot them befor clearing you need to look on the decal surface from many angels, that will show up!
I had hard last week two with some Hasegawa decals for an F 16 C, they are the worst decals i ever worked and needed not less then 4 days to eliminate the silvering!

Hi, Thanks for the comment! I did clear very slightly for some parts to ease handling or to prevent damaging the painted surface. Maybe you are right there are still some trapped air below them. I applied the decals in separate times, almost a week in between, and realised its those which i applied latest that got the problem and therefore i made a conclusion of not being totally dried yet. I never had problems with Tamiya decals for kits that uses cartograph printing. Well, i have fully learnt my lesson, and will definitely make it drier n with more decal softener next time! :naughty: Thanks once again

Ro

Excellent work.

Some nice little ideas here, like the wheel pins. Interesting solution you found.

Paint job looks superb. Although I'm also not a McLaren fan, I will follow this build closely because you're showing some beautiful stuff here !

Wow, very impressive, even under extreme closeup. It must look incredible at arms length.

ANy more updates, im looking at starting this project soon, looks awesome

ANy more updates, im looking at starting this project soon, looks awesome

Hi there, thanks for your interest. Well i have completed this build and had put up the finish build on completed thread as well as my website. You can visit my website to see the pics. :)

Ro

Awesome Build, fantastic detailing!!!

Awesome build!

What brand/type of CF decal have You used on the floorpan?

cheers,

Awesome build!

What brand/type of CF decal have You used on the floorpan?

cheers,

Hi i used S27 CF plain weave decals. thanks for the comment!

Ro

In my humble opinion, this is absolutely one of the best F1 kits from Tamiya, and this buildup is simply great. Many things to learn from it.

Regards,
Jasolbes

Hi

I was looking for reference for my next project, which is also McLaren's MP4/13 and I must say I AM IMPRESSED with your build, it is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Wish mine ends up half as good.

Can I trouble you with some questions?? Namely, did you use Tamiya Spray cans for the bodywork colors, was it airbrushed directly from some bottle brand, or did you mix the colors??

I plan to use Tamiya Mica Silver spray can and Metallic Black, but I'm not sure it is correct. Or I could use Model Master dark metallic gray and clear coat it. Any suggestions?

Also, you suggest paint the areas with white decal white to help the decals out for being too thick? what about the rest of the kit's decals??