Tamiya 1/20 McLaren MP4/4 Ayrton Senna

Hi guys,

After my last 1/12 McLaren MP4/6, I have chosen this kit. So far I have done more or less half of the kit, but until today I hadn't found the time to upload the photos. I will detail this kit as much as I can, using the PE kit from Studio27, some decals not included in the original kit, and of course... some wiring!

So let's start to introduce the kit:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/001.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/003.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/015.jpg

I have done a modification that I did for the first time with the MP4/6, and this is the result:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/016.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/024.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/025.jpg

I have added some putty to fill the gaps in the gearshift zone;
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/026.jpg

And this panels in the interior part of the cockpit:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/027.jpg

And I have also removed the original belts in the electronic boxes, to create more realistic ones:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/029.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/030.jpg

And let's continue modifying the kit, now with the seat. I have removed the plastic ones to use a better ones.
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/033.jpg

Don't worry for the aspect of the next photo, I will add some putty to the seat :D :
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/037.jpg

Before painting the sidepods:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/038.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/039.jpg

That's all for now.

More to come soon!

Hi guys,

Here you have more progress photos. Let's start with the cockpit, with the sidepods painted, where I have also added CF decals to the back part:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/043.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/044.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/046.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/047.jpg

I have done a scratchbuild fire-extinguisher. The material that I used is the cover of a thick electrical wire. I think it doesn't look so bad :P :
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/049.jpg

The nose, with copper wires to hold it:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/051.jpg

Now the scratchbuild steering column, with some details:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/055.jpg


I have also done a scratchbuild ECU, to replace the original one at the back side of the cockpit. It is done of styrene sheets and metal foil inside:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/063.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/064.jpg

And finally the seat, with putty and sanded before painting:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/053.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/065.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/066.jpg

That's all for now.

More to come soon!

Cool updates!

I like how you used different CFs for different parts, I know it would drive me nuts :D

Hi guys,

Here are more progress photos. First of all, I put CF decals to the seat:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/069.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/071.jpg

and then I painted flat black some masking tape stripes, to simulate the tape on the bottom part and the sides of the seat of the real car. I have also used the MFH black belt kit:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/073.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/088.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/090.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/091.jpg

Here's some detail of the scratchbuilded undertray that will go between the scratchbuilded panels inside the cockpit and over the lower front suspension of the kit. As you can see, apart from the fire-extinguisher I have also scratchbuilded the pedals:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/075.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/079.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/092.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/104.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/106.jpg

That's all for now. More to come soon!!

Great work so far.
Nice added detail.
Chris

Wonderful detailing so far. I really like what you've done with the seat + masking tape...looks very effective.

Hi guys,

Let's post some more photos. Here you have the gearbox shift:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/081.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/082.jpg

The scratchbuilt ECU. I will add more detail later:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/083.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/086.jpg

The seat, with all the belts added:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/103.jpg

And finally the cockpit, where I added three scratchbuilt brake fluid bottles, that will be fully visible with the modification that I did to the nose:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/107.jpg

That's all for now. More to come soon!

looks good bro. i like what you did w/the seat. came out great.

Hi guys,

After some days, here is some work in the cockpit area, mainly the sidepods and the radiators, where I added some PE parts:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/109.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/111.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/112.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/113.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/114.jpg

I have some more photos pending to upload, that I'll post soon.

Hi guys,

Here you have more progress photos. Let's start with the dashboard and the steering wheel:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/119.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/121.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/122.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/125.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/126.jpg

As you can see, I have tried to reproduce the white sews in the steering wheel, as well as I have added the connection cable. And now the final assembly of the dashboard and the steering wheel:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/131.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/136.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/150.jpg

And finally the undertray, where I added CF decals, metal foil and PE parts in the exhausts:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/137.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/138.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/143.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/145.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/147.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/148.jpg

That's all for now. I hope you like it so far.

All I can say is "Wow".....What an incredble model this is going to be!!
Tom T.

Hi guys,

First of all, thanks for the comments. And now, let's see some more progress. First of all some detail inside the sidepods:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/151.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/152.jpg

A view of the whole cockpit:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/154.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/155.jpg

Here's some scratchbuilt detail. All of the are cone combining different types of tubing. I have also done the connectors for all the electronic boxes. They look better than the original ones:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/159.jpg

A detail of the ECU. I have reproduced the belts for all the electronic boxes, with 30AWG wire and masking tape:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/160.jpg

I added some PE nuts to different places of the cockpit:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/163.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/167.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/169.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/170.jpg

The CF decals added to the nose:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/171.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/173.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/174.jpg

This is mainly all the work done so far with the chassis. And to finish, the beginning of the paint job of the engine:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/140.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/142.jpg

I think that's all for now. I hope you like it!!

Hi guys,

Here you have more photos. I have installed the engine in the chassis. This way, it is easier for me to work on it:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/175.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/176.jpg

Here's some detail of the sidepods:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/177.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/179.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/187.jpg

And more photos of the engine:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/181.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/184.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/188.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/192.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/193.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/195.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/199.jpg

In the turbo cooler I have used some masking tape that I painted in a mix of red and white and after it i added two small pieces of metal foil. The Honda logos are from the Studio27 PE kit. I painted them in flat black, and then I scratched the Honda logo:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/201.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/204.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/205.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/206.jpg

I think that's all for today. More to come soon!

Super fantastic. Very nice build.

Nice update on this super build.

Hi guys,

More photos!! I continue with some detail photos of the engine:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/208.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/209.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/211.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/226.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/229.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/232.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/234.jpg

I have added the wires of the antennas in the roll bar:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/235.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/249.jpg

The thin wires you can see in the oil radiator and gearbox are copper telephone wire with some metal foil that I still have from the 1/12 McLarem MP4/6:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/238.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/239.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/240.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/241.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/243.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/246.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/247.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/248.jpg

That's all the work I have done in the engine. As you can see, I have added a lot of extra wiring and connectors, which have taken me a lot of hours to cut and fit. But I think that the final result is worth!

And to finish, a preview of the work that I'll do with the tires:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/251.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/252.jpg

That's all for today. More to come soon!!

Very nice work.
Looking forward to seeing it complete.
Chris

Nice job and wiring.
Good luck until the end of this great project.

Great work

Hi guys,

After some months of work, I have finished this project. I'll show you the last photos (a lot of them). So, sit down and relax.

In the last post I finished with the masked tires. This is the result:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/257.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/265.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/273.jpg

And the car with the four wheels:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/255.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/258.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/278.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/279.jpg

The final details in the engine:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/259.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/260.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/262.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/264.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/267.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/268.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/269.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/270.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/272.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/276.jpg

I replaced the original plastic side panels of the front and rear wings for these PE ones:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/282.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/283.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/284.jpg

Here's the bodywork, after painting in white and with the masking tape, before painting with red:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/285.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/287.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/288.jpg

And after painting in red:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/289.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/290.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/291.jpg

Here's the car with the finished rear wing, where I put CF decals in the inside part of the side panels:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/292.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/293.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/294.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/299.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/301.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/303.jpg

And also a PE kill-switch:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/298.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/300.jpg

I also added some PE bolts at the side panel, as well as a PE gurney flap:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/295.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/296.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/319.jpg

And here's the finished bodywork:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/304.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/305.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/306.jpg

The inside part, where I added metal foil:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/308.jpg

The front wing:
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/309.jpg

And the car is finished!!
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/312.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/316.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr281/kimi4623/McLaren%20MP44/318.jpg

You can see the finished photos here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=5976942#post5976942

I hope you have enjoyed this project. It would have been nice to finish it on May 1st, but it was not possible...

See you in my next project!