1/12 Tamiya 1991 McLaren MP4/6

Model Specifications

Builder: Bil Attridge

Model: Tamiya McLaren MP4/6

Scale: 1/12

Aftermarket Detail Kit: Perfect Parts Full MP4/6 Detail Kit, Perfect Parts Brake Detail Kit (PPDK)

Time to Build: Over the span of two years with an estimate of 1800 hours

References: Formula Perfect Manual on the McLaren MP4/6

Fascination Formula One; by Rainer W. Schlegelmich

Ayrton Senna – A Personal Tribute; by Keith Sutton

Various downloaded images from the Internet

Inspiration: A few years ago, this model was next to impossible to purchase unless you had an extra several hundred US dollars to spend, and I was not one of those people! Since the model’s re-release, I quickly purchased one at a very reasonable price on EBAY, and I was ready to build this remarkable machine that brought McLaren another World Championship in 1991.

Honda V12 Engine/Transmission/Rear Suspension

Valve covers – Powder coat finish applied to valve covers;

Aluminum Bare Metal Foil applied in the valve cover valleys and Honda logos;

Scratch-built butterfly clips to secure the spark plugs;

Spark plug boots die-cut from thin black rubber;

Ignition wires with tie-wraps added;

U-shaped ignition wire securing hardware scratch-built;

PPDK turned brass electrical connectors with scratch-built metal mounting brackets;

PPDK throttle return spring bracket (on valve cover);

Scratch-built throttle linkage from pop can aluminum (linkage), aluminum tubing (linkage ends), straight pins and various photoetch nuts, bolts and washers; and

All nuts, bolts and washers replaced and/or added with Model Car Garage (MCG) photoetch parts.

Fuel Rail – each section between injectors covered with Aluminum Bare Metal Foil; and

Each injector drilled out to accept electrical wiring, complete with individual boots.

Air Box and Tray – Air box decaled with Modelers carbon fibre with Scale Motorsports carbon fibre around the bottom perimeter;

PPDK photoetch electrical sensor connections added to rear of air box with scratch-built connectors and wiring added;

Forward wall of air box reshaped to accommodate electrical connectors on top of the fuel cell;

Tray completely covered with Scale Motorsports carbon fibre decal;

PPDK turned aluminum velocity stacks used, which entailed extensive precision drilling of the existing stock locations;

Stock plastic butterfly valves replaced with PPDK photoetch parts;

Mounting plates for the velocity stacks covered with aluminum Bare Metal Foil; and

Model Car Garage photoetch bolts added.

Exhaust Headers – All weld seams added using white glue;

All pipe connectors scratch-built from metal with MCG photoetch nuts and bolts added;

Engine block header flanges covered with Bare Metal Foil, then tinted brass/gold and MCG photoetch bolt heads added;

Stock Lambda sensors cut off and replaced with Sakatsu turned aluminum parts; and

Extensive heat discolouration created by airbrushing various shades of paint, SNJ aluminum powder, Alclad II chrome, dry brushing, and chalk dust.

Transmission/Rear Suspension – Anti-roll bar replaced with PPDK parts (Photoetch linkage arms/brass tube);

Cover plate added under secondary oil reservoir;

Weld seams added to both oil reservoirs;

Sakatsu turned aluminum AN fittings, silver solder, aluminum rod, heat shrink tube, stainless steel braided line and Bare Metal Foil used for oil lines running from the reservoir to the engine block;

MCG hose straps, brass rod, MCG photoetch bolt heads and heat shrink tubing used for the hose between the two oil reservoirs and overflow tube;

Aluminum rod was used to replace the modified plastic shift linkage shaft;

Bare Metal Foil straps added to the driveshaft boots;

Shock plumbing added;

Rear shock markings added;

The pushrod suspension arm adjustment nuts were added using hex plastic rod;

Oil overflow line added using clear fishing line;

Rear jack support modified with brass rod;

Rain light wired and tie wrap added;

Rear axles replaced with aluminum tube;

Sakatsu turned aluminum AN fittings, silver solder and stainless steel line was used to replace the plumbing on the rear radiators;

Weld seams added to rear radiators;

PPDK photoetch radiator faces used for rear radiators;

The Perfect Parts Brake Detail kit was used to completely replace the stock brake and hub assembly. (Consists of turned aluminum rotors, turned aluminum brake “hats” with photoetch backing plates, metal wheel nuts, turned brass spindle/hub and associated photoetch fasteners);

Complete rear brake plumbing was added on the lower wishbones, utilizing scratch-built banjo fittings at the calipers;

Brake cooling duct walls were thinned to scale and covered with carbon fibre decal;

Caliper brake fluid equalization hard line was added to the bottom of each caliper;

RB Motion turned aluminum bleed valves replaced molded plastic valves;

PPDK photoetch brake pad retaining clips were added;

Heat sensitive markings were applied to the brake pads and disks;

Each disk was spun on a Dremel tool to give a slightly worn look;

Sakatsu, Modelers and RB Motion AN fittings used for various lines throughout; and

All nuts, bolts and washers replaced/added with Model Car Garage (MCG) photoetch parts.

Monocoque/Front Suspension/Cockpit

Monocoque – Simulated carbon fibre bonding strips were added to all edges/seams of the Monocoque;

Modeler’s carbon fibre decal applied to the nose cone;

Scratch-built cowl fasteners added to left and right side of monocoque (Just ahead of cockpit);

Upper rear left and right side electrical boxes modified, molded in hold down straps removed and PPDK hold down strap hardware used with straps made from black wire; MCG photoetch nuts, bolts and washers added;

PPDK turned brass electrical connectors used throughout;

PPDK photoetch electrical connector base plates used throughout;

PPDK electrical connector mounting brackets used throughout;

Valve assembly on rear right side monocoque scratch-built from aluminum/straight pins and photoetch nuts, bolts and washers;

Sakatsu turned aluminum AN fittings used for plumbing connections in valve assembly;

Full electronics wiring harnesses on monocoque and engine bulkhead added;

Heat shields for electronics on engine bulkhead scratch-built from 3 ½ floppy disk metal with supports formed from aluminum strip;

Replicas and Miniatures resin electrical connectors used on engine bulkhead;

PPDK photoetch engine-to-bulkhead mounting plates used;

Aluminum Bare Metal Foil applied to engine bulkhead then airbrushed with clear yellow;

All nuts, bolts and washers replaced/added with MCG photoetch parts;

Studio 27 Marlboro decals applied.

Electronic box and details over fuel cell – metal tray scratch-built from aluminum;

Hold-down strap replaced with black electrical tape utilizing PPDK hardware;

PPDK turned brass electrical connectors and PPDK photoetch electrical connector base plates used;

Stock antenna over fuel cell replaced with a modified Sakatsu turned aluminum electronic connector and wired;

Fittings and clear fuel cell vent hose added under electronic box; and

Kill button and emergency electrical cutoff pull-handle scratch-built and wired.

Front Suspension – PPDK turned aluminum shock bodies, PPDK laser etched brass suspension pivots (actuators), and front anti-roll bar from the PPDK replaced the stock parts;

Lower U-shaped shock mounts replaced with scratch-built brass parts;

Two small electronic boxes replaced with true to scale parts;

All wiring added;

The whole front suspension is assembled utilizing PPDK nuts and bolts as well as MCG photoetch nuts, bolts and washers;

Steering column modified, used larger diameter aluminum utilizing a modified universal joint from an Accurate Miniatures Corvette Grand Sport;

Front suspension antenna base assembly is scratch-built and wired;

The pushrod suspension arm adjustment nuts were added using hex plastic rod;

Complete front brake plumbing was added on the lower wishbones, utilizing scratch-built banjo fittings at the calipers;

Wheel sensors electronic wiring was added to the upper wishbones;

Brake cooling duct walls were thinned to scale and covered with carbon fibre decal;

Caliper brake fluid equalization hard line was added to the bottom of each caliper;

PPDK photoetch brake pad retaining clips were added;

RB Motion turned aluminum bleed valves replaced molded plastic valves;

Heat sensitive markings were applied to the brake pads and disks;

Each disk was spun on a Dremel tool to give a slightly worn look; and

“Racing tape” used to secure sensor wiring running along upper wishbone.

Cockpit – All surfaces covered with carbon fibre/carbon Kevlar decal;

Driver’s seat was given a slightly worn, suede like texture;

Seat belt material is both stock and custom made;

Seat belt hardware is used from the PPDK;

Shoulder harness securing hardware are modified PPDK parts;

Driver’s helmet communications wiring added;

Anti-roll bar adjustment handle and linkage is replaced with metal parts;

Cockpit tally plates were made and placed in their appropriate location;

PPDK photoetch factory chassis #/ID plaque used;

All of the toggle switches were replaced with metal parts, as well as the other various driver’s controls and buttons;

Driver’s armrest padding simulated with narrow strips of drafting tape;

PPDK turned brass gear selector used;

Steering wheel coiled electronics wiring added, which is routed to a resin electrical connector held by a scratch-built metal bracket;

Suede like finish applied to steering wheel;

Sakatsu turned aluminum buttons replaced molded plastic buttons on steering wheel;

Various photoetch nuts and bolts added to instrument panel;

Instrument screen filled with Tester’s Dullcoat to simulate LCD appearance; and

Brake, clutch and accelerator pedals modified and clutch and brake linkage assemblies scratch-built.

Sidepods – Inner and outer sidepod walls thinned for scale appearance;

Detail Master carbon fibre decal applied to inner sidepods;

Scratch-built radiator debris screens built from aluminum mesh with foil edging and scratch-built debris screens brackets made from 3 ½ floppy disk metal;

Outer sidepod housing covered with 1-ply Kleenex (Kleenex templated to sidepod shape then applied like a decal using watered down white glue with Q-Tips, then airbrushed with appropriate colour after white glue mixture cured);

F1 Specialties carbon fibre applied to upper strips of each sidepod panel;

Exterior sidepod debris screen fasteners created by die-cutting Scale Motorsport carbon Kevlar decal into circles, then adding Scale Motorsport photoetch Phillips screw heads;

Various nuts, bolts and washers added where appropriate.

Left Sidepod Details – Hold-down straps made from black electrical tape and modified PPDK brass buckles;

PPDK turned brass electrical connectors used with various sizes of shrink tubing and wires to form wiring harness;

Vent ducting from alternator heat shield to inner sidepod scratch-built;

PPDK brass photoetch electrical connector brackets used;

PPDK photoetch electrical connector base plates used; and

Scratch-built sensor added.

Right Sidepod Details – Completely scratch-built coolant overflow/pressure regulator reservoir from various sizes of aluminum tubing and clear blue hose utilizing various makes of photoetch nuts, bolts and washers;

Tamiya chrome foil used for securing straps;

Sakatsu turned aluminum AN fittings used for plumbing connections (from overflow reservoir to valve assembly on right rear side of monocoque); and

Scratch-built electrical box and wiring added to topside of sidepod using wire for hold- down straps secured by formed aluminum retainers.

Cooling System/Radiators – All plastic kit cooling lines replaces with aluminum tube and silver solder;

Weld seams added to radiators and oil cooling exchange housing;

Sakatsu turned aluminum radiator sensors added;

PPDK photoetch radiator faces used;

PPDK photoetch radiator securing clamps replaced stock plastic parts;

Black electrical tape used for the radiator shrouding;

Exterior of radiator covered with Chrome Bare Metal Foil;

PPDK photoetch brass hose clamps used on top of pink heat shrink tubing;

Fittings on top of cooling exchange housing replaced with scratchbuilt aluminum parts;

MCG photoetch hose clamps used on upper exchange plumbing line;

Oil cooling exchange housing secured with insulated wire; and

Alclad II chrome used for the cooling exchange housing finish.

Chassis Plate – All upper surfaces covered in Modelers and Scale Motorsports carbon fibre/carbon Kevlar;

All plastic injection pin marks removed;

Rear underside diffusers thinned for scale appearance and carbon fibre decals applied;

Bright foil applied and burnished to simulate engine heat shielding;

Various nuts, bolts and washers added where appropriate;

PPDK photoetch exhaust exit surrounds (top and bottom) used; and

Engine to chassis plate wire supports fabricated using fine wire and PPDK photoetch mounting brackets.

Cowling

Head restraint bulkhead seams filled;

Inner cowl plastic thinned for scale appearance where appropriate;

PPDK photoetch mirror faces used;

Chevron vacuformed windscreen replaced the stock plastic windscreen with MCG photoetch bolts added;

Various Sakatsu turned aluminum body fasteners added as well as Scale Motorsports and MCG photoetch washers;

Front cowl and dash covered with Scale Motorsports carbon fibre;

Antenna added to side mounted camera;

Heat shielding applied to under side of cowl; and

Studio 27 Marlboro decals used.

Wheels and Tires

Goodyear and Eagle marking airbrushed on using template;

Tire tread simulates use by mounting to Dremel and lightly applying sand paper to the rotating tread surface;

Turned aluminum valve stems added;

PPDK photoetch wheel balance weights mounted; and

Manufacturer and team sidewall markings added.

Front and Rear Wings

Front Wing – Inner wing end plates covered with Modelers carbon fibre decal;

Wing adjustment screw holes drilled out;

Vortex generators covered with Scale Motorsports carbon fibre decal;

Wing support wires added; and

Various photoetch nuts, bolts and washers added were appropriate.

Rear Wing – Modelers carbon fibre applied to all applicable surfaces;

After lip on rear wing end plates sanded off and replaced with a true to scale carbon fibered lip;

Scale Motorsports photoetch bolts heads added to end plates;

MCG photoetch bolts added to carbon fibered wickerbill and under side of lower wing element; and

Studio 27 Marlboro decals used.

Paint

Monocoque – The Monocoque was painted in the following sequence:

1. First coat – Custom mix of Model Master Black Chrome Trim/Testors Metallic Lime Gold/Testors Metallic Copper

2. Second coat – Testors Dullcoat mixed with Model Master Turn Signal Amber Metallic

3. Third coat – Model Master Metallizer Sealer

4. Fourth coat – Model Master Metallizer Sealer mixed with a custom Black/Gray mix

5. Fifth coat – Another coat of Testors Dullcoat mixed with Model Master Turn Signal Amber Metallic

6. Final coat – Model Master Metallizer Sealer

Cowls/Wings – White: 2 coats of Tamiya white Fine Surface Primer;

3 coats of Finisher’s Foundation White;

2 coats of Tamiya TS-26 airbrushed; and

1 final coat of Tamiya TS-26 sprayed straight from the rattle can.

McLaren “Red”: 1 coat of Finisher’s Foundation White;

3 coats of Finisher’s MP4 Red; and

3 coats of Finisher’s Fluorescent Clear Pink.

Each coat of paint was sanded down using a Detail Master Polishing Kit and 3M automotive Plastic Tape (blue) was used for the colour separation.

Note: The body was completely painted three previous times and then stripped before I achieved a finish that was acceptable!!!

Sources

Tamiya 1/12 McLaren MP4/6

F1 Specialties Perfect Parts MP4/6 Super Detail kit

Perfect Parts 1/12 Brake Detail Kit

1/12 Carbon Fibre Decal

Scale Motorsport 1/12, 1/20 Carbon Fibre, Carbon Kevlar, Kevlar Decals

Photoetch Nuts, Bolts and Washers

Modelers AN Fittings

Carbon Fibre Decal

Various sizes of Hosing and Braided Line

AN Fittings

Model Car Garage Various sizes of Photoetch Nuts, Bolts and Washers

Photoetch Hose Straps

Sakatsu Turned Aluminum Body Fasteners (Various Sizes)

Turned Aluminum AN Fittings

Turned Aluminum Buttons

Turned Aluminum Air Jack Fittings

Turned Aluminum 1/24 Valve Stems (Sensors)

Turned Aluminum Electrical Connectors

Finisher’s 3-Step McLaren MP4 Automotive Paint

Chevron Vacuformed Windscreen

R&M of Maryland Resin Electrical Connectors

Various Sizes of Photoetch Nuts, Bolts and Washers

Studio 27 MP4/6 Marlboro Decals

Bare Metal Foil Aluminum Bare Metal Foil

Chrome Bare Metal Foil

Detail Master Carbon Fibre Decal

Aluminum Metal Foil

Accurate Miniatures 1/24 Corvette Grand Sport (Universal Joints)

a.m.r.i. Aluminum Mesh Screening

Yoshida Designs Goodyear Tire Stencils

Scale Visions Turned Aluminum Valve Stems

RB Motion Turned Aluminum Grease Fittings (Bleed Valves)

Turned Aluminum AN Fittings

MSC Stainless Steel Braided Line

7 Eleven Coke (for the Aluminum Can!!!)

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