Feb 102014
 

The headlamp vacform has been a headache…
Although the kit cames with two copies of vacforms, I couldn’t to adapt successfully to the headlamps contour, so I made copies of the front of the car with resin, to build new vacforms. It adjusted without problems at this time…

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

I have started the decals work…

Feb 052014
 

To detail the hood latches follow the same method that once employed Mr. Kamimura… I make it with wire of 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm tube. Before cutting the tube I fixed a piece of masking tape to get better handling and avoid losing the small pieces if it decide to “jump”.

I put the wire around a pin to form the ring and once formed the two “legs” of wire is passed into the tube. A drop of superglue on the end fixed it.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

The safety locks of the wheel nuts are a photoengraved parts with a good detail.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

Meanwhile came the Renaissance spare decals.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

Feb 022014
 

I continue mounting the rear wing, which is difficult to adjust because the wing only touches in four little points of its brackets and the accuracy that must be taken in the assembly … but with a little help, it has become perfect …

The rear wing is made up of a centerpiece of white metal and four photoetched parts, two for the wing brackets and two for the side panels.

I start cutting the wing 1.5 mm, because comparing with the reference photos I felt it was too large. I attach the wing to the side panels, adjusting and align using the caliper.

Now comes the complicated, set the wing to the brackets, because the wing stands on its brackets in four very small points, so I should get a strong union, which supports the weight of the wing, with the difficulty of the alignment accuracy required.

I start measuring the distance between the points where the brackets will be placed in the chassis.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

On a piece of resin, I make two cuts to the measured distance, where I align and temporarily set the wing brackets.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

I also make two reference marks under the wing at the same distance.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

Then apply epoxy on the brackets and drop the wing in place. It is easy thanks to the marks I did.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

A few minutes later I clean the rests of epoxy with acetone and let it dry for a night.

The next day I take out the brackets from the resin piece with the help of acetone and the wing is finished…

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

Jan 312014
 

I’ve masked the front lights to paint it with matte black.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

It´s ready for the decals, but when I put the first in water… explodes…

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

I’ve contacted with Renaissance and they has sent me a new decal set.

 

Jan 272014
 

After adjusting and preparing the body, I gave a coat of Tamiya white primer followed by two very light coats of Racing White colour from Number Five (ref. N5-B001).

When it had dried, I masked the white areas to paint red with Number Five paint (ref. N5-M012). As between the white and red areas will be placed a golden strip decal, the work of masking is quite easy, because any slight error between the two zones will be hiden with the decal on top.

Once dryed the red paint and retired the masks, I applied a light coat of Zero Paints prediluted varnish , that will serve me as protection for other processes and avoid silvering on the decals.

And this is the result:

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

 

Jan 182014
 

I’ve mounted the dashboard and there is a large space between the body and the dashboard. I fill that space with with epoxy putty.

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

McLaren F1 GTR 1996

With this it is ready for primer and paint.