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1/20 MFH - McLaren M7A - 1968 Belgian GP


edi956

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After having experienced the BRM engine, for 1968 McLaren bought five Ford Cosworth DFV and a new car was designed by Robin Herd (who left the team to join Cosworth Engineering) and completed by Gordon Coppuck.

The aluminium-skinned monocoque tub was shaped over three bulkheads, the structure being an open-topped 'bath-tub' with glass fibre body panelling above the driver's legs and round the cockpit.

The bulkheads were complex 20-gauge steel fabricated box-sections, one sited right at the front to carry the front suspension and steering; the internal centre bulkhead provided anchorage for the front suspension trailing links and the rear bulkhead behind the seat carried the fully-stressed DFV engine and provided pick-ups for the rear suspension radius arms.

Outboard coil-springs with co-axial Koni dampers were used front and rear.

The gearbox was the five-speed Hewland DG.

The M7A's brakes were unusual for a British F1 car in being by Lockheed instead of the almost universal Girling set-up. They had produced a new 10 1/2in diameter ventilated disc and caliper. At that time ventilated discs were unusual in F1.

McLaren cast four-spoke 15inch magnesium wheels were used.

Water cooling was by a large Serck radiator outrigged ahead of the front bulkhead, hot radiator air being exhausted upwards through glass-fibre ducts formed into the very shapely nose body section.

Oil-cooling was by radiator stayed above the gearbox, the cylindrical dry sump oil tannk being slung alongside it.

Water pipes ran externally either side of the tub.

During the 1968 season different experiments were done:

1) Lancia-Ferrari like panniers at Jarama;

m7a_team_esp68.jpg

2) a right-side only long-range tank and first rear wing at Rouen (like those used at the Canadian and US GPs);

m7a-02_hulme_fra68_2.jpg

m7a-02_1_hulme_cnd68_5.jpg

3) short nose at Monaco;

m7a-02_12_hulme_mnc68_1.jpg

4) engine-cover, different rear wings and front flaps at Spa

m7a_blg68_2.jpg

m7a-02_6_hulme_blg68.jpg

Other changes will be explained during the WIP.

Most of the history was taken from "McLaren - The Grand Prix, Can-Am and Indy Cars" by Doug Nye.

For the version of the model my choice is the M7A chassis 3, which McLaren drove to the victory at Spa (Ver.B - K234).

This was the first victory in a GP for McLaren driving a car with his own name.

Before, the same year, Bruce won the Race of Champion too, but it was a Non Championship Race.

THE KIT

For me the best Hiro so far.

Perhaps some pieces are in excess and a couple of very very little mistakes, but this time MFH did all what there was to do.

These are the main body parts:

2012.08.11_022.jpg

As usual I begin with their fitting-test:

2012.08.10_002.jpg

2012.08.10_004.jpg

Then it's time to rivetting (0.4mm Master Club + 0.5mm ScaleHarware):

2012.08.17_016.jpg

2012.08.17_017.jpg

2012.08.17_019.jpg

Finally a mounted again the main body, masking were needed:

2012.08.17_023.jpg

2012.08.17_024.jpg

2012.08.17_025.jpg

After Zero Paints painting, decalling and clear coating, here the main body:

2012.08.23_003.jpg

Now, we can remove the masks:

2012.08.23_009.jpg

2012.08.23_007.jpg

The red arrows show that the chassis was also painted with orange ZP, as they are used at the time:

2012.08.23_005.jpg

Here the red arrows show where was used Gunze Super Metallic Plate Silver:

2012.08.23_008.jpg

2012.08.23_011.jpg

Finally, the other parts of the chassis were added:

2012.08.23_013.jpg

2012.08.23_014.jpg

2012.08.23_015.jpg

2012.08.23_016.jpg

2012.08.23_012.jpg

The red arrows show the 0.7 mm ScaleHardware Hex-Bolt.

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THE COCKPIT.

Take a look at these pics of the time:

m7a_1968_2.jpg

m7a_1968_7.jpg

The first is the car under construction, the second is the car at one of the first GPs.

Now a look at the same car at the following GPs (first 2 pics is France, last pic is Canada) and note how different is the dashboard:

m7a_fra68_1.jpg

m7a_fra68_2.jpg

m7a-02_1_hulme_cnd68_1.jpg

The tachometer was put on the left, whereas the two little manometers on the right and far on the right; moreover appeared some switches and a red lever on the left.

Therefore the dashboard of the kit, being like the first pics, is right for the previous GPs but is wrong for the other GPs.

The dashboard of the kit is a simple p/e piece; even painted black as by instructions it will remain too flat.

As you can see in the previous pics it had an "anti-reflex" surface.

Therefore I changed that of the kit; before I make a copy with a TAM tape (the dashboard is under it):

2012.08.23_017.jpg

Then I cut a piece of plasticard with the same shape of the dashboard of the kit; over it I glued a piece of 80 abrasive paper with the same shape; then I make holes for tachometer/manometers, for steering and for rivets; finally I paint matt black:

2012.08.23_019.jpg

Then I add all the "clocks", already with decals and Micro Kristal Klear:

2012.08.23_022.jpg

Over the "clocks" I add some "O-ring" by MFH:

2012.08.23_020.jpg

The key on the right will be used in the following step.

As you can see in the first pic of this post, on the left of the chassis there is a 5 holes series: they are used to insert that kind of key to keep in place the wires:

2012.08.23_023.jpg

2012.08.23_024.jpg

Then I add the identificative plaque (A) and I changed the brown of the gear lever, adding a white circle on the top as the actual car ( B):

2012.08.25_020.jpg

The plaque was a decal, but I prefere to attach it over a 0.2 lead foil, which I glued on the dashboard.

2012.08.25_023.jpg

Finally I add the fifth "keys" I had forgotten before (red arrow) :mrgreen: :

2012.08.25_021.jpg

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COOLING TUBES

On the left side of the car runs a cooling tube:

m7a-03_5_mclaren_blg68_1.jpg

The one on the right side is smaller and shorter and runs under the bodywork.

I decided to remake those of the kit, instead of polishing, sanding, and so on:

2012.08.24_001.jpg

So I cut away the clamps, and after enlarging the holes, I insterted the new one (red arrows):

2012.08.24_002.jpg

2012.08.25_001.jpg

After having painted semigloss black the clamps, I glued the tubes on the body:

2012.08.25_004.jpg

2012.08.25_005.jpg

Not finished yet, because, as you can see in this pic of Bruce at the Nederland GP, there was another band over the black clamp, keep in place with two rivets:

m7a-03_2_mclaren_nl68_2.jpg

So it has to be done.

From a 0.2 mm lead foil I cut a stripe which I moulded on each tube:

2012.08.25_002.jpg

Then I put the new lead clamps on the previous one; I made two 0.35 holes on each one and I inserted two 0.4 rivets by ScaleHardware:

2012.08.25_009.jpg

2012.08.25_010.jpg

2012.08.25_013.jpg

FRONT SUSPENSION.

Few to say: mounted OOB a part of the calipers (treated in a new post with their wiring) and the colours of the dampers:

2012.08.25_026.jpg

2012.08.25_027.jpg

2012.08.25_028.jpg

2012.08.25_029.jpg

2012.08.25_030.jpg

The red arrows show where I painted matt aluminium, while disks were sanded without painting.

Hubes were painted with Matt Black + Gun Metal; suspension arms semigloss black.

The lower part of the dampers was painted semigloss red and washed with smoke; instructions say to paint black but, as you can see in this pic took at Reims, they were red, both rear and front:

m7a_fra68_2.jpg

Here the roll-bar was added:

2012.08.30_001.jpg

2012.08.30_003.jpg

Then the front radiator was fixed, after sanding and washing with a very diluited mat black:

2012.08.30_009.jpg

2012.08.30_011.jpg

Here the connections between cooling tubes and front radiators:

2012.08.30_012.jpg

Finally the body part which cover the front bulkhead:

2012.08.30_016.jpg

2012.08.30_017.jpg

The front is finished, a part of the brakes wiring which I treated in a new post, as sayd before.

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THE SUSPENSIONS

Here a couple of pics to show you front and rear suspension.

Take a look to dampers:

m7a_1968_8.jpg

m7a_1968_5.jpg

The last one was just taken at the 1968 Belgian GP.

Hiro's instructions say to paint the dampers flat black...but they were red.

Moreover, they forget the little rounded tool at the base...so it has to be done.

The most similar I could find in my "bank of pieces" were the Perfect Parts electric connectors; after having cut away both ends:

2012.09.03_020.jpg

2012.09.03_031.jpg

Then I glued the new piece on the lower part of the damper:

2012.09.03_032.jpg

After painting satin red and washed with Gunze Grey Smoke (like the rest of the damper), I put in place the whole rear suspension:

2012.09.03_034.jpg

The same has been done on the already mounted front dampers:

2012.09.04_005.jpg

2012.09.04_006.jpg

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THE ENGINE

These are the pieces of the engine, which Hiro made with little differencies as usual:

2012.08.17_004.jpg

I mounted most of the engine OOB, but there are some pieces I'd like to show you since, in my opinion, some were not necessary and other could be done in a different way.

For example these pieces...

2012.08.17_005.jpg

would be done together with the cam-covers (as usual):

2012.08.17_007.jpg

while the other you can see in this pic will be covered by the cam-cover and nobody could see anymore...so I didn't use them.

These are the cylinders and the injectors:

2012.08.30_019.jpg

I re-made the tube of the injectors with a 0.8 Hobby Design stainless steel tube:

2012.08.30_022.jpg

Then I enlarged the inside of them:

2012.08.30_023.jpg

Finally I cut the head (in the middle of the pic); on the left the discarted tube:

2012.09.03_002.jpg

This is the final result:

2012.09.03_006.jpg

2012.09.03_008.jpg

The new tubes were painted Matt Aluminium, the nuts Semigloss Black, while the rest of the injector Gunmetal.

Here is the piece where cylinders will be glued:

2012.08.30_006.jpg

2012.08.30_008.jpg

The right end was done with 3 p/e parts + a spring which I re-made.

This is the final result after painting with Gunmetal:

2012.09.03_003.jpg

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Before going on with the engine, I finally changed the pedals.

First I sanded what is not necessary:

2012.09.07_013.jpg

Then I re-made the pedals:

2012.09.07_017.jpg

After having glued the cylinders in place, I made the wirings for the injectors.

Here a pic of the time (Bruce at the 1968 Nederland GP):

m7a-03_2_mclaren_nl68_2.jpg

As you can see the yellow wires were covered by black wires, so I did the same after having sanded the yellow wires:

2012.09.03_021.jpg

2012.09.03_022.jpg

2012.09.03_023.jpg

2012.09.03_024.jpg

Then I added the wires for the spark-plugs:

2012.09.03_025.jpg

2012.09.03_026.jpg

2012.09.03_027.jpg

2012.09.03_028.jpg

2012.09.03_029.jpg

Now the engine is ready to be fitted to the main body.

Before I enlarged the holes of the plaques:

2012.09.03_038.jpg

Then I glued the engine to the body but...surprise:

2012.09.03_040.jpg

2012.09.03_041.jpg

The plaques of both sides were too short and did not arrive to the holes on the chassis where they could be fitted with a rivet.

So I re-made the plaques of the right lenght:

2012.09.04_003.jpg

2012.09.04_004.jpg

2012.09.04_007.jpg

2012.09.04_008.jpg

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Many thanks to AntPhillips & Nuck for their comments.

PIPING

Not too difficult, but a hard work to understand where the wires go to or come from.

Here the Hiro's instructions which aren't wrong but too much over-simplified:

oil_tank.jpg

piping.jpg

I'd like to underline I'm building the B Version - 1968 Spa - Bruce McLaren.

So might be that some piping/wiring could be different from the other versions.

Here the Bruce's car at 1968 Spa:

m7a_1968_5.jpg

In this post I treat all the tubes you can see in this pic a part of the "X" tube which will be fitted when will arrive from Hiro the water tank which wasn't into the kit box.

The oil circuit was as follows: warm oil from Engine (OUT) to Radiator Left (RL)

2012.09.09_012.jpg

then from Radiator Right (RR) to the Oil Tank (OT)

2012.09.09_011.jpg

finally, from OT to the Engine again (IN) (NOT IN THE KIT)

2012.09.09_013.jpg

The Oil Tank (OT) was connected to the Oil Reservoir Tank (ORT):

2012.09.09_010.jpg

The connector of tubes 1 and 2 has to be built, since it is "double": so I glued a little one to the biggest connector.

Tube "2" went to the front of the engine.

Tube "1" went free on the right side of the gearbox (NOT IN THE KIT)

2012.09.09_009.jpg

Finally, this is an "internal oil circuit" which Hewland introduced at the end of 60s (NOT IN THE KIT):

2012.09.09_008.jpg

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Here the Hiro's instructions for the water tank (M34) and its connections (first pic) + all the devices which later will became the Lucas unit between the two trumpets lines (second pic), which were placed on a plaque on the roll-over bar until the Belgian GP:

instr-005.jpg

instr-006.jpg

Here the pic of the original car at the 1968 Belgian GP where I put some number to make an easy understanding:

m7a_1968_1.jpg

Over the water tank (M34-instructions) there is a little hole and I wondered why; but looking at the real car I saw that there was a blue connector (1): so it has to be made.

Comparing the Lucas devices of the real car with those of the kit, you can see that the last are a little semplified.

First step: the piece M128+M91 has to be connected to the distribitor with a black wire.

Moreover, there are two little wires which connect the M91 to itself (2).

Finally, there is a band with two bolts to keep it in place (3):

2012.09.11_019.jpg

2012.09.11_026.jpg2012.09.11_028.jpg

The pieces M129 and M130 are a little different from the real car (4): so I cut a little piece of the rear of M129 and I made two 0.30 holes; moreover a sanded away the top of M130 where I added another little piece from which started 4 very little black wires + a black wire which keeps in place the M130.

Finally, number 5 of the real car doesn't exist in the kit: so I made it from a little piece of white metal + a band to keep it in place.

Here the final resutl with the same numbers which I put in the pic of the real car:

2012.09.13_006.jpg

Some pics of the final result with no number:

2012.09.13_003.jpg

2012.09.13_004.jpg

2012.09.13_005.jpg

2012.09.13_007.jpg

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Finally, arrived the missing pieces, so I could try to finish this kit.

Here the water tank M47 just arrived and after its mounting:

instr-004.jpg

2012.09.15b_011.jpg

It had two connections (red arrows):

2012.09.15b_010.jpg

The clear yellow tube went to the rear "free":

m7a_1968_2.jpg

2012.09.15b_003.jpg

The other clear tube arrived from the number 1 which I mentioned in the previous post:

m7a_1968_1.jpg

In this pic of the real car al 1968 Spa, take a look at the rear axles:

m7a_1968_5.jpg

This are the axles of the kit:

axle.jpg

It means that those in my kit (Ver. B) were wrong: so I asked to Mrs.Hiro if she could send me those of the Ver.C.

She was so nice and the different axles arrived yesterday (on the right of the pic):

2012.09.15_002.jpg

After sanding and polishing them, I made a wash with oil colour:

2012.09.15_003.jpg

Finally, after a coat with Gunze Grey Smoke, they were mounted:

2012.09.15b_004.jpg

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You've reached that nice stage of the build where you have to look twice to check which pictures are the model and which are the full sized. You're making an excellent job of this.

You'll have me reaching for my Hiro 250 GTO kit and actually starting it at this rate.

Keep up the great work

Nick (or Nuck)

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Many thanks Nick ...or Nuck

Mounting of the rear anti-roll bar:

2012.09.15_017.jpg

2012.09.15_018.jpg

The red arrows show the attachments that were painted matt aluminium (instructions say black).

To complete the rear suspension, the rear arms (up and down) were added:

2012.09.15b_015.jpg

To finish the mounting of the rear of the car, the cooling tubes:

2012.09.11_012.jpg

2012.09.11_020.jpg

2012.09.11_021.jpg

The connection of the gear:

2012.09.12_013.jpg

2012.09.12_014.jpg

The washing of the exhausts with TAM weathering master D.

Here the left only to show the difference:

2012.09.11_006.jpg

2012.09.11_007.jpg

Here all the exhausts were washed:

2012.09.11_008.jpg

2012.09.11_010.jpg

Finally they were covered with a light coat of Gunze Grey Smoke...but this will be seen in another post.

The mesh for the trumpets of the kit are made by brass while those of the real car were metalic, therefore one could paint them or re-make with metalic mesh (Tameo) like me:

2012.09.03_035.jpg

2012.09.18_001.jpg

Here the final result:

2012.09.18_003.jpg

2012.09.18_004.jpg

2012.09.18_005.jpg

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Many thanks for your compliments.

The brakes.

This is the real car at the front and at the rear, respectively:

m7a_1968_8.jpg

m7a_1968_2.jpg

As you can see, both front and rear, the calipers had a connection for the balance of fluid and a connection to the bottles of fluid.

Hiro made a lot of p/e parts that could be created with the caliper itself:

2012.08.21_002.jpg

But forgot those connections.

These are those for the balance of fluid:

2012.08.25_025.jpg

and these are those for the connection to the fluid bottles:

2012.09.15_004.jpg

Here the connections mounted on the rear:

2012.09.15_006.jpg

2012.09.15_007.jpg

The second pic shows also the black painting to simulate the holes of the discs, since they are an unique piece.

This is the final result at the rear:

2012.09.15b_006.jpg

2012.09.15b_007.jpg

2012.09.15b_008.jpg

These are the connections at the front:

2012.09.15_008.jpg

2012.09.15_009.jpg

This is the final result at the front:

2012.09.15_013.jpg

2012.09.15_014.jpg

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TYRES/WHEELS

This is Bruce at the 1968 Belgian GP:

m7a-03_5_mclaren_blg68_1.jpg

Hiro captured very well the shape of tyres & wheels.

Decals are of the kind to put on the surface and the put a drop of water over them:

2012.09.07_009.jpg

Then a couple of Alclad matt clear coats:

2012.09.09_015.jpg

Remember to put decals on both sides of the tyres:

2012.09.15_022.jpg

Spokes were painted with a mix of Gun Metal + Matt Black, nuts Matt Aluminium, while the chrome part of the wheels were washed with Gunze Grey Smoke very much diluited:

2012.09.15_023.jpg

The air valves of the kit were white metal pieces, difficult to sand.

So I put each valve in the middle of the drill handle (I do the same with all the smallest pieces):

2012.09.15_020.jpg

Then the tyres were sanded and made dirty (in the same way as I did with the BRM).

On the right the un-treated tyre to show the difference:

2012.09.15_024.jpg

Here the four tyres/wheels mounted on the car:

2012.09.15b_013.jpg

2012.09.15b_015.jpg

2012.09.15b_016.jpg

2012.09.15b_017.jpg

2012.09.15b_018.jpg

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Many thanks to Nick for his nice words.

Now it's time to finish the cockpit.

This is the Bruce's "office":

m7a_fra68_1.jpg

This is the pieces of the kit for driver seat:

2012.09.07_023.jpg

2012.09.07_024.jpg

Therefore the two parts covering the sides of the cockpit are missing.

I started making a mask of the two sides, which were different since on the right there was the gear lever:

2012.09.18_018.jpg

Over the mask I glued half-rounded plasticard:

2012.09.11_041.jpg

Then I covered with a black tape:

2012.09.12_001.jpg

...but I wasn't satisfied; moreover the piece was very hard to bend.

Then I tried with Sinta-gom:

2012.09.13_002.jpg

2012.09.15_001.jpg

2012.09.18_017.jpg

...but oncemore I wasn't fulfilled: both for the holes and for the thickness.

Finally the resource was a "natural" product!

First I glued together some rounded plasticard pieces, which were then bended to the shape of the cockpit side:

2012.09.20_001.jpg

Then I took the foil which covers the Yogurt:

2012.09.20_002.jpg

The foil was cut following the mask of before and then bended on the plasticard:

2012.09.20_003.jpg

Finally I glued a 0.4 mm lead wire to the borders:

2012.09.20_004.jpg

Doing the same with the headrest:

2012.09.20_012.jpg

Meanwhile I cut the "ears" of the seat:

2012.09.18_020.jpg

and, instead of the "ears" I put some putty which was then sanded:

2012.09.20_005.jpg

2012.09.23_002.jpg

Then I painted with Humbrol 85 Satin Black, for me the best colour to simulate the leather, washing with Gunze H77 Tire Black:

2012.09.23_003.jpg

Finally I put some 0.7 Hiro Flat Rivets like the real car:

2012.09.23_007.jpg

Now all the pieces are ready to be placed into the cockpit:

2012.09.23_009.jpg

2012.09.23_011.jpg

2012.09.23_012.jpg

2012.09.23_015.jpg

2012.09.23_017.jpg

May be it is not just the same of the real car but I seem it is better than the Hiro one.

The problem will be when I'll have to put the cockpit surround!

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THE NOSECONE

This is the Hulme's nosecone with little flaps tested during '68 Belgian GP practice:

m7a-02_6_hulme_blg68.jpg

Bruce did not use fins but 4 little "device" (2 for each side) both in practice and in race:

m7a-03_5_mclaren_blg68_5.jpg

Moreover, on the right side only, there was a "NACA" duct.

Therefore, on the nose of the kit, the space for the fins have to be closed:

2012.08.17_021.jpg

Instead of putty I inserted a very thin plasticard sheet, then sanded:

2012.08.17_022.jpg

Note the NACA on the right side, well done by Hiro.

Then the nose was painted with ZP, sanded, decalled and clear coated:

2012.09.03_012.jpg

2012.09.03_013.jpg

Moreover, dzuzfastener were added and the interior of nosecone painted with semigloss black.

Finally, the mesh (painted and washed) was added:

2012.09.12_009.jpg

2012.09.12_011.jpg

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ENGINE COVER

No problem for this piece (here with 3 rivets for each side added):

2012.08.17_031.jpg

Pay attention to the difference between practice:

m7a_blg68_2.jpg

and race, where the rear "aerofoil" was sorther and smaller:

m7a_blg68_1.jpg

After painting with ZP, sanding and clear coating:

2012.09.03_015.jpg

2012.09.03_016.jpg

2012.09.03_017.jpg

Dzuzfastener were added + p/e parts for the rear aerofoil; the rivets are 0.8 by Hiro.

COCKPIT SURROUNDER

Like the real car, the windscreen was keep in place by rivets.

So I made hole in the same position, making a fitting test:

2012.08.17_029.jpg

Then the cockpit surrounder was painted with ZP, sanded, decalled and clear coated; moreover dzuzfastener were added:

2012.09.03_018.jpg

2012.09.03_019.jpg

Instructions say to paint windscreen with a mix of 50+50 clear blue+clear green: for me it is too dark.

I made some test with different % and finally I resolved to clear green 5 + clear blue 2:

2012.09.07_001.jpg

2012.09.07_002.jpg

2012.09.07_003.jpg

I seem that pics show a darker windscreen colour but "live" it matches well the real one.

Finally the rear mirrors were put in place.

Very well done by Hiro: each mirror has a withe metal piece + p/e for mirror + p/e for the plaque inside the windscreen:

2012.09.07_004.jpg

2012.09.07_005.jpg

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First version of finished project:

2012.09.23_021.jpg

2012.09.23_023.jpg

2012.09.23_027.jpg

2012.09.23_029.jpg

But I was not satisfied to leave the car "opened": so I sanded the inside of the cockpit surrounder and, even not fitting very well (due to the sides of the seat), here the final version of the finished M7A:

2012.10.02_011.jpg

2012.10.02_012.jpg

2012.10.02_013.jpg

2012.10.02_021.jpg

2012.10.02_022.jpg

2012.10.02_023.jpg

2012.10.02_025.jpg

2012.10.02_027.jpg

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  • 3 months later...

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