Revell 1:24 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-25 (J. Button)

[Rickpadwick1801]

Hi Everyone,

Here is my build thread for another new project that I have started working on. It is Revell's 1:24 scale version of Jensen Button's 2010 McLaren Mercedes MP4-25 formula 1 car.

I intended to do this as a fill-in build for my Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, but it seems that this one has taken over my time today at least.

I have completed stages 1 - 6A, see photos below.

Stages 1-4 Engine assembled with exhausts attached.

Stage 5 - Chassis bottom painted and assembled.

Stage 6A - First 7 decals attached to the chassis lower side (not fun to do. but makes it look carbon fibre like)

Thanks for looking, more progress tomorrow morning.

Rick

[richellis]

Looks nice, Im so tempted by some F1 kits ATM.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Looks nice, Im so tempted by some F1 kits ATM.

I know what you mean, I am tempted to start a collection of F1 cars. I know that Revell do two others (Ferrari & the Mercedes Petronas) in 1:24 scale along with both Red Bulls (Vettel & Webber) coming in November 2013.

[roymattblack]

A lovely kit, but you'll find the engine is totally pointless - it's invisible when the car is finished.

A suggestion - use a black 'Sharpie' to fill in tiny bits where the C/F is missing, and around the chassis edges where you can still see grey plastic.

Keep going - have fun......

A nice start on a pretty fiddly kit. Instead of painting the car silver, I covered mine in Bare Metal Foil - not something I'd like to do again......

Roy.

[Rickpadwick1801]

A lovely kit, but you'll find the engine is totally pointless - it's invisible when the car is finished.

A suggestion - use a black 'Sharpie' to fill in tiny bits where the C/F is missing, and around the chassis edges where you can still see grey plastic.

Keep going - have fun......

A nice start on a pretty fiddly kit. Instead of painting the car silver, I covered mine in Bare Metal Foil - not something I'd like to do again......

Roy.

Nice build Roy. Thanks for the advice about the sharpie, I'm sure I have one here somewhere.

Cheers.

[Rickpadwick1801]

I have just installed all of the parts for stage 6B (the engine and part of the tail fin assembly). I will be fitting the decals for stage 6B tomorrow morning.

Progress will then continue with photos of each construction stage.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Hi Everyone,

Here is this weekend's progress, definately not as much as I would have liked, but I have been out a lot over the last 2 days.

Anyway onto the photos.

Stage 6B complete.

Stage 7 complete

Not sure how much progress there will be over the coming days as I am back to work tomorrow after my week off, but I will try to post an update every couple of days. I should get some work done tomorrow as my wife will be watching the Big Brother final (yawn !!)

Cheers for looking.

Rick

Edited August 18, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801

[Rickpadwick1801]

I have finally got some progress on this today. I have completed the decals for the next 7 steps in the instructions and will be assembling those steps tomorrow.

I am hoping to have this finished by the end of the bank holiday weekend.

[Rickpadwick1801]

More progress on this. Wheel assemblies painted, bodywork construction underway (already painted).

Actually starting to look like a car. Photos later.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Well here is the progress that I have made on this kit. Unfortunately, I am not going to get this completed before the end of the bank holiday weekend due to the sheer number of decals involved along with the fact that 2 of the decals have split (I have contacted Revell asking for replacements for the 2 split decals, unfortunately they are extremely noticeable decals so I can't leave them off the kit). I wanted to when the decals split.

I have got all of the components installed on the kit except for 1 which is fitted after installation of the large side decals. The wheels have got all of their decals fitted and they are ready to go on the car as soon as all of the other decals are in place.

Here is the progress photo, it actually looks like a car. I'm happy with the way this is coming along.

Comments welcome.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Revell have said they will be sending me a new sheet of decals. The only thing is that it will be 4 to 6 weeks for it to get to me, so I will be finishing all of the decals that I can and then add the 2 decals that are missing.

I will then get started on another kit.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Well I have finished the build and there also except for the 2 decals mentioned above and 1 tyre logo which obviously hadn't taken as well on the tyre. I am glad that I am getting a full set of replacement decals so that I can finish this kit.

I will post a photo tomorrow. I will now be waiting for up to 6 weeks for the new sheet of decals,

Edited August 28, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801

[roymattblack]

It's looking good so far.

I would suggest you try some stuff called Decalsol.

I had never heard of it until a few years ago - I'm 58!!!

It's a clear liquid you just brush over your decals when they are in place. For a while, they will look AWFUL!!! - Wrinkly, crinkly, - you name it!!!

Leave them alone.

All the creases and bit's that 'don't fit' will shrink into place. Even decals around compound (ball-shaped) curves will smooth into place.

Cheap stuff - a few quid a bottle and you'll never place another decal without it.

Car looks nice though and looking forward to seeing it with wheels.

Roy.

[Rickpadwick1801]

It's looking good so far.

I would suggest you try some stuff called Decalsol.

I had never heard of it until a few years ago - I'm 58!!!

It's a clear liquid you just brush over your decals when they are in place. For a while, they will look AWFUL!!! - Wrinkly, crinkly, - you name it!!!

Leave them alone.

All the creases and bit's that 'don't fit' will shrink into place. Even decals around compound (ball-shaped) curves will smooth into place.

Cheap stuff - a few quid a bottle and you'll never place another decal without it.

Car looks nice though and looking forward to seeing it with wheels.

Roy.

Cheers Roy.

Thanks for the advie, I will have to look out the Decalsol when I have some more money. Will it work on decals which have already been placed and dried onto the model because the cars decals could use a touch of it to improve them.

I have posted a ready for inspection thread even though I am waiting for the decals to arrive, so it is more a ready for inspection....sort of thread.....

Rick.

[Mark]

Hi Rick,

Sorry to say, but no, all the decal softeners I have tried never work after the decal has dried. Decalsol is just one of many decal softeners with the most common probably being the Microset / Microsol products which I still use.

In order to get a painted on look with my motorsport decals, I first of all ensure that the area on the kit is nice and clean and free of any dust. I then polish the area to get a nice smooth surface for the decal to be applied to and then brush on some Microset which gives good adhesion to the surface. Once the decal is in the exact spot that I want it in, I use some paper towel to draw out the moisture and the decal should now stay put. But to ensure it really settles over the surface, which in the case of cars and bikes can often be a compounded curved surface, I use the Microsol to soften the decal and just before it goes all wrinkly, I then use a hairdryer to further soften it and it settles really beautifully over the surface of the model. As in everything in life, trial and error and lots of practice are, I'm afraid, the only ways to get a perfect result.

But so far? She's looking good!

[Rickpadwick1801]

Hi Rick,

Sorry to say, but no, all the decal softeners I have tried never work after the decal has dried. Decalsol is just one of many decal softeners with the most common probably being the Microset / Microsol products which I still use.

In order to get a painted on look with my motorsport decals, I first of all ensure that the area on the kit is nice and clean and free of any dust. I then polish the area to get a nice smooth surface for the decal to be applied to and then brush on some Microset which gives good adhesion to the surface. Once the decal is in the exact spot that I want it in, I use some paper towel to draw out the moisture and the decal should now stay put. But to ensure it really settles over the surface, which in the case of cars and bikes can often be a compounded curved surface, I use the Microsol to soften the decal and just before it goes all wrinkly, I then use a hairdryer to further soften it and it settles really beautifully over the surface of the model. As in everything in life, trial and error and lots of practice are, I'm afraid, the only ways to get a perfect result.

But so far? She's looking good!

Hi Mark,

Thanks very much for that, I guess I was being really hopeful that it would help with the ones i've already put on it.

I have posted the photos of the model with her wheels on, just missing the 3 decals, in a ready for inspection thread.

Cheers,

Rick

[roymattblack]

Hello Rick.

Even though your decals are dry, Microsol, (or Decalsol - same stuff - different brand) won't make them 'perfect', but I've used it on dry decals and the end result is a definite improvement, if not perfect.

It isn't expensive stuff and even a small bottle will last for dozens of kits. Give it a try some time.......

If you PM me with an address, I have a spare 1/2 bottle I'll send you FOC.

Roy.

[tonyp]

That's going to look when finished. Why do they do them in 1/24 rather than the standard 1/20 for F1?

[Rickpadwick1801]

That's going to look when finished. Why do they do them in 1/24 rather than the standard 1/20 for F1?

Thanks Tony, I don't know why they do them in 1:24 scale. I have actually posted photos with the wheels and toys on plus as many decals as i can do in the ready for inspection section.

Rick

Edited August 30, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801

[Rickpadwick1801]

Hello Rick.

Even though your decals are dry, Microsol, (or Decalsol - same stuff - different brand) won't make them 'perfect', but I've used it on dry decals and the end result is a definite improvement, if not perfect.

It isn't expensive stuff and even a small bottle will last for dozens of kits. Give it a try some time.......

If you PM me with an address, I have a spare 1/2 bottle I'll send you FOC.

Roy.

Thanks Roy,

PM inbound.

Rick

[Bengalensis]

Rick, if I recall correctly in that you are fairly new to modelling and this is your first race car and major decal job, I must say you have done very well. Applying large decals to models like race cars are one of the more difficult jobs involved. It took some time for me to master this art. With "only" the problems you mentioned, and replacement decals on the way, you shall be proud of your work.

It will only get better with more experience, and just as Busdriver says; trial and error will push you forward. Keep going.

I use very much the same method as Busdriver. I have two additional brands of decal softener as well besides the Microsol, as some makers decals react a little differently. But start with Microsol, it works with most modern decals to my experience.

Instead of soaking the decal directly in water, I use a medium sized flat plate that I fill with some water, in that I put a folded dish rag that sucks up the water, and on its surface I lay the decal, so that it draws up the moisture through the backing paper. I hope this makes sense. I think it's easier and more controlled to handle especially larger decals that way, but it's just another way of doing things.