Tamiya McLaren M23 1/20

[nearsightedjohn]

This is built from the re-issued orange box kit to which I added the Tamiya photo-etch set and after-market cigarette sponsor decals from MSM Creation. The exterior was airbrushed using red and white McLaren color Zero base paints. All of the kit chromed parts were bleach stripped and re-metallized using Alclad over black lacquer. The remaining parts were painted using airbrushed Tamiya acrylics per the instruction call-outs. This is the first kit that I have clear coated using airbrushed Mr Color “Super Clear UV Cut” lacquer and self-leveling thinner, 50/50) which, unlike Tamiya TS-13 clear coat that I’ve used on past builds, had no effect on the decals - I’m sold! I added MFH fuel lines and additional black shrink tubing oil cooler lines and fittings and seat belt material from Tuner Model Manufactory (unfortunately I only had black, they should be blue).

 

This kit went together seamlessly until I installed the roll bar and support after which the cockpit and engine cover location pins refused to fit into the mating holes on the lower body shell. I was able to fix this by removing plastic from the rear white crossmember on the cockpit cover which was interfering with the front of the roll bar. Otherwise typical Tamiya smooth going.

 

I like building classic race cars that I actually saw race in the period - this one with James Hunt and Jochen Mass driving in Long Beach in ‘77. Between these 1/20 Tamiya seventies F1 kits and the 60’s -70’s 1/20 kits from Ebbro and Hasegawa, I have built seven so far and have another 8 or 9 in my stash. Even built OOTB, I find this 1/20 scale ideal for creating detailed models of these classic racing machines without taking up a lot of shelf space (or box space in the closet in my case!). Hope you like this one.

Cheers, John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nearsightedjohn]

Correction, I've built nine of these 1/20 scale F1 kits to date and have ten more in my stash. Here's my collection so far:

[Redstaff]

Nice job, and a nice collection of builds😃

I've just managed to get hold of one of these at the right price, slowly building up my F1 stash over the last couple or 3 years, but these have always been quite scarce to find for some reason.

Watching James Hunt as a youngster was probably my first recollection of F1 or Grand Prix  racing along with Murray Walkers commentary

 

Ian  

 

 

[Vince1159]

Lovely build and group photo,i don't care what anyone says about aerodynamics you just can't beat the looks of the cars from the 70's and 80's...

[Vesa Jussila]

Nice build. Nice car from period when driving skills mattered.

[keefr22]

Lovely Mclaren and a great collection for it to fit into! Cracking models!

 

I bought the re-issued M23 kit when it came out but sold it on - seeing your model makes me regret that!

 

Keith

[Toftdale]

Very clean build, top work - Andy 

[klubman01]

5 hours ago, Vince1159 said:

Lovely build and group photo,i don't care what anyone says about aerodynamics you just can't beat the looks of the cars from the 70's and 80's...

Have to agree with those sentiments!

Trevor

[galaxyg]

Fantastic. An F1 classic recreated perfectly. Great photos too.