International Scale Modeller

I am just about starting to build this legendary Formula one car in 1/20 from Tamiya.

This was the most dominant car in F1 history, winning 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 championship helping McLaren win the Constructors title and Senna his first Drivers' title.

I will also be using the Perfect Parts photo etch set for this build.

You can see everything I will be using in my unboxing video here!


Here's hoping I can make it half as well as Luke's one!

Very cool! Those cars looked so futuristic back in the day. They look like dinosaurs now. But then, I guess I do now as well.

Looking forward to seeing this come together

BigWall wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:02 am Very cool! Those cars looked so futuristic back in the day. They look like dinosaurs now. But then, I guess I do now as well.

Well, to me these and the early 90s cars are what an F1 car looks like when I picture them in my head. Smooth lines, clean bodywork, vibrant colours.

Not sure if that's how you look too!

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:52 am Looking forward to seeing this come together

Thanks, Kev! I'll put some pictures up of all the parts later today!

I hadn't put these up here! Here's all the parts I I am using for the Tamiya McLaren Honda Mp4/4 1/20.



As well as the kit (which was old but unopened) I am using the Perfect Parts photo etch set, the Tamiya 1/20 seatbelt set F and Model Works Marlboro decal set.

The kit will be painted in Tamiya TS 26 pure white and TS 36 fluorescent red rather than using the red decals.

Got this be-yotch in the stash, and look forward to the build, Thomas.

btw, what all is included in the Perfect Parts detail-up set?

barryf1fan wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:08 pm Got this be-yotch in the stash, and look forward to the build, Thomas.

btw, what all is included in the Perfect Parts detail-up set?

Cheers Barry. I got this in the Summer but I had been putting it off as I was worried I'd get something wrong!

If you look at my second picture from my last post you can see the 4 photo etch frets. My unboxing video in the first post shows them in much closer detail and the instructions as well.

I was lucky to find them being sold for a good price on scalemates.

BOABModels wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:32 am

BigWall wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:02 am Very cool! Those cars looked so futuristic back in the day. They look like dinosaurs now. But then, I guess I do now as well.

Well, to me these and the early 90s cars are what an F1 car looks like when I picture them in my head. Smooth lines, clean bodywork, vibrant colours.

Not sure if that's how you look too!

Man! That's me to a T!

I have used some of the Perfect Parts photo etch set to add detail to the monocoque as well as using aluminium foil tape to heat proof the floor of the engine bay. I have done the bodywork in Tamiya TS 26 pure white and will mask and paint the red parts this weekend.



I am in the process of adding the voice over to my video which will hopefully be ready soon!

Thanks for stopping by and happy new year!

Looks nice!

By the way, at least for me, your avatar isn't showing up.

BigWall wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 8:00 pm Looks nice!

By the way, at least for me, your avatar isn't showing up.

Thanks Joe. I tried changing it and it didn't work! I'll try again!


Here's the new video!

Here is the latest video where I detail the interior. I have used the Tamiya adhesive seat belts which I think look pretty good.

Let me know what you think! Cheers

New Video! Sorry I've not been here for a while - I'm trying to learn how to add my photos from Flikr.

In this video I work on the body shell, mask, paint and decal.

So I have just learnt how to link this to my Flikr account. Here are a couple of photos of the interior and monocoque from the McLaren.

Here are some more pictures of the monocoque now that more detail has been added including suplimentary decals.

I chose to make the steering wheel removable as I have a Senna figure which can only be included with the steering wheel removed.

What do you think of the engine details with the photo etch and wires?

So here is the most recent part of my McLaren build video series.

The video focuses on detailing the Honda V6 turbo engine. Some parts had detail added thanks to the photo etch set and some parts were replaced completely.

Please let me know what you think.

The engine detail is looking very nice! Great job!

BigWall wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:37 pm The engine detail is looking very nice! Great job!

Thanks, Joe. It took me a long time, I could have built a curbside kit in the time it took!


Last night I was working on the front and rear wings. The photo etch parts which make up the vertical pieces look really nice in my opinion.


Decals are from MSM creations.

It's really looking nice Thomas!

I remember the first time I opened a curbside kit. I think it may have been the Silk Cut Jaguar. "The body's all one piece? How are you supposed to see the engine? There's no engine? What the???" I was probably 9 or 10 when I build my first model. I think building the engines gave me the basis for the car mechanic work I do on my cars now. Not that I'm a brilliant mechanic or anything but there's not a whole lot I won't work on. I really enjoyed building the engines.

BigWall wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:36 am It's really looking nice Thomas!

I remember the first time I opened a curbside kit. I think it may have been the Silk Cut Jaguar. "The body's all one piece? How are you supposed to see the engine? There's no engine? What the???" I was probably 9 or 10 when I build my first model. I think building the engines gave me the basis for the car mechanic work I do on my cars now. Not that I'm a brilliant mechanic or anything but there's not a whole lot I won't work on. I really enjoyed building the engines.

Wow. I can certainly see how one thing can lead to another. I never built models as a child as I think they were a bit out of fashion by then. However, I've learnt a great deal about them from building them as an adult, mainly because I want to know what I am putting together.

My 5 year old loves mechanisms and he's started putting together some models with me. So who knows what the future might hold for him.



Here's what I started last night. I am now painting and decalling the Ayrton Senna figure. The decals I bought are great as they cover all the sponsors and engine suppliers from his time at McLaren but I need to look carefully at 1988 to get it right.

Also, they are decals for a standing figure. So, I plan to add the decals to the figure, then paint matt black acrylic very carefully over the straps, covering part of the decals. Finally I will give it a matt varnish.

Some of the decals I will swap for smaller ones too as the figure is quite small. Wish me luck!

Now that's my kind of figure! Completely clothed and wearing a full helmet.

There are some great "robot" kits out that are perfect for curious kids. The one I can think of now climbs a string once built but there are quite a few that perform simple feats once completed. They're great father/kid projects as well.

Hello Thomas,
I di post some pics on the other forum page but now I have found this I will stick some pics on here, your build is looking good the mp4 is one of the cleanest looking formula one cars made, I was given a special edition model of the car from a friend who had a connection at mclaren international here are some pics of the car.
I have also a good range of f1 books and a great deal of info on the mp4 car even the old mclaren technical appraisal book on the car with many photos if you want any information let me know on this page I will check it every so often during your build and good luck.
regards Barrie ( the old formula on guy )

BigWall wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:52 pm Now that's my kind of figure! Completely clothed and wearing a full helmet.

There are some great "robot" kits out that are perfect for curious kids. The one I can think of now climbs a string once built but there are quite a few that perform simple feats once completed. They're great father/kid projects as well.

Thanks, Joe. Wow, that sounds interesting. We built Da Vinci's catapult last year which was a lot of fun to then practice in the garden! I'll have a look out for more.

baztheoldguy wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 3:26 pm DSC00631.JPGHello Thomas,
I di post some pics on the other forum page but now I have found this I will stick some pics on here, your build is looking good the mp4 is one of the cleanest looking formula one cars made, I was given a special edition model of the car from a friend who had a connection at mclaren international here are some pics of the car.
I have also a good range of f1 books and a great deal of info on the mp4 car even the old mclaren technical appraisal book on the car with many photos if you want any information let me know on this page I will check it every so often during your build and good luck.
regards Barrie ( the old formula on guy )DSC00633.JPGDSC00644.JPG

That's awesome, Barrie. Thanks! I've been trying to do a bit of research myself as I like to know what I am building and include a little history in my videos.

I'd really like to know how it was so much better than the competition? Especially the Lotus - they had the same engine after all.

Hello Thomas,
if you want to know all about the mp4/4 car you should invest in a haynes owners workshop manual, mine cost about £20 on Amazon, it tells the whole story about the car and it s development. I f you do not want to buy the book let me know any specific areas you need information on and I will copy the pages from the book and put them on the forum for you. Along with the manual I have a great many other reference books on mclaren and grand prix racing. keep that build going.

regards Barrie the old guy

baztheoldguy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 12:33 pm Hello Thomas,
if you want to know all about the mp4/4 car you should invest in a haynes owners workshop manual, mine cost about £20 on Amazon, it tells the whole story about the car and it s development. I f you do not want to buy the book let me know any specific areas you need information on and I will copy the pages from the book and put them on the forum for you. Along with the manual I have a great many other reference books on mclaren and grand prix racing. keep that build going.

regards Barrie the old guy

Thanks, Barrie. I will have a look for that! I have a couple of Haynes reference books (one of them has blue prints for Wallace and Gromit's inventions! ) so I know they are good.

Here's some pictures of Ayrton. I made the visor for the helmet from some clear plastic from a glue packet. Pretty happy with it.

Very nice! Brilliant idea for the visor!

Beautiful work all round, the figure detail is superb

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:05 am Beautiful work all round, the figure detail is superb

Thanks, Kev. I really enjoy doing the figures. I have a plan (which I am a long way off starting) of doing a full Ferrari pit stop which I think would have about 20+ figures!

BigWall wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:42 am Very nice! Brilliant idea for the visor!

Thanks! It was a really happy accident as I had only bought that glue last week and I'd been using the packet as a pallet! Really glad the narrow part was clear.

I had completely forgot to post the latest video! Here it is!

Brilliant work Thomas,
aryton looks very good indeed, keep at it and remember if you need any reference stuff for any future builds let me know and I am sure that some where in my collection of over 200 books on grand prix racing I will have some thing which will help you.

regards Barrie ( the old formula one fan )

baztheoldguy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:39 pm Brilliant work Thomas,
aryton looks very good indeed, keep at it and remember if you need any reference stuff for any future builds let me know and I am sure that some where in my collection of over 200 books on grand prix racing I will have some thing which will help you.

regards Barrie ( the old formula one fan )

Thanks again, Barrie.
Do you know anything about the turbo intercoolers which stuck out of the side pods? As far as I can see they were used early on but not later in the season.


I think I am just about finished now. I gave the bodywork a bit of a polish and added the screen and wing mirrors.

Ayrton Senna's F1 World Championship winning McLaren Honda Mp4/4 is now finished.

This was the Tamiya UK 1/20 scale model.
TS 26 Pure white and TS 36 fluorescent red
Perfect Parts photo etch set
Tamiya 1/20 driver figure
Tamiya 1/20 adhesive seat belts
Decals by MSM creations
Other scratch built details by myself.
Bodywork clear coated in Mr Super Clear UV cut
Polished using Ultimate Modelling Products polishing system

This has taken over a month and whilst I know there are things I would do differently and some parts I am not happy with, I still think this is possibly my best work.

Please let me know what you think and feel free to share it.

#sennasempre

Very lovely build! I agree, I think it's your best build to date. Personally, I think it's the knowing what we could do better and always trying to improve that makes the hobby fun. I don't think I'll ever have the "perfect build" but I always try to get there.

BigWall wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 5:06 pm Very lovely build! I agree, I think it's your best build to date. Personally, I think it's the knowing what we could do better and always trying to improve that makes the hobby fun. I don't think I'll ever have the "perfect build" but I always try to get there.

Cheers Joe, I think you're completely right.

There are times when I look back at models from 2018-19 when I returned to the hobby and I notice lots of things which I would want to do better now. We can all continue to improve I think.

And thanks again for your kind words!

hello Thomas,
intercooler intakes as you call them air the turbo air intake pipes the team called the snorkels, but they were replaced with a different air intake system was used from the German gp onwards in 1988. the car had a slight imbalance which the team thought may have been caused by removing the periscope intake but this was not the case. As for your model superb outstanding brilliant fantastic....what else is left I am so looking forward to your next grand prix build .

keep safe distance and keep building. if you need any info on your next project let me know

regards Barrie ( the old formula guy )

baztheoldguy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 7:18 pm hello Thomas,
intercooler intakes as you call them air the turbo air intake pipes the team called the snorkels, but they were replaced with a different air intake system was used from the German gp onwards in 1988. the car had a slight imbalance which the team thought may have been caused by removing the periscope intake but this was not the case. As for your model superb outstanding brilliant fantastic....what else is left I am so looking forward to your next grand prix build .

keep safe distance and keep building. if you need any info on your next project let me know

regards Barrie ( the old formula guy )

Thanks, Barrie. I thought they were to do with the Turbo system as I had seen them on similar turbo cars such as the Ferrari and the Lotus.



Thank you so much for your amazing words - really really kind. Also lovely to hear from someone who genuinely knows their stuff!

I definitely have some more F1 cars in the pipeline - I have the Lotus 25, Williams FW14 and McLaren Mp4/12 in the stash amongst others. I am also planning a Ferrari pit stop diorama at some point but I stl need some extras for it.

Here's the final video installment.

Thanks to all of you who have followed this build. I appreciate all of your comments and insights.

Superb build Thomas, lovely paint and engine detailing

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:29 pm Superb build Thomas, lovely paint and engine detailing

Cheers, Kev.

I was really happy to get joint 3rd on the Live Show on Friday night - that's the best I have ever done!

Congratulations Thomas!

Another cracking build !!!! You guy's are kicking it out the park
It's tough enough detailing the 1/12 scale but you guy's are managing it at 1/20 with ease !!!! Huge respect