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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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I've been commissioned to build two of the rarest 'hens teeth' car kits that exist. The 1/8 scale Edai/Entex McLaren M23, and the similar Lotus 72. I'll start with the M23, as it's a very shabby, badly started kit that might even have missing parts I'll have to scratch. The Lotus can wait - that one is still untouched and all bagged. Let the fun begin... roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Well, here's the contents of the McLaren. I've made a start by cleaning up the gearbox and spraying it. I'm guessing this kit was given to a child as it's a bit of a glue-bomb, as well as all the parts have just been twisted off the sprues - not even trimmed. Also, random bits have been glued together, not following the instructions at all. The decals have been cut out but they are useless anyway. I'll have sort new ones. On we go. roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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Great start Roy... With your skills I'm 100% sure you'll do a superb job with these kits. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy seeing how it all turns out....  .. Good luck with the builds.... Regards Alan
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 Rank: Super-Elite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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ooh I will be watching these.Just snagged a Lotus too.Cant wait to see these get the Roy treatment.
Carl
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Many thanks for peeping in you chaps. The engine had been previously glued together - incorrectly as it happens - so I had to break it all apart, clean up the mating surfaces and reassemble it. I have the Haynes McLaren book to go by so getting the colours fairly correct wasn't a problem. Some ancillaries are now fitted along with part of the exhaust. Once the main engine is built I'll be able to start adding the missing details etc... roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 08/03/2014 Posts: 2,977 Points: 8,523 Location: united kingdom
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That's a great start mate Ken's the name modeling's the game.
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Thanks Ken. I must admit it's fun so far - potty detailing will begin once I've got more of the rear end assembled.
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Beautifully done Roy, looking very detailed already..... Regards Alan
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Many thanks for peeping in chaps. A bit more done around the rear end. The uprights are assembled and fitted along with an assortment of the arms and linkages. I must now say though - this is a dreadful kit. WHY on earth it commands such mental prices I'll never know. Almost nothing fits without quite a lot of adjusting, altering, filing, drilling and general tweaking. Huge amounts of flash, gigantic sprue connections. An entire LARGE fret of parts had been moulded with the two mould halves out of alignment so that parts are unevenly made from one face to the other. That means a LOT of work to get every part on the fret to be usable. I'm also now finding how basic and simplistic the kit is. Yes it's BIG, but real detail...? No. All that aside, it's still a fun project. roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Elite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/02/2011 Posts: 2,239 Points: 6,837 Location: East Sussex
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Wish you well with this build,be following. Regards Trev Work in progress: Tombstone (Scratch) - San Francisco 2. -The Mayflower ( scratch by plan).
OcCre- Santa-Maria (Kit).
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Off to a great start there Roy. I recently acquired one of these kits and will be following with interest. Malc.
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Thanks chaps. Good luck Trev. It really is a poor kit... Take particular care with the rear suspension. Nothing fits and the connection points are incredibly flimsy.
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Rear suspension now basically added. It's a nightmare. Almost every attachment and fixing point is the wrong size for the component that is meant to be added there. LOTS of adjustments and making new fixing pins etc where the kit part just literally falls off. Anyway, I've also dismantled all the badly and wrongly assembled cockpit parts, cleaned them up and re-built the pieces as they are supposed to go. Painted, and inner tub now bare metal foiled. I've also trimmed the seat with black leather based on some images I have from the Haynes M23 manual. roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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 Coming together nicely despite the problems Roy, I too built one of these and my thoughts on the kit are very much like your own. Lots of people raved about it because the scope and depth of detail you could add if you were so inclined Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Rank: Administration         Groups: Registered, Administrators, Global Forum Support, Moderator, Forum Support Team, Official Builds Joined: 04/01/2016 Posts: 6,687 Points: 20,378 Location: Northamptonshire, England
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Stunning work Roy.  , just catching up on the build. Mark Regards Markwarren (Mark) Admin
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Official Builds, Administrators, Moderator, Global Forum Support, Registered Joined: 04/06/2011 Posts: 4,740 Points: 14,366 Location: ipswich
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Many thanks you chaps. The main tub had been previously assembled - say no more - so once again I had to break it all down and then clean up the parts. Reassembly was quite straightforward and a good deal of the front suspension has now been added. There will be more wiring and detail etc added as the build moves on. roymattblack attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 08/03/2014 Posts: 2,977 Points: 8,523 Location: united kingdom
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Great progress mate Ken's the name modeling's the game.
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 Looking good Roy and nice work Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Rank: Administration         Groups: Registered, Administrators, Global Forum Support, Moderator, Forum Support Team, Official Builds Joined: 04/01/2016 Posts: 6,687 Points: 20,378 Location: Northamptonshire, England
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Great work Roy, coming on very nicely. Mark Regards Markwarren (Mark) Admin
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