First of all Hi to everyone and good luck with your future builds of the MP4-23.

Ok to start why the 3x? Well not that I have more money than sense but I intend to do 2 builds and leave the remaining set for either parts or collection.

The first build will be "out of box" so to speak with no modfications and the second will be a "full on" Super Detailed MP4-23 with as much extra detail as possible.

As of this morning I have not received anything from Degostini with regard to my order but that does not stop me from moving along either so I decided to pop into Smiths and buy 2 copies of the first issue for the above project. Below are a few shots of the first issue and one with the Minichamps 1:18th to show a size comparison as to how big this kit is going to be... Further updates will be added as i go along week by week and i hape you all enjoy reading about my builds as much as I'm going to enjoy doing them

Spencer

Hi Spencer, what sort of details are you looking at adding?

Ive searched the net for some close up pictures of the MP4 23 and found nothing that really shows much that is not already in the model, apart from seat belts, and carbon fibre effect on some items. The days of tubes and wire from the engine seem to have been hidden away.

A few shots of the lower wing section. Here I have also taken a comparison shot of a 1/18th wing, 1/12th and the 1/8th...

Just some small details with cables etc and Harness.Brake lines, carbon fibre exposed areas and a few engine details like bolt heads. Will get the Decals from Studio 27 also.

Already cleaning up mold lines and filling holes that should'nt be there.

Yeah as soon as I can get a few good shots then I'll upload them.. going to be a long drawn out thread this one lol

Cheers and good luck with yours too

Hi Spencer, looking good so far. A lot of work ahead methinks, though stick at it as I think it will be interesting to compare this build with your other standard build (I seem to remeber that you are doing two if I am correct, one standard, one heavily modded??)

I take it that you are remaking or modifying the front wing centre stay as you have filled the oval recess? Strange that the standard wing endplates come with the extra holes on the inner face, which you have also filled I see, as they don't seem to have any function, so why would Kyosho put them there in the first place, very strange even if they are slightly hidden by the upper wing/nose element when it gets fitted later. Maybe Mr T knows about some parts further in the build intended for these holes though I can't imagine what they might be??

What scale carbon fibre decal will you be using as I always used 'Scale Motorsports' 1/12 and 1/20 sheets plus their kevlar, etc, though I haven't seen any carbon decal in 1/8 scale? I don't think 1/12 would look too small if that is what you intend to use??

Anyway well done on your efforts so far and keep the pics coming!! Come on Wednesday .... Hurry up!!

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Regards ... Kev

Hi Spencer, great build so far and nice pics thanks for posting them!! The chrome finish you have achieved looks excellent, was it Alclad II paints that you used or something else - hope you don't mind me asking?? Looks very close to the chrome finish on the standard parts so could be useful to know what paints match for touching up, overspraying join lines, etc. as I don't like the look of the joint that is going to be happening soon between the upper and lower nose parts in the next two weeks (though it may be hidden by the decals)?

Never tried the Studio 27 carbon decals, as I said in previous post, I always used the 'Scale Motorsports' stuff which was pretty good and sits down on compound curves nicely with a touch of 'Micro Sol' and 'Micro Set', though was prone to cracking if the sheet wasn't stored flat!!

Your red wing parts look good with the clear coat oversprayed. I still have quite a lot of 'Johnson's Klear' left (discontinued now unfortunately) so will be using that as it dries quite quickly and polishes up really nice and quite scale like in the amount of shine, but does usually need two coats and a gentle buffing.

If you drop one of your builds (not literally I hope!! ), which is most likely to go, the standard or the upgrade??

Well done, keep the pics coming, I will post some more of mine by the end of the week if my issue 2 arrives at the newsagents on Wednesday!!

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Regards ... Kev

Thanks for that Spencer, very nice of you to so freely share your secrets!! I have used Halfords spray paints many times before for my modelling and find them excellent in the way the paint sits down over the detail and hardens to a coat that can be very highly polished with the right approach. The Halfords 'Grey (and White) Plastic Primer' is also very good. Is the Halfords Enamel Chrome that you suggest, a very close match to the paint used on the standard DeAg parts or is there a slightly noticeable difference??

I have received issue 2 from the newsagents and was going to put up some more pics myself this week, but was a bit annoyed to see the very noticeable mould lines on the sides of the upper nose section, which really does need sanding down and respraying, so I might as well go the whole hog now despite saying from the start that I was going to do a 'standard' build!! I have decided that this lovely model really warrants a more detailed approach, so, like you, I am going to be taking it slower and changing a lot of things including adding carbon fibre decal to the wings, suspension arms and any other parts that need it, so I won't be posting any more pics for a short while, whilst I gather all the materials to do the upgrades and modify the parts, then I will be back to posting my build.

Despite my initial build of the front wing being completely staisfactory, I have asked my newsagent to see if they can get me another issue 1 and I am going to start again with filler and maybe some brass sheet to remake the various vanes, as in thinner and the side vanes should be slightly curved across their chord from front to back plus of course, the carbon fibre decal and also gonna remake the stays so they are a bit finer, to make a better job of it - just couldn't resist the 'detailed' route I'm afraid!!!

Thanks again for the info, very helpful and I hope that I can offer some tips in return in the coming weeks, it will be very interesting to compare builds methinks??

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Regards ... Kev

Thought I would add this one as I was thinking of doing my own stencils... just need to add the red/orange