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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 8:54:45 GMT -8
The opposite of a quick and easy build! I didn't do a WIP of this because it has dragged on for maybe a year? Anyway, it's the IMC kit, because it's the only one I could find. It's supposed to be McLaren's Sebring winner. Everything up to this stage was more or less OOB, just trimmed a bit for proper fit:
I reshaped the front compartment, added the battery, steering rack, brake cooling ducts.
The dash/front firewall is nowhere close to authentic, it would be modified.
Kit came with 2 rear firewalls, I have no idea why. Some slight modification made one of them usable.
The inner door panels were glued to the chassis. I found this to be the easier way when building the MK 2 kit. It helps to align the body, which of course doesn't fit very well at all.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:01:51 GMT -8
Test fit of body, after some heating and twisting.
At this point I also checked fit for windshield and side windows, some trimming was needed. This is the Sebring car, so the bump has to go. First I filled in the inside with styrene and gap filler CA.
Then sanded the outside down flush. No spot filler needed this time.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:07:05 GMT -8
The car had a roll cage, not supplied with the kit. As it would be somewhat visible when finished, I made one.
Installed in the car, along with scratch built instrument panel.
A test fit showed that the body still fit. Sometimes you get lucky.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:13:23 GMT -8
Body painted and ready for final install. At this point I parked it for a month or so.
Some grinding of the front edge of the dash was needed, it won't be seen. Then I took the plunge and glued everything solid. Any further adjustments will be made to the mating panels.
Test fit of front and rear shells, not bad but some work to do. Back in the box for a while.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:19:06 GMT -8
With the body on and some detail work, starting to look a bit like a car. Body fit was not as good as I'd hoped, but I can live with it. Some touch ups later.
I could have lined it up better to the floor pan but this way is actually better for front panel alignment.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:26:25 GMT -8
Some work to the front shell, but I got a better fit than I expected. Filled in the unused NACA duct, paint and decal and back in the box.
The rear isn't bad except for the horrible air intakes. Some filling and a lot of grinding to try to fix it.
Also a lot of general sanding, mold lines and poor cast quality, some trimming to get a decent match to the cab.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:33:58 GMT -8
Paint and decals and another test fit......Yeah!
The engine compartment, all box stock so far.
So it all fits under the shell. Spare tire courtesy of the MK 2. The bad news is it looks nothing like a Ford MK 4.
So I had an exhaust that's wrong ducts and shrouds missing, so scratch time again.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:40:44 GMT -8
A mickey mouse solution, add the two crossover pipes and fill and grind. Some Alclad paint and it's sort of close enough.
Added the oil cooler shrouds and brake ducts.
Glass tacked in place, almost there.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 4, 2022 9:48:20 GMT -8
Hard to believe, the damn thing is actually finished.
Lots of flaws but it doesn't look too bad sitting on the shelf. At least it's a start on tidying up all my half baked,,,,er half built projects.
I'm building a ship and ships take up a lot of room on the bench!!!!
Best part is one less IMC kit in the stash.
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Post by tatocorvette on May 4, 2022 10:04:18 GMT -8
Hi, Nice! It looks good to me! I Like the clean uncluttered lines and color scheme. I'm not familiar with these cars so I have no idea on accuracy but it looks the part. Interesting the knock off are red on one side and blue on the other. Approved! Thanks, Ismael
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Post by Chris K. Hale on May 4, 2022 12:21:07 GMT -8
Great Result.. I enjoy these types of builds , they motivate me and help with problem solving before I actually start a kit like this . I do have the IMC, Testors and MPC versions of the MK IV as well as several versions of the J-Car. Because of builds like this I will build them and not dispose of them because you showed me the way to do it. Thanks again for posting another great and informative build. I love the Roll cage addition. Chris
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Post by afx on May 5, 2022 4:00:46 GMT -8
Challenging kit to build from what I have seen and understand. Looks like you did a find job with it Paul.
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Post by mustangrex on May 5, 2022 4:44:57 GMT -8
Very nice job with the “updates” to reflect the Sebring version which had differences from the Lemans versions. I think IMC carried over most of the parts from the J-Car which explains things like the exhaust being incorrect. I built the MPC version as the Sebring car and it has it’s share of inaccuracies too.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 5, 2022 7:19:11 GMT -8
Very nice job with the “updates” to reflect the Sebring version which had differences from the Lemans versions. I think IMC carried over most of the parts from the J-Car which explains things like the exhaust being incorrect. I built the MPC version as the Sebring car and it has it’s share of inaccuracies too. Thanks man. All the IMC kits I've done (MK1, MK2, MK4) had the wrong exhausts. They just made the initial mistake and kept carrying it over to the next kit, along with a lot of other incorrect parts. I've never seen the MPC kit but it can't possibly be any worse than these IMC things!
I have one IMC kit left, Clark's Indy winner. I don't know whether to build it or drive over it.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 5, 2022 7:21:25 GMT -8
Hi, Nice! It looks good to me! I Like the clean uncluttered lines and color scheme. I'm not familiar with these cars so I have no idea on accuracy but it looks the part. Interesting the knock off are red on one side and blue on the other. Approved! Thanks, Ismael It was so the pit crew wouldn't mix them up, left hand vs right hand thread! Simple but effective idea really.
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