Help w Tamiya Mclaren MP 4-4

[Striker]

Newb here from Canada!

Guys I really would like to build Mr. Sennas race car and the last few hours I researched on the tamiya kit and just need an idea how to approach it.

I don't know which kit to go with, for starters. The new kit has no tobacco logos or shell logos which I think is kinda bs. And the red stripes are missing.

1. There is an original 80s kit on eBay right now. Should I go with this one or purchase a new kit w decals separately?

2. I see top studios makes a gorgeous kit, but I definitely don't want to spend that kinda cake. Is there an alternative??

[JonMW]

I would go for aftermarket decals, the Tamiya ones are off on the red color, even of you get the original release with the tobacco logos and the red stripes. The red should be a lot more florecent then the decals are, this set http://www.hiroboy.com/120_Mclaren_MP44 ... -5526.html is really nice and has the correct color, Tabu design also makes a good set but I think probably the best set is the one from Museum Collection but it can be a bit hard to find. Non of these come with the red stripes so you would need to paint them, personally I think that looks better.

For detail sets, MFH makes a really nice one to build the late season version of the car, but it costs pretty much the same as the TS one. I used the MFH one on my build last year http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=299&t=5315, I have the TS one in the stash for a later build.
If you don't feel like spending that ridiculous amount of money on a aftermarket set I think a good start could be the TS cockpit set http://www.hiroboy.com/120_MP44_Cockpit ... -3713.html, connectors http://www.hiroboy.com/120124_Electrica ... -1607.html and some carbon fiber decals. The cockpit set adds a lot and I think that is probably the best part to start upgrading. And the Tamiya kit only comes with Prosts steering wheel, so if you want to do Sennas car and be totally accurate you need the TS cockpit set. Most people won't even know the difference and it's only because I spend all that time last year building my MP4/4 and wanting to be overly accurate about it.

[Striker]

Thank you for your recommendations!

I dread painting....I was hoping there would be a decal kit for the red. I don't air brush so my plan was to paint the outside shell using spray paint and the small bits brush.

[JonMW]

Tamiya has a good match for the red in a spray can, can't remember the number, and there are fine lines on the body to help with masking. I think adding the rear red stripe would be really hard as it goes over a lot of shapes and since the old Tamiya decals might not be the best ones.

[Striker]

So it doesn't really matter whether I purchase the new kit? I also heard they don't have the decals on the tires too, correct?

[JonMW]

Both of the kits I have are the new release and they came with markings for the tires. Not really decals, you cut them out place them on the tire ligtly dampen them and then remove the backing paper. This is normally what Tamiya does for tires and it works pretty good, it's better then normal decals.

[Striker]

Sounds good. I'll just look for the new kit locally.

As for prepping and finishing, do you have any pointers? I've seen people to a final mate like spray down once the piece is done and all put together?

I'm just trying to make it look as best as possible by using spray paint.

Update: I have ONE kit locally and it's 52 bucks vs this one on amazon for ten bucks less

Is the kit pretty well the same?

[Striker]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003F9TXE ... ref=plSrch

[WhatInTheFAQ]

I've got three of the Top Studio Super Detail sets for this car. Two of them were built into MP4/4s, and I bought the third when I found it at a good price and noticed them becoming scarce.

I would really, really recommend it if you can find it, and if you can come to terms with the significant investment. It's worth the price. If you haven't done a lot of heavy detailing of basic kits, the Top Studio set is a really good introductory course, and you will learn a lot about how to detail and optimize kits on your own in the future, without the use of a complete set.

At the very least, I think aftermarket decals are a must, whether you end up with the original or the re-release.