1:18 cardboard MP4-30

[kosioBG]

Hello again!

It's time for another car of mine, this time - the 2015 McLaren. I chose it because I knew it differs significantly from the F1 W05 and also because lots of info and pics are available. So here we go

Monocoque

My focus here was to work cleanly. By that I mean that there's been no real revolution since last time. Instead, I tried to improve symmetry, surface quality and proportions. Of course, some new details were also included. And, I tried to build with the system integration (how other components fit) in mind more than before.
The first step was to draw initial blueprints of the car viewed from the top, as well as monocoque side- and top views. Next, I used them to create the very first part of all - the monocoque's basic shape:

No notable details here, except for the rear end of the headrest area - it is curved so that the engine cover can fit snugly when the time comes.

It's sleeker on the inside too, if you compare it to the Merc:


Suspension: Dampers, rockers and an anti-rollbar for the first time + the steering column:



And installed:


Pedals, with their cylinders at the back


Skipping a bit, here's the closed and covered cockpit. This large grey sheet had to be cut out of one piece and glued spot on, which I didn't manage at first. But after some unglueing...


The headrest area wasn't straightforward either. The piece covering it took me 5! attempts + sanding after mounting. The airbox opening caused no such trouble. The still not mounted bodywork segments have gills (also new) which were quite tiny and thus hard to be positioned correctly.


Bodied sidepods, side impact structure (much stiffer than last time) and mirrors (also stronger, as they consist of two rather tahn one supporting pieces)


And the completed monocoque. The decals have almost a perfect grey which I'll only slightly alter when printing the next set. I'm also very pleased with the varnishing, for I used a new spray which conserved the cardboard well.


The front bulkhead area is quite tidy and so are the turning vanes. Only thing that irritates me is the close proximity of the nose's mounting points. We'll see about that.


Another view (after 175 pieces and 8 days)


That's it for now, I'll love comments
Work on the floor is already underway
Updates are also available on my website!

[DiogoBrand]

It's probably already faster than the original.

[kosioBG]

Floor

A quick report on this one, as there isn't much to talk about Starting it was probably the most challenging bit, as the size was more or less a mistery and kind of difficult to measure off photos. Once figured, I built the basic shape. The structure is, as usual, composed of layers:


Then, I coated it with thin black paper. I used a layup which aimed at getting the surface as smooth as possible, which didn't succeed completely. Then, I added the details. Not entirely satisfied, partly due to the lack of photos, but still, I'll live with it. The vertical elements on the side had to be attached too, they will be a stir later, but can't be glued to the engine cover as I've done previously. Finally, some pressure sensors (thanks to Scarbs)


Varnished (appart from the area where the cockpit and engine will be glued on):


Underside with the wooden plank


And the details:




88 pieces in total, powertrain next.
More on my website
Stay tuned,
cheers

[Nathanael F1]

Very cool! It's looking great already.

[bauc]

Looking good, keep up the good work

[kosioBG]

After a long pause due to travelling, summer holidays and some other factors, the MP4-30 is back!

Powertrain

Starting off my experience from last time, I had high expectations. The build wasn't easy by any means though, as information/photos weren't exactly abundant. However, some nice drawings by Scarbs and a couple of articles helped me a lot. Logically, I started with the engine. more than doubling the parts compared to last time. It has the cylinder curvatures and structures which hold it to the chassis and gearbox plus the oil pressure and scavanger pumps, as well as the water pump, even though they are only rough estimates, as no info was available. The clutch section is at the back.


The rest of the components took me roughly 10 days to manufacture. Most of the time I spent looking at photos, as figuring out what goes where was key. For example, the cooling layout: the left side houses the engine water radiator, the right one the battery water and intercooler. The oil radiator is separate, under the airbox. I used a new piping technology too - tin wire, wrapped accordingly to achieve the desired thickness. Also, the monocoque had to be reworked - there wasn't enough space for the battery and the air inlet. Moral: ALWAYS plan properly!

Here's an overview of all components:

Please visit my website for detailed photos of each component.

Here's a preview of the engine with its air plenum, oil tank, exhaust manifold and turbine:


Assembling the components:


And the result:



The slightly too bulky airbox, built with a framework technology:


Current state:


Thanks for watching! Stay tuned, and in the meantime check out F1FP .
Cheers

[Daliracing]

Great work! i've been following you're work for quite some time and i must say you've improved alot! BTW nice song really like dnb

[kosioBG]

Thanks, that's exactly my goal. Some on that topic - I'm planning a 1:10 scale car next

[Daliracing]

Thanks, that's exactly my goal. Some on that topic - I'm planning a 1:10 scale car next

Would love to see it! I guess it might be 'easier' because parts are larger but can also be more difficult because you can add alot more detail in them

[kosioBG]

I guess it might be 'easier' because parts are larger but can also be more difficult because you can add alot more detail in them

Exactly

[Alonso Fan]

looking great!

[kosioBG]

Gearbox

I started with 3 drawings - a top, side and front view. I had to take the suspension pickup points, the rear wing beam, and engine flitting into account. Also, I wasn't sure wether the crash structure was structurally part of the GB housing. These issues were only solvable because of the help I got in the McLaren thread, for which I'm extremely grateful. With the drawing done, I started with the main shape. For the first time, I replicated the triangluar slope towards the front, the screws which attach to the engine and the driveshaft bearings.





Unfortunately, it was a bit too long, so I had to cut it in half and reglue it, shortened.


If you're wondering why it isn't exactly simmertical - the engine was fitted at an angle, so the GB had to compensate. That's the reason why one screw is longer that the other one.
Next, the CF texturing followed. I had loads of fun aligning the sheets of CF texture. Then, details - some screws, sensors
, the bearing housing, a slot for the bodywork (under the driveshaft) and an aero detail which works together with the floor to block the air over the rear floor end and extract air from the diffuser (I believe). The rear crash structure got bulges on both the top and bottom sides which aren't visible on the previous pics.



On the top side, the turbine and exhaust openings, the exhaust rails and the RW pylon mount (see below) slots are visible.




Mounting was easy. Result:



I love how this pic turned out.


624p after the start we've got this:


Stay tuned More here
And thanks for watching.

[Joseki]

Amazing job =D>

[Alonso Fan]

Wow!

[kosioBG]

Suspension

Building the suspension is maybe the toughest, but also most satisfying area of the car. You've got so many constraints - mounting points, wing mounts and bodywork clearance. Also, the positioning has to be exact, because it will later define the rake and ride height.

​Firstly, the wishbones had to be constructed. But before I could start, I had to figure out the layout, which wasn't easy at all. Especially at the rear, where the lower WB sits at the back, and the trackrod is placed in front of the driveshaft. I got a lot of help on the MP4-30 topic, for which I'm grateful.
For the construction I used cardboard tubes (as usual), which were cut into the correct length and bonded with the help of paperclips. New was the addition of aerodynamic fairings, which definitely made the wishbones more realistic. Then, the brake ducts followed. Nothing special there, I just tried to work cleanly. A preview of the rear:



A further difficulty at the back was an unremovable bodywork panel through which the upper WB, the pullrod and the driveshaft should fit. I needed 4 attempts to get the curvature and slots right, but it was worth it. Only after glueing it in place and making the brake ducts with as many as 8 flaps could I mount the rear suspension.



Not much to say about the front:



Moving on, the brakes followed. I tried to be more precise than last time by including the uprights. They covered the paper clip ends protruding from the ducts. On top of them, the brake calipers and discs were mounted. Also note the neat detail which is the axle thread.




After the brakes were finished, I could go on and fit their covers. I'm satisfied with their quality, the carbon ring and the colour inner side are neat - a new circular layout was used to avoid wrinkles. Also, I tried to include vents as accurately as possible.



The current state of the car (after adding some 250 pieces)


More can be found (as always) on my website
And an album with more suspension pics: https://plus.google.com/110702505449157 ... ad2rL1u3Vp

Thanks for watching!