Beemax 1/20 1984 McLaren MP4/2 Part 1 - Kit Overview
Beemax/Aoshima 1/20 Plastic Kit
Starting a new build! The Beemax 1984 McLaren MP4/2, driven by Niki Lauda.
After inspecting the box contents, I have to say I’m very impressed with this kit. It seems higher quality than your typical Tamiya kit. I also got my hands on the Beemax issued detail set which includes:
Photo etched upgrades for wings, radiators, plenty of small parts, bolt heads, and more
Complete carbon fibre decals
Seatbelt fabric strips
Chromed plastic A/N fittings
I’d say that this set is a must buy for people who want to build this kit seriously. The instruction manual for the kit includes helpful call-outs for the photo etched parts and carbon fibre decals integrated among the normal assembly steps. Much more informative than the traditional diagrams provided in a typical Studio 27 photo etch set.
Doing a quick test-fit, the body parts are very crisp, fit well, and have minimal to no warping.
There’s only one area on either side of the nose where the mould was a little suspect, but nothing a little sanding won’t solve.
The most polarizing feature of this kit is the inclusion of moulded carbon fibre texture. On the one hand it can quickly elevate a build for somebody who just wants a quick build and/or doesn’t want to invest in carbon fibre decals, but on the other hand both the pattern and texture is massively over-scaled. It may also interfere with the carbon fibre decals’ ability to adhere to the textured surfaces. At least it can be sanded down.
In the next update I’ll start prepping the body for primer, and modifying parts to accommodate photo etched alternatives.