[Transmission]

As a change from my usual Ferrari projects, this time a McLaren!

I wanted to convert a Scalextric M23 to a Policar setup and while I was chopping up the car I thought why not take it one step further. Looking at pictures from the 1976 season I noticed McLaren (and other teams) was basically running the 1975 car in the first races. In those years it was customary to start the season with last year's car with only a few minor changes and sometimes a new livery. The high airbox was about to be banned that season but still allowed for the first couple of races. McLaren ran the ‘old’ car with a new livery. So here it is, the Jochen Mass car that ran at Kyalami and Long Beach.

I made the new airbox by using the base of the old one for a nice fit. Also closed the side radiators and moved them to the rear. The engine and rear suspension detail was a bit fiddly as it is a mix of original Scalextric parts and the Policar gearbox but it turned out nicely. Adjusted the rear wing with new side plates. Front wheels are the original Scalextric, rear wheels are alloys from SRC with Ortmann tyres. ARCO Sideways 3D printed chassis with Policar motor and running gear.

It's not perfect but it looks cool and runs fantastic.

Ready to race!

Left the original (with added Marlboro logos) and right the converted car.

 

[DNQ]

Great stuff
Excellent colour match
I saw the M23 in that spec at the international trophy at silverstone in 76

 

[GRUNZ]

Scratch building at its finest.

 

[Quatrozero]

Brilliant job.

Have seen the 1/20th market do this early season version
but finally, a great model at 1/32nd.

Would like to ask what red/orange you used.

And love the fact you did Mass' car which we do not see much of at any scale.

 

[GDSLOT]

The car looks great, love the color, it’s been a discussion if the red was fluorescent or not, since the TV of those years didn’t have the resolution of nowdays but IMHO it’s fluorescent as in the MP5.

Daniel

 

[Tissthemix]

Very good model
Beautiful

 

[theortoncobbler]

Fabulous job

 

[Charles Coates]

What a great model! I love the mid 1970's Formula One cars with the high airboxes, the cars looked somehow more impressive with the extra height. The Ligier, Ferrari and McLarens all looked better with a big airbox, in my opinion. Your conversion looks fantastic and will no doubt run much more smoothly than with the original Scalextric running gear? Nice one.

 

[conti_rowland]

Lovely work, thank you for sharing.
A

 

[Transmission]

Thank you for all the nice comments!

To some of your questions:

The fluorescent orange color I used is Revell SM332. I still had a jar and simply gave it a try on a white strip of polysterene. The match was remarkably good but it’s a semi gloss paint while the car is high gloss so it needed an extra layer of transparent gloss. I usually spray paint my cars but of course had to use a brush this time but it looks fine.

As for the discussion if the car was fluorescent or plain red, I didn’t want to do a complete repaint and I had a matching color for the airbox so my decision was easy. But was the real car also fluorescent orange/red? Personally I think it was if you look at the pictures I posted above of the real car. Also looking at this video from the Kyalami race I would say the McLarens were fluorescent orange/red. Maybe they introduced a brighter color later in the season but they are certainly not plain red.

 

[Kirbs50]

Fabulous work! I have a couple of MRRC McLaren M23s I’d like to add high airboxes to. Any advice will be gratefully received.

 

[Transmission]

Fabulous work! I have a couple of MRRC McLaren M23s I’d like to add high airboxes to. Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks. I don't have an MRRC body myself so a bit difficult to give advice. But as described above, make sure you have a good base to build the airbox on and use good pictures and/or drawings of the car to get the proportions right. For the rest, it's just trial and error...