The McLaren M23 is a legendary F1 car from the 1970’s, which along with its rival, the Lotus 72, defined an era of design stability. The M23 raced competitively over four seasons, from 1973 to 1976, winning two world championships, Emmerson Fittipaldi (1974) and James Hunt (1976).
This build is focused on chassis #6, which was built for the 1974 season for New Zealander Denny Hulme, the 1967 world champion, to race under the Texaco-Marlboro colours. It wasn’t his most successful season but it was his last at the young age of 38. Hulme of course had been a stalwart of McLaren racing, joining the fledging F1 team created by its founder/driver, Bruce McLaren in 1968 as the then reigning world champion. He finished 3rd in his first year for McLaren and had further mixed results until his retirement. Denny scored 8 wins, 33 podiums in 112 starts as an F1 driver.

The kit for this build is based on the venerable Tamiya 1/12 scale 1974 Yardley McLaren M23. The car I want to build, M23/6,won Grand Prixs in two different seasons, Argentina in 1974 with Denny, and France and Germany in 1976 for James Hunt.

Decals are from TABU, and the car will detailed for Hulme’s last race at Watkins Glen, NY. His Cosworth lasted just four laps so a clean build.

The kit I purchased several years ago and since then also collected some bits and pieces to try out on it. Most importantly is this very useful book with great background on all the cars and detailed pictures.

This will be a long term build since I have the Blue Oval campaign to contend with as well. Wish me luck.

cheers
Michael

Cool project. With the Haynes book, in hand, I expect we will be seeing details galore:)

I have an old Brabham kit(Tamiya 1/12) would love to build it, but the decals have yellowed an dare not usable. Haven't found AM decals yet

A big scale open-wheeler, this should be a cool thread to follow Michael!

Local flavour also helps with the interest factor.

Cheers, D

Michael,
I just signed on for the full build till you cross the finish line. Boy is this going to be great.

I'm a huge McLaren fan, both of the mark and Bruce McLaren himself. I 1st got to meet both Bruce and Denny at the 1967 Can AM race at Bridgehampton NY. the McLaren team was already the odds on favorite to win every race, and usually they did just that. Back then the Can Am took precedence over F1. Denny & Bruce literally alternated winning the Can AM per year.

Denny Hulme was a personal favorite as he was one of the Kiwi boys.

If you want to build the McLaren for the Blue Circle GB, the car was powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine. And the rules include cars with an engine with the Ford name on it.

Joel

If that kit was sitting on my bench there is now way I could let it sit there for another month, but it would be an awesome addition to the Group Build line-up!

In saying that, the WRC Escort that Michael has lined up already for the Blue Oval looks like a great kit as well.

Cheers, D

Following with interest Michael

Thanks all, Jesper is right, I hope to add some detail to the kit. While Tamiya has a fair representation of the car I would like it a little better and a little more accurate, mainly as a challenge to myself.

The reason I didn't put it up for Blue Oval was the time I think it will take plus I am keen to build the Escort, a full Ford effort.

cheers

Michael

I built the Brabham as well as the M23 back in the 70's......typical period Tamiya kits, that build into detailed (for the time) and solid replicas. Jesper, I hope you manage to find AM decals for the pretty Brabham - a typical Gordon Murray design. He actually designed everything on the car - including brakes, cooling, suspension. Unthinkabe these days.....Enjoy!

Hey Michael,

After the super job you did on the Citroen, I’m really looking forward to seeing this move along - ought to be a great build!

Cheers
Nick

While I am planning the approach to this build I dug up some old photos I had of Denny's 1973 McLaren, M23/1.







If I had known I was going to be building this I would have taken more detailed photos.

cheers
Michael

They are superb images Michael, thanks for sharing them here. They give clear examples of a lot of extra little details. I'm looking at the weld line on the gusset on the control arm (plus the sheer number of different metallic and paint finishes in that one image!), the discolouration on the exhaust, the diameter and location of the braided hoses and the colours on the connectors.

Brilliant stuff, love it!

Cheers, D

While I wait for the Blue Oval campaign, I've been having a riveting time with the McLaren.
One of the points that has struck me is the nature of construction of F1 cars in the 60's and 70's, very much like the aircraft industry, aluminium sheets riveted to a frame. Close up they are fairly obvious, so I have tried to replicate that somewhat. i would say my attempt is somewhat overscale but I wait the final the judgement after a few layers of paint.
I have riveted the more obvious areas only (and to save my sanity). So here is the first pass. there is bit more to come around the front bulkhead and suspension.


A few injection marks to clean in the tub not that you would see them with the seat in place.
this is the attachment for the fibreglass body panels.

The aluminium sheets were attached to the suspension bulkheads. A bit more to do in this area.

The rear of the tub held the fuel and the mounting points for the engine.

You wont see much of the tub with the cockpit fairing in place.

Despite it being a Tamiya, it is 40+ years old and the alignment is not perfect. It will make it difficult to paint because the body and suspension will have to assembled and the gaps filled. It will require some serious masking.


cheers
Michael

Those rivets look amazing Michael.

No argument here, beautiful work!

What did you use for the rivet heads Michael?

Cheers, D

Very exciting project, Michael, and excellent job so far.
Those rivets really pop and the effect is amazing!

Gabriel

Thanks Jesper. I hope they still do under some paint, though I have some thoughts how I may make them stand out.

cheers

Michael

Hi Damian,
On the rivets, they are a mixture of aluminium and white metal. Wouldn't use white metal again, too soft and easily distorted, the AL rivets are good though. They're made in Japan by MFH but I got them from Hiro Boy along with a few other bits that have yet to appear.

cheers
Michael

Thanks Gabriel

Michael,
Great start so far.

I really loved those detail pictures of the real car. I envy you guys who have such access.

The pictures of the rear suspension and exhaust are fantastic. They clearly show that nothing is chromed, and only a few bars were actually polished Stainless Steel. The various colors will go a long way to making the suspension pop.

Joel

Thanks Joel.
Yes, looking at pictures in my reference guide there was no consistency in the colour of the various metal elements in these cars. Since they were all hand built over a period of years there were a number of variations in construction. I think a problem with looking at them today it is hard to say what is original to the mid-70s and what's being added to replace parts. Anyway, a fair amount of license allowed I think.

cheers
Michael

Some further work on the tub. In the realm of because I could even though you won't ever see it, a bit of bling for the pedals.
I gave the brake and clutch pedals a bit cross hatching for grip and then riveted the pedal boxes as they were on the car. Had to add a cylinder piston for the clutch pedal, something Tamiya left off and expanded the loud pedal for easier heel 'n toeing. This was a usual addition to the pedal.



The gear lever is very visible. The kit piece is the gear lever perpendicular to a rod. I just made look a bit more like the real thing.


Personally I blame Nick for giving me all these ideas

cheers
Michael

Hi Michael,

I’ll take that!

The rivets look great, and yes, you and I seem to be, well, I guess in the mood to just keep building if there’s a chance to do so - Nice work indeed! The extra mechanisms around the pedals look great.

I’ve added bolts and faked in rivets - but man, yours look really good.

Looking forward to your next post - keep up the nice work!
Cheers
Nick

I think Nick is influencing a lot of folks here with his detailing and scratchbuilding finesse!

Excellent progress made here Michael, very nice neat work.

Cheers, D

Michael,
I'm just loving all those extra details and corrections as needed. And I certainly agree that it's impossible to know what suspension or any parts were original and what was replaced and or upgraded. Being a race car, parts were bent, broken, or what not all the time. I'd be surprised if any of the rear suspension is original from day 1.

Love the addition to the clutch face plate for heal & toeing. That had to be the hardest thing I ever learned when I raced sports cars in the late 60s before my move to Enduro Karts, that I could ALMOST afford to do. Today, most of the professional classes of road racing cars use Auto Clutch, and the art of Heel & Toe is slowly fading away.

Joel

Micheal, very nice details and additions