In Box Review of Platz-NuNu 1/20th Scale
McLaren MP4/2C
’86 Portuguese GP
Kit no. PN20001
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
Available from HobbyLink Japan for 4648y ($42,88) or from Hobby Search Japan for 4600y ($42.53).
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
Available from HobbyLink Japan for 4648y ($42,88) or from Hobby Search Japan for 4600y ($42.53).
HISTORY:
It was in 1968 that F1 teams were given the right to wear sponsorship livery in F1 Grand Prix. The Team Lotus, initially using the British racing team , was the first team to implement sponsorship brands as a livery at the second round, Spanish Grand Prix in the 1968 season.
After that, the sponsorship liveries became common in motorsport , and not only automotive companies, but other companies can be the sponsors. McLaren, one of the main teams in the F1 Grand Prix, was originally painted in KIWI orange, named after its founder, driver Bruce McLaren, native of New Zealand.
From the 1970’s, McLaren won sponsors and painted the body with sponsorship liveries. In 1974, McLaren was sponsored by a tobacco brand and adopted a red and white livery, and it became a familiar color to motorsport fans. One of the ways to utilize this great advertising effect was saw at the 14th round, Portuguese Grand Prix in 1986. The #1 McLaren car , driven by Alan Prost, was in the usual red and white., but the #2 car, driven by Keke Rosberg was wearing a yellow and white livery, for advertising the sponsor’s new product. The idea was successful in attracting the attention of fans and had a huge promotional effect.
Needless to say, the machine had no major changes itself, and it was the MP4/2C that McLaren introduced to the 1986 season. The McLaren MP42/2C was the updated version powered by a 1.5 litre V6 twin-turbo engine with carbon monocoque chassis. This engine was funded by TAG and commissioned to be developed by Porsche. With the technology of Porsche, which had a lot of turbo engine development know how, the McLaren MP4/2C had stable performance and was active and earned many victories. McLaren and Prost and Rosberg drove in the 1986 season. They had 4 wins of the season. Prost successfully won the world championship.
It was in 1968 that F1 teams were given the right to wear sponsorship livery in F1 Grand Prix. The Team Lotus, initially using the British racing team , was the first team to implement sponsorship brands as a livery at the second round, Spanish Grand Prix in the 1968 season.
After that, the sponsorship liveries became common in motorsport , and not only automotive companies, but other companies can be the sponsors. McLaren, one of the main teams in the F1 Grand Prix, was originally painted in KIWI orange, named after its founder, driver Bruce McLaren, native of New Zealand.
From the 1970’s, McLaren won sponsors and painted the body with sponsorship liveries. In 1974, McLaren was sponsored by a tobacco brand and adopted a red and white livery, and it became a familiar color to motorsport fans. One of the ways to utilize this great advertising effect was saw at the 14th round, Portuguese Grand Prix in 1986. The #1 McLaren car , driven by Alan Prost, was in the usual red and white., but the #2 car, driven by Keke Rosberg was wearing a yellow and white livery, for advertising the sponsor’s new product. The idea was successful in attracting the attention of fans and had a huge promotional effect.
Needless to say, the machine had no major changes itself, and it was the MP4/2C that McLaren introduced to the 1986 season. The McLaren MP42/2C was the updated version powered by a 1.5 litre V6 twin-turbo engine with carbon monocoque chassis. This engine was funded by TAG and commissioned to be developed by Porsche. With the technology of Porsche, which had a lot of turbo engine development know how, the McLaren MP4/2C had stable performance and was active and earned many victories. McLaren and Prost and Rosberg drove in the 1986 season. They had 4 wins of the season. Prost successfully won the world championship.
THE KIT:
Platz-NuNu is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a tray and lid type box that is not shrink-wrapped.
The cover art shows a color illustration of the #2 McLaren MP4/2C. It is in yellow and white livery. It carries sponsor logos for Shell and Goodyear. It has a yellow 2 on its nose and on the sides of the rear spoiler. High on the sides of the spoiler is black SEGAFREDO. High behind the cockpit is black Rosberg Boss with a small Finish flag. On the front of the windshield there is a white outlined shield with white TAG HEUER on it.
Above is a small side view of the #1 McLaren, in the red and white livery, with a white “1” on the sides of the rear air spoiler. High behind the cockpit is black Prost Boss and a small French flag.
One corner of the box art has a seal that says “Two in one decals”
The kit is manufactured under license from McLaren Racing Ltd., McLaren is a trademark of McLaren Racing Ltd.
One side panel has 2 color side-view photos of the #2 McLaren. It says the model is made up with a detail set.
This is followed by: This is a plastic unassembled model kit.Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle carefully.Do not be near fire while using glue and paint. Suitable for age 15 and above. In multiple languages, including English.
Platz-NuNu is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a tray and lid type box that is not shrink-wrapped.
The cover art shows a color illustration of the #2 McLaren MP4/2C. It is in yellow and white livery. It carries sponsor logos for Shell and Goodyear. It has a yellow 2 on its nose and on the sides of the rear spoiler. High on the sides of the spoiler is black SEGAFREDO. High behind the cockpit is black Rosberg Boss with a small Finish flag. On the front of the windshield there is a white outlined shield with white TAG HEUER on it.
Above is a small side view of the #1 McLaren, in the red and white livery, with a white “1” on the sides of the rear air spoiler. High behind the cockpit is black Prost Boss and a small French flag.
One corner of the box art has a seal that says “Two in one decals”
The kit is manufactured under license from McLaren Racing Ltd., McLaren is a trademark of McLaren Racing Ltd.
One side panel has 2 color side-view photos of the #2 McLaren. It says the model is made up with a detail set.
This is followed by: This is a plastic unassembled model kit.Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle carefully.Do not be near fire while using glue and paint. Suitable for age 15 and above. In multiple languages, including English.
The other side panel begins with a suggested paint color listing of Mr. Color brand hobby paints. In 3 languages, including English, it then says: It is an unpainted assembly plastic model kit that reproduces the McLaren MP3/2C in F1 Grand Prix. Scale is 1/20th . and it finishes to be about 219 mm in length (8 1/4”) 80 mm in width (3 ½”).Body cowling is removable after assembled. Reproduced in detail, such as the frame, suspension, cockpit. Realistically produced TAG-Porsche V6 twin turbo engine and auxiliary equipment Marking for th #2 car driven by K.Rosberg and the #1car driven by A.Prost in the 1886 Portuguese Grand Prix.
Platz’s street address, telephone and FAX number are provided. Some parts may be too sharp. More caution and care needed for families with infants. When using adhesives and paints, do not use near fire to avoid flammability. In 3 languages, including English. NuNu Models e-mail address is provided.
Platz’s street address, telephone and FAX number are provided. Some parts may be too sharp. More caution and care needed for families with infants. When using adhesives and paints, do not use near fire to avoid flammability. In 3 languages, including English. NuNu Models e-mail address is provided.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 4 jet-black trees, 2 chalk-white ones, a clear tree, black vinyl tires, 5 metal screws, 2 decal sheets and small silver stickers in 5 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 8 pages in 7” x 10” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the car and READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in Japanese and English.
Page 2 begins with a repeat of the suggested paint color listing of Mr.Color brand hobby paints, over international assembly symbol explanations in Japanese and English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 19 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a coloring and marking guide. It shows a 5-view of the car in the #2 box art scheme.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations, over Platz’s telephone and FAX number.
Trees are alphabetized.
Chalk-white letter A tree holds: the top and nose of the car and cockpit rear wall (3 parts)
This kit contains 4 jet-black trees, 2 chalk-white ones, a clear tree, black vinyl tires, 5 metal screws, 2 decal sheets and small silver stickers in 5 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 8 pages in 7” x 10” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the car and READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in Japanese and English.
Page 2 begins with a repeat of the suggested paint color listing of Mr.Color brand hobby paints, over international assembly symbol explanations in Japanese and English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 19 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a coloring and marking guide. It shows a 5-view of the car in the #2 box art scheme.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations, over Platz’s telephone and FAX number.
Trees are alphabetized.
Chalk-white letter A tree holds: the top and nose of the car and cockpit rear wall (3 parts)
Jet-black letter B tree holds the floor (1 part)
There is no letter C tree.
There is no letter C tree.
Jet-black letter D tree holds: the inner walls, wheel centers, axle, radiators etc. (48 parts)
There is no letter E or F trees.
There is no letter E or F trees.
Jet-black letter G tree holds: wheel rims and engine air intake walls (6 parts)
There is no letter H tree.
There is no letter H tree.
The clear letter I tree holds the windshield and a lens (2 parts)
There is no letter J tree.
There is no letter J tree.
The chalk-white letter K tree. It holds the fenders, air foils etc. (14 parts)
There is no letter L tree.
There is no letter L tree.
Jet-black letter M tree holds: radiators, seat, suspension parts etc. (27 parts)
The 4 black vinyl tires are next.
There are 5 metal screws in the kit.
The 2 decal sheets complete the kits contents.
There is no driver figure included.
There is no driver figure included.
This is one highly detailed car model kit. It is not a weekend project.
Highly recommended.
I want to sincerely thank the folks at Platz-NuNu for this review sample.
All Platz-NuNu products can be seen on their website at:
Highly recommended.
I want to sincerely thank the folks at Platz-NuNu for this review sample.
All Platz-NuNu products can be seen on their website at:
Highly recommended.