10330 McLaren MP4/4 F1 Discussion

[TheDeeGee]

This set no doubt is going to have a lot of mods, so much is wrong with it.

[Stereo]

My plan, obviously made easier by owning 8445-1 Indy Storm, is to use the much older 6594 49.6x28 tires.  They have a nearly-compatible wheel size to current 49.5mm tires, maybe 0.2mm smaller, on the outer lip, on one side of the tire, and the other fits 4 stud round plates.  So I'll probably build up something of this nature - in picture it's 42716 wheel (thanks mini-Tumbler) and 2 layers of plates.  Have to check what style brakes the actual car uses, if they're at all visible; if not, black macaroni tiles around a 2x2 round tile with pinhole will polish it off neatly.

Relative width to 20mm wide tires is pretty good, 1:13 math says both are a little narrow. Should be ~23/34mm wide... going 28 front and 34 rear with the above 14+20 on the same axle might be the play.    Other things I tried that didn't work as well - old pulleys (they fit but stretch the tire), 4x4 turntable (fits the inside surface of the tread a little too tightly - but looks quite nice texturally), 10 tooth splat (again it's just a tiny bit too tight on the inside surface of the tread - would want to source some dk. grey of course), both versions of the Model Team wheel (original too small, new one's the right diameter but too wide to be useful)

Edited February 27, 2024 by Stereo

[Pchan1983]

I just built mine, mostly just for the Senna minifig. (although the hair style could have been more accurate) I like it, I totally understand how it's not accurate but for a guy that knows not much about Formula 1, I had a great time and still look good considering the size and price of the set.

 

[TheDeeGee]

I think these are currently the best looking, but i find them far too realistic looking on a LEGO model.

LEGO ICONS Senna F1 Mclaren Mp4/4 Goodyear Replacement Wheels & Tires - Etsy Netherlands

[TheDeeGee]

I think i'm going to go the route of a hackjob with original LEGO parts.

Get 2x 56904 and 2x 15413 and glue them together, i'll see later how i fill the hallow area of the 56904 tires. Could be as simple as rolling up some black paper.

[mDaro]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:43 AM, TheDeeGee said:

I think these are currently the best looking, but i find them far too realistic looking on a LEGO model.

LEGO ICONS Senna F1 Mclaren Mp4/4 Goodyear Replacement Wheels & Tires - Etsy Netherlands

The price is insane. A $70 upgrade to an $80 model is ridiculous. I hate the rear wheels and the helmet but I'm not paying almost the cost of the kit to replace the wheels. That dude could hundreds of those sets if they were in the $30 range. I'll wait for an STL file or 3D printed wheel and tire.

Found these:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1693586655/110-scale-mclaren-mp44-tyres?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=Lego+senna&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&cns=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1

$26. A quick sanding of the slick tread and they will look great.

[BrickMonkeyMOCs]

Found this as a free download:

https://www.printables.com/model/801870

    

It includes versions with and without sidewall logos.

[thaking]

I found that: https://www.ebay.com/itm/335313593713

[zonoskar]

People in the Netherlands can find the printed tires on marktplaats.nl for around 10 euro + shipping. They look great. I found that RAL 9010 matches the Lego white almost perfect, so after a little effort i got this. Still have to do the nosejob :)

 

Edited April 2, 2024 by zonoskar

[TheDeeGee]

Can anyone confirm that the McLaren rims fit in the 15413 tires?

On 4/2/2024 at 1:53 PM, zonoskar said:

People in the Netherlands can find the printed tires on marktplaats.nl for around 10 euro + shipping. They look great. I found that RAL 9010 matches the Lego white almost perfect, so after a little effort i got this. Still have to do the nosejob :)

Really dislike the GoodYear decal, it's way too small.

 

[RustyLego]

Still can't understand why they didn't release this set with wider rear tyres when it's intended as icons/tribute set.

[Mattitheiceman]

On 4/2/2024 at 1:53 PM, zonoskar said:

People in the Netherlands can find the printed tires on marktplaats.nl for around 10 euro + shipping. They look great. I found that RAL 9010 matches the Lego white almost perfect, so after a little effort i got this. Still have to do the nosejob :)

 

I really want to change the piece in the front that in the original set is red till up in front while on this pic the piece is much better. can anyone give me info for this mod?

 

Edited September 23, 2024 by Mattitheiceman

[zonoskar]

13 hours ago, Mattitheiceman said:

I really want to change the piece in the front that in the original set is red till up in front while on this pic the piece is much better. can anyone give me info for this mod?

 

Yeah, I painted mine :) Not something normal people do. But apparently there is a custom sticker sheet you can get to fix the color issue.

I also updated the front a bit. Not the MOD from Lucas. The bottom doesn't touch the wings anymore, but I kinda like this look. It def not correct for the car.

Oh, and if you don't like non-Lego pieces or 3D printed parts, you can get old wider tires (https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6594#T=C&C=11) that have the same diameter as the normal tires that are on the DeLorean for example. They just have treads. And the only rims that fit the color scheme are white (but I painted mine, again not what normal people do). They're about 3 euro per piece incl rims.

 

Edited September 23, 2024 by zonoskar

[TheDeeGee]

 

Recently uploaded, the perfect mod.

We just got to wait until early next year for the unprinted red wedge slopes on the side of the cockpit.

https://rebrickable.com/m...ren-mp44-upgrade/#details

Edited November 24, 2024 by TheDeeGee

[bentobrick]

Thanks for the post @TheDeeGee :) 

Mod designer here. I really wanted to avoid third-party stickers or 3D prints, and thank goodness the new 10353 set has the correct tires. TLG revealed the it right at the time I was finishing up my 10330 mod, and it really shows that they could have made 10330 so much better from the start.

I also didn't quite understand why they went with a "rounded square" look on the back of the engine cover/sidepods instead of following the V-shape of the engine cover. I don't think I've heard many people complain about it, but it's very obvious if you compare top-views.

No illegal connections or questionable techniques (as far as I can tell):

[RichardGoring]

9 hours ago, TheDeeGee said:

Recently uploaded, the perfect mod.

We just got to wait until early next year for the unprinted red wedge slopes on the side of the cockpit.
https://rebrickable.com/m...ren-mp44-upgrade/#details

37 minutes ago, bentobrick said:

Mod designer here. I really wanted to avoid third-party stickers or 3D prints, and thank goodness the new 10353 set has the correct tires. TLG revealed the it right at the time I was finishing up my 10330 mod, and it really shows that they could have made 10330 so much better from the start.

I saw this on Reddit and was meaning to look for it. Thanks for posting!

Bentobrick, it really is a wonderful MOD. I wasn't planning on getting the set, but with these MODs and the new tyres, I will be.

[TheDeeGee]

14 hours ago, bentobrick said:

Thanks for the post @TheDeeGee :) 

Mod designer here. I really wanted to avoid third-party stickers or 3D prints, and thank goodness the new 10353 set has the correct tires. TLG revealed the it right at the time I was finishing up my 10330 mod, and it really shows that they could have made 10330 so much better from the start.

I also didn't quite understand why they went with a "rounded square" look on the back of the engine cover/sidepods instead of following the V-shape of the engine cover. I don't think I've heard many people complain about it, but it's very obvious if you compare top-views.

No illegal connections or questionable techniques (as far as I can tell):

I'm guessing there will be multiple revisions until the new tires actually come out? Seeing you also changed the floor since the initial upload.

Best to hold out ordering parts until it's all finalized? :)

[bentobrick]

Accommodating the double wheels actually required me to change the way the entire rear axle is built, narrowing it from 5 studs apart to 3 studs. The rear tires will look way too wide if you don't make this adjustment.

The good news is that the 10353 tires look to be of the deep dish variety (screenshot from @kbalage's recent video). So if you use those you can keep the original "5-wide" rear axle and just slightly change the floor to make room for the wider tires.

I'll probably keep the current parts list and instructions until the FW14B releases since this is what you can mostly do "today", or as a decent alternative in case it turns out to be really hard to get a set of 10353 tires. I haven't decided if it makes more sense to just revise or upload a new version :)

[TheDeeGee]

I'll see by that time them, i'm not a LEGO designer or MOC creator so i have to go by the right instructions to get things right.

Worst case i'll leave the MP4/4 boxed up and resell it ^^

[david453]

You should get these wheels. They really help improve the Lego model with a more realistic wheel.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/156316792393?itmmeta=01JM0QCT7S3KWVANQT4SMFMWJV&hash=item246534f649:g:XkkAAOSwdhJmnsuD

[prototyp]

Here’s a super-mod of Lego’s 10330 McLaren MP4/4. I love that they're doing more detailed Icons series, love the historical F1 story arc… Having been a lifelong fan of high-detail kits like Tamiya’s 1/20 and 1/12 series I can’t help but see further potential in these Lego models.

Started with @bentobrick Bento's fine mods to the kit’s nose and front wing, but couldn’t get past Lego's bulbous quarter-dome parts at the roll-hoop and the too-compact, funky proportions.

Ended up changing everything about the model design. Dramatic changes to proportions with a longer cockpit and tub, shorter and redesigned center/fuel-cell cowling, longer rear engine cover, wider track, longer wheelbase. Fully redesigned build and architecture with a separate tub and driveline, a new build sequence. Wholly new tub, new floor, new sidepods, new engine build and details, heavily revised engine and sidepod cover, revised wings front and rear.

It's a lot - and retains about half the kit's parts - but the result feels much more like a proper replica rather than the cute, toylike Lego set representation. If you wish to stay a bit closer to the kit's design and parts, I highly recommend checking Bento's mod up at Rebrickable.

Sharing some renders for now, and will be doing a full photoshoot when the Williams sets arrive and I can poach the printed staggered wheel/tires. Instructions and parts lists available now at my shop http://prototyp-brickworks.com, will be on Rebrickable a bit later.

Ps. I did a similar ground-up super-detail rework of the Williams FW14B I'm cranking through instructions for now... watch the Williams thread, Flickr or my Insta

Edited February 21 by prototyp
added mech detail image

[bentobrick]

Awesome job @prototyp. Very impressed with your work on this evolving over the past few months. That engine detail is exquisite and you should post some close-ups if you get the chance!

[prototyp]

On 2/15/2025 at 4:05 PM, bentobrick said:

Awesome job @prototyp. Very impressed with your work on this evolving over the past few months. That engine detail is exquisite and you should post some close-ups if you get the chance!

Thank you Bento, appreciate the ongoing collab. Looking forward to your next work!

[krtwood]

I thought I would share a comparison with this set's spiritual ancestor 5540.  We've come a long way in ~40 years, with one glaring regression.

 

[TheDeeGee]

On 2/15/2025 at 4:13 PM, prototyp said:

Here’s a super-mod of Lego’s 10330 McLaren MP4/4. I love that they're doing more detailed Icons series, love the historical F1 story arc… Having been a lifelong fan of high-detail kits like Tamiya’s 1/20 and 1/12 series I can’t help but see further potential in these Lego models.

Started with @bentobrick Bento's fine mods to the kit’s nose and front wing, but couldn’t get past Lego's bulbous quarter-dome parts at the roll-hoop and the too-compact, funky proportions.

Ended up changing everything about the model design. Dramatic changes to proportions with a longer cockpit and tub, shorter and redesigned center/fuel-cell cowling, longer rear engine cover, wider track, longer wheelbase. Fully redesigned build and architecture with a separate tub and driveline, a new build sequence. Wholly new tub, new floor, new sidepods, new engine build and details, heavily revised engine and sidepod cover, revised wings front and rear.

It's a lot - and retains about half the kit's parts - but the result feels much more like a proper replica rather than the cute, toylike Lego set representation. If you wish to stay a bit closer to the kit's design and parts, I highly recommend checking Bento's mod up at Rebrickable.

Sharing some renders for now, and will be doing a full photoshoot when the Williams sets arrive and I can poach the printed staggered wheel/tires. Instructions and parts lists available now at my shop http://prototyp-brickworks.com, will be on Rebrickable a bit later.

Ps. I did a similar ground-up super-detail rework of the Williams FW14B I'm cranking through instructions for now... watch the Williams thread, Flickr or my Insta

The only thing that bothers me is the missalignment of the red slopes on the cockpit.