Mclaren Senna Bodywork Concept (WIP)

[sm1995]

Hola!

The reason I named the topic what I did is because there might be some big changes coming up in my life, in which case I probably won't be able to finish this model. But I wanted to share my ideas with you all so I decided to call it a "bodywork concept" thread instead. (yeah silly, I know)

I decided to start with the bodywork because IMO that is the most important part of any technic model (of an actual car). But this is entirely subjective so please don't get too upset :p

I like how everything turned out so far, the rear deck was pretty tough to get down but I'm happy with the final product; everything in there is solid and constrained despite the crazy angles. The door is obviously under heavy WIP but I'm completely out of a lot of panels and liftarms so might be a wait until I get back to building. 

Constructive criticism is always welcome! 

Cheers

Untitled by Shu, on Flickr

Untitled by Shu, on Flickr

Untitled by Shu, on Flickr

Untitled by Shu, on Flickr

Untitled by Shu, on Flickr

 

Edited January 30, 2018 by sm1995

[letsbuild]

Wow, looks good for now!

[Jeroen Ottens]

Some very smooth lines and good colourblocking

It is an intereting approach you take with detailing out a section before moving to the next (or do you have more sketchy full body versions lying around?). I have a tendency to do the same, but at times I wonder whether it is better to first sketch the entire outline with less smooth/optimized paneling to get a feel for the proportions. What is your take on that?

[Jurss]

Really good start

[1gor]

Good start 

[sm1995]

19 hours ago, Jeroen Ottens said:

Some very smooth lines and good colourblocking

It is an intereting approach you take with detailing out a section before moving to the next (or do you have more sketchy full body versions lying around?). I have a tendency to do the same, but at times I wonder whether it is better to first sketch the entire outline with less smooth/optimized paneling to get a feel for the proportions. What is your take on that?

Thanks everyone!

Well the way I go about it is that I first identify the area I think would be the hardest to model, I start there and establish a design “language”. For example is it going to be an “open” design or a closed one? Purely technic or a mixed approach? Lots of flex axles or none? I completely detail it out to see if my design philosophy looks good in real life. Then I follow suit with the rest and that’s why I do section by section. 

Maybe it is better to sketch out a rough framework initially and then detail it out, but I think sketching out proportions in itself isn’t that difficult; it’s details that set apart a mediocre model from a great model. 

just my 2 cents ?

Just out of curiosity, do you also have a reason for building by sections? 

[Jeroen Ottens]

14 minutes ago, sm1995 said:

Thanks everyone!

Well the way I go about it is that I first identify the area I think would be the hardest to model, I start there and establish a design “language”. For example is it going to be an “open” design or a closed one? Purely technic or a mixed approach? Lots of flex axles or none? I completely detail it out to see if my design philosophy looks good in real life. Then I follow suit with the rest and that’s why I do section by section. 

Maybe it is better to sketch out a rough framework initially and then detail it out, but I think sketching out proportions in itself isn’t that difficult; it’s details that set apart a mediocre model from a great model. 

just my 2 cents ?

Just out of curiosity, do you also have a reason for building by sections? 

If I build a section I have the tendency to detail it out. Not entirely sure why though. Maybe because I like doing this kind of bodysculpting. But every now and then I find out that the section may look good in itself, but that it has lost connection to the overall proportions (too low, too high, too wide, too curved, too flat, too... well, you get the idea). I then have to take such a section apart and start again. Which is a decision that has it's own natural resistance. It can take days before I can commit myself to take it apart and start over again, basically throwing away hours of development. Hence my feeling (in hindsight) that I maybe should first sketch out the proportions, before investing into the details...

But your approach also makes sense. It is just that in my commissioned work I typically have only one style, so that decision I don't have to make

 

[sm1995]

On 1/31/2018 at 8:15 PM, Jeroen Ottens said:

If I build a section I have the tendency to detail it out. Not entirely sure why though. Maybe because I like doing this kind of bodysculpting. But every now and then I find out that the section may look good in itself, but that it has lost connection to the overall proportions (too low, too high, too wide, too curved, too flat, too... well, you get the idea). I then have to take such a section apart and start again. Which is a decision that has it's own natural resistance. It can take days before I can commit myself to take it apart and start over again, basically throwing away hours of development. Hence my feeling (in hindsight) that I maybe should first sketch out the proportions, before investing into the details...

But your approach also makes sense. It is just that in my commissioned work I typically have only one style, so that decision I don't have to make

 

I was going to add a final note to my post saying that despite all of my reasons, most of the time I just get carried away because I love doing body-sculpting  Especially true in this case with the very interesting rear deck and spoiler.

But what you say is true, that's certainly a problem that I have run into several times. Because most of the time I don't use blueprints, I just do it by eye. But I guess at the end of the day I build that way because I enjoy it, despite it not being the most efficient or logical way. 

Edited February 2, 2018 by sm1995

[sm1995]

well, after building for about 3 days straight I finally managed to finish the front end of this car..  

In a nutshell, it was difficult. There are crazy swooping lines everywhere, with so many little details scattered all over. I'm short of a few pieces so it'll be a tiny bit more "full" when it's completely done,

EDIT - Just realized the middle vent is about a stud too tall, will lower that. Back to the drawing board..

IMG_2930 by Shu, on Flickr

IMG_4018 by Shu, on Flickr

IMG_0364 by Shu, on Flickr

IMG_6242 by Shu, on Flickr

 

 

Edited February 10, 2018 by sm1995

[DugaldIC]

Loving how this is shaping up, I'm very curious about the chassis that will be going below. The bodywork however is flowing together beautifully. 

[letsbuild]

Holy wow, absolutely stunning! Can't wait for the final result!

[BrickbyBrickTechnic]

Wow! Amazing so far! I think because of your model the actual car is growing on me 

[sm1995]

Thanks everyone! 

As far as the chassis side of this goes, I've been toying with the idea of implementing adjustable suspension with a "race mode" and a "normal mode". Since this car sits ludicrously low in race mode, the clearance between the wheel arches and tires is tiny. This means using gears and axles to control the ride height simply does not work because there's far too much slack in such a system. I tried linear actuators but then the clutch slips before the suspension even moves.

The solution is this very simple mechanical system where the top of strut is hinged to a lever which pivots to two different solid resting points, if that makes sense. those resting points are placed so that there's a ride height difference when switched between the two. It does take up a lot of space so I'm not sure if this will make it's way into the final model. I can already see there being lots of issues integrating such a system in the front with the paddle shifters and everything.

 

 

 

Edited February 11, 2018 by sm1995

[madcow]

Bodywork looks spot on. I have also tried creating adjustable suspension systems. They are rather tricky to incorporate into an rc drive train and a fully rc model. The amount of force required to compress the shocks is enormous for a fully rc system. I love your solution though, it is simple and very effective, but I would agree rather tricky to incorporate if space is a concern.

[Jeroen Ottens]

You've got some cool curves around the headlights But I am not too sure about the middle part, I can't really put my finger on it. It maybe a bit too high, or maybe it is too flat, or maybe it is because it isn't finished yet, but it feels a bit too boxy to me.

I like the knee-mechanism for the adjustable rideheight. It is a good way to guide the forces of the suspension into the chassis without overloading the parts. I'm sure you can miniaturize it when you tinker longer with it.

[JLiu15]

Looks like a great start!

[sm1995]

Thanks everyone!

On 2/11/2018 at 1:42 PM, madcow said:

Bodywork looks spot on. I have also tried creating adjustable suspension systems. They are rather tricky to incorporate into an rc drive train and a fully rc model. The amount of force required to compress the shocks is enormous for a fully rc system. I love your solution though, it is simple and very effective, but I would agree rather tricky to incorporate if space is a concern.

I can imagine  But I realized that combining the force-guidance system with a mechanism like the one in the Class used to switch between steering modes is a better solution here. I was thinking of having a panel underneath the car from which you can switch from race to normal mode, lets see how that pans out.

Claas system:

Spoiler

 

On 2/11/2018 at 3:44 PM, Jeroen Ottens said:

You've got some cool curves around the headlights But I am not too sure about the middle part, I can't really put my finger on it. It maybe a bit too high, or maybe it is too flat, or maybe it is because it isn't finished yet, but it feels a bit too boxy to me.

You were absolutely right, I redesigned the front end almost completely, the main issue was the angle of the of the light cluster and the flex axles surrounding them. The holdup from completing the build is the lack of pieces, I've been waiting for almost 2 weeks now for a shipment  Unfortunately I only have about 2 more weeks to finish this before I start my new job and have almost no free time.

As for an update, the rear 3/4 of the chassis is done, the gearbox is a 7 speed operating on the same basic principle as Jeroen's 8 speed gearbox (triggering a reducer gear between the gearbox and the engine on 5th gear) with the last gear blocked off. Nothing crazy.

Cabin space is very tight, unfortunately, but given the Senna's barebone interior I can fit in some THIN seats like in the real car... But the real bad news is that there is absolutely no space for a DNR switch in the cabin. The real car doesn't have a lever and instead has buttons so in an aesthetic sense this is more realistic (this is just an excuse I know)... personally I don't think it's a big deal but I could make space for it by having fixed suspension, but I think this a terrible tradeoff because adjustable suspension is a cooler feature IMO.

Beauty shot of bodywork resting on the chassis. You can see how low the suspension is in race mode 

Edited February 22, 2018 by sm1995
Reason: This is why you should proofread

[1gor]

I think this McLaren is designed to be build in LEGO Technic and you made really good job so far 

[sm1995]

On 2/23/2018 at 7:55 AM, I_Igor said:

I think this McLaren is designed to be build in LEGO Technic and you made really good job so far 

Thanks hahaha, and this is not the first time I've heard someone say that..  The styling of this car is pretty divisive to say the least. I personally love it, it's my favorite McLaren to date. That huge open rear deck and spoiler are just so cool IMO 

Anyway, in an effort to not bump this thread over and over again, from here on out I'll be posting progress on my flickr page. So anyone interested is welcome to follow me! 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/129602157@N03/744NMu

Here's one last pic, testing out proportions

Cheers!

Edited February 24, 2018 by sm1995

[Aventador2004]

Great! Looks just like it!

[KD123]

I appreciate the updates.  Keep them coming.  The front end looks spot on.  I like how you started with shaping the body and then make the chassis fit hence not compromising there look of the car.  I'm sure it can't be easy to do that, kudos to you!  

 One part of the Senna that I can't get used to are the doors. I'd get distracted if I could see the road through my doors while driving.   What a crazy car, I'm glad you've taken this on.  

I look forward to your next update here. 

 

 

 

[Lox Lego]

17 hours ago, sm1995 said:

Thanks hahaha, and this is not the first time I've heard someone say that..  The styling of this car is pretty divisive to say the least. I personally love it, it's my favorite McLaren to date. That huge open rear deck and spoiler are just so cool IMO 

Anyway, in an effort to not bump this thread over and over again, from here on out I'll be posting progress on my flickr page. So anyone interested is welcome to follow me! 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/129602157@N03/744NMu

Here's one last pic, testing out proportions

 

Cheers!

I've followed you on Flickr, super excited to see this supercar come together! As @KD123 mentioned above, interesting build style. I could never nuild like that personally but it seems to be working for you. Keep it up, loving it! 

[1gor]

Proportions look correct

[Jeroen Ottens]

I will miss the regular updates of this topic to be honest. I find it also easier to give feedback on this forum than via Flickr. But it is of course up to you.

[Aleh]

Looks interesting! Keep building!