The LMR's model design is now well into the 20% part of the 80/20 rule... Squinting from across the room, the model may look as good as done, but there has been lots of tuning and tightening relatively minute aspects of the model - both in terms of accuracy of the subject as well as for how the shapes will break down into paper model parts.

This first build is where all the theoretical design's guesses and cleverness get cut and folded into a tangible three dimensional thing. This build will reveal any problems with the design, highlight any joinery which is too tedious, tabs or fold lines which might be missing from the parts. I will make adjustments to help fiddly bits fit better, reload them to Pepa to be split and re-output as EPS for the Illustrator master file.

For the LMR, I'm partially committed to the idea of a full representation of the LMR's core chassis monocoque. I have always felt the 'curbside' models - mine included - and their closed bodywork missed the intent of designing these models in the first place which is to explore and reveal the layers of their engineering and design. The tradeoff is that more detail adds more parts and splits to the bodywork which adds a quite a bit of complexity to the model.

The inner tub needed a redesign and a few round-trips through Pepakura to fix isolated model faces and odd panel splits. The tub is still too complex, all the subtle changes in surface direction making for busy work which will ultimately be almost entirely hidden.

The last big design hurdle was working out the front splitter assembly. The splitter is truly the business end of a 220 mph machine and a critical detail on this era of car. Unfortunately it is also representative of the most design secrets so there's precious little in the way of reference images. Some inference, some imagination, and some staring at Mulsanne Mike's site images, I believe I have something close enough.