Lotus Type 78 F1 car. Tamiya. 1/12.

[cor]

Hi all. Im getting into large scale F1 cars. Have been wanting to build this for a long time.

Its a new release of a 1978 kit. Very generous photo etch sheet. Got the John Player decals and various other extras to detail it up.

Heres some pics before I start building.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool!!!!

[Johnj]

Nice one cor these jet black cars are stunning. I do or did have that kit but cant find it

[digger303]

Nice one....lucky to get one with tobacco advertising these days.

[cor]

Made a start with the engine.
Used optic cable for the clear fuel lines, as the kit tubing is a bit too thick.
Added the mesh covers, a bit oversize, but still better then the plastic ones in the kit.
Some photo etch bolt heads on the cam covers.
Its mostly stock oob, which is pretty good for a 45 year old kit.

[cor]

Nice one....lucky to get one with tobacco advertising these days.

The JPS decals were aftermarket. The kits just done have them anymore, which is a pity. I like the cars to look like are supposed to, with full advertising, otherwise its a bit to pc for me.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Sweet
Great project

[DRUMS01]

I've built several 1/12 Tamiya F1 cars, but not this one (even though I like it). I have built this in 1/20 but your build string will be fun to follow. How did you mold the screens, did you use the plastic as a pattern and bent the screen over it? Also did you test fit the air scoop over them to ensure they fit once assembled?

PS: Nice detail (good idea) on the DOHC cam covers.

Ben

[cor]

I've built several 1/12 Tamiya F1 cars, but not this one (even though I like it). I have built this in 1/20 but your build string will be fun to follow. How did you mold the screens, did you use the plastic as a pattern and bent the screen over it? Also did you test fit the air scoop over them to ensure they fit once assembled?

PS: Nice detail (good idea) on the DOHC cam covers.

Ben

Hi Ben

The air screens were just a solid bit of plastic with a mesh texture, so I bent the wire mesh over them and used ca glue to hold them tight, so they are the thickness of the wire mesh larger. Yes, the air scoop does fit over them, just, but this could be a different story once all the parts are in place. If it's too tight, Im prepared to mod the air scoop to fit, but fingers crossed all will be well.

[Johnj]

I've built several 1/12 Tamiya F1 cars, but not this one (even though I like it). I have built this in 1/20 but your build string will be fun to follow. How did you mold the screens, did you use the plastic as a pattern and bent the screen over it? Also did you test fit the air scoop over them to ensure they fit once assembled?

PS: Nice detail (good idea) on the DOHC cam covers.

Ben

Yeah, i was wondering the same thing Ben. It's worth taking the chance i think for how much better it looks.

I take it, it would be the width that might be the problem and not the height cor ?

[cor]

I've built several 1/12 Tamiya F1 cars, but not this one (even though I like it). I have built this in 1/20 but your build string will be fun to follow. How did you mold the screens, did you use the plastic as a pattern and bent the screen over it? Also did you test fit the air scoop over them to ensure they fit once assembled?

PS: Nice detail (good idea) on the DOHC cam covers.

Ben

Yeah, i was wondering the same thing Ben. It's worth taking the chance i think for how much better it looks.

I take it, it would be the width that might be the problem and not the height cor ?

Im actually thinking the height. The width has a couple of lips either side that can easily be trimmed. The scoop itself is very low and flat, however the mesh isnt that thick, so fingers crossed it will fit.

And yes, the mesh looks waaay better that the plastic parts. Tamiya should have included some mesh covers for the re-release, as they went all out eith a large PE sheet.



Here's some pics of the rear end. Just need to add the exhausts and it should be done.
The PE disc brakes are a really nice addition. I added some aftermarket nut and bolt pe bits here and there, plus a few cables, and the traingular things with springs under the rear of the intake trumpets, just to add fill it in a bit. Overall its looking pretty nice.

[RangerNeil]

Thats a nice looking vehicle when its finished - I remember them appearing for the first time. Build looks excellent too!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fantastic

[cor]

Thanks guys. Engine is finished now with the exhausts attached. Until I build the body, the engine itself is on display in the hobby shop window next to the F2002 Ferrari I just built.

[cor]

Started on aluminium foil coating of the body. There's more than a few wrinkles, but Im hoping that after all the bits are added you wont notice. I really like this foil, its better than any paint I've tried but doesnt go over bumps without wrinkling.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Started on aluminium foil coating of the body. There's more than a few wrinkles, but Im hoping that after all the bits are added you wont notice. I really like this foil, its better than any paint I've tried but doesnt go over bumps without wrinkling.

That's a good idea for metal coverage. What foil are you using??
Nothing looks like metal better than metal. Same goes for wood.

[cor]

That's a good idea for metal coverage. What foil are you using??
Nothing looks like metal better than metal. Same goes for wood.

Hi Scott. This is a roll of tape, used for air conditioning sealing gaps. Bout 7 bucks for a big roll. Good value.

I re did the fuel valve using a washer, some pe bolt heads, and a sheet of styrene covered in foil over the top of the moulded-in valve cover. I think it looks cleaner.

[cor]

Heres some progress on the lotus


Lots of metal foil everywhere. Replaced the kit hose joints with resin ones, the red and blue connectors, used some of the hoses I got when I was in hong kong last year, the silver metal ones are hat elastic, and overall im happy with how the details turned out.

[cor]

I redid the fuel hoses using steel spring instead of the hat elastic. I think it looks alot better as the spring holds the tubular shape and is metal, whereas the elastic flattened out as just was a bit overscale with the weave.





.

[cor]

Side radiators installed, with pe grills and aluminium wire for the hoses. Front fire extinguisher done.

[cor]

Bit of an update. Front end mostly done.

[DRUMS01]

Looking really good so far....

[Twokidsnosleep]

So realistic!!!

[digger303]

Top flight work.

[cor]

Looking really good so far....

Thanks ben, it's slowly coming along

So realistic!!!

Thanks scott, thats fine praise

Top flight work.

Thank you sir


The kit is first rate and would build up into a great kit oob. Its not for beginners, but still a testament to tamiya who designed this 45 years ago. I think its even better than the latest 2018 Meng 1/12 Mclaren MP 4/4 which I have and will build soon. Meng made too many mistakes which I'll cover when I start that build...


The body work is coming along slowly.
There are something like 10 or 12 separate panels that make up body, and the pin stripes need to line up along these.
The engine is just clicked into place, so it can still be removed when I work on the front section of the car.
Theres still a lot of work to do, but its looking really nice so far.

The black panels were oversprayed , sanded back, oversprayed again etc etc, using tamiya semi gloss clear. I will polish this to a gloss once its cured in a few weeks. I think that will look more realistic that a full gloss coat, as the car was for racing, not showrooms, and the slight unevenness of the polishing will fit the look im going for.


The aluminium foil is starting to pay off now that it just peeks through the black bodywork








I used a stack of tiny phillip head screws to simulate the bolts around the fuel filler caps, which are photo etch from the kit






photo etch grilles on the front intakes are a nice touch

[Twokidsnosleep]

Excellent idea with the little screws
Loving the extras and this black and gold with decals looks awesome!

[digger303]

[DRUMS01]

Here-here, I second the motion.....

[cor]

Excellent idea with the little screws
Loving the extras and this black and gold with decals looks awesome!

Here-here, I second the motion.....

Thanks guys, it is s good looking car

Heres how it looks now after attachment and lots of polishing of the many body panels

[digger303]

awesome.

[Garion77]

this is more then awesome !

[cor]

Thanks guys.

I've been polishing and polishing and its been a real chore, but worth it. Nearly finished, just the rear wing and wheels and some touch ups.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Super

[RangerNeil]

Now that IS a beautiful job!!

[DRUMS01]

Looks wonderful great work!

Are you gong to show us a full reveal once the rear wing is done?

[cor]

this is more then awesome !

Super

Now that IS a beautiful job!!

Looks wonderful great work!

Are you gong to show us a full reveal once the rear wing is done?

Thanks guys. Yes Ben, there was some headache inducing touch up of the paintwork that I had to wade through, but it is finally done.



Final reveal pics here - Lotus Final Pics

[digger303]

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes top