I have just started building a Tamiya Lotus Super Seven 1:24.
It is the first of three I am going to be building. 1 at 1:24, 1 at 1:12 and 1 at 1:1!!.

As we will be building a 1:1 kit car I have decided to to make the 1:24 kit as close as possible to what the real scale one will be. Therefore I am doing the following to the model:

New wheels (wider)
New seats
Roll bar added
Wing fenders removed and cycle fenders added.
Rear wheel arches widened

The car will be a colour scheme of blue and silver.

This is the first car kit where I have actually cut and changed the body - so a whole new experience. i picked up the kit fairly cheaply so not to worried if it gets messed up.

I have posted progress pics at this link:
Progress Pics (http://tutor.petech.ac.za/arch/lotus1.htm)

I have also posted pics of the vac-forming of the cycle fenders just for interest.
Vac Form Pics (http://tutor.petech.ac.za/arch/lotus2.htm)

What do you think????

I Love the Lotus Super 7!
And the idea withe the circle fenders: GREAT!
And your vacuum machine.....wow! ...wow, wow, wow!
:thumbsup:

Not every day we have the chance of building a 1:1 car. :) Will be interesting to see some of it progress too.
About the 1:24 project it’s coming real nice. Great work with the body modifications.
I’ll be waiting for some new progresses of your work.

Wow Heather, looks like you've got off to a fantastic start!!

Useful photos of the vacuum forming process there too! :smokin:

I look forward to following this build up.

nice job...looks like yours is gonna be far better than mine.

it seems like we have had exactly the same idea about the seats http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=119460

That's gonna be one sweet looking Se7en! Can't wait to see more updates.

Excellent work

This is an update to my previous post
Previous post (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=154123)

I have completed the dash and have started spraying the body.

The Blue paint I have used is a pearlescent type acrylic paint I found at an art shop some time ago that works brilliantly thru an airbrush.

The silver is regular automotive 2K.

Would like to get some feedback on the paint job!!

Have posted new pics here:
Dash and Paint Work (http://tutor.petech.ac.za/arch/lotus3.htm)

Simdel1 - I did see your post and it motivated me to get moving on this kit - your seats seem to have come out better than mine - I need to somehow get some extra padding onto them??

Would like to see some more progress pics on yours :-)

This is an update to my previous post
Previous post (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=154123)


We like to keep all the updates in one thread ;) So I merged the two.

As for the feedback - looks superb! :cool: Has it been clearcoated yet? I really like the colour combination!

But did you use primer? I can see the line on the rear fender where it's been widened, which is an indication that the surface underlying the paint is not of the same colour.

Thanx Alex,

It hasn't been clearcoated yet.

I used the normal grey automotive primer on all parts and then sprayed them all silver, but the rear fender section showed up some small flaws in the silver, so the pic you are seeing is showing the silver coat which has been sanded and worked on - will hopefully respray tonight.

I like the idea of scratchbuilding seats. Looks like good progress so far.

Have made some progress with the painting of the body.

The blue and silver are completed with a clear coat over and polished with finishing wax.

Painted Pics (http://tutor.petech.ac.za/arch/lotus4.htm)

Hope to complete the car this weekend - will show further pics on Monday.

Still need to create brackets for the cycle fenders and mount the wheels correctly.

Let me know your comments.