Jim Clark Lotus Elan

[klutz_100]

I have completed one half of my Jim Clark project – the Lotus Elan that he would/might have driven to the Aintree British Grand Prix in 1962.



Based on the Gunze Sangyo Elan S3 kit, it is not a 100% accurate replica but has been painted in an appropriate color scheme. Clark’s number plates have been added together with a radio antenna.

The kit is very nice and overall fit is perfect but the original decals were terrible and have been replaced by masking and painting the appropriate places. Also, the kit’s vinyl window surrounds are a nice idea but are too thick to be in scale and are quite fussy to fix in place (non-fogging CA recommended here). The roof and windscreens are molded in one piece in clear styrene but simple masking is all that is needed (the kit allows you to make either a fixed head coupe or open top version).

The less then perfect paint finish is attributable to the Vallejo primer I used for the first (and last) time. It makes a crap base for car modeling – too rough, textured and hard to smooth out.

Not my best build but I still like it!













Now on to finish the Lotus 25 he drove later that day on the track!

[godfather23]

Well, the pictures show none of your problems with the primer.

The build looks well done - nothing to complain about. Nice little racer.

I´d say not to worry - overall you can be happy with your work. I guess you know that...


Robert

[Veyron]

Lovely subject and build!

[A.L.Ttuning]

Very nice and clean one ! but I don't see panel lines superb car !

[kaho]

Nice little model! I never realized this car has no mirrors until seeing this thread!

[quadzero]

Originally Posted by godfather23

Well, the pictures show none of your problems with the primer.


Robert

What a little beauty. Very clean and well done, as usual.

[drunken monkey]

Looks great and that aluminium looks spot on.
Is it un-glossed TS-17?

[klutz_100]

Thanks guys
Maybe it doesn't show fully in the photos but the paint finish really is not 100% in places. As much as I am a big fan of most Vallejo paints and products, I honestly advise thinking twice about using their spray primers for car bodies - I have had the same bad impressions on two 1/24 builds now.

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

Looks great and that aluminium looks spot on.
Is it un-glossed TS-17?

Thanks. Thanks also for your input and guidance sometime ago when I asked for help on choosing the colour

Yes, it is TS Gloss Aluminum which was then lightly smoothed with 6000 micromesh (it did not disturb the metallic finish BTW).

My original plan was to leave it "as is" but ultimately I doused (literally) the whole roof and window part once in Future/Klear. My prime reason for doing this was to spruce up the clear parts but I also felt that the Gloss Aluminum woudl benefit from the treatment. IMO the final result justified that.

The bumpers are plain TS-Gloss Aluminum.

Originally Posted by A.L.Ttuning

Very nice and clean one ! but I don't see panel lines

Thanks. Sorry but I don't really see what you mean. IMO overall the panel lines are quite visible - they were scribed out. The hood panel lines, however, are quite light. This is because the hood is a separate part and fits quite tightly. I could have perhaps made this a bit better.

[drunken monkey]

Future over the TS-17 eh?
Might have to try that.
I've got a Gunze Elan that is screaming out for a Tamiya Lotus engine to be fitted but I've never had any good experience with TS-13 over the 17 to have any confidence in it to make a real start on that.

[MPWR]

Verry cool. Beautiful work as always, on a fantastic subject. I don't think I've ever seen this kit built up, it's good to see that it can be done.

I seem to remember sending you a master for hubcovers that would probably work perfectly on those wheels....

Covered with Future?? I'm going to cover my eyes and ears and pretend I didn't see that. Lalalalalalalalalala!....

[360spider]

Very cool subject and terrific execution!
Nicely done Steve.

[klutz_100]

Thanks Andy. Thanks Alex

Originally Posted by MPWR

Covered with Future?? I'm going to cover my eyes and ears and pretend I didn't see that. Lalalalalalalalalala!....

Don't worry, it was only the roof and windows
Seriously though, I agree with you 90% about the miracle uses of Future (or lack thereof) but I have found that it really is cool to have around and can be very useful at times.

Originally Posted by MPWR

I seem to remember sending you a master for hubcovers that would probably work perfectly on those wheels....

Absolutley! I even had it out to try but the Gunze wheels and the S7 wheels are very different in size and the hub-cap didn't fit. I actually asked Micha to buy me this kit in Germany a couple of years ago for the S7 group build - at the time I thought it might be a donor for wheels onto the "Prisoner" car but .... it turned out that size does matter after all! LOL

[sportracer02]

Hi Steve,

did I miss one of your projects meanwhile? I really thought you´d take a longer break from modelling .

Model looks great, I agree with you concerning the panel lines, I also try to deepen them before painting.

Just one thing: the wipers look a little bit huge/heavy for this little car.

[klutz_100]

Thanks Micha
Only three completed models so far this year so it's pretty slow LOL

Originally Posted by sportracer02

Just one thing: the wipers look a little bit huge/heavy for this little car.

I fully agree with you. That's why I even took the smallest p/e wiper I had and put it together...




But even that was too big




I suppose what I should have done is graft the kit blade to the p/e arm or something similar but....I was too lazy

[sportracer02]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

I suppose what I should have done is graft the kit blade to the p/e arm or something similar but....I was too lazy

... right your are, we cannot push to the limit each time, it is still a hobby ;-)