At Sixes and Sevens: Super 7 Group Build

[klutz_100]

One of my all time favorite TV shows is a 1960’s UK series called “The Prisoner”.
It was a cult show then and still has that status today with many fans around the world still debating the “meaning” of the show.

The hero of the show was Number 6, a secret agent who quits and is immediately kidnapped and whisked away to a secret location known as The Village where they try to discover why he resigned.

From my perspective another hero of the show was always his car – a Lotus Super 7 . The show was a major feature of the opening title sequence and also appeared in a couple of the episodes.

The Prisoner series was instrumental in boosting the popularity of the car which has become as iconic today as the TV show.

This fame was in fact a quirk of fate as the Prisoner's car was originally slated to be the Lotus Elan but when writer/director/producer/actor Patrick McGoohan went to the factory to collect the Elan he saw the Super 7, fell in love and the rest is history...

The Prisoner's series II Super 7 was British Racing Green with a characteristic yellow nose and a red interior. I will be basing my replica on Tamiya's great kit and the build will be almost entirely OOB with just a couple of minor modifications to bring the basic kit closer to the TV version.

For trivia fans, you should know that there were actually 2 different cars used in the series. The original car was sold after shooting the opening sequence to a new owner in Austraia where it later was written off in a crash. During later shooting of the series they realised they need the car! Lotus worked over night to transform another version into a look alike and if you watch the show carefully you can spot the differences. The Prisoner's registartion number – KAR 120C – is now owned by Caterham cars and used on demo models. The Prisoner's car had Lotus Elan wheels instead of factory wheels.

I usually leave the body until much later in my builds so that I can keep test fitting without worrying about damaging the paintwork but with this car many of the parts are fitted directly to the body so this time I stared with painting the body.

The only prep was required was to sand the body lightly and wash it. Very sharp molding. The dash cowling is a separate part and didn't fit too well at first but gentle bending with my warm hands soon fixed that (I hope!).

Body color is TS43 over grey and white primer. The paint was decanted and 3 mist and 2 normal coats were put through my airbrush and dust and stuff was sanded out between coats. The final wet coat was put on straight from the can (I've found that I get a better wet coat this way)




Yellow nose is Tamiya Chrome Yellow over base coats of Chrome Yellow.

All aluminium parts at this point are painted with Vallejo Air Aluminium (I love these paints). Interior color is the custom mix recommended by Tamiya.There is no clear or polishing to the final coat.





First minor modification is of the kit radiator fan. I'm hoping that the nose cone will be removable and this may be visible. The kit fan has horrid blades so I cut them off and made new ones with slips of brass sheet.






Enough words for now - enjoy and thanks for looking in!

[willimo]

Very cool take on this car - it's going to be awesome for the group build. Instead of stuffing a huge motor into it, you're making something significant in another way. Can't wait to see your typical detail manifested here.

[klutz_100]

Got most of the parts painted up in their base colors by now. They will need some further detail painting and washes etc.

I am quite pleased with the pedal/reservoir parts. 3-4 different colors/textures on tiiiiny parts. Thank God for Maskol liquid masking!!

















I have replaced the horrid looking plastic carb trumpet intakes with aluminium ones made from electronic wire connectors.
The kit part is drilled out to accept the new tubes.
The trumpets will be shortened but I thought it looked funny like this (for the time being )





Masked and painted the windscreen.
Used a super material for masking called Parafilm M (aircraft guy suse it for masking cockpits).
Key benefits is that it is gossamer thin so no thick edges, it trims cleanly under very light pressure from a fresh scalpel blade and it is also pretty resistant to non-excessive doses of Alclad.
Frame will be slightly detailed, washed and detail painted.











Window supports were pretty labor intensive.
Since they will probably be a focal point, I spent a lot of time cleaning them up and removing my only irritation with the kit so far - a big deep push-pin mark grrrrr
The molded rivets were shaved off, holes drilled out and I put real brass rivets on.




Exhaust painted in Alclad Chrome. Still debating "whether to weather" with heat staining

[proosen]

Now that is looking superb, but what else to expect?
Just has to nag on you a bit, where did the 2cv go? I really want to see it finished too, please.
Did I miss it getting finished or is it still in process?


Niclas

[MPWR]

Cool, another one I've been looking forward to seeing. While some of the heavily modded ones have been fun to watch, it's kinda refreshing to see a stock series 2.

Speak more of these aluminum wire connetors.

(And I know that I'm totally not one to talk, but what did happen to the 2CV? I'm hoping to see it done someday, too!)

[voyageur]

Yeah...a unique idea indeed. Excellent paint, too.

Funny, I have been asking myself the exact same thing for weeks - where's the 2CV???

[AmazonSprite]

Looking good! Looks like I won't be able to finish mine in time (can't spray the body due to the weather) so will be following this with great interest, as I'm also a Prisoner fan!!!

[klutz_100]

Jean-Paul the 2CV is in intensive care recuperating after being soemewhat squashed by somone who came into my workshop and put a box on top of him It's totally recoverable but sadly I've also started to do something I promised myself never to do - start a new project before I finish the one I'm working on (and the list of new kits I have that I can't wait to start is just getting longer... )

Andy, these are the metal connectors. I don't know what they are for or what their proper name is (wire boots rings a bell) but I DO know that they are useful little buggers Also used them to make the twin-sleeve exhaust tips on my Prowler (one inside the other).

[Honoturtle]

Nice trumpets!!

[robrex]

Cool. I'll have to keep an eye out for those connectors. Unfortunately half the pictures didn't show on my computer??

[gionc]

Great job mate. The parafilm is from the lab environment, isn't it? Would you say me where purchase it?

[quadzero]

Originally Posted by proosen

Now that is looking superb, but what else to expect?
Just has to nag on you a bit, where did the 2cv go? I really want to see it finished too, please.
Did I miss it getting finished or is it still in process?


Niclas

Not to take away from this great wip and project but I just saw a special on tv the other night about the 2cv and it reminded me of yours and how it's been a long time.
One thing I really like here is the windshield supports. Putting those rivets on is a great touch. And of course you should put some heat staining on the exhaust, just very delicately I feel. You"re the one who got me thinking of doing that to my own exhausts.
Edit: Just looked through the posts again and got my answer about the 2cv, I must need more coffee.

[sjelic]

OOB my as.... I alway kind a start an OOB model but in the end.....bah, it would just kill the fun if built straight OOB.

Great little bits and pieces Stevenski, I love that Lotus...I must get that kit and do something crazy with it

[MPWR]

And they come already flared? You cheater- they look terrific (if a bit long....)

Yeah, defnately weather that exhaust train a touch. Doesn't have to be alot, but 7s are meant to be driven and enjoyed- an unstained exhaust train just wouldn't be right.

Glad to hear JP can be resurrected- I think many of us will be enthusiastic for his triumphant return. (Though not to imply any lack of enthusiasm for your 7! Your builds are always a treat to watch.)

[sportracer02]

Hi Steve,

I have no idea about this TV series, however your progress looks cool so far.

Do you already have the wheels in your hand?