Completed Monogram Lotus Esprit 300 Sport

Here's a kit I recently finished of the Monogram Lotus Esprit. I've had this kit for a long time and finally deiced to build it. This has to have been one of the absolutely worst fitting models I've ever built. The sub assemblies go together great. It has a fantastic engine. The suspension is detailed but none of those subassemblies fit together. Be prepared to do a lot of plastic cutting, bending and epoxying if you build one.

The color is Ford Cayman Metallic w/ Tamiya clear and polished. The wheels are from the kit and the tires are from the Tamiya F40 kit.

Thanks for looking....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1626.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1627.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1628.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1629.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1630.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/justdande/000_1631.jpg

Still it turned out pretty nice!
Looks clean

did that kit require any lowering? it sits very nicley.

lowering is required...nice build...

beautiful build! This is one of those kits I have given up on chasing :(

nicely done! so envious, i wish i can still find that kit around here.

Nice looking result, Eric. Good color choice. I assume the spoiler and rear deck are from the kit. They look a little odd.
I have the Monogram Lotus Esprit Turbo kit. Hopefully it wont have all the fit problems. Any areas that were especially bad for fit?

looks very clean
Awesome work.

Looks great in pics :smokin: ! Looks great in person :smokin: !

In fact, the color in the pics looks even better than the model-a tad less "blue".

Thanks for the tutorial on how to lower it...unfortunately, it would be very hard to recreate for the internet.

Wow, that is nice! All your extra effort making everything fit sure paid dividents, the final result is stunning!
Most find one of those kits...

You did a nice job!!
I've tryed this one in my earlier days but I didn't finish it because there were to many problems. Seems like you have more patience...... :icon16:

That looks awesome. Very nice work there.

Very beautiful! Keep up the great work!!

Frank X.

Beautiful work!!:) I sold mine on ebay because I was too lazy to try and build it.:(

Thanks everyone for the compliments.

The kit does require lowering, a lot.

Ken, the spoiler and rear hatch came with the kit. It's straight out of the box, as far as parts go, except for the tires.

As for fit problems, the front lower body piece is too wide and has to be filed down some on the outside surfaces, the rear hatch was warped a little in my kit just enough for it not to sit right. The side skirts are very difficult to attach. They squeeze between the body and chassis and the pressure pushes them out before you can clamp or tape them in place to dry. But most of all the ride height needs a lot of work and the best way to fix that it to section the center tunnel piece to allow the chassis to go further up into the floorpan. When you section this piece you'll also have to remove the same amount of plastic from the top edge of the engine bay side panels. I suggest attaching the exhaust after the body is on the completed chassis.

Thanks again everybody....

Very nice !

So much memory. I did this kit maybe 12 years ago

I know this kit is very hard to built as you said.
but you've done it very cleanlily with fantastic shine.
nice work!

Looks awesome! Any engine pictures?

Looks awesome! Any engine pictures?
:iagree: 12 of 10 points! Engine pics would be great.

Sorry, no engine pics.....
...this was one of the frustrating things because I built and painted the engine with various metalizers, etc.... but the the body and rear hatch in my kit were warped and the hatch had to be epoxied to the body to help make it at least a decent shelf model. It was either that or make it a donor kit...

Very nice Lotus! The color is very nice.
You've managed to turn a lump of a kit into a gem.
Can't wait to see what's next. :)

Sweet!

Ok, I know this is old, but I missed it the first time around.

A very nice build of what can best be described as a challenging kit.
I'm gonna havta find my WIP and check the ride height now...

OMG...this brings back memories! Exactly this car (British racing green / tan) was the first car I ever did 260+ in when I was 18! I've been looking for this kit so long now I almost gave up. I really enjoy that you built it - it's very nice, clean and resembles the stance of the original perfect! LOVE IT!

Cheers from Germany

Sebastian

BTW: I'm in progress building the Esprit Turbo (US Version), it's 20% complete.

Looks great! That last shot looks very life-like. Well done.

Great job. I remember attempting to build this kit years and years ago. I had the same problems as you, but not enough skill to complete it 1/2 as well as you've done.

BTW: I'm in progress building the Esprit Turbo (US Version), it's 20% complete.[/quote]

I am new here. Just found the forum a couple of weeks ago. I just finished the Esprit Turbo (US Version) - and I am not proud of it. I thought I totally lost all skill, nothing fit together. In addition all bigger parts, (body, tub with engine mount, and the middle frame with the suspension mounts), were badly warped. I used a lot of glue to hold it all in some sort of shape that resembles a car. :banghead:

I am glad to find out it is a bad kit and not my thick fingers that caused (at least part of the problem).

Can I tack on a question here? How do I straighten warped and bent parts? I heard it's done with hot water somehow. But how do I get it to the right shape?

Cheers

Nice work, i have one in the closet waiting to be built, thanks for the tips. The color came out excellent.

[quote] Can I tack on a question here? How do I straighten warped and bent parts? I heard it's done with hot water somehow. But how do I get it to the right shape?

Try (slightly) bending it w/o heat first, if that doesn't work put it in warm water for a couple of minutes and try again. If that fails try heating it with your hairdryer - but be VERY careful and start with the coolest setting and some distance!!! Gradually work your way up to the temp that is needed.
Good luck and don't melt it :nono:

Very nice colour choice, I never even knew there were kits made of the Esprit.