Tamiya Super 7 kitbash

First post and first kit build in three years. Thought I'd share since you've all shared so much with me.

This kit was never going to be built OOB. Inspired by other AF Super 7 builds and various special edition Caterhams. Only question was how far to take it, limited to physical kit limitations ie: 5.0l Mustang V8 or wide 20' racing wheels too big without major modifications although some mods such as narrowing the racing seats and tunnel needed to be done. At the end of the build, the only unmodified original parts used will be the front upper and lower suspension arms, kingpins, and rear axle tracking links. Only things I haven't figured out are how the steering rod is going to fit (realistically) around the V-8 and the color.

notable kitbash parts and source:

hood louvers - 1/12 tamiya Honda NSR
engine block/headers - 1/24 Ertl V8 Lola-Chev indycar
wheels - 1/24 Revell Mini
dash and steering wheel - 1/20 tamiya Mclaren MP4/5b

Enough words, I hope you enjoy

http://images45.fotki.com/v1394/photos/1/1441988/7031965/01-vi.jpg

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Interesting build. Looking forward to what you can do with it...
Although may I ask that you edit your last post by pressing enter after each photo?

Wow! Excited to see this one!

Please please please dont put a V8 in this kit. I beg you to think about putting a little 4 cylinder naturally aspirated screamer in it, otherwise i fear Colin Chapman will be spinning in his box! Like what you've done though chief.

Nice work so far, great idea, I also have had a similar idea. Its amazing how small the car is when you compare it to another 1/24 scale car, the wheels are only like 5mm wide!!!! tiny.
Are you trying to Replicate Caterhams Seven RST V8? if so your doing a great job, if not, its a pretty good fluke.

Cant wait to see more

Please please please dont put a V8 in this kit. I beg you to think about putting a little 4 cylinder naturally aspirated screamer in it, otherwise i fear Colin Chapman will be spinning in his box! Like what you've done though chief.
I fully agree that a V8 goes against Chapman's mantra but I went with whatever parts were available and didn't look too ridiculous. (no suitible I-4 or I-6 in my parts box) The Chev indy engine i believe is 2.65l capacity so it isn't too large and doesn't look too out of place.

da ashman: yes the Caterham Levante RST V8 was a big influence in overall concept and sytling of my build, adapted to my preferences. I found some slick tires 8.6mm and 9.7mm wide that scaled up, will be about 205/17 and 235/17 with the same overall height as the stock ones

Here's how the engine sits:
http://images48.fotki.com/v1407/fileOmr4/efe77/1/1441988/7031965/14.jpg

http://images43.fotki.com/v1383/fileenMh/efe77/1/1441988/7031965/13.jpg

Please please please dont put a V8 in this kit. I beg you to think about putting a little 4 cylinder naturally aspirated screamer in it, otherwise i fear Colin Chapman will be spinning in his box! Like what you've done though chief.

Well Colin Chapman was a big fan of lightness of his car. And some modern V8's give a verry high output for a small weight and a low centre of gravity, so I don't think Chapman would mind a lot.

some progress, waiting for the temperature to warm up a bit (unseasonal -8C degrees at the moment) before painting the body and finding time between all the Christmas parties

Front shocks with molded springs removed
http://images48.fotki.com/v1407/photos/1/1441988/7031965/15-vi.jpg

dashboard CF'd with ScaleMotorsport 1/12 Hi-Def decals and shock with thin solder as springs. Steering wheel a bit too shiny at the moment.
http://images43.fotki.com/v1386/photos/1/1441988/7031965/16-vi.jpg

http://images47.fotki.com/v1398/photos/1/1441988/7031965/17-vi.jpg

engine painted, awaiting more ancillary parts and detailing. It fills completely without the need to modify the engine bay. The water pump and alternator are donated from my part box and the fan belt is Tamiya masking tape painted black, too bad it is almost completely obscured by the radiator when mounted
http://images48.fotki.com/v1412/photos/1/1441988/7031965/19-vi.jpg

http://images48.fotki.com/v1412/photos/1/1441988/7031965/18-vi.jpg

looking good.
where did you get the guage panel from?

Dash Panel? from a Tamiya mp4/5b kit

Ok , let's try it again. I posted an update earlier with larger images and that seems fine for a few hours then the pictures disappeared. If anyone can help me posting larger pics, I'd appreciate it, thanks in advance.

Here it is again: a quick pic to check the stance and 'overallness' http://images48.fotki.com/v1411/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12087-vi.jpg

The seats were painted, CF applied to the back and seat material left over from the Tamiya Bimota Tesi kit applied to the seating area. It gives a subtle two-tone, leather and alacantra look. I'll mash together some seat belts later on
http://images42.fotki.com/v1380/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12107-vi.jpg

I was originally going to use the wheels as-is for a quick build but as the build progressed, realized I'd never be happy with that. Brake cooling ducts were found and integrated with the existing kingpin/hub and the wheel was opened up
http://images45.fotki.com/v1422/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12123-vi.jpg

http://images46.fotki.com/v1416/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12129-vi.jpg

To make room for the steering rod, the hub was split, plastic dremeled away, and glued back together
http://images48.fotki.com/v1410/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12134-vi.jpg

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http://images42.fotki.com/v1374/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12137-vi.jpg

A lot of fitting and filing but well worth the effort. The ducts will be CF'd
http://images43.fotki.com/v1383/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12145-vi.jpg

http://images43.fotki.com/v1381/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12146-vi.jpg

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http://images46.fotki.com/v1396/photos/1/1441988/7031965/SNC12152-vi.jpg

The body color is a mixture of Tamiya X-14 Sky blue and X-1 white enamels. It needs a few more coats and a long drying time before it can be rubbed out.

I love how well you're modernizing this car. The hood louvres, the windscreen... things... the fenders, the motor, and those brake ducts! Awesome! I can'twait to see what you make of it all. Just amazing work.

Thanks, Willimo, for your comments. This is where the project was at the new year, body painted, suspension sorted and waiting for the paint to dry
http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/SNC12152-vi952.jpg

then disaster involving my impatience at the soft paint and a heat register....yes the tub was badly warped but the hood and cycle fenders were fine so now I've got a partial tub, another full kit parts and some ideas already for another Super 7 build (but let's finish this one first)

It took me a week to find another kit, much longer to get the tub ready and now it's back in track. I took the opportunity to increase the width of the rear fenders by approx 1/16" each side to increase the rear track in line with the increased front width brought on by the added brake ducts

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/1-vi.jpg

Final color (again) waiting for polishing (again). This is the first time I've used Tamiya enamels and I need to say this paint takes a very long time to completely dry out. It remains soft and very sensitive to handling even after two weeks.

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/2-vi.jpg

Don't worry about the sloppy black/blue transition, I've already corrected it. I added self-adhesive aluminum tape textured by rolling the handle of a jeweling file as heat reflective engine material
http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/3-vi.jpg

Here, carbon decals added to the rear 'shelf' and details added to the floor. Photo etch plate for the driver and a foot brace for the passenger

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/4-vi.jpg

Just realized I haven't shown the engine yet! Wires and other plumbing will be added soon.

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/6-vi.jpg

Progress should be much quicker unless I do something foolish again, installing headers and fabricating the exhaust will be the next task. I haven't decided on what they should look like but I am leaning toward simple, realistic functionality.

Wow! Great build!

V8's against Colin Chapman's mantra? Guys, you're off your rocker because Chapman was a humongous fan of the Ford 289 V8's that were used in his famous Lotus 30 Can Am car. He helped spearhead development of the DOHC version of the 289 that led to Jim Clark's win in the Indy 500 using the Lotus 38. Not to mention there's the Coventry-Climax 1.5L V8 in the Lotus 25 F1 car and all of those glorious Cosworth DFV's!

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2988/Lotus-30-S2-Ford_6.jpg

I like the way this project's progressing, and I'm eager to see what driveline will get to back up that Indy Chevy.

I gues we're talking about Chapman's mantra of lightness and not dis-like of V-8s!

Accelerated progress recently, the stock pedal faces were replaced by the ones below, too bad they are almost completely hidden

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/a-vi.jpg

the headers were painted with Model Master Silver Chrome Trim, an excellent color match to the aluminum tube pipes. They will be 'heat treated' with light mists of Tamiya clear blue, red, and orange later

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/b-vi.jpg

Looking around for the tube for the mufflers, I decided that the pen insert was right diameter for this build. It took me about an hour of scriblbing circles to use up the ink as to not make a mess when it was cut.

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/c-vi.jpg

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/d-vi.jpg

Assorted engine compartment items to be added; battery, fuel filter, random electrical modules, etc...

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/e-vi.jpg

I had to wait till the engine was mounted before I could fabricate the steering rod linkage. I found a driveshaft CV joint and inserted brass steering rods. Completed the steering rod is has two links and is makes takes a 'Z' path to the steering rack. I'm not sure if this gives any real-world steering feel but this is the only solution given the exhaust headers are in the way. I'm very satisfied with the results, although the CV joint is in the wrong orientation.

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http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/h-vi867.jpg

Taillamps were modified and shortened from the piece on the left. They will have a bit of shape when completed and not just rectangular. I thought about using round lamps but thought that looked a bit too 'cutesy'

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/i-vi.jpg

Fender supports fabricated from brass pieces. Not sure how they will be secured to the hubs yet.

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/j-vi.jpg

The roll hoop on the right was made the first day of the build. Way too FAT...I was going to use thinner aluminum tube for the new one but realized I had two stock Super 7 roll bars from the two kits. Much better. Gussets were added to add detail.

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/k-vi.jpg

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/l-vi.jpg

http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/64_46/15_233/m-vi.jpg

That's it! The engines been wired up and assorted PE parts detailed. The only thing left to do is mount the cycle fenders and take pictures for the 'Completed Projects' Thanks for looking and and any comments are welcome!

It looks terrific!