Completed Monogram Lotus Esprit 300 Sport

[Eric Cole]

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....

[Martin S]

Still it turned out pretty nice!
Looks clean

[AstroRide44]

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

[SPEEDERZ]

lowering is required...nice build...

[Jaymes]

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

[exc911ence]

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

[p9o1r1sche]

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?

[Jaimenew]

looks very clean
Awesome work.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Looks great in pics ! Looks great in person !

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.

[RallyRaider]

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...

[Wheelin75r]

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......

[Bas Carwash]

That looks awesome. Very nice work there.

[blubaja]

Very beautiful! Keep up the great work!!

Frank X.

[tonioseven]

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

[Eric Cole]

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....