Lotus Super 7 V6 Seven

[Scale-Master]

It’s time for another Super 7. This time in 1/24th using the perennial Tamiya Lotus kit.
The first task is to convert it from right hand drive to left hand drive. Here are pictures of the stock kit body:



The foot well was excised from the right side and the side wall of it was removed using a PE saw. A wedge was cut from the new body side part of the foot well and cemented to the inboard compensate for the angle from when it was on the right side.

The side was cemented back on and the foot well was filed true and is ready for installation…

[da_ashman]

Nice project, what V6 did you have in mind? FYI a Tamiya Enzo engine fits in the engine bay too.. just...

[Scale-Master]

An Enzo engine is too exotic for this one. Think sportscar hobbyist/home car builder...

The cowl needs considerable modifications to be converted to left hand drive. This is the stock part:

Here is the converted cowl/firewall and the modified for LHD pedal mount assembly. The battery and support will likely be replaced with scratch-built items.

[Scale-Master]

A seat from the parts box (don’t know what it came from, but I think it was a Tamiya kit) was modified for the driver’s seat…

[Ferrari TR]

Looks good. I'm still trying to guess what sort of V6 is going under the bonnet.
You need to paint an MB 7 to match, you know.

[Scale-Master]

The basic drive train is mocked up here. I am replacing the 1300cc four-banger with a Buick V6. The donor is a very bland AMT unit from the Opel GT. The block has been modified to accept the Lotus engine mounts and the oil pan from the four cylinder engine was modified to fit the V6 and make it sit lower in the car. The transmissions were cut off both engines and I am using the Seven’s trans.

[deedlit]

Impatient to see another masterpiece coming out of your hands

[Scale-Master]

The passenger side foot well bulk head has been re-installed on the right side and the motor mount receivers have been lowered to allow the larger engine to fit under the hood.

Bosses were added on the bottom to provide depth to lower the motor mounts. They will be thinned out once the location is finalized.

[Scale-Master]

The seats take up more space than the stock drive shaft tunnel allows. I cut off part of it to make room for the seats. First I drew the cut line. And then used a PE saw to make the cuts.

[Scale-Master]

The transmission also had to be lowered so I cut a section of the chassis out and made a new cross member.



A driveshaft safety loop was needed since the tunnel was removed. ..

[Scale-Master]

The rear axle was beefed up with a truss. The drive shaft was removed from the front of the differential.

[Scale-Master]

The heads were cleaned up, trued up and resized. Holes were drilled for the exhaust mounting pins (to be addressed when the headers are made). You can see the beginning of the intake manifold in this picture too.

[deedlit]

You're progressing fast + all the others 1/43 kits you finished! Excuse my stupid question but do you do that as daytime job?

[Fabbri_Guy]

Nice. I love when people modify kits like this. Keep it up!

[Scale-Master]

Originally Posted by deedlit

You're progressing fast + all the others 1/43 kits you finished! Excuse my stupid question but do you do that as daytime job?

I have been known to build professionally for box art, museums and collectors, but these are for my own entertainment.