Lola T-70 Mk III

[Scale-Master]

I pulled this kit from my stash on May 5, 2019; the night we got home from the GSL show.
1997 reissue of the 1970 Tamiya kit. It's been patiently waiting for 22 years in my stash to be built.
I've been researching, planning and figuring all month. (Actually I was scheming a couple days before in case I didn't find a dream deal on another Caterham kit during the show/trip.)
It will be built as a street car T-70 replica with some modern upgrades.

[Scale-Master]

I started by cleaning up the tub and main body panels.
Lots of filling and sanding to remove the twenty ¼ inch diameter ejection pin marks in the tub alone and general parting lines. But still a nicely molded kit considering its age.


The insides of the body also needed to be addressed for the same issues.

[Scale-Master]

Converting the steering rack over to left-hand drive. Part of the framework had to be cut and other areas filled for the track of the rack to slide and everything to be "flipped". Then a new gear for the rack had to be created since the teeth were backwards. The ejection pin holes were filled and new mounting holes for the pedal set were drilled too.

[Kjenjak]

If someone is able to pull off such an awesome conversion, it's gotta be you!

[Scale-Master]

The top of the dash also needed to be converted to LHD. I cut the pod out and a matching area on the left and swapped and blended them back together. A little white styrene was used as filler on the new passenger side.

[mike@af]

Mark, you've awoken me from the dead! I can't wait to watch this build unfold and see all the detail you put into it.

[Scale-Master]

Thanks guys! I hope you enjoy watching at least half as much as I intend to enjoy building it.

The front bulkhead was converted to LHD and all the holes were drilled out. The inside was milled to be a constant thickness too.
Before:

After:

[Scale-Master]

The cowl also had to be modified for LHD.
Before:


In Progress:


Styrene was used as filler in some places; in other places the kit plastic was cut and reused.
The rivets were cut off and drilled out.
Since this car will only have one master cylinder the reservoirs for the dual set were shaved off.
The underside had to be modified as well so the steering would work properly and everything would fit.
Aluminum rivets… Hand cut, filed and installed (some of them).

After:

[360spider]

This should be fun! Subscribed!

[Scale-Master]

It is fun!!

Fitting the body panels. I started with the side pods. They have molded-in rivet detail along the top edges. Those were removed and drilled out to accept small screws.

[Scale-Master]

The windshield frame/cowl section of the body did not fit very well on its own or locate positively. Brass reinforcing plates were fabricated to make aligning it easier.

[Scale-Master]

.040 sheet styrene was added to make the thread blocks on the underside of the tub for the small screws that will hold it together.

[iliasbass]

this must be a stunning build!!!

[Scale-Master]

The side pods are mounted to the tub and the brass reinforcements are in place.

[Scale-Master]

The windshield frame/cowl has been mated to the tub and side pods.