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Any Lotus 7 fans here?


Codger

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In my (admittedly short) time here, I've begun to notice there are no builds or even discussion of this beloved Brit icon.

I'm not well versed but surely there must be some kits out there in various scales?

I have in storage, the wonderful Tamiya 1/12 Seven, which I had started in (I believe) the late'90's. It's a beautiful kit with jewel-like parts and real ally body panels. I even bought an aftermarket set of Panasport resin wheels and the resin and PE bits to improve it even further. Like a set of beautiful Webers...

I hate myself for not completing but when we moved to a larger home, it got packed and still sits as such. I really should get to it but I'm deeply in love with this Rolls for the foreseeable future.

Anyone care to share stories or opinions on the 1:1 and any size model??

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An awesome car, I've loved the Lotus brand all my life, even had an Esprit for a while, and had the chance to ride shotgun in a 7 on a rally......and I thought the Esprit was low!! It's a little disconcerting having my bum so close to the ground, and even though not immensely quick by modern standards, it certainly felt like you were going fast! I did try and drive it, but my feet were too big.....well all of me was really and had to settle for the passengers seat.

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Interesting anecdote: You can see Graham Nearn in episode for 14 of the Prisoner series. Who he,? Only the guy who bought the rights to the Lotus Seven and created Caterham Cars to build them for the past few decades (Westfield don't count, not smelly and unreliable enough like the "real" thing). He also bought the reg KAR 120C which he used for a long while personally.

In the 80's my agency worked for Lotus and I had both an Esprit S1 and a Caterham Super 7 with a very suspect ex Reynard Formula Ford engine courtesy of our benefactors. Happy days, I spent a lot time using public transport and cabs ...

Anil the Petrolhead

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Great conversation-just what I hoped for! :yahoo:

Roy, I dunno what 'jiggery' means but that's a right proper Patrick on the port side!

Guys-great stories and nostalgia-keep it coming. Modelers-post your finished examples as Roy did (OK Mr. Moderator?) :thumbsup:

Meanwhile, I'll search my archives for a snap or two of my unfinished Tammy. :Tasty:

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I've long been a 7 enthuiast, old enough to remeber the opening sequence on "The Prisoner" & had ambitions to build a "Locost" knock off which started as a therapy project for me when my wife was crook about 12 years ago, long story short, she got better & I got put back in my place, still got the bits in the basement. :( My Locost was going to have to be scaled up everso slightly as at 6' & 200 lbs plus with size 12 feet, I simply don't fit in a Lotus or Caterham 7, I know, I've tried it. :) I also have the Tamiya 1/24 in my stash.

Steve

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thats a stunning No 6 ...is he scratchbuilt?

He's a resin figure I got from Australia, and in terms of 'jiggery' - what I mean is I smoothed the figures actual face a fair bit, but not flat, (he still has a small nose and eyebrows) and made a waterslide transfer of Pat's face.

Once in place, with a bit of careful paint touching up he looks ok in my cabinet where he's seen mainly from a front angle.

Roy.

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I have a couple of the Tamiya 24ths in my stash, one half converted into a monstrosity with flared rear guards, cycle fenders, wide alloys with low profile tyres, a scratched independent rear end and a resin copy of the Cossie BDA from the Esci Crystal Escort RS1800 kit, fitted with a scratch fuel injection manifold (yeah, the real one would be a hoot, methinks ;) ). The other is still in its box, untouched. I also have the Tamiya 12th Caterham, bought as a started kit from eBay a number of years ago - the original owner had attached the panels and glued a few bits, but there's a lot of work still to do (and I want to find a way to use rivets instead of screws to hold the panels in place.)

One day, I'll finish at least the monstrosity. Maybe.

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You know I always thought it was a Lotus Super 7 but I am happy to be corrected. Do any of you remember John Noakes building one in the 1960's on Blue Peter?

I had the 1/24th Tamiya kit for years and parted with it in the Kit Swap at SMW 2 or 3 years ago. I am fond of Lotus cars but have never driven one, or for that matter sat in one ,as I'm 6' 3" tall and I think probably a bit too tall - although thats what a rag top is for!

I hasten to add that I do own - and occassionally drive - a 1969 MG BGT and I have perfected the art of sliding into that but E-Type Jags require my legs to bend in directions that God didn't intend - the Thunderbirds method (through the sun roof) would be easier!!

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Roy reveals more decal magic! Rob-Show us pictures! Simon, you'd hate to try to enter my Cobra-and there's no roof!

Found a lonely shot of my 1/12 Seven. The chassis is deliciously delicate like the original. The ally panels are very fragile too and I kept nearly all of them in the bubble pack-installing only the floor and rear bulkhead. That helped stiffen the chassis like 1:1. The resin Panasports are perfect and have the lug holes cast in. I shot the chassis in low sheen black. Had begun assembly of the major engine and trans components but can't find a snap:

ICMedium_zps2dbb5b63.jpg

I swear I've got to try to finish this. If I'm not a shaky mess from the Rolls.

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I've got the 1/24 Tamiya kit in my stash as well, although I think it would be nice for a company such as that to make a more modern Caterham R500 or CSR kit to represent what is more often seen and available today.

Following on from that in real life, I currently work for a small motorsport team who specialise in the preparation, maintenance and race support of around 10 Caterham racing cars at the moment, mainly being highly modified C400's or CSR's, which these days are now pushing 280-300bhp+ with 6 speed sequential gearboxes, flatshift systems (if you are still using a lever, which allows you to change gear at full throttle!) and now most people are upgrading to a paddleshift setup for an almost seamless gear change.Quite a progression from the spec when they were originally built!

We also service and setup quite a few road and trackday cars as well, and I have had the pleasure of briefly working on a original Lotus 7 historic racer, which made a nice change to have virtually zero electronics at all compared to the modern cars! However, the basic chassis design and suspension layout is almost identical, only a few tweaks and adjustments have been made over the years to create the ultimate winning formula for the (relatively) affordable price in racing terms.

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Maf-you have a job I'd kill for. I'd love some track time in that flat-shift car.

My Cobra is a no-electrics blunt instrument compared to the lithe Lotus. A real blunderbuss.

While we're at it-is it pronounced 'K-tram'? 'Cater-Ham' or??

Us Yanks don't know nuttin'........

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Hi

Good topic Codger

I still have a part built 1/24 Lotus 7 which having seen this I must dig it out and get it finished

If my memory serves me correctly didn't Tamiya bring out 3 versions of Lotus 7 in 1/12 scale .

I would love too have an 1:12 for the stash and a 1:1 in the drive way

It was ' DANGER MAN' series that used the Lotus 7 . THE PRISONER series was a Minimoke but you knew that and I am just knitpicking

nice pics though

Phil

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Hi

Good topic Codger

I still have a part built 1/24 Lotus 7 which having seen this I must dig it out and get it finished

If my memory serves me correctly didn't Tamiya bring out 3 versions of Lotus 7 in 1/12 scale .

I would love too have an 1:12 for the stash and a 1:1 in the drive way

It was ' DANGER MAN' series that used the Lotus 7 . THE PRISONER series was a Minimoke but you knew that and I am just knitpicking

nice pics though

Phil

Sorry Phil....

Danger man used various cars - often an Austin Healey 3000, and in the series title credits, he drives an open top Aston Martin - so he got there before James Bond ! ........But he never drove a Lotus 7.

The Prisoner was the Lotus 7 AND the red/white stripey Mini's, which were the 'taxi's' in the Village......

Roy.

Edited by roymattblack
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I'm a long time Lotus fan.

I built this kit a few years ago:

From this:

9731156466_c291b78b57_z.jpg

To this...

9731157072_674f75828d_z.jpg

Not a Lotus but a Westfield.

And now I have a real Lotus, but not a Seven...

13032298024_5c83a82af2_z.jpg

I also have the Tamiya 1/12 kit of the Seven but it really needs to be taken apart and rebuilt.

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Injidup,

Your first photo looks just like my 1/12 frame! Great to see 1:1 long-time owners here.

Beautiful build and Elise. Thanks for posting.

Phil,

Tammy made a cycle fender, flying fender and I believe it was called, a Jonathan Palmer race version.

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