Alan R Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 This is another one that has been through the wars a bit. This is when Bandai were making some very cool large scale cars and things (A Steam roller and a Showmans engine) all in 1/16th scale, long before they got into Gundam and the like. Now, don't get me wrong, those Gundam and Star Wars model kits are really impressive, and I do see myself indulging an a Star Wars kit some time in my future, but giant robots are not my thing. They look amazing when built, but they leave me a bit cool. My adult son, on the other hand, thinks that they are really great. I suppose it's a bit like Rap music or Drum 'n' Base,: Technically really impressive, and I can appreciate te artistry, but I just don't like it. Anyway, middle-aged moan over, on to this kit. The obligatory box top. This has to be one of Colin Chapman's prettier cars, not as beautiful as the original Elan, but pretty none-he-less. Now this kit has had a chequered history. Early on, I decided that I wanted a dark blue Esprit, and sprayed it with Car aerosol paint. However, that stuff was very different from the modern acrylic based car paints. It was the old fashioned Cellulose paints. There are two main problems that I have encountered The paint is very unkind to polystyrene. It will eat into the plastic and do some real damage. The cured paint is very brittle and doesn't flex as well as the underlying Polystyrene. The first can be mitigated a bit by carefully priming the plastic with a Cellulose primer. It seems a bit less 'hot' than the colour coat. Anyway, the inevitable happened and the paint started cracking and peeling off before I had even started assembling the body! Tis left me a bit depressed, and I vowed never to use car paints again... It ended up in the loft, to probably be ignored forever... Many years (and house moves) later, I decided to give it another go. This probably was about 5 or 6 years ago. I stripped the really disastrous blue paint on it, and decided I would paint it Red. The ideal Lotus colour... So, at this point, we had: The body, stripped. (You can see a bit of the sub-frame to the left) The sub-frame. This was assembled a very long time before, and just forgotten. It was one of my better efforts from way back when, but had suffered the ravages of time. When I took it out of the box, the front end looked rather tatty, and the whole rear end fell apart. So, after much cementing, filling and touching up, it was back together again. This is how it looks at present. The floor pan, with release marks suitable filled and sanded. Most likely, none of them would be visible when assembled, but hey ! The engine, almost complete. Then I noticed that avital ancillary part had gone missing during the 30+ years in storage... I'm not sure what it is, but the instructions were good enough for me to re-create the thingummy, thus: I was so proud of it, I took many pictures of it. The last gives ma sense of scale, I think. The engine again... Finally all the other body parts, stripped. This poor car has suffered the Lotus curse: "Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious" So, this was where it was about two or three years agio. It has been in suspended animation since then. Thanks for looking, Alan. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 A second instalment. For some reason, I decided to prime the shell in my home made concoction of white primer. However, when I looked at it this week, the paint was a bit 'rough', so I decided to soak the shell in Caustic soda to remove the paint. Now, sometime since the pictures above had been taken, a small piece of the A pillar had broken off and I had repaired the damage. I had properly glued and filled it, and it looked invisible. However, while I was inspecting the paint to see if it was coming off, the little bit fell off. I guess the caustic soda had weakened the weld, or the weld was crap... Anyway, these pictures were taken tonight, and I have again attempted to make a repair. So: Exhibit A: The body having suffered GBH... Exhibit B - The detached bit. In case the above picture wasn't very clear, here it is sitting on the roof... Finally, the A-pillar piece and the body re-united! I am going to leave this a few days for the cement to really cure, before trying to fill and sand the obvious joins... This one is definitely following the LOTUS mantra... All the best, Alan. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.P. Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 Oooh, this looks like its going to be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 I'll second that. I saw a dark green one in a lay by today just outside Newark. The engine lid was up..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco F. Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 These old Bandai kits were a big surprise at this time. I remember, centuries ago, I build an Excalibur SSK in 1:12 , my Dad brought me from London... And I build a Fiat X1/9, can't remember the scale, but I remember that it included the option to add wide flares and some wide wheels made out of metal. Both don't exist anymore, because my Mom decided that I'm adult and don't need such things anymore and throwed it away...😤 That's life, so I decided zo make a restart at that time 😀... meanwhile approx 35 years ago. I whish System you good luck with this kit Cheers Marco F. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco F. Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Sorry... system was added by the Software of my Handy Hope you'll get the Lotus finished to your satisfactory 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share Posted October 1, 2018 Hi Marco, I have a number of Bandai 1/16th scale kits in my loft awaiting construction. These include: Jaguar XJS Porsche 924 Duesenberg Straight 8 (Not sure of its proper name) A Fowlers Showman's engine. I also have a number of Bandai 1/20th kits. I believe that the FIAT X 1/9 was 1/20th as well. The one I had way back was. They are rarer that hen's teeth these days. I have seen two on eBay in the last four years, one was a re-build job, the other pristine. Both went for more than I was prepared to pay... I think that the Lotus will build into something quite good. Cheers, Alan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 Hi All, Another update. Having re-cemented the A pillar back into the body shell, I decided that after a couple of days, that I would attempt to strengthen the join a bit more. So I carefully put some more contacta onto the joint, and left it for another day. After that, I put a slathering of Mr. Surfacer over both joins, and left it for another three days to ensure that the filler was fully cured. This stuff has a habit of breaking off while sanding if you don't leave it long enough to cure, especially if it's getting a bot 'old'. Anyway, this is the result after some sanding down with 240 & 600 grit wet 'n' dry: The whole join The bottom join The top join. Using my fingers and looking at it under a strong light, the join seems nearly perfect. However, the joins are never as strong as the original plastic, so I am going to be very careful with this one... It will probably need more sanding and filling and sanding... after I have primed it and the inevitable imperfections show up. Thanks for looking, Alan. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco F. Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Hello Alan, I think you're right it was 1/20 not bigger. If my memories are trustable, I only had AMT kits in 1/16. So, the model of the X1/9 seems to be as rare as the original today... Yes, I think your Lotus will reach the finish Line beeing a good looking model, good luck!!! Cheers Marco F. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 Hi All, Jut a minor update. I primed the shell with ZP grey primer and then left it for a couple of days to allow the primer to cure properly. Then I noticed that there was a blemish at the rear of the roof. This blemish was caused by a split that had occurred in the roof many years ago, and my consequent repair, which was to widen the crack into a slot, then insert some polystyrene card into said slot and glued it in place. I had sanded it so that the repair was completely smooth, but obviously not quite smooth enough. It showed up after the primer had dried. So, a thin sliver of Mr White putty over the blemish should clear the blemish up. So, this is where I am with this at the moment: I have since sanded it, and it looks OK as far as I can tell. Just another bit of priming to go on this... Thanks for looking, Alan. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_ Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Nice to see it's come out ok. I have a not dissimilar project to fix. I built a replica of the Beetle my parents had at the time I was born as a gift for them. It was almost completely finished, but I wasn't happy with the paint. Of course, when I stripped it, the plastic has crazed and one of the front window pillars has weakened and dropped out. Your success in resurrection has given me some hope for mine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 (edited) Hi All, A two and a half year gap! I decided a few days back to try and make some progress with this. As an aside, as I am building my kits, I like to keep the small parts (bits) in little sealable pots so, in theory, they are less likely to get lost. Each model in progress has its own little pot, labelled with the model name. So, I got out the little pot of bits and started on the engine again. In the past, for some reason, I had detached the inlet manifold, carburettors and the air filter. Here, the manifold and carburettors have been reattached. Also, I reattached the exhaust manifold at the same time. This is engine as I had left it. There's a whole load of gubbins at the rear of the engine, none of which I know the function of... The raised parts on the cam covers had been dry-brushed, but had suffered over the years and was looking a bit 'tired'. So I whacked on some Citadel "Abbadon Black", which has a slight satin sheen to it, rather than pure matt. I then reapplied the dry brushed aluminium to the raised parts: I'm not sure you can see the improvement. Hand-held camera to blame... Gubbins attached. There is a drive-belt attached to some kind of 'thing'. Looks like a filter of some kind... ? Bandai, like a number of model manufacturers (Hasegawa - cough, cough) plate the disc brakes. This to my mind is rather too toy-like. So I dropped the disc/calliper assemblies into some caustic soda solution for about an hour. This completely removed the chrome plating. I then painted them grey, followed by Abbadon Black, and am now in the process of painting the hubs in aluminium, the callipers in metallic grey (XF56) and the rotors in a steel colour (Runefang Steel - Citadel) The brackets for the rear transmission, at the top of the picture will eventually be aluminium. Hopefully later today. The two small widgets at the bottom are the hook-joints of the drive shafts (or more precisely half of the hook-joints) More soon, I hope. Thanks for looking, Alan. Edited May 15, 2021 by Alan R 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 Hi All, Another update. Gosh! two updates on the same topic in one day, whatever next... I have been working on the transmission bits and brakes. The bits on the left are the hook-joint and drive-shafts. The brakes are nearly complete in this picture. The two spidery things at the top are the brackets that tie the whole transmission and frame together. Here's a better image of the engine and transmission. Somewhat sharper than the last one I showed. and the other side. Actually, since I took these pictures, I have finished the brakes and callipers, and the brackets and driveshafts have received their last coat of paint. I just want the paint to set properly before attaching them to the transmission. More soon. Thanks for looking, Cheers, Alan. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 Hi All, Just doing a catch-up with all my builds, so this post is probably the result of about five sessions on the bench. I think that because there are so many things done, I might just split this up into a set of logical sessions. I had primed the body grey, as this shows the imperfections better, but isn't ideal for covering in my chosen colour, red. So, I sprayed Zero Paints White Filler primer over the body shell: This took some time (Sever days) to completely cover. It could do with another couple of coats, but there "Best" and there is "Good Enough". Sometimes best is the enemy of progress... So, good enough it is. I have stocked up on sufficient ZP Red to paint all the body parts. While I was at it, I started on some interior parts. Namely the seats. These are not exactly brilliant mouldings. The backs that fit in to the seat 'shell' don't fit great: These are the seats, after a bit of sanding to round off the edges. With the backs fitted: They don't look too bad from here, but the top of the seat and head-rests are a very poor fit. I had to overlay the top of the back with some poly sheet, thus: Then start the process of filling the remaining gaps... Milliput is your friend here. It's great at filling large voids. A quick splosh of grey to highlight the imperfections: The instructions suggest that you paint the seats grey, and then some kind of Tartan for the inner parts. I decided that my Esprit came with Black leather: So that's the main body shell primed and the seats done. More soon. Cheers, Alan. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 (edited) Hi Al, Second instalment for today. The engine and chassis. The disc brakes on the Esprit are inboard and they fitted easily. The front. There are a number of hoses that connect various parts of the induction system. As this is a 40 plus year old model, the original PVC piped had become rigid and brittle. This kind of scuppered progress. Eventually, I sourced some various diameter silicone rubber piping that fitted the bill perfectly. I now have several metres of suitable piping for coolant and breather hoses. How accurate this is, I don't know, but it looks busy enough. Here we have the coolant hoses installed. Here the engine has been installed in the chassis. This wasn't entirely straightforward, as at this stage you have to install the drive-shafts after the engine has been installed. In my first attempt to fit the drive-shafts, I managed to demolish the rear sub-frame! Eventually, I managed to find a solution. None of the pictured show the drive shafts installed. More soon, Cheers, Alan. Edited October 3, 2021 by Alan R 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 Nice to see this back in progress. Being a James Bond fan, I have always loved the Esprit in white as it appeared in "The Spy who loved me". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Mansfield Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 On 03/10/2021 at 17:37, Alan R said: some kind of Tartan for the inner parts. I decided that my Esprit came with Black leather: Haha! The best way to sort out the seats after so much effort to get them looking right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 Nice progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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