Tamiya 1/20 Lotus 78 (Wing Car) Build

[ecsrobin]

Gentlemen, here we have a new build from me, I still haven't finished my !/20 Tyrrell but on browsing a local shops airbrush range this caught my eye at a good price of £25 so it just had to be purchased!

I'm using this model to expand on what I've learned from my previous build and move onto Photo-Etch parts and primer.

So here it is:


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr

The non-JPS decals (these will be replaced):


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr

Photo-Etch:


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr


Now this is my first time using primer on a model so i got a big can of Halfords primer and I've got to say I'm really impressed with the stuff. Maybe too impressed as I've gone and sprayed pretty much every sprue!!


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr


Here it is put together next to my Tyrrell note on the air intake the join line that will (and has been removed):


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr

So after the primer On with the black:


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr

I've also added the PE fuel caps slightly annoyed though as slightly too much superglue has meant it's leaked just a very small amount on to the surface.

So after some Revell Plasto was covered over the join line of the air intake I sanded and then reapplied primer to find flaws (I dont know if this is the correct technique but i just thought it seemed right)


Lotus78 by robinecs, on Flickr

and ive since done some more sanding pretty much back to the plastic and the join line is no more

I'm moving to quick at the moment to do really step by step photos I'm enjoying it too much I keep forgetting but the build will be slowing down soon as i wait delivery of alot of extra parts.

[fatboy69]

I built that when it was originally released s I have the full JPS livery on mine.

A great kit of a wonderful car. Simple, effective, a great colour scheme. What more do you want?

[dr_gn]

IIRC when I built this kit probably 30 years ago if not longer, there was something odd about the sidepod and rear wing endplate decals (mine were the JPS ones) - does the clear carrier film extend over the entire area of the decal or something? If so it might give a different sheen to that area of the model.

Anyway, don't underestimate how much of a bh those pinstripes could be to get right! Leave the paint a week or so to harden. Plently of water and a maybe a bit of detergent on the paint surface so you can float them around with a cocktail stick. Good luck!

[ecsrobin]

A good excuse to finish the Tyrrell then whilst I wait for the paint to harden before the pin striping. I'm only doing the body whilst I wait for parts to arrive for the engine.

It's also an excuse to browse model shop websites. And I've found a new release Brabham BT46B fan car which I think will need to be a birthday present to myself soon to continue the technical changes of F1 theme going.

[Red Firecracker]

You're as bad as me, projects on the go everywhere!

[fatboy69]

The Fan Car? Where is that as don't have that one in my collection.

As for the stripes on the 78 - I had forgotten just what a bd they were to get on the model. As the Dr said. Good luck......

[ecsrobin]

fatboy69 said:

The Fan Car? Where is that as don't have that one in my collection.

As for the stripes on the 78 - I had forgotten just what a bd they were to get on the model. As the Dr said. Good luck......

It's just been released and think there may only be 1 in the country as the rest have sold out. Be kind and order one after mine comes.

[Red Firecracker]

Fujimi Brabham fan car

http://www.grandprixmodels.com/searchresults.php?p...

[ecsrobin]

Noooooo you've listed the link! Although I've noticed they now have the lauda car in stock which they didn't yesterday only 1 though. So hopefully the parents snap it up quick instead of hanging about.

Edited by ecsrobin on Tuesday 9th April 14:46

[dr_gn]

ecsrobin said:

fatboy69 said:

The Fan Car? Where is that as don't have that one in my collection.

As for the stripes on the 78 - I had forgotten just what a bd they were to get on the model. As the Dr said. Good luck......

It's just been released and think there may only be 1 in the country as the rest have sold out. Be kind and order one after mine comes.

The Fujimi version? Personaly I'd stick with Tamiya - looks like half the price too (on EBay).

[ecsrobin]

dr_gn said:

ecsrobin said:

fatboy69 said:

The Fan Car? Where is that as don't have that one in my collection.

As for the stripes on the 78 - I had forgotten just what a bd they were to get on the model. As the Dr said. Good luck......

It's just been released and think there may only be 1 in the country as the rest have sold out. Be kind and order one after mine comes.

The Fujimi version? Personaly I'd stick with Tamiya - looks like half the price too (on EBay).

Fujimi not that good then? I saw a review on a German site and with my best translation it looked good just with a few sink marks that can be fixed.

[dr_gn]

ecsrobin said:

dr_gn said:

ecsrobin said:

fatboy69 said:

The Fan Car? Where is that as don't have that one in my collection.

As for the stripes on the 78 - I had forgotten just what a bd they were to get on the model. As the Dr said. Good luck......

It's just been released and think there may only be 1 in the country as the rest have sold out. Be kind and order one after mine comes.

The Fujimi version? Personaly I'd stick with Tamiya - looks like half the price too (on EBay).

Fujimi not that good then? I saw a review on a German site and with my best translation it looked good just with a few sink marks that can be fixed.

They look very good (although personally I've never built one):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Tamiya are always a safe bet, and the Fujimi price seems a bit steep for effectively the same thing that's all. OK the Fujimi version seems to be a bit more multi-media, but...double the price??

[ecsrobin]

Red Firecracker said:

You're as bad as me, projects on the go everywhere!

Currently I have in no particular order:

Tamiya Tyrrell P34
Tamiya Lotus 78
Tamiya Merkava
Tamiya Toyota GT-One
Revell NASCAR
Academy IDF Fitter

I think I may have a problem, now I've gotten over the being too critical stage I'm enjoying it so much so during a gap in work I actually got a bit more painting in. And inve got another 5 hours in work with nothing to do so I'm tempted to go get the model....

[ecsrobin]

dr_gn said:

They look very good (although personally I've never built one):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Tamiya are always a safe bet, and the Fujimi price seems a bit steep for effectively the same thing that's all. OK the Fujimi version seems to be a bit more multi-media, but...double the price??

The tamiya kit is only the BT46 and not the BT46 fan car.

[dr_gn]

ecsrobin said:

dr_gn said:

They look very good (although personally I've never built one):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Tamiya are always a safe bet, and the Fujimi price seems a bit steep for effectively the same thing that's all. OK the Fujimi version seems to be a bit more multi-media, but...double the price??

The tamiya kit is only the BT46 and not the BT46 fan car.

Fair enough.

(sounds like potentially your first scratch build conversion )

[ecsrobin]

dr_gn said:

ecsrobin said:

dr_gn said:

They look very good (although personally I've never built one):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Tamiya are always a safe bet, and the Fujimi price seems a bit steep for effectively the same thing that's all. OK the Fujimi version seems to be a bit more multi-media, but...double the price??

The tamiya kit is only the BT46 and not the BT46 fan car.

Fair enough.

(sounds like potentially your first scratch build conversion )

Fortunately I wouldn't know where to start.

[Red Firecracker]

ecsrobin said:

Fortunately I wouldn't know where to start.

You'll learn soon enough

[ecsrobin]

A very small update, I've fitted the rear spoilers Photo etch parts, I'd already primed the wing so quickly masked it up and sprayed the metal as I wanted it in place before the primer.

I have also put together the gearbox and they will now be painted.


Tyrrell by robinecs, on Flickr


Tyrrell by robinecs, on Flickr

[dr_gn]

Go through the masking thought process again - with the rear wing. I'd have thought just glue it together and prime it? Another coat of Tamiya Fine Surface Primer wouldn't affect the main plane too much.

[Red Firecracker]

Yup, no issue I can see with another coat of primer on the main plane.

I always give the etch a quick going over with a fibre glass pencil as well. Nasty horrible things, but they do give a key to the surface.