[Ian H]

Everybody knows the Scaley Lotus 77 and when set up right it can be a right little stormer.

However, I have always long admired the Lotus 77 that Andretti drove at the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp in 1976.

Chapman had not properly developed the later airbox that we are all familiar with on the 77 (a design carried across to the Lotus 78) so to improve engine breathing he removed the airbox set up exposing the Cossie DFV inlet throats.

Suddenly the car was a true beauty and here's one I've built for a client (Barry Davies) to use in the Heart of England Grand Prix Championship 2012.

No detailed build pics, just the finished job.

I hope you all like it!

 

[loosesalute]

Another very nice car Ian.
Cheers,
Kev.

 

[abbo]

Another good looking car Ian. Are you allowed to lower the nose on these cars or do they have to go with original guides (i.e. 10 feet up in the air

)?

ABBO

 

[Ian H]

QUOTE (abbo @ 20 Mar 2012, 23:02) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Another good looking car Ian. Are you allowed to lower the nose on these cars or do they have to go with original guides (i.e. 10 feet up in the air

)?

ABBO

Lower away my friend.

If you read the car regs you'll see that there is no minimum ground clearance rules at all and its quite simple to do too.

 

[Ian H]

In organising the Heart Of England Championship (see link below in my signature) I had a meeting at Wolverhampton Slot Car Club tonight to discuss Rounds 1 & 2 (at Wolves on 22/4/2012).

I was able to do a few laps with the 77 around the International Track and it's a little cracker!

Loads of grip, progressive handling and a cracking little (albeit standard) Johnson motor.

Lewis Gough (of Slot It challenge fame) put the car around the International track and was immediately a good few seconds quicker than me. He seemed very pleased with the car . . . . . . I do hope the client will be too!

 

[Ian H]

Here's coverage of the 76 Swedish GP.

The 77 didn't last too long but it was quick and drop dead gorgeous as a GP car!

 

[driver#8]

Lovely stuff Ian. Here's my 'team mate' - although looks a bit rougher! Perhaps I should give the wheels a spruce after all...

 

[GeraldL]

I bought a Lotus 77 from Derek Cooper and the Swedish version certainly looks the best, IMHO. What's the best source for the Cosworth DFV?, I have the Ligier as well, could one do an engine moulding from that or is it better to build one, or perhaps there is an aftermarket part for the engine. I think the wing has to be cut down as well, and maybe the sidepods slimmed as well although I don't think this is essential. Guidance please, GeraldL

 

[Ian H]

QUOTE (GeraldL @ 22 Mar 2012, 08:01) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I bought a Lotus 77 from Derek Cooper and the Swedish version certainly looks the best, IMHO. What's the best source for the Cosworth DFV?, I have the Ligier as well, could one do an engine moulding from that or is it better to build one, or perhaps there is an aftermarket part for the engine. I think the wing has to be cut down as well, and maybe the sidepods slimmed as well although I don't think this is essential. Guidance please, GeraldL

The scaley full engine moulding was used on the Lotus 72 and the Tyrrell 007.

The same moulding was modified by Scalextric to make the Lotus 77 engine detail.

The obvious reason is to cut down on tooling costs for different mouldings.

So the simple answer is that I used a Tyrrell 007 engine cover moulding for my take on the Lotus 77.

Additionally as I was unable to source a Lotus 77 rear wing I used a Brabham BT44 rear wing with modified Plasticard wing endplates. I think that it's more accurate anyway!

It's by no means perfect but at a distance on the track it looks great. Testing at Wolves the other night proved that it flies too, which is the most important thing.

I don't build shelf Queens!

 

[GeraldL]

Thanks for the gen on the Cosworth DFV, the other body tweak would be to thin down the edges of the side-pods, they would be about 2ins thick in scale!

 

[Ian H]

QUOTE (GeraldL @ 22 Mar 2012, 13:38) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for the gen on the Cosworth DFV, the other body tweak would be to thin down the edges of the side-pods, they would be about 2ins thick in scale!

Oui! Je suppose . . . .

Absolute painstaking accuracy isn't my bag really.

Make em look good and go quick is good enough for me.