[Biberle]

Slotcenter.net shows the first pictures of the finished Lotus 72 - only the decals/decorations are still missing.

I'm quite surprised that it comnes with the differntial again. So it probably is also 1:28 again!? At least it looks quite large... I'm a bit dissapointed...

 

[Tropi]

Thanks for the heads-up, Biberle!
BTW, it's perfectly OK to post a direct link as long as we don't swipe their pictures without their permission.

Slot Center Lotus

I DO hope it's not 1/28 scale.
But for this one car, I will break my self-imposed ban on non-1/32, if necessary - I think many people will - it is very special to many of us.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Every shot I've so far seen of this one has left me thinking something ain't quite right with the model. Same with these.

No doubt in my mind, they'll stick with their broad interpretation of what 1:32nd really is.

Nice seatbelts.

 

[Ken R]

Some simple extrapolation will result in the exact scale of this car's wheel base...

I can't do it from work here, but here's the process for someone:

1) Meassure the exact length of a Vanquish motor
2) Go to slotcenter.net and meassure the length of the motor on the bottom view pic of the Lotus
3) create a ratio of real motor to pic motor
4) meassure the wheel bases in the pic
5) multiply the pic's wheel base measurement by the motor size ratio

now you have the model's wheelbase

6) determine the prototypes wheel base
7) divide the model's determined wheel base by the prototypes

and presto you will have the scale of the models wheel base!

As far as it looking big, compared to what other major manufacturers current release 70's era Grand Prix cars?

I gave up worrying about their scale on the Can-Am cars because they are all proportionate to each other and frankly VMG have cornered the Can-Am replica slot market...

VMG = Can-Am slot racing on my track

My take is simple, instead of complaing about VMGs size, why not complain to Hornby, Fly, Carrera, Ninco et al that they are missing the boat on some of the greatest racing series out there!!!

Ken R

 

[Tropi]

You may be right, but remember the stripes, the stripes!
We are easily misled by these lovely little golden lines or lack thereof!
The car looks a little different at different angles too - broader in some than others.
Bestriped and car in sweaty paw is when to make judgements - maybe by Christmas?
Great!

 

[howmet tx]

VMG=Can-Am?

Well, let's see... On my track I see an SCX Chaparral ( I know, I know, but it's highly modified) MRRC Chaparrals, Fly 908 and Fly 917s, Maxi-Model M6A and Lola T160, plus many derivatives made from their body kits, Top-Slot Ferrari 612, plus various scratch-builts. Soon to be added will be a Proto- Ferrari P4 and Lola T70. All these are in pretty good scale. I'm really fed up with the VMG cars that should compliment a collection that's been built up slowly and in some cases expensively...but don't. They just look wrong. I fear that these overscaled thingies will if anything dissuade Hornby, Fly et al from doing their own versions because the market's now covered.
That's my beef. I'll climb back in my flowerpot now.

 

[Biberle]

Actually, rumors are that this car WILL be 1:32. Let's hope the best.

 

[Mecoprop]

Yes, someone, Spanish I think, posted at SCI a while back that the 1/28 scale was the result of a cock-up in early scale drawing and that all cars after the Can-Ams would be closer to 1/32. I can't recall seeing the guy since and I have my doubts about such an elementary error, but I HOPE you are both right!

I like Ken R's reasoning, but the problem is of photos usually being a little distorted and not necessarily equally in all dimensions.
Too much like hard work too!

 

[fast lucky]

To me, the driver looks the same as those found in the CanAm cars ...

I await the Gulf Mirage with some impatience and really whish it to be true 1:32. Otherwise, I won't buy them.

Regarding the shape of the car, don't forget that it has been modified over the years (maybe due to out-board / in-board front suspensions ?).

The Corgi model featured the car from 1972. Here it could be the car from 1975.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Interesting info there, Meco. But surely the mold has been made on the driver figure now, are they going to re-tool him?

Certainly your post gives me cause to be hopeful. I'd love a Mirage as well as a 72.

I wonder how many of us have THAT Corgi model?

 

[Mecoprop]

My hat is off to anyone who can tell the difference between a 1/28 and a 1/32 driver sitting in a car of unknown scale with nothing else present for comparison!

It wouldn't cost a fortune for them to retool a driver if necessary, especially if the scale is going to be pulled down to the standard 1/32.

Anyone want to start a sweepstake on what scale this car will actually be?
In spite of rumors, am thinking more and more it will be nearer 1/28 than 1/32 - I just have a feeling in my bones . . .

 

[Wankel Ickx]

QUOTE My hat is off to anyone who can tell the difference between a 1/28 and a 1/32 driver sitting in a car of unknown scale with nothing else present for comparison!

Hey, what can I say? I'm gifted.

 

[JohnP]

Mecoprop - maybe it was just another of those imperial to metric conversion errors we hear so much about

 

[Ecurie Martini]

I already tried the "measure the motor" approach but I have to guess about the motor - it does not appear to be the same one as in the (Lola?) The latter is about 0.5" across the flat and 1.25" long whereas the shot of the 72 suggests that the can is more like a Fox etc. i.e. about 0.5" X 1". If the latter is correct, the wheelbase appears to be about 105" - anyone know what the prototype was?

EM

 

[bwaminispeed]

Actually,the VMG drivers always looked too small to me,and are probably closer to 1/32 scale.Although,I have never measured them,the wheels on the VMGs also looked to be closer to 1/32 scale,both of these features give the VMG cars thier not quite right look,even if you disregard the scale issue.

 

[Dennis David]

I wonder what color scheme they will use? I suppose the JPS though I always liked the Gold Leaf colors.

http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/lotus72.htm

 

[Biberle]

Announced are the '72 championship car and the Brands Hatch '72 Lucky Strike car, driven by Dave Charlton.

 

[Jamie]

First impressions, I thought the looks abit large & a mite chunky. However just looked the Exoto website, it appears that the car doesn't look that far out...

Exoto Website

Either way, once liveried up, it's going to be one helluva eye catching model.

 

[fast lucky]

Here are some more pictures ....

http://www.ciberslot.com/

BTW, the Gold Leaf livery didn't have any high airbox.

 

[Scott B]

QUOTE I wonder how many of us have THAT Corgi model?

Me! And I still have it and all the other Corgi models.

I had a tartan carpet in my bedroom which made great 'straights' and 'chicanes' for racing. I spent literally hours oversteering these things through bends in slow motion while making engine noises.

My unimaginative cousin used to complain about the noises. He ended up running a hospital and I ended up playing with big cars during the day and little ones at night!

Scott