SlotForum banner

Lotus 33 from Dave Jones Lotus 25 shell

12K views 23 replies 9 participants last post by  conti_rowland 
#1 ·
Yesterday I began to think about building a late '60's F1 from the so called 3L period.

The only shell I had that would be appropriate was a Dave Jones Lotus 25, bought from him back in 2011 at Early Birds.

I have never really studied this period of cars so it took me a little research to understand the differences.

I had a hunt around my box and found much of what I needed:
Tyres, gears, motor, wheels, axles, body shell, driver body.

I've cut a brass sheet for a simple chassis but i'm worried that the motor will be too high in the cockpit if I sit it on top...... the body is really very low!

Automotive design Vehicle Luxury vehicle Aerospace engineering Composite material


Vehicle Automotive design Tints and shades Automotive exterior Plastic


Toy Vehicle Gas Electric blue Automotive wheel system


Thanks for reading
Andi
 

Attachments

See less See more
3
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Hi David
More than happy for you to offer some pointers for someone like me who has just started looking at the differences.

I'm not sure i'll get everything 100% right but i'll do my best!

Great to see your cars as they have given me ideas already.

Kind regards
Andi
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I've got tbe chassis complete after a 3 hour session last night....

The body is starting to look 33ish!

Wood Bumper Gas Automotive exterior Auto part


Circuit component Electronic component Electronic engineering Wire Fashion accessory


Gas Toy Auto part Machine Metal


Wood Calipers Gas Auto part Metal


Tire Wheel Land vehicle Vehicle Automotive tire


Thanks for watching
Andi
 

Attachments

Discussion starter · #9 ·
Thanks David, I fear the nose is not quite right.

The wheels are 13" David, correct for this car of course.
The fronts are Ostorero Lotus 79 parts. Contact the Ostorero brothers via their website if you want some. They are great as they have no inner hub which i've always disliked.
The rears are Allslot Cars front wheels. Just the right width for this set of rules and super light. The only issue is that finding tyres to go on these 13" wheels is very tricky. The car sits on the Allslot front tyres at the rear which are perfect size but very hard. I shall try them but imagine i'll end up using some Paul Gage Urethane. I have personally never liked Urethane, preferring soft rubber and it has been shown that NSR for example performs well in these proxies but to my knowledge there are no NSR tyres with small enough inner diameter for these wheels.
I'd be happy to hear if anyone knows of soft rubber tyres that would fit.....

Cheers
Andi
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
The build has moved on and after numerous rounds of filler and sanding we have got some top coat on.
I tried a technique whereby I masked the steip and sprayed the green first. The thinking was that I wanted a deffinate yellow strip rather than using decals and I wanted both the yellow and green on the white undercoat.
it has more or less worked with a tiny bit of white edge showing in one place.

The engine and exhaust detail is from a Scalextric Lotus 49 which I had recently carved up to do one of my Policar conversions.

Wood Toy Writing implement Office supplies Plastic


The chassis has been painted black so that it fades into the shadow under the car.

Wood Musical instrument Metal Machine Screw


Cheers
Andi
 

Attachments

Discussion starter · #13 ·
Progress is slow but constant, I suppose in reality I only began this about 3 weeks ago but it seems like ages....

Once the shell was painted I began decalling and immediately realsied that the roundels were not strong enoug white to work on top of the dark background. This was annoying as it set me back and meant I had to rethink on the hoof. In hindsight I should have reverted to another roundel with a stronger white but I decided to spray the roundels instead.

Cutting perfect circles and then expecting them to form a perfect round when the masking was removed was ambitious. Too ambitious as it turned out.

Anyway to cut the story short I trimmed a bit, sanded lightly and polished out some of the defects and from about 1m away it looks fine but of course shows up in the close ups!!

No time to start agin so on with the decals and tamiya top coat and the thing is starting to look like a car.

Clark (Immense Miniatures of course), is in the car and the windscreen is on. A host of tiny details to go but i'm confident I will make the start line in early December.

Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Automotive tire


Tire Wheel Vehicle Car Automotive tire


Tire Wheel Automotive tire Automotive design Vehicle


Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Automotive tire


Thanks for looking
Andi
 

Attachments

Discussion starter · #15 ·
Hi Tony, they are a mixture, coming part from Pre Wing (Mel Ault) and part from Indycals.

Now I think Mel's supplier is Indycals anyway so effectively one supplier by two means!

The quality is excellent except for unfortunately the strength of the white background. They don't melt under Tamiya spray either although I also use Pattos which I have techniques to avoid melting too!

Cheers
Andi
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Oh dear David, there goes my concourse points....
Well the gearbox comes off a Scalextric Lotus 49 so I have no doubt that it isn't quite right for tbe Lotus 33. I'll see what I can do.
Andi
 
Finally done, now a littlw running in and its off to the races!

Tire Vehicle Car Wheel Automotive tire


Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Automotive tire


Tire Wheel Automotive tire Car Motor vehicle


Tire Wheel Vehicle Lotus 33 Automotive tire


Apologies to David for the fire extinguisher.... maybe one day i'll take it off ;)

Oh, and it needs a nice polish up now its done!

Andi
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top