BlrwestSiR Posted July 11, 2022 Author Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) The roll bar was next up. The tonneau cover is supposed to go on near the end of the build. You're supposed to split it so it fits around the roll bar. I decided to slide it onto the roll bar first. It's vinyl so pliable enough that I can move it out of the way while the roll bar got bolted in place. Then the rear body work goes on. It's starting to look like a car. Just needs: - wheels - hood - engine - interior Edited July 11, 2022 by BlrwestSiR Fix typo 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 Carl WOW, fantastic progress. The detail level is amazing and looks so good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifter Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Looks awesome, but you missed a spot. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Carl Awesome progress ... looking so good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 15, 2022 Author Share Posted July 15, 2022 Time to do some work on the engine. Here's the basic block with a coat of paint. I then installed the starter and the oilpan. Here's the timing belt. It's vinyl and goes over the cam sprockets. Next up is the alternator. In place on the block. Then it was time to add various lines to the engine. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Carl,looks amazing, the engine and gearbox colour is that Alcad? I’ve driven a 7 on a driving day at Bedford Drome. Had a Aussie saying flat out in a straight line and then just turn in at the corners, very very scary but great fun….. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Amazing little bottle rocket. I missed some updates (no idea how, given the color of the thingy) and whoops, it's almost done. You're building almost as fast as the real thing. I like the multi material mix of the kit, which would be on my wish list in it's non neon version, if there will be a re release. Cheers Rob 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Carl Some mighty nice work on the engine and gear box, looking so good. The details in the kit are quite amazing and a flexible timing chain: outrageous. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 16, 2022 Author Share Posted July 16, 2022 10 hours ago, Bomber_County said: Carl,looks amazing, the engine and gearbox colour is that Alcad? I’ve driven a 7 on a driving day at Bedford Drome. Had a Aussie saying flat out in a straight line and then just turn in at the corners, very very scary but great fun….. Thanks Phil! I used Xtreme Metal on the gearbox and the various other shiny bits. The Caterham is a momentum car. They usually have more grip than power so you just throw them through the turns and stay off the brakes as much as possible. 9 hours ago, DocRob said: Amazing little bottle rocket. I missed some updates (no idea how, given the color of the thingy) and whoops, it's almost done. You're building almost as fast as the real thing. I like the multi material mix of the kit, which would be on my wish list in it's non neon version, if there will be a re release. Cheers Rob Thanks Rob! Overall, the kit has been going together nicely. I did notice that the painted body panels didn't fit as precisely as the NMF ones did on my previous Catergam kit. Speaking of which, Tamiya did a reissue of the standard kit a couple years ago. They changed the box art and added a display base. It's the only time they've done a reissue of any of the kits so far. Hopefully you can find one of those for a reasonable price. 8 hours ago, Peterpools said: Carl Some mighty nice work on the engine and gear box, looking so good. The details in the kit are quite amazing and a flexible timing chain: outrageous. Thanks Peter! The alternator and water pump belts are vinyl too. Personally I think they're a bit thick and maybe not as fine as they could be. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaireckstadt Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 Great work on this little bottle rocket like Rob said. I like very much how all the details turned out! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 On 7/17/2022 at 6:40 AM, Kaireckstadt said: Great work on this little bottle rocket like Rob said. I like very much how all the details turned out! Thanks Kai! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) Time for some cockpit work. The seats are one piece buckets made from carbon kevlar in the real car. So I painted them semi-gloss black and then used the Hasegawa carbon kevlar film on the backside. Next up was the seatbelts. The individual buckles are plastic but may have been better in PE. The belts themselves are self adhesive fabric and have the stitching detail printed onto them. Assembly isn't as fussy as say a HGW set mostly due to the size. The driveshaft tunnel is stamped aluminum and covered with the same carpet that the floor is. Then one pair of belts is bolted to it. The other pair are bolted to the interior side panels. The lower belts are next and once assembled, are attached to the floor. Edited July 19, 2022 by BlrwestSiR Fix typo 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 The engine finally goes in. The side exhaust has a heat shield that wraps around it. Then you add some lettering to it. They seem to be made from vinyl and have a very high gloss finish to them. They're self adhesive as well so no silvering to worry about. The headers are threaded through the opening in the side and then attached to the muffler. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 The IP was painted semi-gloss black and then the dials were added. They're the same material as the lettering on the exhaust. The pedal assembly was next. Tamiya even includes rubber pads for the brake and clutch pedals. Again, I think it's a bit thick in appearance. The upper framework for the engine bay is next. The upper firewall is aluminum and pre-painted in black. The pedal box and pedals go underneath. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Catching up, amazing stuff Carl, such crisp detail . 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Carl Thoroughly enjoying following your progress. Nice to see the engine is in and more work on the interior - the harnesses look so good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Great build Carl, the yellow rocket develops beautifully in your hands. I really like the material mix, Tamiya has chosen for the kit. Cheers Rob 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Geez, Carl............................... fabulous build !!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaireckstadt Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 Copy Rob Carl: great build development of a seldom seen subject ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 Thanks folks! I'm into the home stretch with the build. One thing that surprised me is the fit of the alu panels. On the original one I built, they fit perfectly. On this kit, the fit was off and not only that, it was occasionally a bit tight. I'm wondering if this is due to the paint work applied to the panels. It's quite a thick coat of paint they given the parts. The fit may explain why they only ever released this version of the kit the one time. Anyways, back to my build. The kit comes with spark plug wires that have boots moulded integrally and they're in the same vinyl as the belts. They get glued to the distributor and then the camshaft cover. The fit is not the best and they leads kept falling out. Thankfully they get covered up with a faceplate later on. Here's the camshaft cover in place on the engine. I installed the dashboard next. This was flooded by the top of the firewall and the cover for the pedal box. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 The rear fenders were screwed into place. Then the front ones. The first fender supports didn't line up nicely and this was a pain to get them attached. Tires were mounted. I'm not 100% certain on the rims being yellow. I may strip and repaint them later on. The cowling was next. With the cowling and all four tires on. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Carl Terrific progress and looking mighty good. Some of the fit issues surely are the result of the thickness of the paint. Tamiya is known for how their kit parts are engineered and their tight tolerances. When building any of their kits, care needs to be taken on removing paint on the gluing surfaces or there will be fit and alignment issues down the road. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaireckstadt Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Great progress and this will be a real eyecatcher in the end Carl! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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