The Legend - Lotus 72D - Tamiya 1/12

[DocRob]

10 hours ago, Kirk said:

Who said it didn't become a religion? Judean People's Front, anyone?

Frustrating setback Rob, but just nature's way of reminding us all that other adhesives are available. Glue. One of the many things the Romans have done for us. 

I didn´t know, the Romans invented Tamiya plastic cement . I think, it wasn´t the glue alone, it might be a factor that the not so perfect fitting 50 year old parts didn´t have enough contact surface.

Cheers Rob

[DocRob]

9 hours ago, KevinM said:

What a beotch Rob and I have the same thing going on with the Taifun F-108 painting the outside and it sounds like a seat came loose I have been working this kit two months now and it hasn't been all joy I will decide it's fate when decaled and the tape comes off might look like one of those kills in "Battle of Britain"

These incidents are pure mojo killers, Kevin. With me all the drive, I enjoy during a build is gone at once, when it happens. The Taifun is a beauty, unfortunately with a huge glass house with perfect view onto the seats. It happened to me once with a near ready 1/32 Tamiya F4-U, but I was able to pry away the canopy veeerrryyy carefully and was able to do the repairs. Good luck with yours.

Cheers Rob

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow Rob, sorry to read that.  I don't think I've ever seen a model broken in half like that, but if anyone can fix it, it's you.  A little time away and hopefully a solution will come to you.

I was working this weekend on finishing a Revell VW Samba bus.  I was expecting maybe an hour tops of work as I had to glue on some of the more delicate parts like the side mirrors, etc. and make what should have been an easy repair to the engine door where one of the pins broke off so it wasn't supported on both sides.  Well, I fix a new pin to the door, and go to ever-so-slightly pull the rear panels apart to slide the door in and I start hearing pops.  Well, the side panels, roof and front all popped loose.  Then I started popping off things in the interior like the sun visors.  I finally got that all resolved, went to put on the passenger front door, and the top half of one of the very obvious door hinges chipped off and went flying.  Somehow, I found this probably 2mm piece on the ground six feet from behind where I was working and managed to get it glued back together and finish the model.  What should have been about an hour ended up taking over three hours. 🤬  I had to pour myself a stiff drink after that.  Good news is my daughter loved it, so I guess it was worth it in the end.

All this to say, I'm sure we all have similar stories like this, but don't give up on the model just yet.  You're so close, I'm sure this will just be a short detour for you.

[DocRob]

5 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Wow Rob, sorry to read that.  I don't think I've ever seen a model broken in half like that, but if anyone can fix it, it's you.  A little time away and hopefully a solution will come to you.

I was working this weekend on finishing a Revell VW Samba bus.  I was expecting maybe an hour tops of work as I had to glue on some of the more delicate parts like the side mirrors, etc. and make what should have been an easy repair to the engine door where one of the pins broke off so it wasn't supported on both sides.  Well, I fix a new pin to the door, and go to ever-so-slightly pull the rear panels apart to slide the door in and I start hearing pops.  Well, the side panels, roof and front all popped loose.  Then I started popping off things in the interior like the sun visors.  I finally got that all resolved, went to put on the passenger front door, and the top half of one of the very obvious door hinges chipped off and went flying.  Somehow, I found this probably 2mm piece on the ground six feet from behind where I was working and managed to get it glued back together and finish the model.  What should have been about an hour ended up taking over three hours. 🤬  I had to pour myself a stiff drink after that.  Good news is my daughter loved it, so I guess it was worth it in the end.

All this to say, I'm sure we all have similar stories like this, but don't give up on the model just yet.  You're so close, I'm sure this will just be a short detour for you.

Great to hear, that your daughter is happy with the Samba bus, mission accomplished, Mike.
You are right about those late build incidents, these things just happen to all of us. The irony was, the Lotus was practically finished, millimeters before the chequered flag was waved. Your experiences with the Samba bus seem to be similar though. I hate the sound of popping plastic during final assembly. 
The Lotus 72 kit is very old and it shows. Front suspension and especially the rear suspension are really fragile and the plastic is very brittle, which doesn´t help, when it comes to snap fit connections, which are numerous with the Lotus. There is a reason, why later Tamiya 1/12 F1 kits were equipped with metal suspension parts.
I generally prefer the rigidity of the MFH metal constructions for F1 cars, which are delicate vehicles by design. 
BTW, yesterday night, I saw, MFH plans a re pop of the 1995 Ferrari 412T2 in 1/12, which I originally missed. I pre ordered immediately, as I like the mid 90´s F1 cars of the post turbo era best.

Cheers Rob

[GusMac]

Last of the V12s, nice.

[DocRob]

I will let pictures speak, to spare you my swearing, during the unification of the Lotus two halves. Phew, finally it´s done.





















With it´s predecessor, the Lotus 49C in 1/20



With Brabham BT 45





Cheers Rob

[Kirk]

That looks brilliant!

[BlrwestSiR]

Rob, it was worth the blood, sweat and tears. Not to mention the swear words. 

[FullArmor]

7 hours ago, Kirk said:

That looks brilliant!

+1👍🥇

[KevinM]

Nice!

[DocRob]

16 hours ago, Kirk said:

That looks brilliant!

 

9 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Rob, it was worth the blood, sweat and tears. Not to mention the swear words. 

 

9 hours ago, FullArmor said:

+1👍🥇

 

1 hour ago, KevinM said:

Nice!

Thank you Gentlemen, your encouraging comments sure helped the Lotus from being a wallbanger. I repaired it finally with half a liter of CA and it seems to hold up without further reinforcement. I didn´t brake anymore parts during the process, even when it was quite difficult to handle the halves. After a lot of filing and tweaking, it finally went together. It was a bit of an anticlimactic build, with the ennerving end, but it´s done and now  Ihave to look for some more display shelve area in my cave.

Cheers Rob

[Martinnfb]

Splendid finish, I am glad you didn't go for the wall banger option. This is such a beautiful kit, well done Rob.

Cheers

Martin

[GusMac]

Looks amazing Rob and certainly gives no clue as to the grief that was involved in getting it to the finish.

[Landlubber Mike]

On 1/7/2026 at 5:44 AM, DocRob said:

BTW, yesterday night, I saw, MFH plans a re pop of the 1995 Ferrari 412T2 in 1/12, which I originally missed. I pre ordered immediately, as I like the mid 90´s F1 cars of the post turbo era best.

Cheers Rob

I saw that - beautiful F1 car!!  The details of the kit from the pictures look amazing.  I think I'm going to hold out for a repop of the earlier Ferraris - still kicking myself for not jumping on the 500F2.

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow, congrats on the finish Rob!!  Would never have known it had cracked in two.  Looks really, really good.  I also like the figure you added.  

I need a couple of more car kits under my belt before I tackle mine, but your build log is very inspirational!  Thank you for posting it.