Strombecker 1/24 Lotus Mk 30/'64-Ford

[Patrick]

Ok, we're building again...This time it's a Mk30 using a slot car body and sheet plastic.

I'll do a '64 car similar to Jim's '65 one...

I started with a drawing for the chassis and then refined the thing as the dimensions became more clear to me...

I used a front suspension from a Monogram Contach as it was similar to the Lotus...

The car had a backbone chassis and I added the tunnel to the chassis pan...


I did a cut and try paper template for the rear bulkhead, then transferred it to the plastic sheeting which I glued on...

Then I added the "Y" in the chassis where it splits to the engine cradle sides which will be in the engine bay...

That's about it for now...

Now I have to come up with a HP 289 engine in 1/24 scale (I may have to buy a Monogram GT350 just for the engine). I have a look-a-like transaxel for the ZF unit that was in the team cars and have a rear suspension piece which is adaptable for the Lotus unit. The engine cradle will be difficult as I'm not exactly sure what it looks like. Any help there from anyone?

Ciao,
Patrick

[Deleted]

Patrick,

I have a 289 and some pix to help you out. I won't have time to scan them until Thursday though.

Trevor

[Patrick]

;)As always Trevor...you be cool!

Patrick

[gwadagone]

Patrick a very good start,on a very good base,as this one in slot car-article in french(sorry!):
folm.xooit.com/t5089-Lotus-30-Strombecker.htm

Or also the excellent base of Tamiya,with this article(still sorry,in Japanese!):
www.mmjp.or.jp/60srace/MFCFanClub3b.html

But we await the suite...
Greetings.

[Patrick]

I love both articles, Bernard. Thanks!

Patrick

[Patrick]

Here's a test fit of the chassis so far...

I added the side sills and boxed in the foot well...


more later.

Patrick

[Patrick]

;)Ok, enough of Italia and back to the bench...Jimmy has been buggin' me about his Lotus so we shall continue...



I did all this just hours before I left for the airplane. Today I painted the chassis, added disc brakes, and glued the engine in place. Photos will follow.

Patrick

[Deleted]

way cool!
duane

[Patrick]

I finally got my draggin' butt to transfer the pix...


Now for some paint.

Patrick

[Calvin]

You are a model car engineer!

[dustymojave]

So what was your source for rear suspension pieces Patrick?

You're doing a nice job of capturing the "Torque Box" chassis design that Colin Chapman was so in love with. When I 1st saw a magazine article on the Lotus 30 being developed, the sketches immediately reminded me of the VW sitting outside my window. While the suspension is dramatically different, the frame design is very similar! Even the engine support yokes are very similar to a VW, in spite of a V8 vs a boxer 4 and mid-engine vs rear engine.

[Patrick]

Dusty,

The main rear suspension part is from a Tamiya Nissan. All the rest are bits and pieces from the spares box...the deep spares box. The thing to remember is none of this will be on view unless you turn the model over. It really is a curbside plus one part more.

Patrick

[dustymojave]

Ahhhhhh...
The inclusion of front suspension had me thinking the car would be fairly full detail.

For a shelf model, I would have expected a much simpler build along the lines of a Monogram Scarab II, Ferrari 275P or Chaparral 2D. They were slot bodies and had no engine beyond the air intake horns and exhaust tips and the chassis was a simple tray with straight axle shafts.

[sandysixtysfan]

Patrick, this is amazing work, I'm really enjoying your article.

Sandy

[Patrick]

Dusty,
Sometimes the accuracy isn't good enough to open them up, but I like a bit more than the Monogram style pans if I can.
Thanks Sandy. I still haven't painted yet. I still havent gotten the "fire" in me yet after the trip.

Patrick