1962 Lotus 25 conversion

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Orso
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1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by Orso »

lot25-62_00.JPG
This time I'm not sure my idea is sound or if I will just destroy a kit.
I decided to buil the Tamiya Lotus 25 as an early season 1962 car.
lot25-62_01.JPG
First of all I needed to make sure that I would have a new wind screen. It took many attempts but I think I have a template for it now.
lot25-62_02.JPG
I want to build the early car with the transmission cover so I'm using the 1/25 Lotus 29 cover as a base for this. I started by filling all the holes in it.
lot25-62_03.JPG
More holes has to be filled in the body too.
lot25-62_04.JPG
Next a couple of cuts with the saw to make the top part more narrow at the rear.
But the cowl needs to be higher as well. Not sure on how to do this yet.
I have not decided if I should make any changes to the radiator area in the front as it will be invisible.
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Orso
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by Orso »

Why do I go in to these things. Perhaps I should have planned more before starting, then I would probably not tried to convert it.
lot25-62_05.JPG
But well... On we go. The engine cowl needed to be higher so I made a couple of cuts and added material to it.
lot25-62_06.JPG
I found a good side view in a book and things are corresponding to the pictures except the nose. It is longer on the photo so I added some plastic to the front.
lot25-62_07.JPG
This gave me some material to reshape.
lot25-62_08.JPG
The basic shapes are there now. Ready to paint. No I it is a long way from that.
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taxidermist
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by taxidermist »

I am always happy about a 60ties car WIP and will follow with great interest. Also good method to change the length of the nose cone.

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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by Chinamalc »

Very nice, I shall be following with interest.
There are many goood images on Motorsportimages.com of the early 25 - indeed all F1 cars of all eras.
Here is J. Clark's car showing the different smaller bulge in the engine side cover, taken during practice at Zandvoort (hence the black wheels).
Image
I guess you know the tail cone was only used on the 25 at Zandvoort and Monaco?
Don't forget the second hole in the top cover!

Malc.
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Orso
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by Orso »

Thanks (I think :) ) for those new pictures. Now I have to rebuild the rear again!
I have a clearer picture of what I need to do now. Restart almost from the beginning.
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by BMW »

Do not worry, you were doing a good job so far, so I am sure it will work out as well!
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steinietrabi
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by steinietrabi »

I also found a picture with a slightly larger resolution, maybe it will help too. :D
I think you need to open it in a new tab and save it that way to see the full resolution! :wink:

http://steinietrabi-skoda-fabia.de/Modellbau/Diverse/Jim%20Clark%20(Lotus%2025-Climax)_1962.png
Greetings Thomas
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by smbrm1 »

Cool project, great start. One other item to consider is that early 1962(probably for most if not all of 1962) Lotus 25 Climax engines used carburettors as opposed to the fuel injection in the kit.
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whatisdeletrazdoing
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by whatisdeletrazdoing »

What a fascinating build! I will follow with interest. I'm trying to build a 25 for every year from '62-'65 and have never dared to attempt the '62 conversion.
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Orso
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Re: 1962 Lotus 25 conversion

Post by Orso »

I have wanted to do this for many years but having to make the wind screen has scared me off. As it turned out it seems to be the easiest part of the job. :D
Now I am laminating the inside of the engine cowling with plastic strips to add material for more thickness of the side walls. I need to sand down the bulge on the outside.
I will let the glue set for a week or so before I add a other layer of plastic. It is very soft at the moment.
But I think that the absolutely hardest thing to do will be deciding on black or yellow wheels. :D
Last edited by Orso on Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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