GB WIP. 1978 South Africa Lotus 78, Tamiya 1/20

[Orso]

When I started on my 1977 Lotus 78 I found a conversion set for an early 1978 car so I decided to start on one as well.

Following Madish Kyalami build I am learning things. I didn't know about the triangular hole in the sides of the nose until he told us.

I decided to add that to my car as well but now I had to fill the area that became visible.

Not much is visible. I decided to add add the radiator water hoses and the fire extinguishers. I haven't painted it red. I used red plastic. It will be green as it should be.

[Orso]

The kit look a bit bare around the drivers feet position.

So that had to be taken care of. A few pieces of plastic has to do.

But as not much can be seen anyway I think it is enough.

[daveyman]

Like your work. Looks good. I'm nearing completition of a 78 myself, 2 years build time and counting, so I enjoy seeing others tackling them as well. I will be watching this with interest along with your other 78.

[Orso]

I haven't looked to close about details before starting on this kit and have had some surprises. First the holes in the sides of the nose that I learned from Madish in his build.

A couple of other things in the conversion set. First the outlets in the top of the side pods. There are some plates among the etch parts to surround the outlets.

A scope for the nose radiator in white metal. Both items needed on the South Africa car. So far I have been lucky to learn about it in time to fix it or parts have been in the conversion set.
Perhaps I should have a closer look at pictures to see if I have missed anything else.

[Orso]

The conversion kit had an Gertrag gearbox in metal. Well it is different to the kit one and that suits me fine.
But I wonder if I should use the brake cooling parts from the kit?

[sh-modeling]

Can you tell me more about the conversion set? I've never heard of a conversion set with Getrag gearbox for the Lotus 78...

Edit: Oh I see, this must be a S27 trans kit? I may have overlooked that...

[Orso]

Yes it probably is. The instructions say: ST27-TK2018C 1/20 Lotus 78 JPS '78 (Early version)

Inside the word Transkit is mentioned. That part is really funny: "Read and understand Tamiya instructions before reading the TRANSKIT instructions"
It isn't easy to read the TRANSKIT instructions as only the headlines are in English. The actual instructions are only in Japanese so I had to look at the pictures in the instructions and guess when they didn't show things clearly.

[sh-modeling]

Thanks, I was guessing this. What's the content of the transkit? A fast google search gave me some pics. I see mostly a PE fret (rear wing end plates), a roll bar and obviously the Getrag gearbox. Any thing else?

[Orso]

That is about it. The etch fret also has the front wing end plates but they look to be to short, the wing support with the cutouts in the top parts, the plates around the air outlets on the side pods and new side skirts. The roll bar is higher than the kit part but I think that it is still to low for Ronnie's car. There are some small stuff as well.
I have a decal sheet with the same product number as the kit instructions so I suppose it came in the Transkit.

[sh-modeling]

Yes, there should be a decal sheet included. Thanks again and nice inspirational work