Lotus Seven Replica - diary of a build F I N I S H E D

[da Speedinger]

From today on i want to try something new for me:
I'll make a sort of a diary of my currently ongoing build which is a mostly scratch built 1/25 Lotus Seven Replica.
I already started this project some months ago and i will regularly update you with the progress up to present day.
Let's see how this works....

 

2018-04-19
Having left one Mini Cooper engine, i was thinking of what to do with it.
Taking into consideration that i also have a '57 Chevy front and rear axle including wheels&tyres and some interior parts from other builds i am thinking of a cutaway roadster in the shape of a Lotus Seven S2, so that the fully scratch build frame is visible and not hidden under the body. Frame will be scratch build from 2mm evergreen, body panels from 0.5mm styrene sheet.

 

Edited October 19, 2018 by da Speedinger

[Italianhorses]

Sounds like a cool project!

[Gramps46]

Looking forward to seeing more.

[Dann Tier]

I'm looking forward to following!!

[Bainford]

Cool. More Lotus! I'll be watching this one come together.

[da Speedinger]

Thank you for your interest guys. Here is my next post:

 

2018-06-26
I want to scratch build a tubular frame from 2 mm round evergreen.
My approach is to print out the blueprints in scale and use them as my guideline.

 

3D print the chassis is an option, especially cause there are already existing .stl files on the web. But the quality of the result is questionable so i want to build it from styrene.

[da Speedinger]

2018-07-11
Started the build with a new bell housing (1/12 motorcycle engine cover), gearbox (1/8 motorcycle carburetor) and provisional driveshaft exit (1/12 motorcycle exhaust) for the Mini Cooper engine which i will use for this project.
Then started the lower frame.
Next i will try to position the engine and the suspensions (from a '57 Chevy Bel Air) in the lower frame, then add the upper frame.

 

 

[robdebie]

On 10/20/2018 at 6:09 PM, da Speedinger said:

3D print the chassis is an option, especially cause there are already existing .stl files on the web. But the quality of the result is questionable so i want to build it from styrene.

I scratchbuilt a similar chassis: 1/10 scale Locost chassis. It was a lot of fun, and less difficult than I expected. Unfortunately I made a painting mistake: most panels should be aluminum instead of steel color.

Have fun with yours!

Rob

 

 

Edited October 21, 2018 by robdebie

[da Speedinger]

1 hour ago, robdebie said:

I scratchbuilt a similar chassis: 1/10 scale Locost chassis. It was a lot of fun, and less difficult than I expected. Unfortunately I made a painting mistake: most panels should be aluminum instead of steel color.

Have fun with yours!

Rob

 

 

Rob - I have seen your scratch built chassis during my researches for my build.
But i have not seen your car finished. Did you?
 

[Dann Tier]

Off to a really good start!!

[robdebie]

3 hours ago, da Speedinger said:

Rob - I have seen your scratch built chassis during my researches for my build.
But i have not seen your car finished. Did you?

No, the chassis was intended as a stand-alone model. I never planned to add the engine, suspension, bodywork, etcetera. The reason is that I've studying these 'Chapman' type of chassis for ages, trying to figure out the design philosophy. Building one in scale was very helpful. I started a similar-scaled Fokker Dr1 Dreidecker, but that one is stalled. Too many projects :-)

Rob

Edited October 21, 2018 by robdebie

[da Speedinger]

8 hours ago, robdebie said:

No, the chassis was intended as a stand-alone model. I never planned to add the engine, suspension, bodywork, etcetera. The reason is that I've studying these 'Chapman' type of chassis for ages, trying to figure out the design philosophy. Building one in scale was very helpful. I started a similar-scaled Fokker Dr1 Dreidecker, but that one is stalled. Too many projects :-)

Rob

The Red Baron - sounds interesting. I have never been into airplanes.

[Anglia105E]

Michi...... I am very interested in your idea to begin this project. I will follow your work in progress and waiting to see how it goes. The plan drawings and the 3D option are of particular interest to me.

David

[da Speedinger]

6 minutes ago, Anglia105E said:

Michi...... I am very interested in your idea to begin this project. I will follow your work in progress and waiting to see how it goes. The plan drawings and the 3D option are of particular interest to me.

David

David,
i have withdrawn the 3D option rather soon, as the result was not usable for me:

 

The blueprints (printed out in scale 1/25, so 1:1 for my build) were very helpful indeed. Not only for the frame but also later in the build to get proportions of the car right.

Michi

Edited October 22, 2018 by da Speedinger

[Anglia105E]

Some things do not work so well in 3D printed material, but as you say, your 1:25 scale blueprints will be very useful. I have designed a 1:24 scale Rolls-Royce 6 cylinder inline engine in 3D, using FreeCAD software and this has been 3D printed by Shapeways. Two of the engines have been used for two of my 1950's Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud models in 1:24 scale. Few photos for you.

David

[da Speedinger]

56 minutes ago, Anglia105E said:

Some things do not work so well in 3D printed material, but as you say, your 1:25 scale blueprints will be very useful. I have designed a 1:24 scale Rolls-Royce 6 cylinder inline engine in 3D, using FreeCAD software and this has been 3D printed by Shapeways. Two of the engines have been used for two of my 1950's Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud models in 1:24 scale. Few photos for you.

David

I also tried a 3d printed engine - maybe you have seen it here:
Mini 1000 K7

 

 

 

[Anglia105E]

Just had a look at the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 engine, which has printed really well, and also your Mini project is very interesting Michi, as well as unusual. The Tamiya Mini kit is a good kit and I used one as a donor kit for a Morris Minor Traveller I was building. You did well to change the data of the 3D printed engine and the whole build looks great.

David

[da Speedinger]

OK then, after some nice smalltalk back to business:

2018-07-18
I made the lower and upper parts of the frame. To make the cross members between these two i taped a pile of plastic cards together and taped them to top and bottom of the card pile. Doing so i ensured that the frame height will stay correct.
Currently i am finishing the front end of the frame.
Next step will be to make the suspensions. Therefore i already made the pile of plastic cards a little less high and i will tape the frame on top of it. This will simmulate the correct stance. I'll start with the front suspension.

 

 

[Mark IV]

That suspension is very heavy-duty for the weight of a Caterham type car. The Chevy it came from weighs at least 3000-3500# and an all up Caterham is less than 1300#! The Chevy control arms would weigh more then the tube frame does!

[da Speedinger]

11 minutes ago, Mark IV said:

That suspension is very heavy-duty for the weight of a Caterham type car. The Chevy it came from weighs at least 3000-3500# and an all up Caterham is less than 1300#! The Chevy control arms would weigh more then the tube frame does!

Well spotted, Rick! Wait for my next post to see how this front axle changes its look.

[da Speedinger]

2018-07-19

I made the first pair of upper and lower suspension arms (left) from the original chevy bel air front suspension (right). i think the look is much better!
Coilovers also start to take shape.

 

[da Speedinger]

2018-07-25
Basically i have a rollin chassis, although its still taped to the pile of cards while glue is hardening.
Since the last post i finished the front suspension (upper arms and coilovers not in the picture), made the rear part of the frame and added the rear suspension recently (coils not in the picture). I had some issues with the rear axle, but i hope it works now.
Next up to fill and sand the frame's rear and the axe, then add the engine and make the drive shaft.

 

[da Speedinger]

2018-07-26
Drivetrain basically done, frame needs a few more bits to be added

 

 

[Anglia105E]

Your rolling chassis shows how this build is going to work. Also, you have overcome the issues along the way, and this is scratch building at it's best. Your idea to use the pile of plastic cards taped together is clearly a sound method of assembly..... a very effective way to get the alignment and the stance right.

David

[da Speedinger]

On 27.10.2018 at 4:45 PM, Anglia105E said:

Your rolling chassis shows how this build is going to work. Also, you have overcome the issues along the way, and this is scratch building at it's best. Your idea to use the pile of plastic cards taped together is clearly a sound method of assembly..... a very effective way to get the alignment and the stance right.

David

Thank you, David!