My 1/12 Caterham Super Seven BDR build begins here :)

[clarkey 0]

Hi after what has seemed like an age of waiting and the loss of one to the

post system my caterham bdr has turned up at last(thanks Stella for coming

through for me so quick!). This build is for those who may be interested what

is in the master’s coachworks kits and to introduce those to them who may not

be aware of what they are. The build is going to take me some time but I will

update regularly if people seem interested in the build. These first shots just

show the box and the contents of the kit I will be making a start tomorrow in

between my studies.

The box for this kit is huge larger than the average rc kit box and its only

a static kit! 

 

A complete break down of all the parts when painted.

Finished car from side of box with no body work on 

The goodies Note blisters!

Inside the first box the lid contains some of the aluminum body parts

 

Contents of the box, from top left 2 screw bags with tons of very tiny

screws, aluminum parts roll bars and springs metal window frames, more metal

parts misc pieces such as carburetor filters window glass etc, Tamiya sand

paper more metal parts including k & n air filter  more meal fixings

highly detailed, and lastly the car has real carpets ! witch are precut

although you cant tell in the photo.

Another blister with all the metal suspension components and bags containing

the metal exhaust system and roll bar and all the piping and hosing

More blisters this time tires

Contents of tire box fabric seat belts light lenses one piece engine and

gearbox castings!

The one piece abs resin tubular chassis an amazing feat of molding note it

has extra pieces for support during shipping witch must be removed

The body panels wheels pre painted ! and parts sprues

More sprues the rubber tonue cover and belts are made from rubber!

The cover of the manual

 

And lastly a page of the build notice the use of screws

 

I really cant wait to start this the quality of the parts both metal and

plastic is like nothing I have seen the castings are simply gorgeous and so

detailed and the use of other materials such as rubber carpet and fabric will

make for an interesting build. 

 

[DeeMiller 1]

Seems a nice kit!

Can you please resize the pics because the forum has this annoying way to add a scroll bar at the bottom when pics are 800+ wide.

I can't even read the first sentence...

Not your fault though but keep that in mind, looking forward to the build!

 

Dee.

[fatboyslim 11]

Sweet kit!!

Looking forward to seeing the build up, this is one kit I've always fancied building but could never justify the cost!!

[clarkey 0]

ok thanks for that dee i use firefox 2.0 and it doesnt do it to me (there is a bar but no need to scroll) what size do you normaly make your images to fit best and ill make the rest that size thanks

[clarkey 0]

Just a small update on my progress.

This pic show the chassis before it is trimed it comes with lots of extra pieces to protect it during transport.

And here it is after this was nerve wracking as it all looks very similar

And from the side (it is affixed to the can with masking tape as i will be spraying it tommoro)

And lastly these two sprues will both be mostly black so they are to be sprayed as well i find it easy to spray sprues if they are stuck verticle like this.

Tommoro after painting i will be polishing some of the metal in the instructions it states to use tamiya fine polishing compound and then modeling wax to bring out the shine does anyone have any tips on how to best polish the aluminium?

One thing to add i do not paint models with plasticote and do not recomend anyone too it is very thick and covers detail i am only using it as a stand .

 

[Hibernaculum 933]

The box for this kit is huge larger than the average rc kit box and its only

a static kit! 

All I keep thinking is....

1/12th, metal bits, blisters, suspension, realism, detail......what a shame this isn't an R/C kit. 

How cool would it be if Tamiya released some sort of R/C conversion hop up for this kit. With a unique chassis, that attempts to preserve as much detail as possible. (none of that TL-02TA-TB-TT-01 <spit> cookie-cutter chassis rubbish [+o(])

Yes I know. An impossible, fragile dream. But who cares. Let me dream.

I simply want R/C kits with as much old-time Tamiya love in them, as this kit still has.

cheers,

H. 

[fatboyslim 11]

Autosol is a good aluminium polish

[clarkey 0]

Hibernaculum I know exactly what you mean ever since I first opened the box I

keep thinking about how amazing it would be with electrics in. I even found

myself looking at the engine and gearbox as they are hollow one piece moldings

and wondering if a tiny motor could be fitted as it already has a driveshaft

running to the rear wheels and I am sure the diff could have a fixed diff in it

as there are driveshafts too. Oh dear I am getting carried away. Oh plus it has

rack and pinion steering so if I a micro servo where fitted in line with the steering

column hmm. Mind you I think it would put the fear of god in you driving it

with all that very soft aluminum rolling about .

 Cheers for the polish tip too.

[Shodog 1835]

Wow that's an impressive looking kit.  The aluminum looks sweet. 

[clarkey 0]

It is a really nice kit shodog and yes plenty of metal for you to polish

[]

On with the update I sprayed al the parts I wanted to semi gloss black and

it came out real nice.

Once it had dried work began first thing was to assemble the steering rack. Those

screw are tiny and I mean tiny think 1.5mm the set comes with a special

attachment for the mini screwdriver witch you really need there were some nervous

moments assembling this as I would never find these screws if I drop one. I

love the little metal arms and the rack plus the real rubber gaiters mmm love

that smell . The tube is there for a size comparison.

A close up of the rack and pinion so small!

Next it was time to fit some braces in the chassis and then promptly cover

them with this rear inner panel and the rear bulkhead

The bulkhead and inner panel in place the supports in front of the bulkhead

where all screwed in.

So far I am loving this kit it is a real test of your patience but is so

rewarding it really is like building a miniature car in your own hands an

amazing example of tamiya's incredible quality. 

 

 

[clarkey 0]

Ok next update have been very busy with life (that time of year ) but have manged to get some done. The next steps of the build involved lots of painting of little pieces and then lots of build up i have got further than this but will update more tommoro.

The next step was to screw the two floor panels to the bottom of the chassis starting to close in the drivers area.

This photo is after the sides have been attached note the metal is not polished yet i will be doing that before the engine goes in.

These are the components of the front susspension after painting note the tiny pin wich holds them together

And here they are assembled

This is the upper arm bracket these peices are all metal and mount to the chassis using lots of very small machined metal brackets

Here is how it looks mounted with the metal lower arm attached as well

This is the beggining of painting of the components of the wheel hubs and disc brakes note the grooves in the discs (very fine detail)

This is the rear diff and the driveshaft cups and the prop shaft these have not been highlighted at this stage

Here is the finished diff installed in the chassis

And finaly the view of the driveshaft this are will be ocvered by the metal center tunnel soon

 

Thanks for looking its been a lot of work so far but is so satisfying to see it coming together i have always wanted to build a real caterham and this is pretty close for the minute.

Also if you are enjoying this build up of finding it useful or informative let me know as its alot of work and will only carry it on if it is to interest of others, i dont want to be boring you all or taking up space. 

[mrfreezeuk 0]

looking great keep going as im waiting for stella to get 2 more for me to order and build..

i have been watching with intres to see how it all goes together.

 

Darren

[fatboyslim 11]

Keep up the good work clarkey, this is an excellent kit which I have been wanting to build for eternity, the price was the deciding factor in NOT building it!! BUT when I see these pics of how sweet it is I really feel the urge to get one to build!!

Can I ask how much it was posted to the UK??

[clarkey 0]

Thanks guys it really is a special kit and more than justifies the price in my opinion (im sure it cost tamiys a pretty peny to tool up for this) i think i payed £109.00 delivered to my door by stella wich is in my opinion a bargain for something this intricate.

[fatboyslim 11]

OUCH!!

Still a lot cheaper than the UK price, IF you can find one!!

[DeeMiller 1]

Great topic Clarkey!

Keep up the good work.

Remember, not everyone comments but they are looking! (keep an eye of the "views").

I have the same experience in my Hummer thread, sometimes, it seems no-one responds but they are watching you...oh yes, they are!

But it is indeed helpfull to get some feedback for it's a lot of work.

In fact, it helps to get the best out of you (and inspiring others) as I have found out myself.

Keep it up!

 

Dee.

[clarkey 0]

Cheers dee ye its good to get feedback keeps you on your toes. Well i have been really busy on the car and will update with pics in batches today as there are several stages here.

The next step of build was to assemble the front hubs these are glue together with bolts trapped inbetween to affix the wheels too later. I also painted all of the calipers in the colour that tamiya recomends you mix to do them in looks nice i think

The roll bar was also assembled with small ruber bushes made from tube

These where then screwed to the front uprights and scrwed to the chassis and the roll bar was screwed on as well

The next step was to paint the side pieces of the rear metal de dion tube and assemble the rear susspension shocks (ignore front uprights)

The rear driveshafts with rubber gaitors can be seen here

The di dion tube

completed ready to go on the chassis

Combined with the metal rear lower link and driveshafts and gaitors it was added to the chassis

Here it is attached awaiting the rear lower frame petrol tank and roll bar to be attached

The complete lower frame

Attached

And again all in place

This shot shows the chassis with all suspension components in place

 

Few that was alot of painting and work but i think it was worth it

 

 

[clarkey 0]

The next stage was to fit the floor of the boot in this space, the tank can bee seen here all that detail that no one will ever see (but i know its there)

Here the metal floor of the boot is in place was a bit nerve wracking bending and spreading the frame to get it in

This shot shows the next pieces used the blac and silver pipe with brackets was painted and connects the fuel filler cap to the tank. The roll bar is made from diecast metal and chromed and is quite heavy, it attaches to the chassis with small brackets. The finishing piece of the fuel cap and the cap its self are there and lastly the gorgeous aluminium rear panel.

 

And here it is all attached to the chassis looks nice i think.

 

[dj destiny 0]

When I first say these for sale I thought they were too expensive, but seeing this thread makes it look cheap for what you get!

I definitly want one at some point in the future []

Im looking forward to seeing the engine, especially as my 1:1 has the same one (But is turbo'ed) 

[clarkey 0]

The next section has been my favorite so far. Assembling the lower lap belts

buckles and carpeting the interior.

In this picture one set is complete and the components for another is shown.

The belts are made from a fabric with a sticky backing really do look

impressive

A close up of the buckles the press button is a very very small waterslide

decal was hard to get my camera to focus this small but I think you can get the

idea of how they look.

The finished belts with the side panels of the interior. These clip into the

chassis with lugs.

This is the carpet for the floor of the passenger compartment it is sticky

backed. I don’t know what Tamiya used to make it but it is exactly like car

carpet put the pile is in miniature if that makes sense look very good and nice

to have the real feel of carpet in the model.

This shot shows more carpet for the rear bulkhead and the center tunnel.

Also you can see the gear stick and the rubber shift boot.

A close up of the center tunnel a gorgeous piece with all the panel lines

and rivets seems a shame to cover it in carpet.

Here the center tunnel is being screwed in the screws are hidden and little flaps

like a real car

The finished carpeted interior with lap belts in. This was allot of work as

you have to stretch the carpet to make it fit and to line up especially around

the join of the center tunnel.

Over exposed so you can see the carpet with the pain in the butt join

looking sweet after at least an hour of trying

And hear is how the chassis looks now next stage will be to fix in the gear

lever and then the oil tank and battery.

 

Thanks for looking as ever feedback

good or bad most welcome. 

[MikeT 0]

Just... uh.. Wow.

How much did you lay out for this kit? Looks awesome so far!

[clarkey 0]

Cheers for the comments it was around £110 from hong kong it is usually around £179 in the uk but worth every penny will update later with some more pics

[clarkey 0]

Ok have finished the chassis as far as i can now and am moving on to the engine as per the instructions. The final bits i have done to today are the battery and oil tank. I had a dilema today painting the white resovoir in the book it recomends xf-2 flat white well what a horrid colour dont know if i have a duff bottle but it was like plasticote and goes on thick and gloopy but yet translucent after many coats had to flat right back and start again in future i will just use nomal x-2 as that is always fine like the rest of the tamiya paints.

Here you can see the battery just a light dry brush for this nice detail though

Here is the tank wich is plumbed in to the resovoir wich is affixed to the passnger footwell

And here is a shot of how it looks now my progress on the engine may be slow over the next week as i have lots of work to do and its that time of the year ho ho ho Merry Christmas every one.

 

[koenc 37]

Nice topic going on here.

I've build it myself (thx for the nice comment Clarkey) and I can assure you that it takes a very long time to do it correctly.

The screws are M1,2 !! .. . so very, very small. But it all fits like a glove (like we are used from Tamiya)

When finished there are dozens of parts where you put hours into detail that you can't see anymore. But a true modeler doesn't mind ... he knows it's perfect everywhere!

Keep up the good work and when finished, enjoy it!

greetings

Koenc 

 

[clarkey 0]

cheers Koenc your finished article was part of the inspiration to make the kit my self i still cant decide weather to mine yellow like yours or racing green the body will be the last bit i do so i have plenty of time to decide.