Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 Hey everyone!, how many of us have struggled through building this rather annoying kit? If you like this car, you don't really have a choice. Here I will show you how i'm dealing with it to make it a better kit, AND give this awesome car the performance it deserves. It has some of the best handling, and braking, but its not what it could be in the speed department, so I decided to put a 200+ mph Ferrari V8 in it. Here you can see all the things I hacked apart, and re-assembled in better ways.....it will have a one-piece body like the better Japanese kits when i'm through with it, and a better ride height. One of the very first things I did, was to separate the top of the dash from the body...…..that annoys the heck out of me when they do that! I also stole the tyres out of one of my Tamiya Ferrari F-40 kits...they do this car/kit justice!!! -Thanks for looking in!! 2
Charlie0882004 Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 Very cool!! You inspired me to become a better builder. How's the Pagani?
afx Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) I'll be following Dann. Been wanting one of these kits for awhile but haven't pulled the trigger. Edited May 31, 2018 by afx
Matt Bacon Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 Very interesting, Dann! Could you give a bit of commentary on how you fixed the ride height? I hear that's a bit of a bear... Thanks! best, M.
Bainford Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 I'll be watching this one. First because it's Lotus, but I also have a clean built-up of this kit that I bought last year. I've never built one myself, but examining the built-up, it seems a really well done kit. Certainly much better detail than I expected. I will be re-building it someday, though I am currently building the Fujimi S1 Esprit, and couldn't help slipping the built Esprit 300 chassis and turbo 4 cyl into the (in my opinion) much cleaner and pleasing S1 body. In that moment, the seeds of a kitbash may have been sewn.
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 2:48 PM, aurfalien said: Hi, Oooooo, drool... This is gonna be fantastic. Expand Thanks, Brian!!!.....your stuff is FINALLY being sent out tomorrow!!!
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 2:57 PM, Charlie0882004 said: Very cool!! You inspired me to become a better builder. How's the Pagani? Expand Thanks, Chad!!, i'm glad its helping you!!...that's why I post. About the Pagani; I just took a little break on it, I will be starting up on it again on Sunday...its going great though!! -thanks for asking!!
aurfalien Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 5:25 PM, Dann Tier said: Thanks, Brian!!!.....your stuff is FINALLY being sent out tomorrow!!! Expand Hello sir, No worries, and man this build is gonna be goooooood!
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 3:05 PM, afx said: I'll be following Dann. Been wanting one of these kits for awhile but haven't pulled the trigger. Expand Thanks, JC!!!, much like the real car, you REALLY have to love it to deal with all its issues!!...lol
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 4:10 PM, Matt Bacon said: Very interesting, Dann! Could you give a bit of commentary on how you fixed the ride height? I hear that's a bit of a bear... Thanks! best, M. Expand Thanks, Matt!!, when I get to that part, I will definitely show how I lower it!!
Rob Hall Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) Neat...you know, the last Esprits were available with a twin turbo V8...from 1996 onward. Those were never kitted that I know of. Edited May 31, 2018 by Rob Hall
Matt Bacon Posted May 31, 2018 Posted May 31, 2018 The real thing is a very compact quad cam 3.5L 90 degree V8 that's unique to Lotus, as far as I can see... I' ve been wracking my brains and eyeing the stash to see if I have anything vaguely similar but to no avail so far. I actually wonder if a V6 with some reworking of the manifold might be the way to go, it's so small, but the choices of 90 degree V6s are pretty limited! best, M.
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 4:29 PM, Bainford said: I'll be watching this one. First because it's Lotus, but I also have a clean built-up of this kit that I bought last year. I've never built one myself, but examining the built-up, it seems a really well done kit. Certainly much better detail than I expected. I will be re-building it someday, though I am currently building the Fujimi S1 Esprit, and couldn't help slipping the built Esprit 300 chassis and turbo 4 cyl into the (in my opinion) much cleaner and pleasing S1 body. In that moment, the seeds of a kitbash may have been sewn. Expand Thanks, Trevor!!, I have that kit as well, but the newer ones are my favorite.
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 5:39 PM, Rob Hall said: Neat...you know, the last Esprits were available with a twin turbo V8...from 1996 onward. Those were never kitted that I know of. Expand Thanks, Robert!!….no they weren't.
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 5:58 PM, Matt Bacon said: The real thing is a very compact quad cam 3.5L 90 degree V8 that's unique to Lotus, as far as I can see... I' ve been wracking my brains and eyeing the stash to see if I have anything vaguely similar but to no avail so far. I actually wonder if a V6 with some reworking of the manifold might be the way to go, it's so small, but the choices of 90 degree V6s are pretty limited! best, M. Expand Yup, Matt....that's the one!
Dann Tier Posted May 31, 2018 Author Posted May 31, 2018 On 5/31/2018 at 4:33 PM, DiscoRover007 said: Looking good. This is the 360 Modena V8? Expand Thanks, James!!...yes it is!!!
ismaelg Posted June 1, 2018 Posted June 1, 2018 I have had that kit in the stash semi started for over 20 years. I really like that car. Will follow this one. Maybe it is time to get mine out. I want those wheels! You mention tires are from a Tamiya F40. Are the wheels as well? That is exactly the wheel/tire combo I need for my Guldstrand. Thanks,
iamsuperdan Posted June 1, 2018 Posted June 1, 2018 So is this one based on the Esprit Sport 300? I'm scared to start mine because of the horror stories I hear about this kit!
Dann Tier Posted June 1, 2018 Author Posted June 1, 2018 On 6/1/2018 at 3:17 AM, ismaelg said: I have had that kit in the stash semi started for over 20 years. I really like that car. Will follow this one. Maybe it is time to get mine out. I want those wheels! You mention tires are from a Tamiya F40. Are the wheels as well? That is exactly the wheel/tire combo I need for my Guldstrand. Thanks, Expand Thanks!!, the wheels come with the Sport 300 kits.
Dann Tier Posted June 1, 2018 Author Posted June 1, 2018 On 6/1/2018 at 4:04 AM, iamsuperdan said: So is this one based on the Esprit Sport 300? I'm scared to start mine because of the horror stories I hear about this kit! Expand Well Dan, i'm here to help you get through it!, I've built it like this before, and it works Great!!!....I've already worked the bugs out, and made it ALOT easier.....go get it built, bud!!!
iamsuperdan Posted June 1, 2018 Posted June 1, 2018 lolz The Esprit has always been one of my fav cars, even though it really is flawed in so many ways. This one WILL get built. Eventually.
espo Posted June 1, 2018 Posted June 1, 2018 Your engine upgrade looks factory. Maybe that's the way it should have been done.
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