Triumph TR3 Saico 1/24

[Hoffman]

[Hoffman]

Basic Model:                   Saico Triumph TR3 diecast

Chassis:                            Saico, painted Tamiya TS 29 semi-gloss black

Front Suspension:        Hubs modified for replacement wheels and to narrow the track slightly

Rear Suspension:        Drums modified to narrow the track, lowered.

Wheels:                             Back half from Welly Alfa Romeo, centers Entex TR3 with Molotow hub cap, front rim Revell Ford ’29 steely.

Tires:                                  Welly Alfa Romeo 2600

Engine:                            Detailed painted, upside-down SU carburetors corrected.

Under Hood:                   Inner fenders painted red to match body, firewall details painted

Interior:                             Carpet flocking added, upholstery painted, seats moved back

Body:                                  Stock Saico, Molotow trim, Testors ruby red taillights, printed license plate. Modified top, modified windshield frame.

[Gramps46]

Tim,

I never would have guessed it was a SAICO dicast!  You do know your Triumphs and it shows.  Thanks for sharing.

[Hoffman]

This was a fun, rebuild project. I'd bought a box of Saico TR3's for $25. Seven total cars in the box, six with crumbling bodies, one good one in red. They have kind of toy-like wire wheels stock. I wanted to replicate the Triumph steel disc wheels with hub caps. I used the centers from an Entex TR3 combined with Revell front rims and Welly backsides. The Welly pieces were sourced from an Alfa 2600 die cast.

The windshield frames and tops are a little tall and narrow on these Saico TR's, at least in my view. The top represents an aftermarket fiberglass top covered in vinyl. The solution I came up with the modify the proportions was to add sort of a built in visor at the front of the top, then lower the visible chrome frame below. It also had heavy windshield wipers molded in. I ground those away, added an acetate windshield, then covered the frame in chrome tape and molotow.

[Hoffman]

Just now, Gramps46 said:

Tim,

I never would have guessed it was a SAICO dicast!  You do know your Triumphs and it shows.  Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Gary!! You're the best, my friend. ?

[TNT]

Sweet. Triumphs are under rated. Yours looks top notch. When i met my wife in 86 she had like 72 spitfire. Her uncle gave me a set of dual carbs and the tool t adjust them. Not really fast cars but fun. Always wanted a tr6 myself. 

[1959scudetto]

Excellent upgrade of this old diecast, Tim ! The steel wheels are top-notch (finally a roadster without spoke wheels!).

I can't await what will come next from your workbench!

[Hoffman]

14 hours ago, TNT said:

Sweet. Triumphs are under rated. Yours looks top notch. When i met my wife in 86 she had like 72 spitfire. Her uncle gave me a set of dual carbs and the tool t adjust them. Not really fast cars but fun. Always wanted a tr6 myself. 

Thank you, Tony! My first car was a TR4 I bought from my Dad while I was in high school. Still have it.

[Hoffman]

36 minutes ago, 1959scudetto said:

Excellent upgrade of this old diecast, Tim ! The steel wheels are top-notch (finally a roadster without spoke wheels!).

I can't await what will come next from your workbench!

Thank you, Helmut! I've got 5 more TR3's to build. Each will use Saico chassis. Two with Gunze Sangyo bodies; one small mouth and one wide mouth 3A. Three will use Entex bodies. They're a closer fit to the Saico chassis, with slight wheelbase changes. For the Gunze replicas I've had to shorten the length of the floor pans, widen the floor slightly, narrow the track and reduce the wheelbase. They'll all have complete drive trains and poseable steering though. Big improvements to the interior of the Entex versions too.

Attached photo is the small mouth Gunze, sitting on a Saico chassis. Work in progress..... The wheels are Gunze TR2 centers mated to 1973 vintage Revell H1374 '55 Chevy wheel backs and bias ply tires. The shock absorbers are brass tubing with ink pen coil springs. For this one I actually narrowed the front of the chassis as well. The hood is not cut open yet on this one but will be. I've done that for my other Gunze 3A and one of my Entex 3A's. It was slow, tedious work but turned out fine. The Saico firewall fits these bodies with minimal massaging.

[TNT]

6 hours ago, Hoffman said:

Thank you, Tony! My first car was a TR4 I bought from my Dad while I was in high school. Still have it.

That is cool. My wifes uncle had mgs think it was a  TD, A, and a 70 something. Mercedes and jaqs. The wifes mom drove a morris henry and like i said the wife had the spitfire. The 3s n 4s just have a look all their own from the front from the rear i get a bit confused. They all can be a bit scary next to a semi on the freeway rolling at 70 mph.