white metal Ferrari Sharknose and white metal Lotus 25 - Spy vs Spy ...

[lascar]

What a great build !!!!!!!!

[absmiami]

Thanks lascar !

So here’s the fuel cap …

[absmiami]

Now that i know how to use lo temp solder I’ve soldered a nickel silver post to the ends of the rockers - that’s where i can pin the top of the shocks - the shocks are in-board - housed in the footbox - this was another innovation on the 25 - 

[absmiami]

Left and right 

either / or

[absmiami]

The trailing arms will be nickel silver .040 tube - 1 inch scale - silver soldered to posts - the early 25s did not have the Len Terry designed brackets that were riveted to the sides of the monocoque on the 63 cars and many following open wheelers … the angle needed for the post follows the shape filed on to the popsicle stick - the angle was sort of hit-or-miss  -  but once i found the right angle i’ve got the stick as a template to solder up trailing arm brothers and sisters …

[absmiami]

The fasteners for the trailing arms will be glued during final assembly - with a fake nut - and the length of the trailing arms can be shortened once all the parts are assembled …

[absmiami]

Some white metal susp parts from a years past Gurney Eagle project - to be used on the trailing arms and parallel links …

[Big John]

Nice rod ends, they are always a challenge.

[absmiami]

Brake line junction - when I solder up a small part - i start with lengths of tubing - this is .026 brass - and reduce each length with files until i’ve made the part -

[absmiami]

The Auto Kits wh metal steering wheel turns out to have the exact diameter - 12 scale inches - but it needs a few mods - reducing the texture appearance on the wheel grip - which was a relatively smooth leather - and and a small correction to the shape of the spokes - 

[absmiami]

And then chucked into a Foredom drill peice to go for a spin - sanding sticks and the tips of files give the part a machined - rather than a cast appearance - just need to make a collar to place behind the spokes … and yes- I’ll need to an emblem to the center cap …

[absmiami]

And a quick thought about research for a particular car at a particular moment of its competition life - this is the steering wheel on Clark’s 25 on its debut in ‘62 - Dutch Grand Prix - with a simple machined collar to attach the steering rod - 

[absmiami]

And here’s a restored 25 - using a casting in its place - not really inaccuate - because i’m sure Team Lotus utilized the casting later in the 25’s competion career - but - this is why the bl and wh images on sites like Motorsports Images are so valuable to us …

Edited August 9 by absmiami

[absmiami]

Gracias TS - 

here’s another example - the restored 25s do not have gated gear shift housings - 

[absmiami]

But the shifter on Clark’s 25 in ‘62 was in fact gated - so i’ll rummage around my photo-etch stash to see if i got something - or maybe grab some nickel silver strip and make it …

[Jim Dodson]

Andrew, I have really enjoyed your posting on Jim Clark's Lotus 25. Clark was my first driver hero when I was a pre-teen. I was in junior high when I found out he had been killed. I remember I was taking final exams that day. Needless to say, I didn't do well on them.

[absmiami]

Gracias JD  - here’s my first shot at the shift gate - made from Evergreen strip with slots cut with an .08 saw blade - its a maybe …

[absmiami]

And here’s the collar for the steering wheel …. .125  Evergreen rod ….

[absmiami]

Some more white metal parts from my Gurney Eagle project - Lotus used Armstrong shocks - as did a number of F1 teams … 

[charlie libby]

looks awesome so far. your tubing fabrication is looking great. if u send me a drawing with dimension i would machine you a shift gate from aluminum or plastic if you'd like.

[absmiami]

Dont rush that Bugatti - but that local IPMS show in Pompano is in 2 weeks - 

[absmiami]

Charlie - text me if you  need the show info ...

how would you machine the shift gate ?

would you try to mill the gate pattern ?

or cut vertical slots with a narrow dia. slitting saw on two nickel posts and then solder the two facing nickel strips together ??

both are a pain - which would be less of a pain ?

in MY scale - you would need to use a .10 mill  -   

how many would you break ?  - the .010s are $$$

[absmiami]

While i’m on this lo temp soldering kick - i’ve made the pedals by converting wh metal rod end parts and wh metal scrap fr the kit - - - 

[absmiami]

Trade-off -  the parts have a nice steel appearance - but they aren’t as strong as brass or nickel - but i won’t / shouldn’t need any strength - the pedals are mounted to the “bridge” above the foot box and suspended …

[absmiami]

Flight 19 IPMS Modelfest 25

Sat Aug 23 2025

Larkin Comm Ctr  -  Pompano Beach Beach Fl

Be there  -  or be squared ...