Building the Lola T70 Mk III

[spinellid82]

I have one Andy, haven't even openend it but it is a beautiful car! Have fun with it and PLEASE keep us posted!

[Andym]

Will do. Looks like it'll be a fun build. Lots of metal work to do on this one.

[spinellid82]

I love the looks of the car and the fact that it is Chevy powered is a nice bonus for me. So the kit looks good eh? I don't think I have ever been disappointed by any Tamiya kit that I have seen. I have a 1:12 Super 7 BDR also, wife thought I lost my mind when I bought it out of a bankrupt hobby store closeout sale for $70...

[Andym]

I tracked down a fully restored, mint condition and race ready T70 and spent about three hours climbing all over it with my camera yesterday. Got about 300 pictures.

Having now been in, on and underneath this car I am really excited to build it.

There are a few innacurracies in the Tamiya kit, but for the most part it looks pretty good.

I can't wait to start fabricating the aluminum parts for this one.

[spinellid82]

Is it done yet? Are we there yet? I'm hungry! I gotta pee!

I would be MOST interested in those pics if you would be so kind and maybe even some of those metal pieces you make mention of. Lets keep in touch over this build please and see if we can't come to an equitable sollution for these parameters! My email is listed in the the members roster.

Thanks a ton in advance!
David

[Andym]

David -

I'll be posting in-process pics of the Lola build here on this web site with hundreds more posted to my web site.

I will also be posting all 260 pics I took of the Lola in my web site photo gallery as soon as I can go through them all and get them sorted out. I expect that they will be online this weekend. By all means, if they help you out, then feel free to use them.
(I only ask that you not distribute them.)

In terms of the Tamiya kit, there are a few differences between the T70 that Tamiya used and the one I photographed. I happed to like the one I photographed more, but you can use these photos as reference for either one as the core interior/engine/drive-train, suspension and braking components are identical to both cars.

The biggest changes that i'll be making in my build are:

(1) The master cylinders have to be relocated to the front bulkhead

(2) The Oil Cooler/Radiator has to be relocated to the rear-most strut

(3) The Oil resevoirs have to be relocated to the right side just behind the driver

(4) The rear end skeleton has to be modified as the car I photographed didn't carry a spare tire

I am going to fabricate the radiators out of brass and aluminum, turn aluminum wheel rims on my lathe and build the car's skeleton out of brass which I'll have chrome plated . I will also build the driver's tub and entire front end out of aluminum and use stainless rivets to assemble everything. I've never built in 1/12 before so this will be a new experience for me.

When do you think you'll be starting yours?

By the end of this weekend I should have the engine block, transmission and bell housing complete and will be posting pics then.

[spinellid82]

Hey Andy, I am on my first ever 1:8 scale build and having WAY to much fun with it. I have two other 1:8 builds in the brew pot before I get to anything else. I am thinking now that the T70 will come after that. I am looking forward to your thread it should be intriguing at the very least!

Again, thanks a ton in advance for all of the reference photos!

[Andym]

David - I've been building 1:8 for about 10 years now and it's wonderful. I find that this scale offers creative and detailing opportunities that are very difficult if not impossible to explore in 1:24 and 1:25 scale.

While 1:12 is a little smaller than I'm used to, i've always thought that the T70 was a gorgeous car and even at that scale, the Tamiya kit still large enough for me to get my fat fingers in there. And after two years of working on the same scratch-built project, I'm really enjoying doing a kit for a nice change of pace.

Happy to share the pics. By the time I get done posting all my galleries, there will be about 70,000 reference shots on my web site which you are welcome to enjoy and use throughtout your builds.

Andy.

[spinellid82]

Is it done yet Andy? What's the latset news? Hope you're having fun with it!

HMMMMMMM...2am...Bedtime for Bonzo!

Say goodnight Bonzo.

GOODNIGHT BONZO!

[Andym]

Good morning Bonzo. Unfortunately I have not been able to touch the Lola or post anything to my web site for a few weeks due to a friend's illness. I am hoping to get back to the bench this week.

Andy.

[spinellid82]

I hope that all is well!

[T70MkIII]

All the best for your friend, Andy.

My father bought me one of the 1st releases of this kit for my 12th birthday (that dates me) and the T70MkIII has been my favourite car ever since. To me, the balance of elegance with aggressiveness comprehensively surpasses the MkI GT40. I too have one of the latest release in a box, and am contemplating using it and reference photos to stitch together a 1/8 version. I have several unfinished projects on at the mo, so it may be some time before I even start.

In the meantime, I am eagerly looking forward to seeing your progress!

[Dougritt]

Hi Andy-
Is that a picture of you with the Lola? If so, you look very happy! Sounds like a really fun kit (although I love your scratch-builds!) I'm sure you'll find a few Andy-things to add!
Doug