1/8 Grip Lotus 72 JPS

[moparman18064]

Here is my first entry. It is a 50 year old Grip Lotus 72 John Player Special.

[kyledehart5]

Doubling up in the open wheel group build I hope? 😂😂😂. Big old girl. Can’t wait to see it come together.

[moparman18064]

Oct 16, 2024 18:09:57 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Doubling up in the open wheel group build I hope? 😂😂😂. Big old girl. Can’t wait to see it come together.

Yes, indeed.

[Real G]

Oh the glory days of the 1970s Super Kits.  That's a rare beast you have there!  I hope you can source fresh aftermarket decals.  Wonderful project, can't wait to see how it builds.

[moparman18064]

Oct 19, 2024 14:14:52 GMT -5 Real G said:

Oh the glory days of the 1970s Super Kits.  That's a rare beast you have there!  I hope you can source fresh aftermarket decals.  Wonderful project, can't wait to see how it builds.

Thank you. Yes, there is one place that sells a new reproduction decal sheet (Best Balsa)

[project510]

Holy smokes this is going to be awesome!

[Real G]

1:8 scale! That’s almost 20 inches of awesome F-1 greatness! They really don’t make them like that any more.

[moparman18064]

Oct 19, 2024 21:45:35 GMT -5 project510 said:

Holy smokes this is going to be awesome!

I truly hope I can make it awesome James. I am working up the dollars for some upgrades for it, very far from cheap.

Oct 19, 2024 22:19:49 GMT -5 Real G said:

1:8 scale! That’s almost 20 inches of awesome F-1 greatness! They really don’t make them like that any more.

Hey now, this is a family forum😂🤣😂. They truly don’t, back in the ‘70s, big scale was the in thing. I built so many of the Monogram 1/8 scales, bought a Pocher Alfa Romeo Spyder for $32. I wish I kept them. ( I do have the Alfa)

[moparman18064]

First up, as always, check to make sure all parts are there, check. I started trial fitting body pieces to check for warpage. Surprisingly, all the body panels around the cockpit seem good. However, the nose is warped on top edge where it connects to cockpit. I am going to try taping it to a level and either try semi hot water or hair dryer to straighten.

[kyledehart5]

Man, that is a lot of big old pieces!! I’m tuned in and have this bookmarked.

[thug626]

This will be fun to watch. Now bookmarked

Cheers
Dave

[greg]

Holy Cow, 1/8 scale? Grip models? Haven't heard of either one. Bookmarked now that I've found you here.

When was Grip around? I was attracted to big scale cars in the 60's and early 70's and am surprised I don't recall either the scale or the mfg.

Is this the group build thread or is there a dupe thread for the dupe thread? I haven't even found all of the entries as I learn my way around here.

[moparman18064]

Oct 25, 2024 15:05:49 GMT -5 greg said:

Holy Cow, 1/8 scale? Grip models? Haven't heard of either one. Bookmarked now that I've found you here.

When was Grip around? I was attracted to big scale cars in the 60's and early 70's and am surprised I don't recall either the scale or the mfg.

Is this the group build thread or is there a dupe thread for the dupe thread? I haven't even found all of the entries as I learn my way around here.

Welcome Greg. To answer the Grip question, they made this kit from the Edai ( correct me if I spelled wrong) mold in the mid ‘70’s. You might be familiar with the Entex renditions that came around after.

As for the dupe thread, I have it in the open wheel group build( lasts until 2025 sometime) and the large scale all genres build( goes for 3 years, much more likely to complete by then), mods were ok with the cross build.

[moparman18064]

Oct 24, 2024 4:29:33 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Man, that is a lot of big old pieces!! I’m tuned in and have this bookmarked.

They definitely are some big pieces, have not worked on something this big since the early ‘80’s. Glad to see you along Kyle.

Oct 24, 2024 12:17:54 GMT -5 thug626 said:

This will be fun to watch. Now bookmarked

Cheers
Dave

Welcome along Dave

[greg]

Oct 25, 2024 17:18:31 GMT -5 moparman18064 said:

Oct 25, 2024 15:05:49 GMT -5 greg said:

Holy Cow, 1/8 scale? Grip models? Haven't heard of either one. Bookmarked now that I've found you here.

When was Grip around? I was attracted to big scale cars in the 60's and early 70's and am surprised I don't recall either the scale or the mfg.

Is this the group build thread or is there a dupe thread for the dupe thread? I haven't even found all of the entries as I learn my way around here.

Welcome Greg. To answer the Grip question, they made this kit from the Edai ( correct me if I spelled wrong) mold in the mid ‘70’s. You might be familiar with the Entex renditions that came around after.

As for the dupe thread, I have it in the open wheel group build( lasts until 2025 sometime) and the large scale all genres build( goes for 3 years, much more likely to complete by then), mods were ok with the cross build.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity on the Grip timeline. By '75, I had discovered girls and airplanes, model-building took a very long sabbatical.

I keep intending to check out all of the builds in the GB and keep getting sidetracked. I hope I am following the active ones.

[moparman18064]

I started assembling engine block. This one may be for display only, as I am in talks with someone about printing a super detailed DFV and trans. Extra thin cement next to it for size comparison, as I did not have a banana😂

[kyledehart5]

Well, without a banana for scale I’m not sure I’m getting a clear picture. lol. However that seems to be an extremely large DFV.

[moparman18064]

The joy of prepping, washing and priming of 1:8 parts

[themongoose]

8x awesomeness!! I’m really going to enjoy watching this come together. You’re teasing us with that big engine hint 🏎️

[Real G]

Eidai-Grip models from Japan were like the great dinosaurs that walked the Earth before I was born. I could only read about them, but not see them in stores. 😁 Actually, I was alive when they were around, but I was a little kid mucking around with 79 cent model kits and tube glue.

But like the dinosaurs, those super kits from the 1970s are the stuff of legends, and they still amaze me that such kits existed back in the day.

[moparman18064]

Nov 10, 2024 12:32:14 GMT -5 Real G said:

Eidai-Grip models from Japan were like the great dinosaurs that walked the Earth before I was born. I could only read about them, but not see them in stores. 😁 Actually, I was alive when they were around, but I was a little kid mucking around with 79 cent model kits and tube glue.

But like the dinosaurs, those super kits from the 1970s are the stuff of legends, and they still amaze me that such kits existed back in the day.

Yes, back then, bigger was in. The big stuff had opening doors, some working suspension, steering, ignition wiring . The detailing now is sooooo much better, you have to put work into the old ones to get to where these new kits are so dialed in with details. But hey, excavating fossils can be fun.

[moparman18064]

Here’s about 3 hours in to nose cone work, more to go. With the size of this thing, along with being ultra shiny black, it is going to need to be seamless and laser straight. I feel like I’m painting cars again. I also coated block in Alcoa’s Dull Aluminum, taped off to paint heads in Alcoa’s Dark Aluminum

[project510]

That engine is going to be something to see in that scale. Cant wait!

[moparman18064]

A little more progress, 3 different shades of Alclad aluminums, Molotow, blacks and white. Coming up next: pumps and ignition, lots to do there.