Tamiya 1/12 Caterham 7 BDR

[Guest]

Sorry there haven't been any earlier postings but I've been twiddling away on this one in between planning and sorting my next 1/8 scratch build. (Ferrari 250 GTO)


This really is an utterly awesome model.


I've never come across a kit where everything fits to perfectly, first time.


Flash - ?... What's that?


Clean up of parts - ? What's that?


Bits that 'almost' fit - ? What's that?


The design and engineering of this kit puts EVERY other kit to shame.


It really is Tamiya's crowning masterpiece.


90% of the kit goes together with screws, nuts and bolts.


About 75% of the kit - including all of the ally bodywork - is real metal.


...and by goodness... the screws are TINY !!!


It's a superb, fun build.


Here's where I'm at so far.


The only 'extra's' of mine are different ignition wires, some jubilee clips and leather covered seats:

[eddiesolo]

That is just gorgeous, superb start.


Is this the kit that is around £300 ish? I was told, a while ago that this was around £500! Saying that, isn't it from 1994?

[Guest]

Wow, what a kit!

[Guest]

Yes, this is the £300 kit.


I actually paid £325 last year, but I have also seen it go on Ebay for over £500.


When Tamiya released it, it was £135 but by todays money, it would be around £350.


I read somewhere that it will (sadly) be one kit that Tamiya will never reissue as today it would cost more to make than they could realistically sell it for.


As I'm currently building it, I can well believe it.


It really is about as close to building a real Caterham as you will get.


My pictures don't show a fraction of the work. Every little component is screwed or bolted together.


There are around 40 pieces to each side of the front steering/suspension alone.


The ally body is made up of about a dozen separate panels that fit together so well, it looks like one part!


I'm genuinely glad I pushed the proverbial boat out and bought this expensive kit.


I can only say it was worth every penny.

[Robert1968]

Bravo bravo bravo on this ( how much!!! )


Well you have definatly got your money's worth on this. I'm surprised though that Tamiya never made it RC or was this in letter years or before they went into that.


The detail you have shared with the pics is amazing and really well detailed.


The intricacy of it all is mind numbing but the price is awesome too.


Vert impressive and amazing progress


Well, done


Regards


Robert

[Marc Stock]

Wow what an awesome kit. Although i cant help feeling that its kind of moving more towards building a kit, and all the modeling elements we are used to are sort of redundant, isnt that a bit bittersweet?


By all means its an asweome kit and im sure building it is fun.

[Guest]

You are absolutely right about the kit being more 'building' than modelling.


I'm adding some extra details such as brake pipes and wiring as well as the leather seats I've already mentioned but overall, apart from painting the plastic parts it really is a screw together kit.


However, that said it is extremely complex and anyone with 'sausage' fingers should keep well away from it.


The best way to describe it is a 1/12 scale Pocher kit where (unlike Pocher) everything fits.

[eddiesolo]

anyone with 'sausage' fingers should keep well away from it.

That's me knackered then...

[Guest]

At that price I would be to scared to touch it , great build so far though Roy

[papa 695]

The way the kit is looking and going together it looks worth every penny

[Guest]

Now I want one for myself

[Guest]

Thing is Roy with your talents this is a walk in the park, us mere mortals would probably stumble at the first page of the instructions.

[Guest]

Well...


What can I say.


A superb kit but ultimately, strangely disappointing.


If anything, the incredible engineering of this kit is its downfall.


Any kid of 12 year+ with a modicum of sense could build it and create a great result.


Is this a bad thing?


From a kit point of view, no.


Anyone spending £300+, yes, not good.


Far too much like Meccano. Follow the instructions and you get a great model.


This kit suffers (or wins) from the mega-hype it has earned over the years.


If you just want a superb model of a Caterham 7, save more than half the money and buy a ready-built 1/18 diecast.


If you want £300 worth of model kit, save your pennies and watch out for a Pocher bargain or at least, buy 3 x Tamiya 1/12 F1 model kits. (Not the Caterham)


Don't get me wrong though. This kit is really incredible.


It must be the best, most accurately engineered kit I've come across in over 50+ years of kit building.


However, that's where it falls down.


It's just SO well designed, SO accurate, SO 'easy' to assemble, there's little for a real model maker to do.


I enjoyed the build and ok, I accept that many of you will know I like building BIG cars and have plenty in my stash, as well as scratch building quite a few.


That doesn't change the reality.


This kit is superb, well made and builds a fantastic model.


Is it 'worth' around £300+, - sadly my answer is a resounding 'NO'.


Just too un-involving, and too simplistic.


It really is almost just Meccano, or even Lego, with a Tamiya badge on it.


Stick to Pochers or any other Tamiya 1/12.

[Guest]

It looks superb Roy

[Guest]

Looks great Roy.


Excuse my ignorance though,I've looked up a Pocher kit and why is it sooooo expensive ?


Looking at your Caterham, yours looks a lot more value for money.