1978 Works TR7 V8 (Tony Pond)

OK, fresh from another long episode of F1 building this is going to be (hopefully) a relatively short visit back into 1/24 Rally Cars. I desperately need an enthusiasm boost for Rally kits after the lack lustre 206 I built.

This kit itself is a bit of a relic and if I was (one of those collector types :shakehead ) it would probably be wiser never to build this and keep it in its bags and box... NAAAAAHHH! Models are for building PERIOD!

Here's the box lid...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04319.jpg

and here's the contents...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04320.jpg

check out the 'moulded in the windscreen wipers', I will replace the windscreen with some clear packaging of some sort...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04321.jpg

OK, so onto the build. I'm going for the Tarmac version of the car as I think it looks far more business like compared to the narrower version as per the kit, that means these arches are going to have to be wider, much wider...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04322.jpg

I made these out plascard using the existing arches as templates...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04323.jpg

and so far this is as far as I've got, will be letting the filler set tonight and tomorrow and then i am away for a couple of days so I will be back onto this after new I guess...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04324.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC04325.jpg

Other additions that will be needed will be a roll cage & tarmac wheels) I'll pinch these from an old MkII Escort I think). The rest will be relatively OOB so fingers crossed it shouldnt take too long (famous last words I know) :rolleyes:
The decals with the kit are for the Per Ecklund car so... and (fingers crossed) It will be my first venture into using my ALPS to make the necessary Tony Pond decals for the car, I will probably depict the car that raced at the 1978 Manx Rally. I say fingers crossed because a: I am still waiting for parts from the US (7 weeks now) and b: I then have to figure out how to get best result with the printer, oh well, 10 out of 10 for effort eh! We will wait and see I guess.

Dont know why but older and F1 and Rally cars just have so much more character and this is another example, hope I can do it justice.

having checked the spares box it seems I only have 3 of the 4 escort wheels :banghead:

so my next question which you can probably guess is...

does anyone have a set of 1/24 esci / revell escort MkII wheels & tyres spare that they dont want? A long shot I know but gotta try :uhoh:

cheers guys

If you're thinking of the 8-spoke minilite wheels, I think it was Fujimi that make some for the aftermarket.

Excellent subject.I'm not sure which wheels you refer to but are these any good?

http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=808

Excellent subject
I totally agree, I really like to see these older cars on here. With the work and detailing you do, Sean, I'm really looking forward to more updates. This is gonna be good.

Very interesting choice of a subject, I will follow your project with interest!

I have this same kit in Gunze Sangyo package molded in white with Tour de Corse decals for Brian Culcheth/Johnstone Syer. The body looks ok but there is some need for extra detailing in the interior. Maybe some day I'll have the courage to turn mine into Timo Mäkinen's or Simo Lampinen's 1000 lakes car but that's a big maybe :uhoh:

-Mikko

Hi Sean
Great subject.
I thought I add some photos to see if they may help you.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/tr71.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/tr73.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/puffyrs/tr72.jpg

good luck with the build.

Martin

Hello again martin,

great pictures thankyou. I hope to make some more progress on the car tomorrow.

thanks to everyone as always for your interest!

After Market minilites and tyres can be had at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/MRM-MODEL-CAR-PARTS_W0QQitemZ260198336863QQihZ016QQcategoryZ1189 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

thanks for the links and advice for the wheels guys. My order is in. Fingers crossed I may have an update today all being well.

As others have already said, this is a great subject that you have chosen to build. The wedge-shape of the TR7 never really did it for me first time around but it is definitely getting better with age. Good luck with the mods, Bill

great subject! i'm a sucker for old british sports cars. i guess i've got a thing for oil spots on the driveway.

Superb subject matter - can't wait to see more!!!!!!

Hi Sean

You gave me some inspiration. I have a similar TR7, but it is a street version. I built it maybe 25years(?!) ago. Later I have used it when testing painting tecniques. It does look terrible now, but the chassis is complete and most parts should be there. I was just thinking if I would strip the paint off and transfer it to some rallycar. Probably Simo Lampinen's car, because I collect rally models of finnish drivers. Those fotos above show Simo's car in his last rally, so it would be a special target.

I would ask you a favor, would you help me and scan the decals for me? I could use the scan as a template. By the way do you have any reference material of the interior, roll cage etc?

Martin: do you have more pictures about Simo's car? Is it some museum, where you have taken the pics?


BR
Eejii

Eejii

Hi Sean

Martin: do you have more pictures about Simo's car? Is it some museum, where you have taken the pics?


BR
Eejii

Eejii

Hi Eejii
The photos were take at the Historic Motorsport show last year.
I have about 10 photos, but all from outside the car.

Martin

at last... the first update.

Apologies everyone but work has taken over again and modeling time down to a premium. Anyway here is the progress so far. I finished shaping the arches which took an eternity to get anywhere near respectable but will hopefully be worth it in the end.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00134.jpg

The shell was then sprayed Halfords Triumph Red (I took a guess it would be about right)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00149.jpg

Then the masking started for the first side of the car, with the shell this is where I am upto now so the next update should show the white sides finished

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00150.jpg

The chassis detail is at best basic, Airfix didnt exactly go to town with the amount of parts and accuracy of this floor plan and as on some Tamiya models they even included cut-outs for inserting a motor and AAA battery. To make this look detailed would require a complete start from scratch and although this was a little tempting this wasnt the plan for this build so I have decided to only add a few details to liven it up a little while still trying to stick with originality.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00141.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00140.jpg

First off I removed the moulded exhaust

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00144.jpg

and will scratch one from two different widths of alu tubing

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00143.jpg

which eventually looked like this. I'll add some weathering to the whole floor plan and obviously pick out what details I can.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00146.jpg

As for the wheels, well I ordered an aftermarket Alu set on ebay. However I have to say Im a little disappointed especially with the tyres which are plain awful. The tread on them is so over scaled and the quality of the mould is very poor too. So much so I am going to use the original Airfix wheels as they are much better and look far more to scale. The alu wheels are ok but are covered in flash which will need cleaning. The good thing is I am going to leave these unpainted and naturally aluminium which should look good.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00139.jpg

The seats in the kit look to be out of the road car, as does most of the interior. So I will be replacing them with these versions which I had in the spares box.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00142.jpg

The same goes for the steering wheel which is definately straight out of the road car version (one of the left).

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00145.jpg

The dashboard is ok but there are no decals for it and therefore I had to handpaint the dials. The dash is sprayed semi-gloss black and after painting each dial then had a large drop of ClearFix dropped over the top to give the effect of a smooth glass lense. I also added a couple of banks of switches over an alu back made from small sections of foil as per the reference pictures I have found of the car.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00137.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00138.jpg

so thats it for now, hopefully I can spend a little more time on this again over the next few days.

apologies for the delay and thanks for following.

Hey, those hand painted dials look excellent!

Sweet updates Sean,

I never liked this particular car until I see your build. You certainly have the patience to handpaint that dials :D (I know it would drive me nuts)

Ah, finally you're on the move again.

It has happened to me too, that work got in the way of the hobby. But it's good to see you building again.

Not a particular fan of the car, but your work looks great. I'll be following this !

update...

work is horrendously busy now so apologies again, there is no sign of it letting of either and my modeling time is suffering at the moment!

anyway, the progress so far with the TR7...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00176.jpg

Interior is coming together with what little detail there is in the kit. I have swapped the seats again, the ones I chose looked a little too modern and I have managed to find another pair which seem to match my ref pics better. I have covered them with Embossing powder too just to add a little interest.

Seatbelts are spares from the Stratos p/etch set and the footrest is scratched.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00177.jpg

underside is finished again with limited details. The only addition here is the exhaust and a bit of weathering overall.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00178.jpg

As for the shell well the masking proved very taxing but is not too bad overall. The decals in the kit are suprisingly good for the age and Airfix's known standards. I am going to add a few more to depict the Manx Rally Tony Pond car and hopefully will be able to make these on my Alps (when I get the time to get it working properly)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00180.jpg

The shell now is waiting for a polish and the minor details adding. I would like to say more again soon but I cant promise. Work is getting seriously in the way at the moment and I have some really exciting project waiting to start that seem an eternity away - hey ho!

Hope everyone is well as I have been a rare visitor so far this year! Thanks for following as always!

Nice to have an update. Going to use "sifferung" in future... great word! :)

Hey Sean

While i don't really like the shape of that TR7 your progress is looking good. That's coming together nice and quickly, despite work and stuff :-)

Nice to have an update. Going to use "sifferung" in future... great word! :)

Ha-Ha! Thanks for pointing it out Billy, seems like my typing is 'sifferung' too! :runaround:

Ha-Ha! Thanks for pointing it out Billy, seems like my typing is 'sifferung' too! :runaround:

I see you've corrected it :( Once again, nice work on the model... the wedge shape is really growing on me and it reminds me of the Pontiac Firebird used on Knight Rider.

It looks very promising! I think that creating nice model out of an old and "basic" :) kit is sometimes hard but the effect is even more outstanding.

I stay tuned even though it is not a Honda :)

It looks very promising! I think that creating nice model out of an old and "basic" :) kit is sometimes hard but the effect is even more outstanding.
I agree completely. And it's fun too I think. This is coming along great. The gauges are excellent and I'd never know it was hand painted. When ever I see masking like that it always gets me really interested. Here's hopes to you to find that little extra time to work on this.

It's a bit of a jump but I have finished the TR7. I have decaled it without the Tony Pond markings as I STILL havent managed to get my PC to recognise my ALPS yet (I am beginning to think about giving up!) If I ever manage to get the thing working I will make some decals later.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e331/ohanra/TR7/DSC00204.jpg

thanks again for following guys... next project - Mansell's 1988 Williams FW12

Completed Thread Here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=5673419#post5673419)

Hi Sean,

The link to the completed thread is not working at the moment... although I am sure I will be able to find it.

I am REALLY looking forward to the FW12 build. Are you using a trans-kit with the 11B or is it some modelling exotica?

Bill

P.S. The completed TR7 looks excellent and is such a break from the usual subjects for rally builds.

Billy,

thanks mate... and you beat me to it. I've just added the link!

The FW12 is using the Tamiya FW13B and the S27 transkit. I'm looking forward to getting started on it too.

The FW12 is using the Tamiya FW13B and the S27 transkit. I'm looking forward to getting started on it too.

Nice. I can't wait to see that model come to life. I am going to enjoy the WIP tremendously :popcorn:

A FW12? Haven't heard of that transkit yet!
You're getting in a swing with unusual subjects:-) Looking forward to it!

Btw...nice job on the TR7. I'm heading over to the finished thread....

A FW12? Haven't heard of that transkit yet!
You're getting in a swing with unusual subjects:-) Looking forward to it!

Btw...nice job on the TR7. I'm heading over to the finished thread....

thanks JK. I do have a couple of kits left that are not built much these days, after that I am left with the more run of the mill kits that we all build regularly. Will just have to keep my eyes open for more transkits and hope knowone else does :iceslolan

Speaking of which pm sent matey.

[QUOTE=SeanyG]It's a bit of a jump but I have finished the TR7. I have decaled it without the Tony Pond markings as I STILL havent managed to get my PC to recognise my ALPS yet (I am beginning to think about giving up!) If I ever manage to get the thing working I will make some decals later.=QUOTE]

Hi Sean
I'm sure you have read or heard that the alps printer only works with windows 95.
You have to set up part of your PC to run 95.

I hope this helps.

Good luck

Martin