Current Projects

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Projects I’m working on appear below. Completed projects get moved off this page into the Build Diaries list.

  • updated 9 September 2026

1984 Ferrari Testarossa (Pocher, 1:8)

This is the most complex modelling project I’ve tackled.

It’s the 1/8 scale Ferrari Testarossa in black – but it’s not the hundreds of parts in the kit that make this complex. It’s the TWO Transkits of highly-engineered added detail that’ll send me cross-eyed!

Beautiful (and heavy) one-piece diecast body shell
September 2026 Unboxing video – a quick look to what’s ahead.

1979 Lotus 80 (Factory TZ, 1:20)

It’s an obscure 1:20 scale resin and metal kit of the 1979 Lotus 80, a car that turned out to be a major flop for the then reigning Formula One world champions. Following the success of the Lotus 79 ground effect car, Lotus decided to go ‘next level’ with the 80, featuring almost full-length venturi tunnels, sealed to the ground with sliding skirts, and producing so much downforce the car would not require a front or rear wing.

Initial testing revealed it was aerodynamically unstable, resulting in major porpoising as the team struggled to control the downforce. The car soon sprouted traditional wings.

Mario Andretti looks on as Carlos Reutemann sits in the car on a wet and gloomy day of testing at Silverstone.

It was was raced by Mario Andretti in just three Grands Prix – Spain, where it finished 3rd, then Monaco and France where it retired from both races. It was, essentially, a failure. The team never raced the car again and reverted to using the previous year’s chassis.

Press launch, 1979. The Martini & Rossi livery looks great, but the kit does not include decals and I’ve not been able to source any in the correct scale.

I’m going to build this as the sponsorless test version in its original no-wings configuration, which I think will look pretty cool.

The box. I suspect this is not the original. The kit was purchased second-hand.
Box content. Unfortunately, this is not a complete kit, as explained in the unboxing video below. It never included decals and has a number of parts missing. Strangely, there is a fluro-orange plastic wing and one resin-cast front tyre. The four rubber tyres look like they’re from a Tamiya kit.

So, in addition to prepping parts for painting and assembly, I also need to source or build the missing pieces. This includes the mini wing for in the nose, one side mirror, one gear lever, 2 x exhaust outlets, 2 x steering arms, 2 x short under-nose skirts and 2 x curved side skirts.

Drilling holes in front and rear uprights (for the suspension to connect) and dashboard (for steering wheel).
Drilling holes in resin for the upper and lower front A-arms to fit.
The plastic front wing could be used for the front wings, but I decided to cut out a 15mm section to use as the mini-wing inside the nosecone.
Shortening up the rear axles to bring the wheels closer to the body.

To be continued…

1978 Lotus 79 (Hasegawa, 1:20)

Note: due to other projects, this build has been put on hold for the time being…

Instead of building another really old F1 kit from the stash, I decided to do this – a new release from Hasegawa, the Lotus 79 from the 1978 German Grand Prix, but this is the Detail Up version that includes extra parts and photo etch. Kit number 52298 (also listed as SP498), it’s 1:20 scale (same as the Tamiya Grand Prix series) in plastic with rubber tyres.

I plan to do this as an out-of-box build of Mario Andretti’s car #5 as he won the race on the way to becoming World Champion.

  • I did an unboxing video for this kit on YouTube – watch it HERE.
There are LOTS of parts in this kit!
Cosworth DFV engine block goes together quickly. I questioned why Hasegawa bothered to model the flywheel and clutch when it will not be visible once the bellhousing and gearbox are fitted. But I guess if you were doing a diorama, this could be really handy!
The engine appears quite well detailed, but the kit does not include any ignition leads. I’d like to add some, so need to drill out all the mounting points to glue leads in later in the build. First step is the distributor.
Nine tiny holes drilled. The entire part is only 5mm wide!
Distributor, coil pack and cam cover (x2) all drilled.

To be continued…

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