Current Projects

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

  • updated 2 October 2025

1979 Lotus 80 (Factory TZ, 1:20)

This Lotus won a poll I ran on YouTube to decide which kit to build next. So…

It’s an obscure 1:20 scale resin and metal kit of the 1979 Lotus 80, which 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.
The contents of the box. Unfortunately, this is not a complete kit, as explained in the unboxing video below. It never included decals and has a couple of parts missing. Strangely, there is a fluro-orange plastic wing and one resin-cast front tyre. The rubber tyres look like they’re from a Tamiya kit.

Before prepping, gluing or painting anything, first step is to source or build the missing parts.

To be continued…

1978 Lotus 79 (Hasegawa, 1:20)

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 go on. 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 rocker cover (x2) all drilled.

To be continued…