Caterham Model for Stocking Stuffer

[kurtwz]

Hey all, I'm new here, so hi! Don't have a Caterham right now. Also, don't have immediate plans for getting one, but my girlfriend recently discovered them and LOVES them. She has started a Caterham fund to save up for one. Until she gets there I thought I could whet the appetite by getting her a Caterham model as a stocking stuffer. It's not tough to find Caterham models in various sizes, as I'm sure you all know. The tough part is finding one that you requires assembly. You see, the thing that appeals most to her is the idea of putting the car together herself, so giving her a preassembled model just wouldn't cut it. I've searched the internet, but can't find one. Do you all know of a Caterham model that requires assembly? If so, pls share name and model number or a link. THANKS!!

[slomove]

Tamiya used to have one, not cheap, though . Manual:http://www.tamiyausa.com/pdf/manuals/10201ml.pdf
Maybe you can still find this on eBay.

[escondidoron]

Tamiya used to have one, not cheap, though .
Maybe you can still find this on eBay.

You are correct about the kits not being cheap. They were quite expensive when they were in production. They were part of Tamiya's 1/12 scale Master's Coachwork series of models. There are usually several of the kits available on ebay at any given time. And generally very pricey. However with care and patience I found it possible to score one reasonably. Just not off of ebay. I kept my eyes open for a while (about 6 months or so) and got lucky enough to find one of the 1/12 scale Tamiya kits on Craigslist in Dearborn, Michigan. This was recently, about two months back, at the beginning of September. The UPS and packing cost from Michigan to SoCal was about equal to what I paid for the kit:



There are three different versions of the Caterham Seven in 1/12 scale Tamiya kits. There is the "wing" car (pictured), a cycle fender version and a JPE (Jonathan Palmer Evolution, after the British Grand Prix driver). I'm still searching for the other two kits at a price that I can afford. When the kit prices get much past a couple hundred bucks, I start thinking of the parts the same money would buy for my "real" Seven!

There is presently one on Craigslist, in Phoenix. However the asking price is considerably more than I paid for mine!

I also have another Tamiya kit of a Seven. It's an all plastic kit in 1/24 scale of the Lotus Super Seven Series II, kit p/n C-446. It was Tamiya America item #24046:

These small plastic models were produced in much larger quantities. With prices generally much lower than the 1/12 kits.

I found a couple of them on ebay.UK for 15.00GBP a couple of years back. A quick web search tonite found one at Shopping.com for sale now.

No afilliation, etc.

[Rod]

Tamiya has three different Caterham models, the one shown plus the JPE and a Cycle Fender Special. I bought all three many years ago. The manuals in these have much more detail than the real Caterham manual.

[escondidoron]

Two listings on Ebay UK presently for the Tamiya 1/24 scale kits:

1/24 scale Tamiya kit starting bit 12.99 GBP

1/24 scale Tamiya kit starting bid 9.50 GBP

[Roll a 7]

While it is in no way a model Caterham, I do have a Scalectrix race track set-up with two Caterham cars, if she would rather race. Perfect for a "Fast Chick".