The 11 Tamiya Caterham [8-] I built were bought in a period that begins in 1994, but following your thinking I guess that I could have a nice 0Km Mercedes if I wouldn’t bought model kits in the last 30 years, having in account I’m not rich and have a small car, I guess I lost my fortune in some time in the past gluing Tamiya kits [banghead]
Anyway if I began again, I would do the same as I loved and still do to build scale models.
Talking about the 1/12 Tamiya Caterham: probably, you have seen better detailed kits, or even superb models limited editions, and it’s true that it´s not a cheap kit, but you do get what you pay for: complexity without nightmare fit problems, fantastic detail, near perfect instructions and a level of professional presentation unmatched by any other manufacturer, I really think that nowadays is the best scale model car kit ever produced. To date three versions have been released by Tamiya: the 10201 Super Seven BDR, the 10202, similar to the prior but comprising cycle fenders, and the 10203 JPE, a special edition from Caterham.
The last one from Tamiya was issued in 1998, and represents the JPE edition, Caterham did in honor to Jonathan Palmer, since then a lot of changes have suffered the Cars that comes from the company, several different engines were used instead the old Cosworth, Ford and Vauxhalls. The new ones use Caterham engines manufactured by MG, or Duratec motors, as well as Suzuki Hasabuya motorcycles engines, which are manufactured in Canada under Caterham license.
I’m still waiting Tamiya realize one of those Superlight, being the body kit made of aluminiun to make some major conversion is very difficult, and of course I would like to see a new engine, or in contrary some vintage Lotus 7 with the old 8 valves Cosworth, the version Tamiya did in 1/24 20 years ago.
