Eidai-Grip 1/8 F1 Models

[Deleted]

I wonder whether somebody here have seen, and perhaps done, the 1/8 scale kits of Eidai-Grip (sometimes also referred to as “Entex”, all quite a bit confusing).


They did a Lotus 72 and a McLaren M23 which in 1/8 scale must be quite something as far as detailing goes. They have become very rare and the few around sell for ridiculous prices, the M23 sold last May on Ebay at 1500 pounds:


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263684456613?rmvSB=true


www.bestbalsakits.com/tamiya/tamiya-detail.asp?kitnumber=1073


and 200-plus dollars for a rain set of tyres (presumably just the ones used by Hunt at the Fuji ):


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8-GY-RAIN-TIRES-FULL-WETS-for-McLAREN-M23-ENTEX-EIDAI-GRIP-JAMES-HUNT-VROAAAAR-/231877143787


Years back I found in internet and saved the instructions for both kits, must be somewhere in my archives.

[chrisb]

I was looking at an auction last year and saw these and a number of Tamiya kits for sale with a ridiculously low bottom price - needless to say, they sold for a lot more than I was considering [about £500]

[charleselan]

Interesting that the Eidai-Grip 1/18th scale kits are fetching so much, must be a rarity factor however. At the time of their original release I looked at them quite a bit as i was involved with the business both as a hobby and business. To me they did not look anywhere near as good as the 1/12th scale Tamiya kits of the same period which were market leaders, and still stand up today.

Tamiya kits just looked "right" and built up so very well, with excellent instructions and parts that fitted beautifully together. If anyone has a hankering to build a 1970/80's F1 model then I can recommend getting a Tamiya which today are even enhanced by photo etched parts, things that were not available back in the 1970's.

Former motorcycle racing legend the late Tarquinio Provini produced a super range of motorcycle construction kits at the same time, and also branched out into the car market with a 1/12th scale kit of the original Ferrari 312B2 and a 312T. The 312B2 was a nightmare of a kit and I gave up very early on as I had been spoilt by Tamiya's 1970 312B; the Protar (Tarquini's brand name) 312T was better but that is still in the box part built.

[Deleted]

I agree, when I was looking at them a decade-plus ago, they didn't look 'crisp' like the Tamiya kits, despite or perhaps because of the bigger scale. I know Protar, liked the Fiat kits, the 806 and the Mefistofele, and have read that they are not 'nicely fitting' like the Tamiyas, they require some more 'improvisation'.

[robmarsh]

Of all the plastic model kit manufacturers, Tamiya were the best to me. The fit of the parts were excellent and the moulding was way ahead of it's time. They also made a lot of 1/20 F1 cars. Their last three 12 scale F1 cars, Ferrari 640, McLaren MP4/6 and Williams FW14B were excellent indeed. With the death of Senna, F1 interest in Japan plummeted and Tamiya did not make any more F1 cars for four years in any scale before coming back with the 1997 Ferrari in 20th scale. They make a delightful jewel of a model of Jim Clark's Lotus 25 in 20th scale.

Tamiya also made three examples of the Caterham Seven with metal bodywork where appropriate. They were the original, the cycle fender one and the fluorescent yellow Jonathan Palmer version. They have just re-released the original again. All the kits have an absolutely beautiful rendering of the tube chassis frame, moulded in one piece. A wonderful example of Japanese engineering and moulding capability.

[charleselan]

Oct 2, 2018 6:27:37 GMT robmarsh said:

Of all the plastic model kit manufacturers, Tamiya were the best to me. The fit of the parts were excellent and the moulding was way ahead of it's time. They also made a lot of 1/20 F1 cars. Their last three 12 scale F1 cars, Ferrari 640, McLaren MP4/6 and Williams FW14B were excellent indeed. With the death of Senna, F1 interest in Japan plummeted and Tamiya did not make any more F1 cars for four years in any scale before coming back with the 1997 Ferrari in 20th scale. They make a delightful jewel of a model of Jim Clark's Lotus 25 in 20th scale.

Tamiya also made three examples of the Caterham Seven with metal bodywork where appropriate. They were the original, the cycle fender one and the fluorescent yellow Jonathan Palmer version. They have just re-released the original again. All the kits have an absolutely beautiful rendering of the tube chassis frame, moulded in one piece. A wonderful example of Japanese engineering and moulding capability.

Rob,

I don't have the Tamiya 1/20th scale Lotus 25 but have seen it, and you are correct it is a jewel of a model. Neither have I seen the Caterham 7 but that must be s superb rendition of that incredible little car. Didn't someone also make an original Lotus 7 and in the famous "Prisoner" TV Series of the 1960's?

I have also seen the Ebbro 1/20th scale kits and they look really excellent, but often I see that they are out of production or unavailable. The Lotus 72's look stunning, as do the 49's and Tyrrell's. The latest release is the Lotus 88 which is currently available in Essex colours, but the JPS version is currently out of stock.

JC