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blakbird wrote:

I loved mine!  It's a great build.  Of course you are going to need a trailer...

Thanks Blakbird. Hope mine comes out as good as yours and yes, definitely gonna need a trailer. I'm thinking about a flatbed with something interesting on top.........
 

I've wanted an Astute ever since I sold mine in 1993. I bought this one at a decent price compared to what they cost at most stores here in Norway 💸

Great score Scanox and happy building! This was one of the funnest "vintage" style builds I have had in quite some time and great performer as well!!!

I should probably start with an apology because what I’ve received today is my first non Tamiya RC.

I have been looking for this car for years, I’ve only ever seen one for sale NIB and an asking price over £1K.
I just can’t justify spending that on an RC car.
But finally a beaten up second, third or fourth hand one came up for sale.

 

Here you go a Nichimo Lancia Stratos 1-10 scale. Model number 1001. So if they copied the Tamiya original numbering system it’s 1-10 scale and model number 1. I have no idea if that’s correct. I can’t find out very much about Nichimo or this model either.

 

 

I just think this thing looks stunning, or rather it could be.
The closing date for the eBay auction was on Monday. I was the only person who bid on it. And I got it for £50. It’s got a full Acoms mk2 radio set, has a few chargers, a Tamiya 6V battery in good condition.
I have no idea at the minute if anything works.
After winning the auction I then started to do a bit of digging around. I discovered someone had bought this in June and sent it back a bit disgruntled. So I was getting rather nervous waiting for this to turn up.

   

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up, maybe I’m being ridiculously optimistic when it comes to restoring this.
Luckily it came with the instructions which is a relief because once I started stripping it down I wouldn’t like to think how I’d have got it all back together again. Lars if you want them for the site I’d be happy to scan them.

Bad points, the chassis is very bent, it’s like a banana, but everything appears to be on the chassis.
The body will need to be completely stripped which is bound to reveal more damage.
I’m missing one of the pop up head lights.
The body is coming apart, but I’m taking this as a good sign that the glue will give out easily when I start trying to pull it all apart.
I’m definitely missing a few bits off the body.
I have spotted that MCI do repro decals for this which is amazing because it’s going back to the Alitalia livery.
One wheel has a small chunk out of it.

Surprisingly the tyres are in great condition.
My main concern when buying this is that I very much doubt I’ll find any spares. So I think what I’ve got should be a good base for restoration. Or I’ve finally lost the plot.
 

It came with some random bits which I love.
As well as loads of random fastenings.

For now it’s sitting on a shelf waiting for reality to hit home.

Nice   Apart from the paint , which is well worth taking off & doing properly.  I was a bit sceptical about the scale, especially as the 1:1 Stratos is such a wee car, but it looks like the only thing it shares with the 1:12 Nichimo chassis is the MSC.

What I love is how close the driver and navigator are sitting next to each other. It looks cramped in that car.
I know what you mean about scale Jonny.

That paint is definitely coming off Jonny.
I’m intrigued to see what is underneath, are the original decals there somewhere under some very thick paint.
Luckily I have a couple of cans of De-Solv It in the garage.

Wahoooo Al, the stratos is a crazy car. And your one is awesome.  Congrats.  For the banana chassis, it's aloy one. Easy to square it back with hand and a wood hammer. I used this method for my kyosho 205 t16. And some parts on the 3 speed . Is the body in abs or lexan ? 

Awesome Stratos!

And Super Astute is one of the vehicles which is on my want list badly!

stingray-63 wrote:

Wahoooo Al, the stratos is a crazy car. And your one is awesome.  Congrats.  For the banana chassis, it's aloy one. Easy to square it back with hand and a wood hammer. I used this method for my kyosho 205 t16. And some parts on the 3 speed . Is the body in abs or lexan ? 


Cheers Flo, the body is ABS which I think makes it easier to restore. I’m sure issues will come to light when I start stripping it down, but I just hope I can do this beautiful model justice.
Thanks for the advice on straightening the chassis.