Devils Advocate

[Rotor1]

I have an engineering background and I hope to start building my Hawk soon. I prefer the Hawk because of its closer link to the original Stratos. Above and beyond that, I have been collecting parts for many years now. I am also quite happy to be driving something which, even though it may not be powered by the Dino engine, in my opinion is closer to the driving experience that original Stratos drivers would have encountered. The Lister Bell is in no doubt a well engineered car, but I still prefer the Hawk. In the end when it is all said and done, everybody is different and people will purchase what they like. Some enjoy the challenge of the build and some do not.


We all share the love for the original car and that is all that's important.


Henry

[hollytree]

Try finishing a part built Napiersport, and with only Lionel to give advice!

I nearly did give up a couple of times but thanks to Craig, No Corse Chris, Guy, Neil and too many more to mention who all answered my calls i got there.
I am a chartered engineer who has done other classic rebuilds in the past and whilst I am pleased with the end result, I would not recommend that build route to anyone.
Based on all I have experienced, seen and read in the last 6 years since starting, I would go the LB route if I had my time again.

[ProtoTipo]

Mick Worrall built a finished car from a secondhand Hawk kit, and then a finished car from a new LB kit, both in the same time.

Mick also built a Corse I, but I think that may have taken him a little longer, but not much?

[john]

Ooh dear, can of worms time again!
I think the LB is what it is because it was designed that way, more or less from a clean sheet of paper relatively recently, and by someone who has seen the best that the industry has to offer and what sells kits.
The technology available to Craig when he sourced his components is leagues ahead of what was available when the Transformer was designed and the Corse for that matter too.
Development is the key in any successful product and we should note Craig has a policy of continual development too!

No doubt the Hawk has suffered from little development over the years. In my opinion this is down to lack of any effective competition.
There are some very nice aspects of the Hawk, snd some not so good ones.
But it's very buildable by anyone with the necessary passion and enthusiasm.
For very many of us the build process is the most enjoyable part. There are people on here who chrome plate the return springs of their over centre catches!
No criticism for that, but it illustrates the lengths that people will go to for build satisfaction. Hopefully they are looking forward to a satisfying driving experience too. In the end.
Their was some talk on the forums at the time LB was launched that it was a "brave move". I don't know if this was said through concern about dodgy economic times or if it was through over confidence in the Hawks position in the market. The truth is that the Stratos replica market was crying out for the LB, it's created its own demand and deserves every success coming it's way.
It's been said many times here that choices are personal. You Build what you want how you want it and nothing is truer
I may have been partisan in some of my own comments in the past but I've learnt on here that we all share the same passion and as far as I'm concerned any Stratos replica is a thing of beauty no matter whence it came or who built it!

[Strat Fan]

Oh dear, Too late........

[The Slug]

Folks.....

Before we turn on each other as normal....... I think this boils down to Robs review in TKC and the lack of response to that article.....

Myself I tried but failed to find a copy, such is its good circulation!
So I cant comment on what was said.
Maybe Rob can post a copy?


As I have said in a previous post we had an original car at Silverstone, (Shame more of you didn't get to see it) and with the Clams down you would have to look hard at it so see the differences, if you knew what they were in the first place.

Mr Joe in the street would not know and indeed I heard people looking at at Pauls car and saying its a replica......case proven.

That's not to knock the car but to prove just how good people on here can build cars.
John H wont thank me but we all know how long its taking John to build his car and we are all following Guys efforts to prove it can be built. Doing a second car does help.

As for closer to the original, Ask Ken or Paul the owner of the car about the suspension...we thought that they were all cast uprights, not on Pauls car (Might have that the wrong way round)

Which is easier to build.... give a chimp a Listerbell and he will no more put it together any faster, than he would a Hawk.

Lets but the Lid back on this can before it gets nasty, as I said I would have liked to have see the magazine review to see what was said.

[Griff]

Well said Ian, the quality of build will be as variable as the final paint scheme choice, it will depend on the time, skill, effort, and time (yes I know I put it twice) the builder puts in to the project. Familiarity will lessen the time demands, hence why professionally built cars, irrespective of which kit is your starting point, will generally be finished sooner, and a better quality finished product than a first effort, home build. Before this gets silly, bitter and full of recrimination, please let us all remember that the only reason we are all on this bb, is because we all belong to the STRATOS enthusiasts club. It is the enthusiasm for the original car that unites us, the replica, or genuine car we own is just the means that allows us to experience, to whatever degree that enthusiasm in the first person. Different people will concentrate on different facets of that, which is clearly evident by how something will be of huge importance to one owner to get right, will be a total inconsequence to another owner enthusiast.


Celebrate the enthusiasm, welcome the diversity, and stop this mine's better than yours nonsense.

[Bernard]

Oh dear, Too late........

Like it !

[LM mic]

It's been said many times here that choices are personal. You Build what you want how you want it and nothing is truer
I may have been partisan in some of my own comments in the past but I've learnt on here that we all share the same passion and as far as I'm concerned any Stratos replica is a thing of beauty no matter whence it came or who built it!

ABSOLUTLY !!! + 1+1 +1

[strat24v]

Real and hawk suspension isn't interchangeable. But guess Frant may have fabricated some wishbones as a one off. Any claim as to fitting is plain lying.
Btr told me hawk panels needed a lot of work to fit Perez's car.