6 replies to this topic

[Slot Car Rod]

There has been some discussion on restoring old slot cars.  Here are some pictures and tips on restoring a vintage body that has been well used.  Hope this helps.

 

The damage is mainly on the rear.

 

 

Disassembly.

 

Cleaning with dishwashing soap and Ronsonol lighter fluid.

 

 

Crease is worked out mainly with fingers and sometimes pliers.

  

 

 

Flex glue and Insta-Set (kicker) used to repair cracks.  The ends of the cracked pieces are aligned and glued.  The kicker makes the glue dry instantly.  Then the rest of the crack is glued together.  The kicker is applied to the area with a plastic stick instead of being sprayed on.

 

 

 

Ready for touch up paint and decals.

 

To help unwarp the sides of the body, Rick and I stretch the body out on a wood block.  Sometimes heat from a hair dryer is applied, while pressing the body against the block helps flatten the body.

 

 

 

[Alchemist]

Thanks for sharing your technique on body repair Rodney.

 

It's appreciated!

 

Ernie

[don.siegel]

Amen - now I have to see if I can find those products here! But I know one of my buddies uses super glue with sodium bicarbonate for extra strength.. maybe the same principle as your's. 

 

Don 

[Brian Czeiner]

Thanks Rodney, this is what I was hoping to see. Question, is the hair dryer safe to use on high speed or keep it low? 

[Martin]

I mentioned there is more than one way to do the same thing. Where as Rodney will carefully use a hair dryer I prefer to boil a pot of water then dip the warped area in until soft then straighten by hand or popsicle stick (for sides) depending on the job.

Once I am happy with the shape I dunk in cold water to lock in the shape.

Note the water has boiled BUT it has cooled some so I can dip my finger in. I never have put a thermometer in to check, but I would guess its around 180 ish. Dip only the area you want to reshape. You can do one area at a time.

It softens the old vac bodies so they can be moved safely by hand or fingers. If it did not move enough It can be done as many times as it takes.

For me it works great for sides that are curled in or bodies that have an annoying twist.

Practice on a body you do not care about first.

 

On cracks,  I use the same method as Rodney with the additional use of epoxy. It can be used to reinforce the split and I have used it to make parts of the body that are missing. We can get into that if your bodies have missing parts.

 

Thanks Rodney and Brian for kicking this subject off. I was going to say 1st step for me would be to create a comfortable well lit space where most small tools are within reach. It would be fun to see where other folk do this kind of stuff. This is my happy place.

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[Brian Czeiner]

 

On cracks,  I use the same method as Rodney with the additional use of epoxy. It can be used to reinforce the split and I have used it to make parts of the body that are missing. We can get into that if your bodies have missing parts.

 

Thanks Rodney and Brian for kicking this subject off. I was going to say 1st step for me would be to create a comfortable well lit space where most small tools are within reach. It would be fun to see where other folk do this kind of stuff. This is my happy place.

My body is complete but I would love to see the steps to replacing a lexan panel in another thread.

[Martin]

My body is complete but I would love to see the steps to replacing a lexan panel in another thread.

here you go Brian. http://slotblog.net/...e-2#entry828457