306 replies to this topic

[Mad Mark]

That car cleaned up well. There are some black markers used by stained glass people that out-perform Sharpies for outlining slot car bodies. I don't recall the brands, but will dig them out.
 
Here are the black pens I used on bodies. I liked the German pens best, but they all work.
 
Schwan-Stabilo-OH Pen   Germany
ZIG Millennium   Japan
Sakura Microperm 07   Japan
Sakura Micron 006   Japan

The one I got is Sakura “pen touch” 0.7

[Mad Mark]

nice. at least it's got a Classic 26D in it!

Yes these cars like the weight of the old motors. it’s tough to get them to handle ok with a modern FK motor. Just have to worry about blowing up a old motor as I’ve found the 26d’s are extra volatile!

[Mad Mark]

Dont think Ive posted this one. another 26d sidewinder that runs really good. must be lack of traction with the original German sponge tires.

Wish the body was a little less beat up but still looks pretty cool with the Ulrich halibrands.

[Bill from NH]

Professor Motor had some clear repops of the Dubro Vette. Don't know if they still do.

[pn6]

Nice Vette Mark!

I didnt know Dynamic made the sidewinder with suspension like your Hussein. Learn something new everyday.

[pn6]

 

Ready for testing!

[Dave Crevie]

Gorgeous cars, Paul!

[Martin]

Paul, really nice looking cars.

Not to take anything away from your builds but I think you could add some dimension to the pipes by adding some shading.

This is one I just did.

But they look great, as is. Just a thought

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[pn6]

I agree Martin and Im going to do it soon. Im thinking of just doing a wash over them and letting it puddle in the seams.
How did you do yours? Thats a nice pull with smooth lines. Who made that body? Lancer?

[Martin]

I believe the body is Pactra or Champion.

 

I mix a light grey and then it gets darker as its gets deeper in the pipe separations.

 

The wash idea could work. Maybe a grey though. The finish with a black line in the separations.

 

I kinda do it slightly different every time. But something like the above. Make sure you have black and white satin and thinner to keep it flowing.

I only use Humbrol enamel for the most part. Have done since I was 14.

 

Found a couple pics of variations to wet your whistle 

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[pn6]

Oh wow. Those are definitely concours quality! Yes Ill go with a thinned grey.

[Jay Guard]

Paul: You can also use Sharpies....

[Martin]

Clean ( or should I say Sharp ) looking bodies Jay

[Don Weaver]

Dressing up for concours Jay?  Beautiful work...

 

Don

[pn6]

Awesome work there Jay! I dont have that kind of touch anymore but maybe Ill practice on the junk pile of old bodies I have.
Those are beautiful. I havent seen that Turbine body since I sold my Champion with that one on it years ago.

[Dave Crevie]

Jay's bodies are always spectacular, but I think Martin might be giving him a run for the money. 

[Jay Guard]

Thanks guys, but Martin's got me beat by a mile!  However every once in a while I just gotta' go into Zen Mode and I break out the box of Sharpies and have at it.  Unfortunately the new Retro bodies we are now using generally have so little detail molded in I have to start making details up.

[Martin]

Just different styles Jay. Happy and "thankful" to have a place to share our hobby.

 

Mine don't race, but yours are a great color choice for visibility on the race track.

[Dave Crevie]

I can verify Jay races his cars. Been up against him in a few Sanos. He doesn't give an inch to protect his pretty bodies.

 

That is one of the things about Retro that bothers me. We have moved away from that realistic look for the cars in favor of better ground effects. Granted, we are, for the most part, sticking to the character of real racing, but I miss seeing representations of real cars I know of, and the detailing is part of that. I was attracted to home-set racing because the cars are models, with mirrors, windscreen wipers, wheel inserts, etc. There were other reasons I dropped out of that. 

 

Not everyone has the talent of Martin or Jay, but I bet they can verify that it is half talent, and half work. I'm no artist, (unless you put a spray gun in my hand.), but I can do a reasonable job detailing a slot car body. Only because I had others to show me how, and a willingness to screw up from time to time. That's how I learn.

 

Not at your level, but getting there;

 

 

[Mad Mark]

Very nicely detailed cars guys thanks for sharing!

[Martin]

Good looking cars Dave.

Always loved the Lotus 56 wedge. I ran one with a angle-winder in 69. Still have it.

[Jay Guard]

...Mine don't race, but yours are a great color choice for visibility on the race track.

Yeah, that yellow really pops and helps these old eyes with depth perception coming into turns.

[Jay Guard]

I can verify Jay races his cars. Been up against him in a few Sanos. He doesn't give an inch to protect his pretty bodies.

 

That is one of the things about Retro that bothers me. We have moved away from that realistic look for the cars in favor of better ground effects. Granted, we are, for the most part, sticking to the character of real racing, but I miss seeing representations of real cars I know of, and the detailing is part of that. I was attracted to home-set racing because the cars are models, with mirrors, windscreen wipers, wheel inserts, etc. There were other reasons I dropped out of that. 

 

Here are the cars I just ran at the Fall Brawl XIV.  I doubt that I even got one vote in the concourse judging (well maybe a few for my F1 car) but I felt that mine were a good bit more realistic than most of the undeniablely beautiful "artistic" bodies that did make the concourse podium.  While I'm not a big fan of the wildly painted bodies from a realism stand point I do admire the artistry and skill involved with painting them

[Dave Crevie]

It bothers me more than just a little that the psychedelic paint jobs always seem to score better than the replicas of real cars. I'm not sure when that style became popular, but I would guess it came with the advent of wing cars. And with wing cars it should stay. It takes a lot of talent and imagination to do those. But I would like to stay within the spirit of retro. Make the cars look like real cars.

[Bill from NH]

My wing cars of the 70s & 80s were never psychedelically painted. I would give psychedelics credit to three elements. The Hippie Evolution, the increased availability of fluorescent body paints, & the diminished eyesight of an ever-aging slot car crowd. I used white or yellow with a contrasting color, maybe a fluorescent or metallic, so the car could easily be seen out on a track.