22 replies to this topic

[swodem]

So there’s a new flexi chassis out, the first new stamped steel chassis since the C43 in 2016(?)

When you get one (mine is stuck somewhere in the Pacific Ocean) please share your thoughts and reports.

I expect it will be submitted to ISRA and USRA.

[glueside]

There are actually two since the X43 chassis - both by Mid-America. Here is the first one called the Mercury:
 

[Rob Voska]

What about the 42,856 versions of a Mossetti they came out with over the last few years?      Yea, I know they are lasered and coined.

[swodem]

What about the 42,856 versions of a Mossetti they came out with over the last few years?      Yea, I know they are lasered and coined.

Exactly

1. Because they were not die cut (stamped)

2. Because they were not die cut (stamped), it’s easy to keep coming out with new derivatives with minor changes, so bodies such as USRA and ISRA can’t have confidence homologating them

3. Because there are so many derivatives, clubs and consumers get frustrated at constant change

It was quite a disappointment for me I quite liked that first Mossetti flexi that came out to compete with the C43 (Avenger?)

[Bill Seitz]

Mid-America also had the Salvator stamped chassis: 

 

 

 

[Mark Onofri]

Rob, are you sure it's not 428,560 ? And, they all seem to be for flat tracks. At least the ones I've seen.

Maybe it's just me but, what ever chassis you choose, they seem to need constant maintenance. Or, maybe it's just me using the side walls for cornering aids. The fact that they're laser cut (Mossetti) could explain why it takes me far less time to straighten them initially.

[Rob Voska]

I might have missed a couple. I had to take off my shoes to count that high.  

 

Was it the purple pan that was 1/2 gram lighter than the orange pan or was it the waffle pan that was lighter than the tin foil pan?  

[MSwiss]

What about the 42,856 versions of a Mossetti they came out with over the last few years?      Yea, I know they are lasered and coined.

 

http://slotblog.net/...-chassis/page-3

 

Rob,

 

Posts 59 and 69 from you and I.

 

I was wrong about the X26, X27, X28, X29, and X30, coming out. LOL
 

[Mark Onofri]

I was running aluminum beer can pans. They only lasted until the deadman.

 

I've never seen anyone run the Mid-America chassis here. How are they on or what one is the best for a blue King? Or a Hillclimb?

[Bill from NH]

Mark,

 

The Gemini is a new Mid-America chassis. It's only been out for several weeks. If you get one, let us know how it works on Dan's King.

[swodem]

I was wrong about the X26, X27, X28, X29, and X30, coming out. LOL
 

If I print that out will you sign it for me? ;-)

[Mark Onofri]

Billnh,

 

I've never seen any of them except for in ads. Looks like a great oval chassis but, they're not running them here.

[MG Brown]

I've never seen any of them except for in ads. Looks like a great oval chassis but, they're not running them here.

 

Likely the reason you haven't seen one is that they are new and are just now starting to roll out to distributors. It's a process.

[Mark Onofri]

Let me clarify my statement:
I have not seen ANY of the Mid America chassis . I thought I had said that. Just goes to show that I shouldn't think.

[swodem]

Before and after flattening

It was quite easy to flatten and the back end is now perfect - no tape required at all to stop pans hanging down below centre section

I tumbled both pieces to remove all the sharp burred edges which are on the underside of this chassis

Excluding tumbling, it took me about an hour and a half start to finish, which isn’t bad considering first time with this one


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[Mark Onofri]

What type of track are you going to run it on?

[swodem]

What type of track are you going to run it on?

We only have flat tracks down here


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[Wizard Of Iz]

Before and after flattening

It was quite easy to flatten and the back end is now perfect - no tape required at all to stop pans hanging down below centre section

I tumbled both pieces to remove all the sharp burred edges which are on the underside of this chassis

Excluding tumbling, it took me about an hour and a half start to finish, which isn’t bad considering first time with this one


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Looks like it flattened out nicely.

 

How thick is the material?

 

What does it weigh as it sits on your block?

[swodem]

That pic you reposted is before I flattened it

45.77grams


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[Matt Sheldon]

I built a couple this weekend. The center section is a breeze and the rear motor box and uprights are well done. I maybe had 15 minutes into the center section to get it perfectly flat. No forming bulges on the bottom is a really nice surprise. In front of the motor box required the most amount of work, no differently than Mossetti or JK. It is an important area I feel as it dictates J bar movement. It was really easy to manipulate it flat quickly. The pan however has a lot going on and many areas to deflect during the stamping process. It took almost 2 hours to get what i felt to be a national level of flattening. THe rear of the pans took the longest. One thing that I really liked is how easy it was to adjust the rear pan crossover bar. This design is superior to the JK in that it allows you to manipulate it without throwing off all your prior work. there are relief cuts next to it which i believe to be the difference maker. The spy vs. spy weighted section at the front of the pan were wonky, but flattened as they should with the process. Weight wise Aeleos vs. Gemini was 94.4 vs 94.2 with same options. The Gemini came in a touch lighter due to a little less lead wire required. 

 

On our hillclimb the Gemini was very smooth. I am going to go out on a limb and say the smoothest flexi i have driven. It really transitions well from the donut to the lead on and I imagine that this is going to make it great on flat tracks. Initially it was 1-2 tenths off my best equipment. I attributed that to a new motor that I just threw in the car without any break in. Yesterday after Leslie raced it Saturday we had it at 1/2 a tenth off my best car and lap time. There are moments to where I felt like it wouldn't come out and i found myself over driving the dog leg which is not uncommon for me, just that this time the car stuck. Rigidity testing was not really tested as leslie never really had any hard shots. Post race the car was still flat with very little massaging required. Only tape tuning that i did was at the front of the pan to the center section whiskers. I shimmed under the front tabs to whiskers .007", under the crossover bar .010" and under the J bar .007" Will try limiting the rear of the pans this weekend.

 

My only negative (which really isn't) would be that it may not always be the best choice for a high speed king or similar style track The car is a tad slower through the bank as the spine of the center section will at times make contact with the track. The opposite of that is that it is crazy good on transitions and tight 180 turns. Trade offs for everything. This weekend I am going to add some support to the spine and am expecting substantial gains for banked tracks. 

 

I like options and i think it is worthwhile to keep a couple in your arsenal. 

 

[Mark Onofri]

I've found that, the weekest link in the (all) Mossetti's is that pin(head) tube bar. On the first ones,it would manage to dislodge it's self at the most inopportune time and place. I resorted to using two (2) L shaped rods and soldering them to the pan . Until, the aluminum version was introduced. Thank (Any) God for epoxy!!
I tried the mangled paper clip that they have out. 💩(Imo) so, I tried a solid bite bar held in place with two (2) l/4"x1/4"x1/4" angle brass stops.
Unfortunately, I didn't take my own advice. I changed toooo many variables at once.
1)I went from the thin pans to the almost solid pans
2) Appon dissection, I realized that there is a HUGE difference in the rear side play.
Kinda long winded huh? The point that I went around the block to make is,
1) I like that clip, it's like a deformed cotter pin. (Not a bad thing)
2) I'm thinking, sort of, that I can make that work with a Mossetti without necessitating a 5# ball peen hammer. Any thoughts?
.

[Mark Onofri]

PS: nice paint Matt

[swodem]

So today we had a race meet and I took this as the first chance to really test and try this chassis afterwards

After the (C43 FK class) race, I took the motor, axle, gears, tires from my C43 and installed them on the Gemini.
Using the same body, I went back out on the track.

This chassis was so much smoother and surefooted. The lap times were the same in the fast lanes, and a little faster in the slower strictly lanes due to its confidence.

I’m not sure whether it’s due to the softer material or design, but it reminded me of when we first tried the C43 over the existing X25. The C43 was faster but ‘twitchy’.
This is as stable as the X25, but as fast as the C43. Better race car.

And this was with no guide height setup or tuning, and an ugly rushed job of installing the motor






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