19 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

Waiting on some parts not yet arrived... (Is NCPHobbies slow for you guys, too?)! So thought I would start this little Austin Mini Rally car.
The basis is a Tamiya kit but the chassis will be all scratchbuilt.



The motor bracket is a steel affair I purchased in Puerto Rico couple of years ago while visiting and hitting the hobby shops. Never seen one since, but it was labeled as a front drive drag racing item. Sooo... thusly, this car is FRONT DRIVE!



Yeah, the soldering sucks a little. I just tacked it together. Tried smoothing it out and the thickness of the brass only managed to crack the building jig. Smoothing can be done later. At any rate, the wheels are vintage wing car aluminum "tube" wheels that were cut down. The rears fit into the inside of the kit wheels and stay in place with super glue.
The fronts, being the driving wheels, will have the kit items cut down and used as inserts.



Note that the pan hangs down below the body...
Well, since this is supposed to be a rally car, I will attempt to round the edges of the brass so that they won't be seen from eye level. But the use of the brass pan was to counteract the height of the body. A vain attempt to lower center of gravity...



If you have any suggestions, now is the time to post them.

[havlicek]

Hi Jairus,

I know you're into doing things to scale and all, but I would simply do some body recontouring...raising the wheel well cutouts, and then drop the body to cover the pans. I think it would look trick! and be a simple way to have this chassis and it's lower CG work for the body.

-john

[Pablo]

1. NCP is, indeed, way slow, like DEAD. Pro Motor ROCKS.
2. I love Minis and that one is going to be adorable.
3. A minitorch (get it ?) and some acid will make the existing joints flow like butter.
4. Did I mention, I love it ?

[68Caddy]

Jarius slam that puppy, I sure have to agree with John.
What scale is it 1:24?
Love to see how front wheel drive will work out.


Nesta aka 68Caddy

[Phil Irvin]

Back in the late 60s. I was at a very tight track that had a short main straight..Maybe 1000 ft.
+OR -..I watched a mini tear up the trans am cars everywhere except the straight. He ALMOST made up on the back side, which was all turns, what he lost on the straight. One of the back turns was a 130 degree tight radious turn . Everyone except him hugged the inside in 1st gear. He never backed out of it and went around most on the outside ..That one turn had the most spectaters . I stopped at his pit and looked at this roller skate with extra wide 12 in. diameter tires. He had fender flairs that covered the tires..bearly..and said they were from a european rally car! That would be trick if you could do it .

OL'FRTS RACIN TEAM
PHIL I.

[Pablo]

I can't agree with Phil's math, but I understand his point - Mini's can be made to be fast.

My bro in law took me for a ride in a REAL mini, it corners like crazy !!! Hang on !!!!

[Jairus]

Yes Nesta, 1:24th.

I will be building 3 Mini's on this thread. One of them will indeed be lowered... but this one is suppose to be a Rally car and really needs to be at least stock height.
Looking at using a "Ninco" suspended trailing guide on this one because I think I can get it tucked under the front axle and eliminate the drop arm.

[68Caddy]

Jarius
I'm sure it's going to be a great build up as usually and we will be picking up our JAWS and that's way cool.
Please do the slammed thing that's what I would like to see.


Nesta aka 68Caddy

[edworth]

J,
Great project!

One thought would be (or would have been) to work that pan up, hidden behind the lower trim of the body. A rather o-gee type or dogleg form. Painted black, the exposed frame edge would look about right.

I'm glad your tackling a FWD which, with that wheelbase, oughta' work

Oh, a rally car. Light's...



You'll need lights!

[Bob Campbell]

I see the car has Red Bull injection! Gives it that extra lift. "Red Bull Has Wings!" according to their advertisments.

Bob C.

[munter]

I see the car has Red Bull injection

That'll be the coil.It is common to see some sort of beer or soda can used as a cover for the coil.

I have owned a couple of these BMC Minis and there are few cars that have had such a wide variety of modifications done to them as the humble Mini.
I've seen them shortened,lengthened,chopped,channeled,convertible,fastback,roadster,Limo,cobra style,jeep style even sixwheeler.

One of mine had the "Big Block" fitted.......in other words the Cooper S 1275cc.
Once sorted this car would break the magic 100mph with you sitting a few inches off the ground quite easily and corner like you wouldn't believe.

Jairus,you are a brave man to tackle the front drive system.It works well in 1 : 1 cars but I'm not sure about slot cars.
I always admire your work so I am willing to be proven wrong.
I have the Tamiya kit sitting around so I hope for some inspiration from watching and learning here,thank you.
John

[TSR]

So a 1973 to 1988 Mini is registered as "antique" now?

[Lone Wolf]

Jarius, Super cool as usual from your work bench. This thing should really fly. May have a torque steer issue like a 1 to 1 hi horsepower FWD . It will probably turn those little front meats into dust . Maybe some working lights on a bank of rallye lights would look cool when all lit at once. Joe

[Phil Irvin]

I can't agree with Phil's math, but I understand his point - Mini's can be made to be fast.

My bro in law took me for a ride in a REAL mini, it corners like crazy !!! Hang on !!!!

I shoulda said 12 or 13 in. diameter rims. I think the original mini's had 12s but not sure. The tires were almost as wide as the rim diameter..

PHIL

[gascarnut]

I shoulda said 12 or 13 in. diameter rims. I think the original mini's had 12s but not sure. The tires were almost as wide as the rim diameter..

PHIL

The original Mini had 10" rims.

[edworth]

So a 1973 to 1988 Mini is registered as "antique" now?

In the state of Virginia... 25+ years can be registered as an antique. (Getting my Caterham registered was a hoot.)

[bosmeck]

here's the finished Mini Painted...

http://slotblog.net/...showtopic=11927

[Pablo]

Ready for the Baja 1000
I give it a "10"

[idare2bdul]

Last time I checked there was an outfit in Florida swapping Honda engine/transmission packages into early Mini's. There is also a few kit car mini's with midengine Hayabusa set ups including a turbo charged version with a roof snorkel.

These guys swapped one into an early Mini.video

[Pablo]

Oh my God I can't stop laughing
I think I just had an anuerism, or an orgasism
Breakin the law breakin the Law