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Scratchbuilt Cheetah


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#51 Jairus

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Posted 23 May 2023 - 09:38 PM

Nice pipes! :good:


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#52 Bill from NH

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Posted 24 May 2023 - 05:32 AM

I'd call those pipes dump tubes. They do look nice!  


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#53 dc-65x

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Posted 28 May 2023 - 10:40 AM

With the roller finished it's time to get on with the body.......

 

lancer cheetah (4).JPG

 

......and it's details starting with the cool fuel injected 327 under the plexiglass cover:

 

1964-002-cheetah-9.jpg

 

I got these bits off of eBay from a 1963 Corvette model:

 

cheetah body (1).JPG

 

It has an air cleaner arrangement I replaced with a gizmo from my spare parts box along with a distributor cap. All the pieces laid out before final assembly and detail painting:

 

cheetah body (2).JPG

 

The interior is .015" sheet styrene, square styrene strips, styrene instrument panel, Revell driver body, K&B driver head (with "inverse Gurney bubble" treatment for clearance), Revell Porsche Speedster spare tire and Cox Cheetah model kit mag wheel (with a little nick in the rim that won't show with the interior installed).

 

Everything in its base color ready for detail painting:

 

cheetah body.JPG

 

The finished interior. It will look better once installed in the car as most of it will be hard to see:   :laugh2:  :D

 

cheetah body (5).JPG

 

cheetah body (3).JPG

 

cheetah body (4).JPG

 

Just finished watching the Monaco GP and the Indy 500 is next.........


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#54 Martin

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Posted 28 May 2023 - 11:39 AM

Love all the details.

I am watching the racing today also.   :)  The F1 drivers were amazing in those conditions. No reds or safety cars.

Drivers start your engines :good: Lets go racing.


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#55 chrisguyw

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Posted 30 May 2023 - 12:10 PM

Hello Rick,........have you sorted out your decals yet ??............I have a set of 1/24 VRM-103 Cheetah decals ( google for a look) that you are welcome to. They are Cartograph printed, so are of excellent quality, and to be honest, too nice for a clear slotcar body.  :)

 

Cheers

Chris Walker

 


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#56 dc-65x

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Posted 30 May 2023 - 02:32 PM

Thanks Chris, I'll take you up on your kind offer and send you a PM.

 

A few years ago when I found out about 1/24 VRM-103 Cheetah decals they were already sold out. 

 

As you said, "...... too nice for a clear slotcar body."  While there are some pretty nice clear bodies, if it's alright with you,

I would like to use your decals on my Cox Cheetah project:

 

Cox Cheetah parts.JPG

 

 

 

 


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#57 don.siegel

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Posted 30 May 2023 - 02:39 PM

Rick, 

 

I've got a set of Clarence Dixon Cadillac decals for the Cheetah if you're interested... 

 

Got two sets for this car and one is left: 

 

Cheetah magwinder-3.JPG

 

and since I know you like magwinders, here's the chassis on the Cheetah: 

 

Cheetah magwinder-4.JPG

 

 

 

Don 


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#58 chrisguyw

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Posted 30 May 2023 - 04:01 PM

Thanks Chris, I'll take you up on your kind offer and send you a PM.

 

A few years ago when I found out about 1/24 VRM-103 Cheetah decals they were already sold out. 

 

As you said, "...... too nice for a clear slotcar body."  While there are some pretty nice clear bodies, if it's alright with you,

I would like to use your decals on my Cox Cheetah project:

 

attachicon.gif Cox Cheetah parts.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Rick, They will look much better on the Cox "Hardbody", but, there are decals for a few Liveries on this sheet, ....one or two will certainly suit the Clear bodied Cheetah,  with the Alan Greene version an absolute must for the Cox.  :)

 

I appreciate your offer of payment,..... how about you just keep posting pics. of your wonderful builds, and we will call it even.

 

I am away from home for a few more days, so , will not be able to mail them until early next week,.......sorry.

 

Cheers

Chris Walker 


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#59 dc-65x

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Posted 30 May 2023 - 04:47 PM

Thanks Chris    :good:  and thankyou too Don. Looks like Chris has me all set.


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#60 dc-65x

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Posted 22 July 2023 - 04:01 PM

The Cheetah is FINALLY in paint:   :dance3:

 

lancer cheetah (5).JPG

 

lancer cheetah (6).JPG

 

I need to be patient and let the Testors flat red enamel cure before I install the interior and decals.


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#61 Dave Crevie

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Posted 22 July 2023 - 04:37 PM

The perfect shade of red.



#62 dc-65x

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Posted 22 July 2023 - 09:11 PM

I think so too Dave. That Testors flat red enamel spray paint covers well also.  


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#63 Dave Crevie

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Posted 23 July 2023 - 08:34 AM

Fooled me. I thought it was airbrushed.



#64 dc-65x

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Posted 23 July 2023 - 11:09 AM

The Cheetah body is a perfect candidate for the Testors rattle can. The flat red color is very opaque and covers easily and the body shape is simple. If the body had any deep crevices like spoilers or scoops an airbrush would be a much better choice.


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#65 Dave Crevie

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Posted 23 July 2023 - 11:18 AM

Regardless of how you did it, it is a gorgeous job on a beautiful body. It will detail out to be spectacular.



#66 dc-65x

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Posted 24 July 2023 - 05:46 PM

Thanks Dave.

 

Here's my Cheetah all in one lump and ready for the beautiful VRM decals from Chris Walker. Thanks again Chris:

 

cheetah decals (4).JPG

 

This is the livery I'll be using:

 

crosal-clusserath.jpg

 

thomas-cheetah-9.jpg


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#67 dc-65x

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Posted 11 August 2023 - 08:07 PM

My Cheetah project is finished and I think it looks cool, in no small part to the fantastic VRM decals from Chris  Walker:

 

Cheetah (2).JPG

 

Cheetah (3).JPG

 

The model kit bashed spare wheel and tire.........

 

Cheetah (4).JPG

 

........and also model kit bashed 327 fuelie engine detail:

 

Cheetah (5).JPG

 

The little feather weight chassis and 16D motor are almost lost in that big wide Cheetah body:

 

Cheetah (7).JPG

 

One thing about "blob" (clear plastic) bodies, once polished with Novus No. 2, they really SHINE:

 

Cheetah (1).JPG

 

The car surprised me with how well it handles. It's very smooth and easy to drive and the early Lenz rewind runs fast and cool:

 

DSCN3410 (1).JPG

 

Maybe I need a big block Cadillac powered and fender flared sister car..... :crazy:    :dance3:

 

Onward


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#68 Mad Mark

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Posted 11 August 2023 - 09:19 PM

beautiful!
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#69 don.siegel

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 02:52 AM

Great looking car Rick, and yes, you need a Clarence Dixon Caddy Cheetah! 

 

Very surprised that lightweight handles well, too, but it's a tribute to your excellent construction and all that 3D design work you did... 

 

Don 



#70 Bill from NH

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 07:48 AM

Seeing the factory injection unit through the hood is a cool touch!


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#71 Dave Crevie

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 08:33 AM

Gorgeous!



#72 Martin

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 09:55 AM

So many nice details :good: :clapping:


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#73 dc-65x

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 11:38 AM

I compared the Cheetah's lap times with my other other cars here:

 

Track test lap times

 

For such a smooth, easy to drive car with good power I was surprised by the relatively slow lap times. I think a 7T pinion and more rear tire would make it faster around the track. It might also make the front end get "light" and then I'd be adding weight and on and on. I doubt it would make it any more fun to drive. 

 

Of course nobody builds wide, short wheelbase cars with little to no guide lead to go fast. I really like it the way it is.   :)


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#74 Dave Crevie

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 01:31 PM

You set out to build a vintage, period correct car. I think you have done that. When you start trying to modify it to go faster, you get away from that purpose. Enjoy it as a time machine, bringing you back to the days when everything was trial and error. I love your builds. So many of them are backpages.


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#75 olescratch

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Posted 12 August 2023 - 03:42 PM

  I have to remind myself that this is a vacuum formed body.  Beautifully done!


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