215 replies to this topic

[dc-65x]

This project is starting up again so I cut and pasted the original post from the old form here:

I have in my hot little hands, thru the generosity of our fearless leader, one of the coolest honest-to-God Pro cars on the planet. Well, it's actually in a plastic bag as we don't want my "piss fingers" to corrode this beauty .

Here are some pictures of it courtesy of the Good Dokktor:








I'm hoping Philippe will tell us about this great car. All I'm sure of is that it's really cool and I want one! I do know that it's very fast and extremely strong to have survived that wall shot after it launched on Eddie's Blue King. I forgot to clutch for the bank and BAM!

JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's never left its plastic bag, nor will it

So, the deal is, I'm making a drawing of the Dokk's chassis so my "Laser Dude" can cut out the spring steel center section and bumpers and the brass pans. The guide tongue will also be cut out for the Good Dokk's craftsmen to form into shape. I received the brass for the guide tongues and passed it along to the Laser Dude. He is going to cut out some test pieces. The test pieces are being worked in with another job since we only need three samples as proof of concept.

I asked the Laser Dude (Eric) if he was interested in doing small jobs for others and he said he would be happy to talk about it. So here's his email address:

laserbeamtech@earthlink.net

If the address doesn't work, let me know .

Here are the 3 little beauties. They'll be boxed up and mailed tomorrow.

[dc-65x]

The Dokk's Elves did pretty darn good on forming the guide tongues. Great job making the tool and forming the parts. I wouldn't have known where to start :?



The bend is not quite 90 degrees so the bumper won't fit snug against the tongue as shown by this piece of scrap representing the bumper:



This is how it should look as shownby this bottom view on PdL's original car:



Never fear...Under Dog is here...I mean the Dremel tool is needed here. A little chamfer is ground into the bumper. You don't have to be to neat Pete as this will be hidden by the guide tongue:



The bumper all snuggled up:



OK, the ball is back in my court and I need to finish up the projects I started while this one was on hold. Then it will be center section time. I need to finish up the CAD model and print out the center section on clear view graph material. Then I can lay it onto the bottom of the original car and see how everything lines up before cutting a test piece.

Onward

[endbelldrive]

Pretty impressive! This is the most ambitious project yet, Rick! I gotta ask a question...did Dokk cut the original out by hand? :shock:

[dc-65x]

This is the most ambitious project yet, Rick!

Thanks Bob, I have to admit I'm longing for a nice brass rod inline

I gotta ask a question...did Dokk cut the original out by hand?

Absolutely 8) . Philippe is the Michaelangelo of the Dremel tool.

[TSR]

did Dokk cut the original out by hand?

It was in 1973. What do you think, Bob??

[TSR]

Took me SEVEN hours to cut all the bits...
Laser was only used in Bond movies then...

[idare2bdul]

While you are in the mood to make new parts, recreate some 1970s vintage Mura endbell hardware

[rdmac]

Thats vintage hardware for those of you that are proof readers

Mike, you can go back and edit your posts instead of making a new one. :mrgreen:
Just click the "edit" button in the top right corner of the post.

[TSR]

Bob,
I already took care of that. As a matter of fact, I (secretly) correct much of the postings for spelling errors or typos so as to make you look good...

[rdmac]

...As a matter of fact, I (secretly) correct much of the postings for spelling errors or typos so as to make you look good...

If you teach the kids to fix their own posts, it would leave you more time for the new book. :mrgreen:

[dc-65x]

I know "parts is parts" but these are special. Fresh from the Laser dude we have the first test pieces for the Diamond In Steel chassis:



Here's how they fit together:



A closeup of how the bumper, center section and guide tongue interlock:



The motor box area awaiting its array of piano wire braces:



Me like :mrgreen: This may not be the final version. I'll have to start building to see if "the project can come together".

Onward

[TSR]

Man! Where were you in 1973 when I needed you?!! :x :mrgreen:

"Looking gooooood, Mister Rick!" (ugly faux French accent, Casablanca, 1943... 8) )

[Horsepower]

It doesn't look that hard to build. Where do I find the kit? :| :mrgreen:

[Jairus]

If the patterns are already done... the production of such a piece is simply enough for some already established enterprise such as Electric Dreams to package and sell!

Scott?

[Horsepower]

I was just kidding, as it is an amazing piece of mechanics, but it WOULD be nice to be able to have one like it! I would say in reality the price of a handmade kit (if there were such a thing) would be expensive, to say the least. :shock:

[TSR]

Gary, as soon as all the kits are ready, this will be available with a can, end bell, body and several wire parts and tubing as well as exact replicas of the front and rear wheels.
Plus instructions and pictures.
Special price for Swiss residents especially close to Lugano. 8)

[Horsepower]

So there really IS going to be a kit? :?:
I'm not a perfect idiot (nobody is perfect), I just thought when I read the postings that a few pieces were being made as copies, but not for sale.

[Edo]

...
Special price for Swiss residents especially close to Lugano. 8)

I spoke to that Swiss resident, since he lives close to us. He said he does not want it because that chassis is too modern. He also added that if he has to make it himself that would not be right for his collection since, he insisted, "what kind of collection would that be if it's not made by some Masterbuilder"?
He concluded: "Those kits are all doomed".
:mrgreen:
E.(Swiss resident's friend)

[TSR]

Richard,
what you fail to seize here is that this car was the only "wing-car" that did not have any (wings). The body had very little added air-control devices, it was not needed. Indeed I was the one fighting the "barn-door" side fences and when defeated by the majority in a vote, resigned my position as president of the USRA and just walked away from the sport for 21 years.



See? No side dams, only a 1/4" tall rear spoiler and two tiny front side fences and a mylar splitter.
Hardly deserving the "wing-car' moniker, no?

Here is another version of those 1973 steel cars:



Please note that these things were virtually indestructable, a very good feature in what had become a serious issue in top-flight racing then. :|