48 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

I did not know where to put this. On SlotForum a subject like this goes in Scratchbuilding. Here... well, Retro gets a special section and Rick and Rob get special sections and it is really NOT a replica of a Pro car... so to the Moderators: please feel free to move it if need be.

I have not built a new car from scratch like this since I lost my studio. Sure I can still paint bodies from time to time - but building a chassis is not possible without much machinations. However, when I was asked to build this... I said I would see what I can do.



It was just too cool a project to pass on and since it doesn't need to be perfectly detailed (sorry, Chris), or a wonderful handler (D3), so I of course said YES! Considering my limited resources...

A close-up of the rear shows that it seems to contain some sort of a homemade differential made up of two ring gears with a set of pinions held in place by a homemade "X" bracket.



Here are the bits I collected together a few weeks ago.



The body is a Monogram "Badman", re-popped and labeled something street-roddy. (Original kit was molded in yellow.) I had it in storage and tossed the rest of the kit. (Oh, the shock of it all!)

The motors are two lightly-used Champion 26Ds.



Testing the motors on the bench determined them to be neutrally timed so running one backwards won't be a problem.

I have since rejected the wheels shown above... and instead picked a set of very cool front and rear Cox Cheetah wheels shod with Firestone rubber. Because everyone with eyes can see clearly that a set of five-spoke American mags look simply wonderful on a "tri-five" Chevrolet street machine. Am I right?



The fronts are freewheeling and the rears threaded. Don't know the manufacturer of the "Diff" but it's not the Tradeship I still have hidden somewhere in storage.

From the top we can see how wide the original chassis builder mounted the motors. Not sure why this was unless it was to give the "diff" room!?!?!
What that necessitated was bodywork to radius the rear wheel openings. In any case the original bracket appears to be hand made, as was the rest of the chassis. Since I have free reign to "build it better if need be", I believe I can connect the two "Cobra" brackets together with the motors nestled side by side and still give room for the cool Cox wheels and all those gears.



Now to find a set of body mounting brackets (pin tubes... REALLY?), so stay tuned!

[Cheater]

Jairus,

Scratchbuilding is probably a better place for this thread. I'll move it in a few.

[Mr. Frank]

LOOKS COOL Jairus....
Man..., I can't wait to see the motor box on this one.

Mr. Frank

[Hworth08]

This project is going to be slicker than a whistle!

The car reminds me of Terry Glidewell's '55 Chevy. As plain as could be, a 6 cylinder with a three on the tree transmission.

Terry would leave football practice with about a dozen riders! The car laid a smoke screen that chased every bug out of Springfield. About every third day we'd go to Kayos for a dollar of gas and a quart of "recycled" oil, the super recycled kind, straight from an oil change into quart glass bottles. A daily trip to the Branding Iron after football for what later would become the Orange Julius.

Terry's car was the first in town to have a phone. We wired up an old phone that sat on the dash. We could touch a couple wires to make it ring. The looks we'd get holding the receiver out the window and telling a person the calll was for them.

Terry stayed a life-long friend and stories of the ole '55 got bigger each year. A quick case of cancer claimed Terry five years ago. But the memories of Smoky live on.

[Pablo]

OK I am tuned in

[dc-65x]

Cool, a hard body .

[Alchemist]

Can't wait to see the magic you'll do to the car Jairus!!! All your work is "top notch"!!

Ernie

[Jairus]

Yeah, I hate them and am wondering what Chris would charge me to shoot the clear over my graphics.

[Jairus]

By the way, regarding the differential, the left and right wheels are coupled together when they touch the ground! The question came up on S.F. so I address it here too.
Basically it's the same dynamics as any "non-locked" rear end in a 1:1 car on the road I figure. The mechanics of the combination is not that far removed from the standard rear axle except for the fact that it might not run well with one motor in that arrangement.
I can always forgo the diff if it doesn't work in testing - replacing all with a solid rear axle. But the plan is to build a slightly improved version of the earlier car and that includes the differential.

That said...

Started out by connecting the two motor brackets together enough to put it into a jig.


Center brackets are removed and the two become one using a piece of one of the original brackets as a splint between the two.


And from the bottom:


Now I have a solid enough item to put into the jig and lay some rails! More bracing to come of course, but at least it's now one piece and easier to work with.

[Jairus]

Basic chassis tacked together so time to quit for the night. Will tackle the drop arm tomorrow and clean up some of the joints.


The rear axle tube was just for locating the chassis in the jig. Later down the road the openings will be reamed out for ball bearing races.

[Pablo]

The rear axle tube was just for locating the chassis in the jig. Later down the road the openings will be reamed out for ball bearing races.

Aha, very clever ! I was very curious how you were going to make the axle tube assembly. I will be tuned in tomorrow Thanks for showing it; reminds me of an old movie, "Two Lane Blacktop", starring singer-songwriter James Taylor, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, and Warren Oates.......

[Mopar Rob]

Aha, very clever ! I was very curious how you were going to make the axle tube assembly. I will be tuned in tomorrow Thanks for showing it; reminds me of an old movie, "Two Lane Blacktop", starring singer-songwriter James Taylor, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, and Warren Oates.......

And you forgot Laurie Bird. Unfortunately everyones gone except James Taylor.


My favorite scene is the opening credits with the drag race between Big' Willie Robinson's Brotherhood of Street Racers Daytona and a 69-1/2 440 6 Pack lift off hood Super Bee.

[Jairus]

I don't know what anyone else is doing today (besides waiting on the mail), but I have been BUILDING!

Constructed a drop arm this morning. Still need to clean up the chassis of course, but going to wait until I am done with all the soldering. Still have to figure out how I am going to mount the body. (Most-likely a hinge in front letting there be a slight amount of movement at the back, but... with a differential, might not need?!?!)



Since the body has very little overhang in front I decided to go with a short guide lead and use a Cox trailing-guide in order to keep it hidden from view. Remember, no front bumper is to be mounted since this is a street machine similar in construction to the car featured in the movie "American Graffiti" and "Two Lane Blacktop".

Except for the fact that I plan the body to be... a bit flashier, painted two tone or with period graphics.

[Pablo]

SWEEEET

I'm dying to see how you are going to do the axle tube assembly......
I am making a Cobra bracketed car myself. (single motor )

[Mark H]

oh man this thing is going to be sweet with those cox wheels, you should metal flake it!

[Jairus]

Thanks guys but a lot of changes had to be made since those posts. One was trashing the idea of a differential. (couldn't keep the two halfs together)

Hoping to get some progress pictures soon.
Metalflake sounds good to me!

[Jairus]

Have I said that I hate hard body cars recently?
Well, I do. reasons are that mounting the bodys are HARD!!!!
With a vac body you set up a jig and poke holes. How easy is THAT?

But NOOOOOOO, I have to build a support structure, solder a matching support on the chassis, line them up and hope the threads are clean. Dang, I hate hard body slots.

Okay, I managed to spend 4 hours on just the front of the body getting the mounts and stance right. PERFECT if I had to give my opinion, but I am slightly biased.

The front mounts are two threaded screws which keep the chassis from rocking side to side. The rear mount can be one screw or a tongue in a grove as it matters little now since the front is solid.


What to put here? Maybe Monday, as Sunday I have to go sell t-shirts.


This is the kitbashed raw interior with out paint.
Soon as this puppy is one piece... I am ready to shoot some color!
Ohhhh yeahhh!

[Pablo]

[Alchemist]

Awesome Jairus!!!!

Ernie

[Jairus]

Finally decided and constructed the rear body mount. Went to the thickest parts of the car for the structure to hold the chassis rather than the weaker and thinner rocker panels. Besides, I wanted some type of headers or side pipes down there and knew mounting screws would just get in the way.
I can also enlarge the top or bottom of the slot to allow a fraction of body movement if needed. But the rear tire clearance is measured in cat whiskers!



I like the stance, and think it conveys vintage hotrod. Well, so far...


Soon as the chassis is cleaned up and wired (axle stubs trimmed), I can begin detailing the body to LOOK like a late 60's Hot Rod!

[dc-65x]

Hi Jairus,

I'm like'n it!

[One27ray]

Hi Jairus,

WOW!! another really cool build I like

i-ray

[Mark H]

Jairus, the rear fenders are radiused so you could have the rear tires sticking out a little, i think its to late now haha. that looks great though, reminds me of a low key street racer from back in the day how it looks there.

[Jairus]

I like the weekends as I usually have the time to pick one project and concentrated on it.
First off I finished up the chassis by adding lead wires and shortening the rear axle.


The guide is a Cox trailing item and because of that, it makes it hard to attach lead wires in the normal method. I created two new side busses to attach the lead wires. They were left long so the lead wires could be tied to them so the wire won't break from consistant left and right movements.



With the chassis finished I turn my attention to the body and paint.


The body was not so perfect as I thought. A little mold line clean up revealed some sink marks that will require filling.


Also the wind wing vent on the passenger side was broken and required replacing with evergreen sheet.


The body is primed with "plasticote" sandable primer which allows me to shoot lacquer and avoid the weeks needed for drying of enamels. The color scheme planned is antique white and teal two-tone. The roof and rear quarters are already shot with the antique white. But will need to wait till morning before I can sand and prime the front fenders.
Oh well, time to pop some popcorn and watch a movie anyway.


As Rick says... "Onward"! Hope you all have a happy 4th.

[dc-65x]

The color scheme planned is antique white and teal two-tone.

Looking good Jairus . I think the your color scheme will look fantastic. Will it be a period "korrect" Chevy color or a custom take on it?

Onward indeed!