159 replies to this topic

[dc-65x]

Is this a cool vintage slot car or what? The body is hand-carved WOOD!



My buddy Rodney sent me these pictures of his latest build. Here's his story about the car:

I just completed another 1/24 scale wood-bodied slot car. A one-off 1963 Cash Spl. The late Ron Cash carved the body out of balsa wood.





The R/D chassis was assembled from a new kit.



It's Revel-Pittman RP77 powered.



The car drives great. Eric was really surprised how fast the car is. The balsa body weighs very little. The chassis has a very low center of gravity. The Cash Spl. body has great style and is reminiscent of the many American V8 powered specials I saw in the '60s.

Maybe Rodney will send me a little info on the late Ron Cash that I can pass on. It's obvious he was quite a craftsman.

Hope you guys enjoy the pics.

[Regis4446]

Very nice car. Really cool.

[TSR]

Balsa wood was widely used in the early days of commercial slot car racing. This one looks like it has had some good attention as it looks a lot better than most wooden-bodied cars I have seen...

[endbelldrive]

There is a certain "je ne sais quoi" that balsa racers have. I love this stuff!

[dc-65x]

I really like it too. It looks so 60's slot car to me. I love that stuff!

[Tex]

I'd sure like to see more of the body, especially the underside(hint, hint). It sure is a smooth, sexy-lookin' thang!

[Bill from NH]

That's a beautifully finished body Rick! Another good carving wood is bass wood. It's also a light colored, straight-grained wood, used by many bird carvers. Its a bit denser than balsa, but still carves & finishes easily.

[Jairus]

Makings of a good proxy race?
Pittman motors and balsa wood, hand carved bodies only.
I am in.

[dc-65x]

Jairus, you da man!

[don.siegel]

That does sound very interesting - count me in!

Really a nice carving and finishing job Rick. Like TSR says, most of the balsa bodies I've found are not at that level - I'm actually a little surprised, because, perhaps naively, I was expecting them all to be like the ones we saw in the magazines, and there were some beauties there... not to mention the Gordini that Joel did for the Bordo race a few years ago...

I'm also a little surprised to see the "RP77" and "speed" in the same sentence...

Don

[Howmet TX]

Ahhhh. Pitman and balsa... ahhh... count me in.

[Jairus]

We need a theme first.
Since I love what Régis Baron built earlier this year...
How about "Pre-war fantasy or replica Grand Prix" on rubber tires?

I can do a nice 30's style racing poster even.

Although I suspect the number of entries will be way down compared to the current "Balls Out" proxy. (But I could be wrong)
I'll even host it here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

[don.siegel]

That sounds like an excellent idea Jairus.

Maybe to open it up a bit more, include a second class for sports cars up to the 50s... but still with Pittman motor and rubber tires.

Don

[Jairus]

[dc-65x]

I'm also a little surprised to see the "RP77" and "speed" in the same sentence...

You know what they say Don, "speed" is a relative term

Say Don, can you remember any old articles on carving bodies? I have most of the old magazine and I'll be happy to scan and post hi res images.

[Howmet TX]

Sports cars for me, Jairus. I can hear the soft splintering of lovingly shellaced balsa against the track walls right now. In my head. Amongst all the other weird stuff there.....

[Jairus]

Two for sports cars so far. I suppose I could twist my own arm to carve a "D type" Jag for this.
Just felt that an early 30's flat sided body would be easier to carve and appeal to the less talented among us.

But... Sports cars 1945 to 1955 is still cool.

[James Wendel]

Jairus - those Monaco posters are beautiful !!! Truly stunning.

Is that your original work?

[Jairus]

Nope. The posters are digital copies of the originals I Googled off the Internet.

I WAS excited to do a pre-war Grand Prix proxy race, but now am only interested in taking part in a sports car race.

[endbelldrive]

Include me in! 1/24 or 1/32?

[don.siegel]

Say Don, can you remember any old articles on carving bodies? I have most of the old magazine and I'll be happy to scan and post hi res images.

Well Rick, let's see: I've got a couple articles of casting fiberglass bodies, lots of articles on painting and detailing plastic bodies, and even one article on making bodies out of toilet paper, but not sure about wood!

My office is occupied tonight, but I'll take a look tomorrow.

On the category front, how about: anything old and carved? borrowed and (French racing) blue?

Don

[dc-65x]

Thanks Don. I did find this old 1964 R&C article:















I'll keep digging and look forward to anything anybody else can find.....

[Howmet TX]

Run 'em together- they did in the old days, I think... Sports & G.P.s. Wonderful. No rules otherwise, big concours points of course.

Sorry I couldn't get into the 'Balls-out' races, Jairus. Not the style for a genteel tea-drinking aristocrat like me, you understand. But balsa wood- What made the British Empire what it is today, don't y'know.

Thanks DC for raising the topic. I'm excited. 15 years old again. I must send the maid for another round of cucumber sandwiches.

[Regis4446]

I am interested

Many models as possible
see here for pinewwood



http://www.derbytalk....php?f=2&t=4878

[merkit the grof]

Yes please, I wood be interested.



Joel