13 replies to this topic

[DOCinCanton]

I decided to split off my request for a picture of a centerline hinge, and what are the advantages of such.

 

[John Streisguth]

How's this?

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[DOCinCanton]

John, thank you. What year were this type of chassis run? And are those steel center section and side plates?

[Ramcatlarry]

That particular one is a modifyed JK Euro/open grp 12 from the 1990s.  I have brass 1/32 club racers from the 1960's.

 

[Samiam]

The original theory of the center hinge was to allow lateral flex but still have longitudinal stiffness. It is used mostly in 1/32nd ES today.

[JimF]

Here is one in an inline configuration. Main rails and single tripod rail are all .047. Center spine rail is .062. It is soldered solid to the brass plate just forward of the motor but free to turn inside the 3/32" box tube in the nosepiece. If this feature were soldered both fore and aft (thus not a hinge anymore), then this frame would be a legal Can Am.........at least from that parameter.

 

 

 

[JerseyJohn]

Hay Jim here is a center line hinge car I made..

[tonyp]

Bingo!

[Cap Henry]

Tony, do you think the center hinge is any better then the tuning forks hinged the way we use them now?

[JimF]

Interesting similarities in our nosepiece treatments. I started mine as a center spine Can Am project but for various reasons never finished it up. Then along came this CA+ idea and so I was motivated to finish it. Mine has fixed plumber rails of .047 and the rear axle moved very close to the bracket face.

 

This thing actually worked pretty well so I'm I'm going to turn it back into a normal Can Am but leave the center hinge as is. I'll run it that way, then solder up the hinge into a legal spine just to see whahoppens. (good motivation to finish this thing up).

[tonyp]

Cap. Nah.

[JimF]

So.................what does the centerline hinge do???

 

Between myself and other interested parties, we now have about 400 laps on the frame/chassis pictured above. The Can Am Plus package as described and shown, was very good on a flat track. After that first weekend of testing, I converted this frame to a "normal" Can Am except I left the centerline hinge as shown. Testing was Saturday at Eddies Slot car World in Vallejo Ca. Track was Eddies King which is normally our fastest venue. Conditions were poor today with heavy rubber and glue/dirt buildup so lap times, while OK.........were far from "race best" After normal tuning and sorting of bodies and tires, this frame was very good (given the conditions).

 

Center spine as a hinge................best was 5.04 avg 5.08 very good bite but car was forgiving.....considering.

Soldered up the hinge rod as a solid spine.........best was 5.01 avg was 5.09, a little less bite but felt about the same.

Cut the spine out completely........best was 4.97 avg was 5.05. Fastest this way but differences in feel were pretty minimal.

 

So what do it do??? Not much. Probably best not to pin ones hopes on this technology to be any kind of a game changer.

 

Just $0.02 worth.

[Samiam]

Jim,

 Thanks for doing some R&D on the CA+. Your findings will help the rest of us in developing a working car.

 

What size tires and clearance did you run? Weight? Gear ratio?

 

Your conclusion about the center hinge mirrors what the Euro Sport guys found out. I don't see CH designs in 1/24 ES anymore.

[JimF]

In the CA+ configuration, I was running .770 rears with .050 clearance. The PS 4002 FK was geared first @ 7-26 then finally 8-26 (flat track remember). The car as shown above with the beater MAC 917 body was 98 gr. all up.

 

To do the center rail as a hinge-spine-gone test, it was in normal Can Am configuration. In the CA configuration,  I had replaced the rear semi-bracket with a real bracket and was running normal .820 tires/.050 clearance. Weight was about the same.