229 replies to this topic

[Duffy]

By popular demand from some variously-popular guys: a thread about this chassis and some of the ways it can be done up.
 
WAR BEAVER got its start as this year’s chassis in Retro East’s annual six-hour Enduro. We tried to come up with a frame that would deliver satisfying performance and would be durable enough to survive the race in a wide range of conditions.  Several participants in that event remarked that the effort was successful on all counts. Based on the enthusiasm and a lot of requests, we tooled up a complete kit.
 
This chassis may be ideally suited to kitting. It was engineered to be simple and straightforward to build and to maintain, and as such it’s well within reach of any reasonably careful builder; a couple of small mods from the original Enduro cars were made to make the assembly even easier, and with the detailed instructions supplied it’s possible to go from kit bag to finished chassis in an hour and a quarter.
 
In this thread we’ll talk a little about the engineering thought that went into the basic WAR BEAVER, and also show some of the variants from the original that have come along so far.
 

 
We tend to call anything with divergent rails “Tripods,” and often they really aren’t; this one aren’t. But, the triangles formed by the parallel center section with the two divergent “spread” rails, all locked solid together, makes for a very rigid structure that still twists nicely. The most important bit here is in how the axle tabs in the nosepiece are bent to align with the spread rails, so that they can be joined along that edge without having to bend back into line. Lapping the rail in this way gives us a stronger joint and eliminates the need to add extra braces to the nosepiece, and also eliminates having to bend the wire back parallel to the center rails: that second bend would make a vulnerable stress point in a head-on impact, an unsupported place that would try to crumple. We saw some proof of that thinking at our June Enduro, where at least one racer took a full-punch wallshot and drove away chuckling.
 
The other thing you see here is the attempt to mount the pan hinges with a minimum of bendy fuss: the intent is to run hinge wires along the front and rear edges of the pan, making it necessary to make only one bend per side up to the top surface of the brass, and that one’s got plenty of room to bend in.
 
The standard BEAVER performs ably, and I hope a couple of guys who’re driving them now will chime in here with their comments; at the same time, there’re always fellows who just can’t resist playing around a little…
 

 
Here’s Joe Neumeister’s tonyp-built car, with .055" wires and cut-down pans. This  appeared at last month's Sano, and would have competed but for a last-minute discovery that too-soft fronts were scrubbing off speed in the bank. It'll be under a Coupe this week at HVR, and we shall see –
 

 
- And here'sTony’s own, using .047" rails. I believe this was sold right at the race after this pic, and he's got another now. Notice the little crossbrace on the center section, by the motor bracket: that bracket’s Dremeled out and the wire is soldered straight across the inside of the motor face. It's a great help with unwanted twist in these multi-rail cars.
 

 
Duffy mounted a Wallenda perimeter to the standard center, to make – what else? “Wally And The BEAVER.” Jersey John took this one, tore the Brady pans off and dropped the axles, and pressed it into service in Can-Am Plus; did pretty well with it, too.
 
So – what’s next?

[Tex]

I can't repeat what I'm thinking. Yes, to answer the question/remark you haven't asked/said yet.

[tonyp]

Here is one I made to a customers specs for a RetroPro. Came out at 34 grams...

 

 

[JerseyJohn]

Rabid Beaver By JJ Chassis. 53 grams of pure animal...

 

 

[tonyp]

 

I see your Beaver and raise you one.

[tonyp]

 

A trio of Beaver.

[Noose]

Let's call this "Sano Beaver".  It was my back-up car at the Sano. Recent changes to the type of front tires has made this a "go to car" for me. 

 

[Half Fast]

Nice work, guys.

 

I have always liked to see pictures of Beavers!

 

Cheers,

[Tex]

I can't stand it any longer! Beaver Valley! Beaver Valley! Beaver Valley! Beaver! Beaver! Beaver! oh. oh! Oh! OH! OOHHHH!!!

 

Aaaahh.

 

Whew. Had to get that out.

 

Back to your regularly scheduled programming. Sorry for the interruption.

[Duffy]

It's the title of a Disney nature film from like '54 or thereabouts.

[Half Fast]

... and here I thought it was more like a Russ Meyer flick.
 
Cheers,

[Duffy]

Gentlemen, try to maintain a little decorum here. I know I haven't made it all that easy, but please at least make a convincing show of it.

[The Number of]

Well, you started it what is next? Angry beaver, blind beaver, a lightweight shaved beaver? STOP THE MADNESS!

[Tex]

It's the title of a Disney nature film from like '54 or thereabouts.

 

Oh, it's SO much more than that.

[Half Fast]

Duf-
 
I'm sorry I started this thread on the road to perdition.
 
Cheers,
 
PS: The Road to Perdition was a Bob Hope movie I think! (Special obscure reference for Duffy.)

[Duffy]

Well - right now we're tossing various names around for the upcoming F1 kit. Included on the short list is STEAMER DUCK. Y'like?

[Half Fast]

I am going to have to work hard to make something out of that name. Sounds like a Bada$$ Bird.
 
Cheers,

[The Number of]

Sofa King Steamer Duck?

[Duffy]

Oh, behave.

[Tex]

You have GOT to be kidding!? We're slot car guys!

[Duffy]

Oh. Right. I forget sometimes.

[Tex]

I'll be good now. I just HAD to get that other thing out of my system. I'm better now. The doctor said so.

[Duffy]

See? Obamacare works.

[gas]

TonyP's with the motor in it is a Mountain Beaver.

[CoastalAngler1]

Podium threat.