67 replies to this topic

[Dave Crevie]

I have recently received one of the new Rapid Slot 3D printed chassis. The basic chassis comes assembled with the pin tubes, hinge pins, and tuning set screws already installed. I also ordered the weight, which was installed under the front pin tube in the recess provided in the center section. I ordered mine in flat black, but several color choices are available.

 

First off, I would like to address the "sticker shock" of the price. List price for the chassis is $59.95. The weight is an additional $25.95. The weight is also 3D printed to fit exactly in the recess in the chassis. This chassis comes assembled, no soldering or additional fabrication required. Consider the amount of time you would spend soldering a Retro brass chassis together, including the time fitting the pieces, and even possibly straightening some of the stamped brass parts which might

have come out of the press distorted. It generally takes me three to four hours to build a kit chassis using only the parts in the kit. It normally takes a little longer if I am upgrading the chassis with a better motor bracket.

 

The alternative, of course, is to purchase one of the professionally assembled brass chassis. Most of these are close to or over $100. So I don't feel that the price is out of line. The other parts required to make this a running car are the same as for any Retro brass chassis.

 

 

 

[Greg VanPeenen]

Dave,

 

I think people would be really interested in a report on just how this chassis works compared to a true brass and wire Retro chassis. I know I would be. 

 

Regards,

 

GVP

[Pablo]

Cool, Dave.

 

I would be, too, GVP.

 

I'll bet Cheater likes it. 

 

Since it's an inline, I assume it's intended market is commercial Retro racing?

 

Is it currently legal in any existing rule set (s) ? If not, are there plans in the making to create a new class specifically for it?

[Dave Crevie]

Somehow this got posted prematurely. Anyway, the top two photos show the top and bottom views of the

chassis as it comes. The bottom photo shows the chassis with the additional parts you will need to

complete the car. Not shown is the crown gear and the body. The approximate costs of these parts

are:

 

                 Guide flag          $2.95

 

                 Guide nut           $1.00

 

                 Braid                  $2.00

 

                 Lead wire           $5.00 (w/ clips)

 

                 Front wheels      $8.95 (come with retainers)

 

                 Front axle           $1.00  (cut from piano wire)

 

                 Front bushings   $2.50

 

                 Motor                  $12.95

 

                 Pinion                  $5.95

 

                 Crown gear         $5.95

 

                 Rear axle             $2.50

 

                 Ball bearings        $5.00 to $20.00 depending on what type you use

 

                 Rear tires             $11.50

 

                 Body                     $5,00

 

And all that adds $56.80 more or less depending on your supplier.

 

So, with all that in hand, the next thing is to put it together. That will have to wait till the weekend.   

[Dave Crevie]

This is a new technology. Currently, the chassis is not legal for IRRA, and there is no special class

that I know of. The IRRA board will have to rule on whether it can be shuffled in, and I am sure they

will wait until the full potential of this car is known. A lot of tweeking is yet to be done. Another thread

discusses the comparative lap times of the brass and 3D chassis. But that chassis was a pre-production

prototype. i suspect I can get it down close to the brass car lap times with some work. 

[MSwiss]

I don't see the IRRA® being interested in creating a class for this car.

I see it as more an alternative to a flexi or more appropriately, a spec inline class, like an FCR.

They are running these down in Tennessee at Tracy Brown's new raceway.

Maybe one of those racers can comment on the performance.

[Matt Sheldon]

Besides being neat and a showing of what printed technology has to offer, I do not see the necessity of this being shuffled into IRRA racing (nor do i think it is even being thought of). If there was a need for a Junior division JK offers a nice prebuilt X25R that comes complete with tongue brace and front axle for a retail price of $79 and it works really well. From a cost perspective this would be smarter as it is less money than the Rapid 3D and could be used to advance into the regular retro classes. All that being said we already know the past success of some of the "spec" racing JK & retro flexi were just so,so. Even if it works better than all other retro chassis, does it really matter? We are dealing with apples to oranges. Like comparing 1967 technology to 2015, I would hope it to be increasingly better.

 

I think it is a great design and like the concept, but do not see it replacing any discipline within slots. It could be a nice niche class, but yet again the hobby classes itself to death year after year. I will get a couple to play with at some point, but if these were a replacement at my local raceway over a flexi based class I would not have much interest. 

 

Thanks Dave for the write up, I look forward to seeing it's progress. 

[CoastalAngler1]

Looks cool - if it is fast, I want one!

[SlowBeas]

What is the weight of the fully-dressed chassis, with and without the added weight?

[Don Weaver]

Mine is set up like a retro and weighs 93.5 grams ready to be put on the starting line.  No weight.

 

Don Weaver

[John C Martin]

I got one they are really light and IMO ,about 20 more grams is necessary .in the center section slots and on each of the back pans sections..
To ease the cost of the lead inserts in the pans ,,just take the standard lead sheet and lay it on a flat tech block and lay the chassis over it and trace a outline on the lead thru the slots ..then just cut out the pieces you'll need to run a bead of adhesive ( E- 6000 ) is great for this. around the topside while the lead is flush to the bottom of the chassis..sticky side up enables you to add more weight on top of this ,maybe more forward or rearward..or more left or right side..
The chassis is great for a Spec.class ..It is very tuff material ,,
I do wish the pans at the rear were not as thick as this is were a few grams of weight is needed, and it hurts the C.O.G.
I really like how much tuning can be done with this piece.adjustable everywhere .also pin tubes are high so to give the body some more material to help prevent rips.
Once built it's done no more bent pans or bent guide flags or anything..
Just about eliminating a soldering iron.
Of course mine is not as good or as fast as my Retro Canams ,,I think the COG. Is the fault...we are running them with 4" NASCAR bodies..
But I do like the Spec.ideal..
They are available in 4 1/2 " as well.

[Pablo]

New nicknames for John Martin and Dave Crevie:

"3D JC" and "3D DC"

[Bill from NH]

Do we send them a tube of Testors when they meet the wall, or does that come with the chassis kit?

[MSwiss]

Do we send them a tube of Testors when they meet the wall, or does that come with the chassis kit?

J.C. mentioned it's s real tuff material.

I wouldn't worry about it until you hear a case of one breaking.

[Pablo]

They laughed when we tested the new plastic Ryobi trolling reels for tuna in the 1980's until they found out the side plates are of the same material used to make bowling balls.

After 5 months of 24/7 offshore commercial sportfishing abuse they still worked great.

[Dave Crevie]

Mike Swiss can attest that he tried to break one of Steve's hot rod chassis that Steve made a couple

years ago. He did eventually break it, but not in a manner that you would see in regular racing. and

the new material being used for the current chassis is much tougher.

 

As to getting these homologated into IRRA, I don't really expect it to happen. It is just too radical a

technology. I don't see it replacing anything out there. As to forming a new class, spec or otherwise,

it is up to the governing body to support it. FCRs are going to go away eventually, there is no doubt

in my mind. RapidSlot has a 4 1/2 inch version of this chassis. This may be able to fill in, if the technology

is refined enough. For now, I am just interested to see what can be done with this chassis.

[John C Martin]

And the 4 1/2 " version will definetly run circles around any FCR..
That would be a very popular class IMO. They are already running them in a rookie only class at The Track..7 racers in the first week and they had a ball..great entry class..
Maybe even with dirt car Bodies for even better handling ..

[Eddie Fleming]

Just about eliminating a soldering iron.

 

That plus the handling looks like a great entry class to me.

 

The solder in motors make the flexie class cars a tough starting point for a new kid.

 

I know they are not all solder in but the best cars are so they all just as well be.

 

Let them get there feet wet and then they will want to move up.

 

On the other hand I have not tried one of these so what do I know.

[Mr. HP]

Thanks Dave for sharing!

 

Just to clarify... the chassis do not come assembled or with hardware for that price, you got the "friend" discount.  But I do plan on offering assembled chassis's and possibly rollers down the road if there is a demand.

[SlowBeas]

Very cool, but not "retro," regardless of any shape of the chassis design. 3D is a technology of the future.

 

Therefore, I don't think it belongs in anything deemed as retro.

[John C Martin]

Very cool, but not "retro," regardless of any shape of the chassis design. 3D is a technology of the future.
 
Therefore, I don't think it belongs in anything deemed as retro.

Right it's not supposed to be a retro type chassis,,it's a flexie alternative ,,4" or 4 1/2".. We are only running NASCAR bodies on ours..so far. But It does have all the dimensions of a retro canam ( RTR )...

[SlowBeas]

If anyone can make this puppy run, JC, I'm sure you'll do it. I look forward to hearing what you think as you continue tinkering with it.

[Dave Crevie]

As i said, i don't expect this chassis to get intro retro Can-Am. Just the fact that it is not brass eliminates

it from that. But to say the current retro chassis are truly retro is wrong. They haven't followed '60s

design for quite some time. I like the Can-am series, and will mount a Ti22 body on this chassis, and

use one of my retro cars as a point of comparison. Since it is not an anglewinder, it would be unfair to

compare it to a current flexi-car. If it is ever used as a basis for a class, I would rather see Trans-am

bodies used. That would fill an empty niche in the slot racing world.

[Samiam]

"retro

adjective

.

denoting something associated with or revived from the past: retro dressing, retro fashion"

 

 

Inlines were popular back in the 60s. This chassis is an inline. Is it Retro? NO

 

Retro is brass and wire. Are they exact reproductions of vintage designs? NO

 

Not sure why Retro was even brought up here. This is a new and innovative chassis and will find it's own place in the hobby.

[Pappy]

In the 60's Strombecker chassis were made of plastic. This chassis is made of plastic. Is it Retro? "YES".