18 replies to this topic

[JimF]

Here we go with some more new ones. Some are variations on existing.......some completely new. A couple have been tested a little.

 

A short, light F-1 (customer car)

 

• R-Geo nosepiece and bracket both in .050
• 4 rails .047/side. Pans are .047 wire. 4 rails on right, 3 rails on left.
• 3 7/8" wheelbase, 7/8" guide lead.
• Frame as shown here is 40.5 grams.
• Will finish at maybe 87-88 all up w/body

 

 

 

F-1 startup waiting for some brackets and pans.

 

• R-Geo nose, waiting on R-Geo angled face bracket.
• Rails are 2X .047 sandwiched around .047 X .093 brass. Soldered full length.
• This is a total whim because I found this brass stock and didn't remember that I had it.
• No idea how this'll go

 

 

Most recent "no brainer"

 

• Single .078 main rails, all wire on pans is .078 as well.
• Rear weights and outriggers are .062.
• Center weight pan = .016
• Nose brass = .032.
• Numbers on bottom represent various weight configurations...........
• 98 gr all up, w/body = no add on weights at all
• 105 gr with two side weights added.
• 112 gr. with two side weights and center weight.
• So far, tested with side weights but no center.....really good.

 

 

 

Short, light Can Am. (For me.........just to mess with)

 

• Warmack bracket flat brass in nose is .032. 5 rails/side of .047
• Front hinge is .055 in 3/32 tube. Rear is outrigger-shaker.
• 3 7/8" wheelbase, 7/8" guide lead. Didn't weigh the bare frame but all up w/body = 90.5 gr.

 

 

 

Last but not least.......the X-4

 

• First of this series with the forks free in tubes. (goal was slightly more forgiving than prior versions)
• Inner rails and forward forks = .062. Perimeter rails are 2X .047
• 4.050 wheelbase, .935 guide lead.
• 96 grams all up with body.
• Minimal testing but so far hits the target.

 

 

[TG Racing]

Anyone else not able to see the pictures?

[The Number of]

Pics fine on my I phone

[1fastdude]

Any for sale?

[TG Racing]

:dash2:Must be this computer!

[olescratch]

Pics OK on this end!!!

[JimF]

Any for sale?

 

Thanks for asking. #1 is a customer car, at the moment, all others are for my personal fleet. I generally build to order so if you are ever interested, send me a PM with info about what you are looking for and I'll give you a quote.

[Tim Neja]

They look great Jim!! Very interesting design departures from "semi-normal"!! I like it!! Always fun to push the envelope a bit!! I'll be interested especially in the F-1 and your "Light" Can am car!! Gonna come down to BPR to test it on the KING??

[JimF]

Yo!

 

I'll be shipping the F-1 on Friday so.....in your neighborhood presently. Personally, I'd build it a bit heavier but that's what the customer axed for......'sides.....it can be weighted up a little very easily. If I can come down on the 9th, the light Can Am will be with me for sure. I'm gonna put 8-10 grams in it and test it on Eddies King this weekend. 

 

I'm all done with the ski shop until Nov. so all set to make it for the 9th but am waiting on escrow closing on something I've sold. I think several of the cars that I've pictured recently will be good on the MTT (micro rail Can Am and F-1, new no brainer, and others) and I have a sneaking hunch about the X-4 if I can get some weight in it. (got an idea about that I hope to test this weekend up here) IAC, if I don't get there for the 9th, then May looks good.

[Slot Car Mods Magazine]

Absolutely gorgeous work...  

[Pappy]

Absolutely gorgeous work...  

I think I almost saw a flaw in one of them. 

 

I agree, absolutely gorgeous work.

[FVracer]

Thanks a lot Jim! Today I just finished a copy of your original no-brainer...and now you change it! Can't wait to try it out and to hear about your testing of the new ones.

[JimF]

I didn't change it much.....mostly details in trying for lighter weight (which it is) The main point about this one is the single .078 rails which usually results in a forgiving frame. The single rail may not be as ultimately fast as some multi rail cars but it is easier to get the most out of it. Some other designs may have the potential to be faster but be harder to hit the tune just right in order to get there.

 

Besides........I change something almost every time. I'm always thinkin' that it'll be more-better-gooder if I just change "one little thing"..........

[JimF]

Testing the lot of 'em...............('cept the F-1 which is already shipped)

 

This weekends test venues....................

 

Slot Car Raceway Rohnert park Ca. both tracks here usually have high bite.

Testa Rossa Flat track modified MTT with Italian section. Fastest of our flat tracks. This time out, this track was medium fast.

Flattish King slowest of our speedway tracks and a fantastic venue for retro cars. This was one of the rare times when conditions were off a bit.

 

Eddies Slot Car world Vallejo Ca. Tracks here are a mixed bag, generally very dirty but with decent-good bite

Motherlode flat track. Technical track. This time out, it had been cleaned within the month but not sprayed much. Bite was off.

King track. This is a highly banked old school (vs. a Gerding) Should be our fastest venue but conditions preclude that.

 

The Short-Light Can Am...................(built with a Gerding in mind)

• Tested on the flat King, good, but just too much bite. (didn't try weights)
• Banked King........real surprise. This car was fast, and not too difficult to tune.
• Added 3.8 gr. total in the two spots shown, made  the car slightly faster, yet easier to drive.
• This brought the all up weight to about 95 gr. Will replace the stuck on lead with permanent brass weights.
• I'd leave the weights off for a Gerding (I think)
• Sort of a revelation.......didn't think that this short/light would work on our slower tracks but it did.
• Next, I want to build one like this, about the same weight but a bit longer, like the No Brainer.
• Didn't test on flat tracks.

 

 

 

 

No Brainer Can Am:

• Tested on flat and banked King @ 105 gr. Very good on both, forgiving of tire choice.
• On this day, not necessarily fastest (but close) best race car on both tracks.
• Flat track @ SCR......tested with center weight in (112 gr) best car on this track
• Added additional 6 gr lead as shown (118 gr).........same lap times but easier to drive.
• By far the most versatile car of the batch for all these different tracks.
• Next, I want to build one of these as short and light as the above car.

 

 

 

X-4 Can Am:

 

• Both King tracks, no added weight (95 gr).....with the right tire, fastest of all on the flat King.
• Banked King, was susceptible to the varying bite. Fastest laps but hard to get it there and keep it there.
• Needed extensive tire tuning on the both Kings
• Added the two weights shown (6.0 gr ea.) more forgiving on flat King lap times the same.
• Banked King with weights, calmed it down but still a little touchy.
• Testa Rossa flat track. Even with weights in place (total 107 gr.) this was too light for the flat track.
• Need to get this up to 115 gr but may be wicked fast on some flat tracks.
• Generally fastest corner speeds on all tracks but took tuning to get there.

 

 

Hybrid Rail F-1:

 

• With center weight in place.....117 gr gr. (about right for most of our flat tracks.
• Very good car, not sure the hybrid rail has anything to do with that.
• Note that there is a block of 1/16" brass on top of the rails and on either side of the bracket.
• Adds 3 gr on each side and reinforces the bracket.
• Front end. Hinge setup is .055 in 3/32" tube. Up-down stop is .055 in 3/32" tube.
• Rear is .055 in 3/32" tube.
• This is an independent shaker setup.

 

 

[Jim Lange]

Jim, beautiful work as usual. Your testing results verify what I've been doing for years when everyone said ..... "Short and light won't work". What's next, short guide leads? When everyone understands why short and light works the World will end as we know it. Keep up the good work.

[JimF]

Thanks Jim.

 

For sure, I've known that short and light is effective on the Gerding. Paul Sterret was championing cars like that 5-6 years ago. What I am surprised by is how well it worked up here where our banked tracks are about 1 sec slower than in your backyard and our flat tracks are 1-2 sec slower.

 

I built this with all good intentions of just having a car available that could go well on the Gerding as I expect to make at least 2-3 trips down there this summer while I'm off work. After I finished, I remembered driving that AW coupe of yours that night on the MTT @ BPR and was astonished at how fast I could go with it. In all honesty, that was some of the impetus to try it out up here.

 

When I put it on the track the first time, I was thinking....."ahhhhh......this'll suck".........but it didn't. There will be more of these coming off my jig in the next few weeks-months as I start to explore the potential.

[John Good]

Jim:

 

Thank you for putting up these posts.  They are amazingly helpful to a novice such as myself. 

[FVracer]

Jim, on your short/light Can Am did you use .047 for the mains and pans? Thanks!

[JimF]

Yes......047 for both.