23 replies to this topic

[WigWag Workshop]

Good Day

 

Sorry if this has been discussed before, I did a search and did not see anything on it. Is it possible, or feasible to use 1/24-1/25 scale model bodies on a slot car chassis?  I realize it will take quite a bit of modifying. Since jumping back in to the hobby, I been doing HO exclusively, but after looking through the scratchbuild section, the wheels are turning, and wanting to have a go at something bigger.

 

Thank you in advance,

 

-Steven

[Bill from NH]

Yes Steve, it is feasible to use 1/24 & 1/25 scale model bodies on slot car chassis. There are numerous groups that do this in the US, Canada, & elsewhere. 1/24 bodies tend to be a bit wider & fit better on some chassis.You may find some chassis will require shortening or narrowing to fit certain bodies. I sometimes race with  a group of 1/24 scale hard body racers on a club track. They use a few resin bodies , but mainly model car kit bodies. The jalopy & late model class are two of the most popular classes.

 

Steve, for more hardbody scratchbuilt ideas, look at the Slot Car Illustrated & Home Racing World boards. Both are primarily 1/32 scale, but some of the scratchbuilts on both sites could easily be upscaled for 1/24 or 1/25 scale racing if that's the scale you want to choose.

[dc-65x]

Hi Steven,

 

If you'd like to try vintage scratch building for your model kit projects, here's one of my personal favorite builds:

 

Total Performance - first Cobra race car

 

 

 

[hiline2]

Just went back and reviewed that Bad Boy Cobra!!!!!!!!!!!!          

[MattD]

Monogram Chaparral 2D
AMT Pontiac and Ford
Revell Camaro
Resin copy of the old AMT Indy car

1/24 model kit/slot cars.

Attached Images

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[Samiam]

Been racing Hardbodies on Parma FCR chassis for years. With a 4 & 4.5in. chassis and adjusta-bushings you can find a combination to fit most any car. Of course most bodies will need some stretching to fit the full 3.250" width. And since the body sits on top of the chassis we normally allow some rocker panel trimming. To equalize different bodies we set a minimum roof height. 

 

That is just one option. There are other chassis available. JK, Rgeo, & Reality Mods make one specifically for Modified type racers. There are also some steel chassis' out there for Hardbodies but the mfg's names elude me.   Others here with less drain bamage will chide in.   .

 

Just saw this:

http://slotblog.net/...ars-hardbodies/

 

Very nice assortment of cars.

[n9949y]

Using a 1/24 Fujimi Lamborghini Murcielago street car I kit-bashed it into a FIA Group GT3  car mounted on a  TSRF chassis to  model a Le Mans race car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the TSRF chassisa is a fairly good RTR chassis the TSRF pin guide was a dumb design so I modified mine with a conventional guide flag. Works so much better.

[MattD]

I like cutting Womp chassis in half and extending them to the proper length with brass soldered under the chassis. The easiest chassis to use is probably the cheap, brass H&R adjustable unit. These are really simple options for 1/24 model kit adaptations. A rear axle bracket and front axle guide flag holder soldered to a brass plate is just a bit more work, but also a very easy frame to build to fit most any car.

These are simple options for decent handling cars with good speed. For sophisticated, hinge type chassis, much more work is required. As long as all your racers follow a basic motor, chassis style and tire size, you will have fun racing.

[Dennis David]

A hardbody with max width and minimum height and weight rules goes a long way with this class of cars. A good motor to consider using is the H&R Lightning II.

[n9949y]

Here's another 1/24th model kit turned into a hard body slot  car. Some years ago a Korean plastic model company, Academy Minicraft, produced a 1/24th scale crude rendition of a McLaren M8A. The 1 piece body, just right for slot car assembly, has scale accurate dimensions suitable for making an authentic looking 1/24th hard body racer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Body's attached to a angle winder chassis I built in 1969 and raced with at MESAC, Los Angeles.

[MattD]

The varieties are endless and you can build a pretty nice looking, kind of scale race car. The racing is really fun with cars that are not blurs and they all have the same speed.

This last couple of weeks, I got a 63 Stingray Snaptite kit, a 55 Chrysler with Tim Flock decals, a Minicraft Grand Sport Corvette and I am kind of watching for 66 Charger to build the #6 Charlie Glotzbach car. All these kind of kits are easy to adapt. Oh yeah, I got 6 more of the Tamiya Canam style bodies.

[n9949y]

 Hi Matt. Good to see hard body enthusiasts elsewhere. Where do you race at? Here in Oregon there are at least 4 different organizations dedicated to the building and racing 1/24th slot cars all using hobby shelf plastic and resin kits as bodies.

[MattD]

Todd, we started out racing on our Carrera home tracks. We have moderate sized 4 lane tracks. 50-60 foot lap lengths. Ovals. One of the guys raced at the commercial track in Louisville and we got a deal where we could have access on the nite they are closed and started having "fun" races every week. We run on a King over there and setup the cars different. Non flex brass chassis, the house 15,000 rpm motors and silicone tires either we coat or Protrack coated silicone. We do run 1 inch tall tires although we allow turning them to 3/4. All hard bodies, but we do play with vac form or whatever turns up since we just play.
Originally we started with modified type cars, but have branched out to stock car bodies and the Indy car bodies I make. I got a variety of Tamiya bodies a couple years ago and each of the guys has a canam style car with the same frame setup but running Fox power. They handle slightly better and turn laps a little faster than the house motor.

We are fast and loose with rules, we just like the cars to run pretty even. There are only 2 of us that really understand building and we kind of control what the other guys run. It keeps everything pretty even.

Currently we are changing our home tracks, but we are happy to support Bullitt Raceway and want to continue our guys racing there every week and not wanting to just race at our home tracks. We all support these guys or else they are gone!

[n9949y]

Good to see such a program being well supported

[Ecurie Martini]

How far back do you want to go?  How about 1961

 

1/24 Merit Vanwall

 

 

 

Pittman DC 703, machined aluminum chassis, scratch built teflon guide

 

EM

[team burrito]

if you want something a little more modern, there's this...

[James Wendel]

It looks like it needs a wing. . . . oh, look:

 

[MattD]

I made molds of those old Merit kits back in the 90's. I thought they would make a neat series to race, but the other guys weren't interested in them. I pulled those molds out a few months ago and they were so deformed I tossed them out! I may have to pick up a couple of the Smer copies just to build for myself. I like those old Gran Prix cars.

We're all newbies at this compared to you Alan! I had no 1/24 scale involvement till around 65, by then you were a veteran!!!!

[Ramcatlarry]

You are in Indiana?  Up North around South Bend are two raceways participating in the Chicago metro area hardbody series:  MidAmerica Hardody Racing Club....look for facebook page. Summer Series ends soon with Fall series starting up.  Had 25 racers last weekend....dirt.stockcars and trans/am bodies currently...I have prototyped a corvette with retro torsion chassis.

[Jairus]

Gee, don't for get "toolers".  Those are slot cars built simply for tooling around the track and not racing.

 

The chassis.

 

[Dennis David]

I love "toolers" and enjoying the scenery.

[MattD]

I like that woody. Most of my cars are toolers!!!!

[Jairus]

Mine are "shelfers"....

[hiline2]

Jairus ! that woody needs to be in proxy drag racing !!