85 replies to this topic

[SlotStox#53]

Very cool build Rick

Chassis looks stout to match the beefy nature of the Dynamic/GE motor.

[dc-65x]

Thanks Paul.

 

Here are some pictures of the real Mirage racer in action. The early car:

 

 

 

Here the great Ken Miles is at the wheel:

 

 

Apparently the car was not as competitive as hoped so a high wing was added. I wonder where they got the idea for that 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the version I'm going to try and pattern my car after. It features a small wing without the "end-plates". Here's the only picture I've been able to find of it:

 

 

[Jairus]

I've seen your paint Rick.
You are too humble and will do very well indeed. 

 

Chassis looks GREAT btw!

(I am working on the grandpa of all slot cars and made a huge step forward today.)

Is this a great hobby or what?

[dc-65x]

Thanks Jairus.....I hope you're right about how the paint will turn out!    Here's the starting point, a wonderful new old stock Dynamic Mirage Handling Body kit:

 

 

 

Although it's all neat stuff, I won't be using any of the goodies included with the body, just the body itself:

 

 

 

 

For the bodies accouterments I started with the exhaust pipes. I made them from paint brush ferrules and used a modified flat head screw and a nut for a mandrel to shape them:

 

 

I used an Auto Hobbies full depth interior that had to be modified with "wings" because the windscreen is so wide on this body:

 

 

I'm also using a roll bar made from 1/16" aluminum rod, Russkit driver's head, Russkit engine detail because the molded in stacks in the body extended down too far and hit the big GE motor. I had to make a small .010" thick styrene sheet mount for them. It's shorter than the body opening and drilled both of which will hopefully get some cooling to the big hot motor:

 

 

Speaking of sheet styrene, that white thing above is the Mirage's wing:

 

 

I sanded the pee out of it to do my best to shape it like a wing:

 

 

The wing strut mount is made up from .030" piano wire:

 

 

The strut gets mounted into pin tubes on the chassis:

 

 

OK, I think I've run out of things to do besides paint..............   

[SlotStox#53]

Can't hide from the painting any longer Rick

The body & detailing look really cool, neat little mandrel for the pipes *noted*

This is gonna look kewl

[Joe Mig]

At this point I usually Mount the body then paint it. It kind of takes the guesswork out of the pinhole placement.

[dc-65x]

I know Paul, I can run but I can't hide......time to paint.

 

I'm with you Joe. The body is already mounted but I still blew the hole placement by a bit.   Thank goodness the pin head will hide the boo boo.

[Horsepower]

Do we get to see the finished product? 

[dc-65x]

Hi Gary,

 

Yes, that's the plan. It's been mostly below freezing with high humidity here for a month which is well off our average. I spray paint outside and I've not had good luck when it's so cold. Even when I heat the spray cans in hot water I get runs, fish eyes and other troubles.

 

I've got one shot at painting this vintage Dynamic body and I hope I don't blow it!

[Pablo]

Guess we'll just have to drool over the clear body (and Gary's avatar) until the weather warms and dries

[Horsepower]

Ha! That avatar is Liily Munster  AKA  Yvonne DeCarlo.     Never saw her in THAT Munster's get up!      As for painting the car body, I know what you mean about weather. Here in Chicago I always had to paint in the summer. I could never get the basement hot enough to get a good paint job.

[Bill from NH]

When my wife was gone for the day during winter, I used to airbrush with acrylics in the kitchen. I've never been caught, yet.   

[don.siegel]

You just think you weren't caught Bill... just one more example of women's relationship skills... 

 

Don 

[dc-65x]

Yes indeed, Yvonne is looking good.

 

On a sunny note, the sun came out for a short while so I fired up my paint booth. I thought I'd share my high tech unit.........my trash can with the lid flipped up:

 

 

At least I got the parts primed with Tamiya fine white primed:

 

 

More sun is on the way in a few days...........

[dc-65x]

The body is painted! I started a new thread on painting it:

 

Painting Vintage Butyrate Bodies

 

 

[dc-65x]

I finally finished the wing. Here's a recap...........
 

Speaking of sheet styrene, that white thing above is the Mirage's wing:
 

 
I sanded the pee out of it to do my best to shape it like a wing:
 

 
The wing strut mount is made up from .030" piano wire:
 

 
The strut gets mounted into pin tubes on the chassis:
 

 
OK, I think I've run out of things to do besides paint..............   

..........I slipped some pin tubes taped together over the wings piano wire struts to keep the paint off:

 

 

 

I ZAP glued the wing to the strut and filled the area inside the wire with epoxy, primed with Tamiya fine white primer, Testors gold base and metallic red top coat:

 

 

I used vintage Ulrich roundels and numbers and Auto World sponsor decals:

 

 

Here is the final result:

 

 

 

 

Here's the little dude's cockpit:

 

 

The slot car motor is visible with the model's engine detail to aid cooling:

 

 

Here are the front and rear wheels:

 

 

 

I'm happy with this Mirage and decided to take some pictures of it with one of my favorite builds, an early Can Am Lotus 19 Chevy:

 

 

I think they look cool together:

 

 

A couple of my favorite "blob bodied" slot racers..........now on to the next! 

[Tim Wilkins]

Beautiful build Rick!  Let us know if you ever test it on a commercial track. 

[don.siegel]

Absolutely fabulous Rick - bravo! 

 

Remind me where you found the Lotus 19 body... 

 

Don 

[Pablo]

[dc-65x]

Thanks guys. I was thinking of sending the car down to Rodney for a commercial track test. I'll report the results if I do.

 

Don I reread my original thread on the Lotus 19 Chevy as I had forgotten the bodies source (link to the build below). I said the body came from Mike Swiss of Chicagoland Raceway.

 

Jerry Hansen's 1966 Lotus 19 Chevy

[Pete L.]

Rick,

 

 A real beauty, thanks for sharing all the info and photos !!!

[John M Wimett]

Sweet!  Your interiors are the best and your attention to detail fantastic!

[Horsepower]

Rick, do you remember what the original gear ratio was when you aquired this now BEAUTIFUL work of art?

[Tim Wilkins]

John,

 

Factory specs called for 12 tooth pinion and 33 tooth crown gear inline with a 14 tooth pinion, 36 tooth spur gear and a 36 tooth idler gear for the sidewinder chassis.

 

 

Attached Images

• 

[dc-65x]

I should have documented what gears the last owner had on the car. The pinion looks to have more teeth than the 10T I used, probably a 12T like Dynamic instructions show. It also looks to have a smaller crown gear than the recommended 33T.