20 replies to this topic

[Ted Bier]

Hi!

 

I just got this in a box of other goodies, I think it's 1/32 Riggen, is it ?

The motor is stamped Hong Kong on it with the # 222, Mabuchi?

Any guesses?

 

Thanks,

 

Ted

 

 

 

[Jairus]

Depends on the date it was made.

The chassis started out as Riggen, but the company was sold off in the early '70s.

Today we call them a "Womp."

Riggen used to call them 1/32 scale pan chassis and they were normally formed in brass.
Later versions were formed in both aluminum and brass. I believe what you have is an early Parma product.
 

[Ted Bier]

I did some squinting and took a look at the flag, it's stamped "Riggen," so does that really make it a Riggen?

[don.siegel]

Motor is a Johnson, from Hong Kong. 

 

These are all Riggen frames as far as I know (altho they may have subsequently been distributed by other companies)... similar to the Womp in general layout, but I think those are of steel and larger.

 

Don

[Jairus]

Never saw a steel one, Don.

I have one just like that in aluminum and same Johnson motor. Unfortunately I'm at work so can't post a pic until later.

[havlicek]

10-4 on what Don Siegel said (of course!). The motor is definitely a Johnson.

[don.siegel]

Thanks, John - but can somebody confirm on the Womp chassis? I said steel from memory (vague), but can't swear to it...
 
Don

[Bill from NH]

The newer Parma womps are available in brass or zinc coated steel. I don't know if those were the choices of earlier models, which I've not seen.

I've not seen a Parma womp with a motor cut-out hole in it either.

[Ramcatlarry]

I know Parma had issued a 20th(?) anniversary of the Womp before 1995. Theirs was never made in aluminum - as far as I know. Parma always has a screw-in motor. Early ones have one front axle hole and later ones have two to make longer wheelbase like the I-32 anglewinder brother.

[Jairus]

Okay, history in one pic.

Back pan is Riggen brass standard.
Middle pan is Parma aluminum.
Foreground is the newest steel Womp chassis.
(Apologies to Don... I forgot about this one which IS steel. )
 

[slotcarone]

And that 'Newest' Parma Womp chassis  of course is probably 30 years old!

[Jairus]

Possibly.

But then I'm nearly almost, but not there yet... 60. So, it's new to me!

[Bill from NH]

There is a newer Parma womp than the picture shows. As Larry said, the front has two axle holes per side rather than just one. This two-holer is available in brass or steel.

n my opinion, the Champion Thumper is the best womp-type chassis out there, unless you are extending them fo fit 1/24 cars, such as hardbodies. In that case, the Parma brass Womp is a better choice.

[Ted Bier]

So it looks like what I have is a Parma aluminum chassis. It looks exactly like the middle one in Jairus' pictures.

Inclusive of the stamping on the flag, looks exactly like mine!

Ted

[Jairus]

It's still Riggen as that was what was probably on the box when sold. I am simply unsure when Parma dropped the name while they sold off the old stock. 

That's why Russkit controller handles can be found in a Parma box with the Russkit "R" molded into it. It wasn't until the late '70s, after Philippe helped design the "icebox controller," that Parma put their name in place of the "R."

Maybe Philippe will chime in on this question.

[TSR]

The original Riggen 1/32 scale inline chassis was issued in 1969 and remained the same until 1974 when the company and trademark were sold to Gayla Industries of Sun Valley, California.

Gayla looked to lower the cost of their cars and began using aluminum instead of brass for their chassis.
When Gayla Industries tanked in the early 1980s, REH of Cincinnati purchased all the remaining inventories.

The Parma "Womp Womp" always used a different, larger, and wider chassis that had nothing to do with the Riggen model, and if it is possible that Parma may have marketed cars using the Riggen/Gayla aluminum chassis, that would have been for a relatively short time, and only as an expedient to increased business.

[MSwiss]

Current Womp chassis.

[Gator Bob]

Johnson 222 can make a great set-up platform to build a reasonably hot but vintage-looking FT16.

 

Check out the spring posts, brush hoods and orientation.

 

Later or earlier 222 ?... don't know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TSR]

Mike Swiss,
looks like the updated Parma Womp chassis has been modified from the original by the simple addition of a second option for the front-axle installation, allowing the use of longer bodies.
I see no difference otherwise.
 

[MSwiss]

I know very little about Womps, except when someone brings one to run, inevitably the back axle carrier is bent up, and I have to straighten it for them.

 

I stock the brass one, for guys to cut up, and modify, into hardbody chassis.

 

The last time I raced one was in about 1983, when Mark Mattei hosted a $150 to win race.

 

I sold my move-up to the Main, to Csaba S., for $20. LOL

[Bill from NH]

The second set of front axle holes were added by Parma more than 10 yrs. ago.