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AMT Lola T70


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#1 chrisguyw

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Posted 16 May 2020 - 11:15 AM

It seems like I am building a lot of Lola T70 kits at the moment,....this one from AMT.  This kit came out in 1965, and despite it being powered by a "chunky" 36D it was one of the better performing/handling kits of the time. largely because of its fairly heavy brass chassis. They made a complete slot car kit, and a static model kit......mine is the Static kit, but I do have an original chassis/motor, and all the other bits.

This is the original Static kit box......I unfortunately, did not buy it for $1.12smile.png ............the kit came with the slot car body mounts, slot car interior, and all the other bits to make this into a slot version.

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The body is of the very early T70 Spyder, and is very well molded, but, still needs a bit of work and a good clean up/prep.

 

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The chassis while quite good out of the box, really benefits from a few mods.,..............the guide tongue used a single nut bolt to attach it to the main chassis plate, and by sliding the guide tongue back/forth it was wheelbase adjustable, so it was universal for all the AMT releases in the series. (Lola T70, McLaren Elva, Chaparral, and the Hussein).

Unfortunately, only bolting the guide tongue made it prone to slipping, and also not sitting perfectly square, so soldering it in was a big improvement, and this has been done. There is also a piano wire gusset soldered under the step in the front of the guide mount, which helps considerably in strengthening this area.

The chassis was also prone to bending under/behind the motor. so some .047 wire has been soldered lengthwise to the chassis plate along the bottom of the motor........this helps.

Both the front and rear axle uprights were somewhat flimsy, and tended to bend, which invariably bound up the axles, so  a wire brace was made for the rear uprights, and a front axle tube was made from 2 diameters of brass tubing   which hold 3/16 x 1/8 sintered bushings,...................better performance, and, much more durable.......priceless biggrin.png 

The motor is an original AMT 36D but has been fairly heavily reworked, by John H.......Arco 33 magnets, shims, bushings replaced, better quality comm, bulletproofed endbell, brushes, springs, and a rewound/balanced 55/30 wind armature ( a good step up from stock but, not crazy)

 

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I have had some really nice cast aluminum T70 wheels (5/40 fronts, set screw rear) sitting around for ages,..........they will look great on the car .

 

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Cheers
Chris Walker


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Chris Walker




#2 Regis4446

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Posted 16 May 2020 - 02:47 PM

I really like this AMT plastic kit series, I will follow that with interest.


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Regis Baron

#3 MattD

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Posted 16 May 2020 - 03:24 PM

Knowing the quality of work Chris does, I know he'll make a beautiful car.   

 

Don't intend to hijack the thread, but I can't stand the interiors in the AMT or Tamiya cars.   I usually butcher them up and replace the interior.   The recent Tamiya release of original 60's bodies has provided a  good source of hard body Lola T70's,   The interior is worse than the AMT's.      Some of those kits I have cut the interior out and built a chassis with an inline FK180 so you have room for a better interior.    A vac formed dynamic interior works out on some of them.   

 

Hussein with a vac formed interior.

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Tamiya with flat card and a Cox driver.

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Tamiya Lotus with vac formed interior

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#4 chrisguyw

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Posted 18 May 2020 - 02:27 PM

I have posted this small update as it involves the most nerve wracking part about building an AMT kit...(at least for me),.....gluing the body mount runners !!........

 

While I do have a fairly good method. and have done quite a few, it is still by far the most finnicky part of the build......getting them level, and in the right vertical position so the bottom of the interior does not hit the honkin great 36D, yet getting the body in a representative (an even)  ride height............I am always hugely relieved when this works out, and, am happy to say it worked out this time.......funny how  such a small thing can bring so much joy banana.gif .

 

I also mounted/trued the tires and got the axles spaced and cut to length,..........the rest will be a breeze !!

 

Stay Safe

Chris Walker

 

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Chris Walker

#5 slotbaker

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Posted 18 May 2020 - 02:37 PM

Love the wheels...


Steve King


#6 Rich330P4

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Posted 22 August 2020 - 10:34 AM

Very nice work Cris

I am in the process of building an older AMT Lola T70 Can-Am car. First i had to disassemble the overglued pieces than remove the glue. I'm using a H&R CH02 chassis, the overall width over the bushings is 1.385 and the width of the body at the rear wheels is 2.610 that gives me a maximum tire width of 0.6125.
Yesterday I received the Pro-Track 319 tires (listed as 27mm dia. x 15mm [0.519 inch]) but I forgot to take in consideration the rear hub protrusion of 0.125 making the overall width of 0.702.
What size rears are you using, and the width of you chassis.

Anybody what is available that the overall width including the rear hub (unless it is hidden as in the larger widths) of 0.600 inch.
If going with #5-40 threaded axle are the end of the cut threads at my chassis width over the bushings of 1.385.
Thank you
Edit:
Pro-Track replied to my email.
519 OR #520 (JAILDOOR) wheels will give you a max. width of .6125 including set screw boss.
My modification to the radiator air flow exit.

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Richard Costello

#7 don.siegel

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Posted 23 August 2020 - 04:49 AM

Another great job Chris, with lots of tips to "borrow" - thanks! 

 

I believe this AMT series came out in early 66, not 65. First ad I found was in April 66. 

 

Did you eliminate the front motor mount, or has it just not been installed yet? 

 

Question about the motor: 55 x 30 seems kind of light for a 36D, ie, not a lot of wire, and not too hot given the Arcos! (if I remember right, 55 x 28 was more typical for a 36D, but I have less experience with those than with the smaller cans) What was the thinking on that? Of course, if it runs well... never mind! 

 

Don 



#8 chrisguyw

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Posted 23 August 2020 - 08:50 AM

Very nice work Cris

I am in the process of building an older AMT Lola T70 Can-Am car. 

What size rears are you using, and the width of you chassis.

 

Hi Richard, I am away from home for a few days, so I can't measure anything........however,....All the AMT 1/24 kits (CanAm) used the same chassis, so the width of mine will be the same as yours.........

As for the wheel/tire dimensions, I will measure and let you know in a couple of days.

 

Cheers

Chris Walker


Chris Walker

#9 chrisguyw

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Posted 23 August 2020 - 09:07 AM

Another great job Chris, with lots of tips to "borrow" - thanks! 

 

I believe this AMT series came out in early 66, not 65. First ad I found was in April 66. 

 

Did you eliminate the front motor mount, or has it just not been installed yet? 

 

Question about the motor: 55 x 30 seems kind of light for a 36D, ie, not a lot of wire, and not too hot given the Arcos! (if I remember right, 55 x 28 was more typical for a 36D, but I have less experience with those than with the smaller cans) What was the thinking on that? Of course, if it runs well... never mind! 

 

Don 

 

 

Hi Don, you are likely correct on the issue date of this kit....my mind said 65, but, these days, my mind does make mistakes :).

 

I have not eliminated either the front or rear motor bracket......neither were installed when I took the pic.

 

The motor is one of Mr. Havlicek's builds, and he normally does 28 or 29 gauge  winds for me (36d's), particularly with Arcos/shims,.....but this one is definitely engraved 55 x 30 (odd !!) ............I will have a closer inspection,......perhaps an engraving error, as the motor seems to behave like my other 55/28's. (it does run well and quite cool).

 

Cheers

Chris Walker


Chris Walker





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