109 replies to this topic

[Don Weaver]

 

Last night it rained a little down here, first time in 8 months or so. Sun is back out now.

 

What desert do you live in? 

[dc-65x]

It's sure not the desert here Don. It's not exactly the Great White North either but was cold enough for this former So Cal guy. Mid 30's and the lead element of a turkey herd cruising by:

 

 

Mr. Weather Man said it was going to be sunny and in the low 50's........

 

I kept the spray paint can in hot water until I was ready to jet out the door, blast a coat on the body, go back inside and set the body under a 100 watt light for a few minutes. I could feel the body turning freezing cold in the few seconds it took me to step out the door and spray on a coat. 

 

It took 5 light coats as the metallic paints aren't very opaque but it all worked out OK with a chrome silver backing:

 

[Bill from NH]

Rick, am I dreaming, or did you also build a yellow King Cobra #55 within the past 10 years? I realize it's a real race car, but I thought you had modeled it too. 

[Martin]

A while back I made myself a hot box. Nothing fancy just a cardboard box with a 60w light bulb inside. Gets every thing nice and toasty.

I also use the hot water trick. Increases pressure and gets a finer mist. I wrap the can with a paper towel its so hot.

[dc-65x]

Yes, the build is in the link below Bill:

 

Phil Rubin's 1968 'wild, wild pan thing'

 

 

Martin, your hot box doesn't sound nearly as exciting as what I just went through.     

[Martin]

If its exciting you are looking for just put in a 500watt bulb    

Do love the King Cobra. Its like the Cooper Monaco low and wide.

[dc-65x]

Lancer did the scale and super competition low and wide versions of select cars. I show a comparison of the 2 different King Cobra Can Am's in post #8 of the build thread. I love the wider version because you can tuck the tires of a 3" track width up inside the slammed body:

 

 

Even though it's slammed like a Pro car, with a bit of detailing I think it resembles the real car...........but maybe that's just me. 

 

[Isaac S.]

Looks beautiful. Once you put some pipes on it then it will really pop. I just use my shop light for my paint. I swear it gets as hot as my soldering iron! Ouch! I always forget not to touch it.

[dc-65x]

After many hours of struggle my attempt at detailing the body and interior is finished.

 

The inspiration for my vac body builds comes from what Russkit did with their bodies. They included many detailing items like the Lotus 40 lightweight body kit shown below:

 

 

I relied heavily on masking rather than my shaky paint brushes everywhere I could. Yikes.....what a mess:

 

 

All the black details are on the body. Thankfully, the blue body color doesn't show my boo boos as much as the lighter colors:

 

 

Now for the driver's head and interior. Some absolutely amazingly lifelike work has been shown here by true artists. I've had to do double takes to see if they were real or a modeled figure....like I said truly amazing work with colors and shading.........I can't do that.

 

But I've tried to replicate the more straightforward (for lack of a better term) work done by many builder - racers in the period magazines.

 

I'm using the Revell "smiley face" driver's head for the first time. It doesn't have a visor (same as Dave McDonald) but what a smile. I bet Dave was smiling inside as he drifted his way to lapping the field in his Riverside victory:

 

 

I had to add a plastic rod "neck" to attach the head to my interior. Kind of looks like Vlad the Impaler's heads on a spike 

 

 

The interior:

 

 

Here's everything ready to go together once that enamel paint is thoroughly dry:

 

[Isaac S.]

Where do you get those repro Ulrich Decals? 

[dc-65x]

Hi Isaac,

 

That is one of the last of my original Ulrich decal sheets in black. They are excellent decals and I think the number font matches the original car pretty well.

[Bill from NH]

Rick, those shaky hands did a pretty nice job detailing the body  & painting the interior. Once the car is together, it'll look like a pro built it. Nice job! 

[dc-65x]

"Shaky hands?" I thought it was my paint brushes doing the shaking Bill.    

[Isaac S.]

All of my original decals crack, is there a magic trick?

[dc-65x]

Yes, Jairus taught me to lightly spray the old decals with Testors clear gloss lacquer. Experiment with it on some less "loved" decals.  

[Isaac S.]

Okay, I must try that now. New decals are so expensive so that will really help. 

[Tom Katsanis]

Isaac this stuff is supposed to be good for old decals too.

https://www.amazon.c...m/dp/B0006O9K5G

I have not used it yet I have some coming in the mail but it was suggested to me for the same problem.

[don.siegel]

I've used that, and it does seem to work, but I also once used some Klear floor polish when I got stuck (on decals from an old Merit Vanwall kit, so at least 60 years old!) and it worked. 

 

Don 

[Isaac S.]

Great ideas. Thanks. 

[dc-65x]

All finished and it sits nice and low like the real King Cobra:
 

 

 

 

 
I think it looks cool on the track too:
 

 
In the track test the motor is fast, has great brakes and runs cool. It stomps a Pittman 706. There's just no comparison. In the handling department things are a little less good. It has a tendency to get awkward at the cornering limit with a "hop". I tested it with the Canadian and French urethane tires too. The French were a bit better but still the car doesn't handle as smoothly as the others tested.
 
Lap Times:

 

The PittRAM 726 - 4.905

 

 

 

The RAMtron 850 - 4.843

 

 

 
Harvey Aluminum Special Pittman DC65X powered - 4.846

 

 

\
 
Chaparral 2 16D rewind sidewinder - 4.888

 

 

 
Scarab DC65X 4-wheel drive - 5.002

 

 

 

 

Fastest is 1966 Rod & Custom Series style car powered by a Pittman 196-65X "big block" motor - 4.657

 

 

 
The "jail door" style chassis and lower profile motor definitely has the advantage. Nothing surprising there. 

 

Onward to the next build. 

[Isaac S.]

Fantastic, pretty fast compared to some of those cars even for a modified 706. It really does look good on track, and would probably drift just like the pics with all the weight in the rear. You did a great job on it. 

[Bill from NH]

Rick, nice build, as usual! I was going to ask if it had been track-tested yet, but you last post beat me to it. 

[Martin]

Beautiful line up Rick

[don.siegel]

Amen, very impressive Rick, just a beautiful flock of slot cars. 

 

You're right about the stance, those cars were low! One of the biggest problems with most of the period kits, they sit way too high. 

 

Quick question: which of these is the fastest in a straight line? (assuming you can tell on your track)

 

Don 

 

PS: you're going to have to stop talking about your shaky paintbrush, your cars all look really nice! 

[Don Weaver]

Rick,

 

Since you are unhappy with the way it handles I'll volunteer to take it off you hands and give it a loving home  ...

 

Don