38 replies to this topic

[Bob Lalich]

I bought a Strombecker Porsche RS 61 body without a chassis some time ago. Looking through a box of parts that I acquired, I found what I thought was the right chassis. While the mounting post and hole line up, the chassis does not engage the support brackets molded to the body. I have attached photos.

 

I think there was an earlier version of the chassis (brass?) that fit this particular body. I have attached a photo from the 1964 catalog showing the RS 61, which shows different wheels than the spoked wheels with ribs found on my chassis. Does anyone have a photo of the correct chassis for this body?

 

 

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 

[Isaac S.]

No pic of the chassis but I know that it had the Strombecker Scuttler or similar motor. 

[Lone Wolf]

Somewhere here I did a little article on the chassis/body differences. I used a 1/32 Lotus for comparison. If you find it it will show you the info you need I believe.

[don.siegel]

The Porsche came with both types of chassis, plastic and brass, but mounting methods were different of course. On the bigger cars, like the Ferrari GTO, the chassis clips into plastic parts under the body, but not sure offhand what was under the Lotus and Porsche. 

 

Is the chassis the right wheelbase? Strombecker made both a short and long wheelbase version of the plastic chassis... 

 

Don 

[don.siegel]

Just found my Porsche and here are a couple pics; your's sure looks like the right chassis: it sits on the supports front and rear and is held by a single screw... 

 

Don 

 

 

[Isaac S.]

The picture that Don posted is of the more common RS-61 that came out in mid-63 (I think) in 1964 is when I think the brass car came out. Just remembered that this was in a magazine. This should be what your looking for. 

[Isaac S.]

Your car could be correct however. I am fairly sure the bodies are the same so you might be able to upgrade if you wanted. 

[don.siegel]

Cars with the Scuttler came out in early 65. 

 

Still, if your plastic chassis is the right wheelbase, it should fit. 

 

Found a Lotus 19 too, by chance, and the chassis is a bit different, and screwed in both back and front... Would have thought they were the same! 

 

Don 

[Isaac S.]

Thanks for the year Don.  I love how compatible Strombecker made all their chassis. They also have quite a few holes which make it easy to add weight which is somewhat important if you plan to race one with the Igarachi on a large commercial track. I personally like the 15R cars better. 

[Bob Lalich]

Thanks for the photos and comments. Don Siegel, your chassis photo made me realize the guide was upside down in my chassis. I corrected that and now the front end fits properly. The back end doesn't seem to fit right though. The rear end sits too high. Another thing I noticed in your photo Don is that your rear tires appear to be bigger than the fronts. All four tires are the same size on mine, which appears to be the case in the old catalog photos.

[don.siegel]

It's perspective Bob! They're all the same size. 

 

The back end does sit a bit high, but not abnormally so on my car... 

 

Don 

[Isaac S.]

 Personally the tire size has been a problem for me. On my other car the tires were different but on the other the Tires were the same and the guide only went partially in the track. I took off the tires and stacked 3 o-rings on and the tires rolled, guide went into track correctly and the brushes contacted the track. It doesn't look to bad either. 

[Bob Lalich]

Here is mine put together. I think the back end sits too high. It is also tilted when viewed from behind and the body slides from side to side. I could notch the body brackets for a better fit but I am reluctant to do so at the moment. I still wonder if there was a factory modification to the body brackets for this chassis. It doesn't look and feel right to me.

 

It appears from the magazine photo that the body was modified to accept a screw on the side for mounting the Scuttler motor and chassis. 

 

Isaac - I have modified a bunch of Strombecker cars with the later plastic chassis by installing threaded axles, bushings and Revell style wheels. On some of the cars I used grommets for the front tires.

 

Attached Images

• 

[Bob Lalich]

Check out the bottom chassis seen in this page from a Strombecker history article by Jose Rodriguez Jr. The rear of the chassis frame appears narrower and more spindly. The motor is different also. I wonder if this is the chassis that would have come with the body I have. 

 

Attached Images

• 

[Isaac S.]

That chassis is the very common one that would have come with the series 2 Testarossa, D-type and more. It is actually primarily the same motor as yours but yours has the later upgraded brush arrangement. http://lascm.com/Vin...lot-car-motors/ This is a good article that is more on Hemi motors but still describes some of it. 

[Bob Lalich]

The chassis in the LASCM photo of the black Berlinetta kit looks to be the same as the one in the article that I posted, and looks like it would fit the rear body brackets in my RS 61. 

[Isaac S.]

I think I found what you have. That chassis was slightly different , this one has a hole in the rear for a mount. See link. https://www.worthpoi...ginal-251875797

[Bob Lalich]

My chassis and body do not have the rear screw hole and mount seen in the Worthpoint example. Another variation.

[Rotorranch]

 

 

That's the first one I ran across...

 

Rotor

[Isaac S.]

I give up! 

[Bob Lalich]

It is surprising how many chassis variations there are in these early Strombecker cars. I dug through my parts tonight and found this chassis. It has the right rear end to fit my Porsche body but the wheelbase is too long. It looks to be the same as yours Rotor. At least I know what to look for now. 

Attached Images

• 

[don.siegel]

Back in 2011, we discussed the whole Strombecker origin story over on SlotForum - be prepared to go down a dark hole! Right from the beginning there were multiple chassis/motor/body variations! 

 

https://www.slotforu...ory#entry667054

 

Don 

[don.siegel]

Just noticed this auction about to end on ebay, for what looks like an absolutely stock RS-61 - maybe a few hints? 

 

https://www.ebay.com...QUAAOSw~MFfqA3T

 

Don 

[Bob Lalich]

I saw that auction Don. The photo isn't very good, but it appears to be the same chassis that I have. I believe Strombecker modified the rear body bracket when this chassis was produced.

 

The Slot Forum thread is epic! 

[Bob Lalich]

I got urethane tires for the RS 61 and ran it yesterday. My motor seems to be a real dog. There are quite a few earlier versions of the open frame motor on ebay, like the one in this pic. According to a Strombecker ad, the earlier version had a higher RPM rating. Any general comments on the performance of the earlier motor?

 

Attached Images

•