38 replies to this topic

[don.siegel]

You're in luck Bob: I just happened to have reorganized my motors and found 9 of these old Strommies: 4 disc com and 5 standard versions. Here are the results of my extremely scientific survey. 

 

Of the 4 disc coms, 2 were missing brushes so didn't work; one didn't work with the brushes and one started spinning, while making a beautiful electric arc across the whole furschluginer commutator! 

 

Of the five barrel com versions, 2 didn't work, and the other 3 worked, decently. These were never speed demons, and I think the Mabuchi 15R may have been faster. 

 

Happened to have an old Pittman in one of the plastic bags, so tested that too: started right up and spun smoothly. 

 

So, draw your own conclusions: POS or POS² 

 

Lots of these hanging around on ebay, in case you don't already have a dozen, so you've got options - but I think you're right, in that the later disc com version is not as good as the earlier version. It must have been a little cheaper to produce; 

 

Don 

[Bob Lalich]

Thanks Don. I tried cleaning the commutator and checking the brush springs. I also temporarily stabilized the motor from moving in the chassis with wire. Still very slow. I may give the earlier motor a try, but it seems I may be better off adapting a faster motor in the chassis somehow.

 

I got the rear of the chassis to fit the body better by removing a small portion of the chassis around the top of the axle that was keeping the chassis from resting on the body bracket. The car looks better now at least.

[Isaac S.]

I don't have the motor in yours but I have the earlier version and it seems to be a little touchy but isn't bad. Needs the comm cleaned regularly but runs well. Doesn't have the top speed I think it should but for my small track works fine. 

[Bob Lalich]

I am now looking for the short wheelbase version of the black chassis for the 15R motor. If anyone has one to sell, please let me know. 

 

I dug out the box for the RS 61 body kit I bought in the 1980s. What year(s) of production was this box used?

 

 

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[Isaac S.]

'65 I think on the box. 

[Bob Lalich]

Was there a 2 13/16" wheelbase version of this chassis? This 15R motor sounds more powerful than the Igarashi open frame motor that I have.

 

[don.siegel]

Don't think I've ever seen it with that body Bob, and it probably wouldn't fit - too tall. 

 

Don 

[Bob Lalich]

I think you are correct Don. I just tested it. The backend fits well but the motor hits the body and keeps the front end from resting on the bracket.

 

I am determined to make a runner out of this little Porsche. I could adapt a modern motor to fit the black chassis, or look for a Scuttler motor and chassis. Any other thoughts?

[don.siegel]

Either the Scuttler motor/chassis or try to get an open frame Strombecker motor with a little more oomph! 

 

I've used the Scuttler combo in a couple of vintage races and they run very nicely - not as fast as the Atlas AT206 (ball bearing), which is the motor to beat in our 1/32 vintage classes (on a Carrera track, so a bit of magnetraction), but still pretty good. 

 

Don 

 

PS: a conversion I did for the Bordo vintage race in 2018, the Testa Rossa body with a Scuttler chassis/motor (actually the Avenger, 6V version of that motor): 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Lalich]

Nice Don! I put a Scuttler with wide rear tires under a Strom Ferrari Berlinetta. It is a fun car to drive.

I have an Atlas AT206 as well. I have it paired with a 1/24 Monogram Scarab. Also fun to drive.

 

I bought the Scuttler and Atlas chassis and motors as NOS from an old hobby shop in Chicago - Pilot Hobby Shop. They have been out of business for a while now but even in the early 2000s, they still had some NOS slot car items from the 1960s.

[don.siegel]

Pilot? Never heard of that one, and I'm a Chicago boy (tho I haven't lived there in 50 years). Where were they? 

 

My brother is up in Skokie, so I'd always stop by Tom Thumb's in Evanston when I visited, and he had a bunch of parts left from the 60s, but no cars... They moved a few years ago, so no idea what happened to their old stocks. 

 

Don 

[Bob Lalich]

Pilot Hobby was on the northwest side - 5450 W. Belmont Ave. They were an authorized Strombecker service station in the 1960s. I think they had storage space outside the shop and had an auction for the remaining inventory when they finally closed.

 

Here is a 2002 article from the tribune that mentions Pilot.
https://www.chicagot...0380-story.html

[don.siegel]

Thanks Bob, fascinating article - and kind of depressing to know it was already like that in 2002! I passed by one hobby shop somewhere on the west side about 15 years ago and stopped in: when I asked about slots, he said, basically, no way, we saw what happened in the 60s and don't want to be caught again. 

 

When I asked him how he avoided the same thing as aging slotters in the train business, he said, in short, "Thomas, the Tank Engine". 

 

Still a couple hobby shops here in Paris, and one small boutique specializing in slot cars, but only home racing types of course. When we had our club up to about 15 years ago, we ordered all materiel, mostly Parma, from European distributors and organized the club as a coop. 

 

Don 

[Bob Lalich]

There are still some good hobby shops in the Chicago area. The ones that carry slot cars cater to the home racing market. There are a few racing centers but I haven't been to any in a long time.