25 replies to this topic

[rmjlmartin]

Hi, does anyone know what this car/chassis is, and what class it would run with? Someone just traded it to me, and I know nothing about wing cars.

I don't see any identifying marks on the chassis, but it's a two-piece design, kind of like a flexi-style car. The motor has "X-12" on a small label between two sections of the armature.

Thanks!

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[old & gray]

Looks to me like a 1990’s Boxstock/Group 12 car. Chassis would be a “shuttle” from one of several companies; possibly PDQ. Many people had good results with this chassis; I found mine to be very easy to race. The body looks to be a Parma Mercedes; a relatively high down force body. This car should be fairly easy to drive fast and smooth.

[Jesse Gonzales]

Shuttles were always very fast for me too. Look for someone to come out with a short aluminum shuttle. The one above could be one of those Brazilian chassis that were marketed by many such as ProSlot.

 

Jess Gonzales

[rmjlmartin]

Great, thanks! That does sound like it's probably right, base on the little that the Google comes up with using those keywords.

 

Easy to drive sounds good, too. I've been out of slot cars for 20+ years, and have recently got back into it with my kids. We normally run flexis and JK Indy cars, but something like this seems like it would be an interesting one to play around with, even if it's not as fast as a newer wing car.

 

Any guesses what something like this might be worth? Like I said, I took it on trade and don't have much in it, but hopefully I didn't just get ripped off. lol

[Bill from NH]

Jason, I got a used chassis like yours on eBay a few years ago for $8 or $10. I have yet to set it up. Many of them appear on eBay. You got a complete car that ought to be worth $25- $50. depending upon the the motor. In the pictures, it looks like a Koford C-can, but it may be something else. I think your body with the RJR stickers may have come off another car, unless they once sold these shuttle chassis too. The body is a bit beat up, but may be good enough to play with. If you look how it's put together, you may be able to assemble a new one. You might need new gears & tires, but the photos don't  show close enough details to determine. I don't know what you traded but you got something useable in return.

[Modelville Guy]

If the body came with the car when new, then it should be a RJR ready to run "Box Stock" Group 12.

[gc4895]

Looks like a well used relic of little value from the 90s, a long gone era of particular wing car racing. Chassis, motors all different now and that body is ready for the round file. Ive thrown out boxes of that eras stuff.

[old & gray]

I'd agree with Bill on the value of this car. My guess is the motor is a first generation RJR.

 

From the pictures and my experience I would suggest checking the condition of the can bearing. I found they wore out with regularity. Also the wings on the body need taping. Try look these directions: http://www.slotside.com/tt/wing1.html

 

When the local track held their open house I dusted off a car similar to this one. When everyone is running flexi cars this car will be impressive not just for the straight away speed but for it's cornering.

[rmjlmartin]

Thanks, that's very helpful.

I was selling some old HO scale stuff, and the guy that bought it had two 1/24 scale cars, this one and a JK Scorpion 1 that he gave me as part of the deal. I knocked off $40 for the two cars, so I have $20 in it.

I took it apart last night and cleaned everything up, including the motor. (I'll attach a picture of the top of the chassis, too.) It runs, and the can bushing doesn't seem to have any play. The gears are in good shape, too. It does need tires badly. I did have to resolder one spot on the chassis, which is why the right front isn't quite as neat as the rest.

The body is solid, but the wings do need to be retaped, and a staple has pulled through one of the wings and needs to be refastened. (Thanks for the link to the setup page, Bob. That looks very helpful.) It's probably not good enough for someone to seriously race, but serviceable for me to play around with.

Thanks again for your help. That's great info. Any more thoughts and/or links would be greatly appreciated.

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[Bill from NH]

In the above photo, the motor is definitely a RJR (Robert Root). As Rick Payne said in post #6, this car is most likely a RJR RTR box stock Grp. 12.

 

Bob,  that vintage Slotside "winging article" was written by Monty Ohren when he use to answer tech questions there. It's at least 20 yrs. old, but I recall using it a time or two. 

[Dave Crevie]

JK Products sold those, too. I have a few that were sold as box 15 cars. He even sold them with gp-20 motors in them. They did come from Brazil. I still have a few. And like anything else, if you like it, save it. If not, sell it for whatever you can get. To me, any old car, boat, train, or airplane is worth saving.   

[rmjlmartin]

Well, this update is probably long overdue, but...

 

I have to agree with Dave- If you like it and enjoy it, it's worth saving, at least to you.

 

I know it's not anything nearly up to date with current cars, but it's a fun car to play with. I got the wings refastened and retaped, and I've taken it to the track several times. It's definitely a different animal than my flexis.

 

Unfortunately, the can bearing is worn after all. It felt nice and tight initially, though it was probably just gunk and/or corrosion built up in it. The motor was stiff when I got it, so I took it apart and cleaned it up and oiled it, and it runs good. But, after running it a bit, the can bearing loosened up and it ate the spur.

 

The track owner is checking to see if a bushing is available, but suggests that it might be just as simple to just put something like a Phoenix motor in it. But we'll see.

 

Thanks again for the info and advice. I really appreciate it.

[old & gray]

What I used were 2 X  5 mm bushings. My choice when I could find them:

 

http://sales.eriraci...-BUSHING&key=it

[Bill from NH]

Bob, you had good luck running Slick 7 bushings in your motors?  I only used them on my timing gauge, because I heard too many people had them seize up in motors. Do you recall what you used to lubricate them with?

[old & gray]

Bob, you had good luck running Slick 7 bushings in your motors?  I only used them on my timing gauge, because I heard too many people had them seize up in motors. Do you recall what you used to lubricate them with?

 

I had one seize up on me. My pit man used his oil instead of the bottle I gave him. 

 

Since the time  of "speed secrets" is past, I was was using a black Teflon oil sold under the brand name Slick 50. Never had a seizure with it and the bushing would last longer than the other bushing I tried. 

[Bill from NH]

I know they had tighter tolerances than any of the oilites. I remember seeing Slick 50 advertised, but don't recall if I saw it in a store. I thought abou0t trying it but never did. I went the Mobil 1 route instead. I used Slick 7 axle bushings, but shafts in them turn a lot slower. Still, I had one seizure while breaking in a car on a power supply. That occurred when I was trying some Slick 7 Glidex or Glidex II.

[rmjlmartin]

Thanks, Bob, I looked up and found those bushings. So if the track owner doesn't find something for me, I'll get them.

I'm an automotive technician by trade, and I seem to recall there being an old bottle of Slick 50 on the shelf that never got used. I wonder if it's still there?

But if it comes down to it, a Phoenix motor is less than $20, so that wouldn't be the end of the world, either. But since this is just a car to play with a bit, hopefully it won't come to a new motor yet.

[Bill from NH]

I didn't know Slick 50 products were still sold, but they are. 

[rmjlmartin]

I didn't know either, but Google believes that it is!

I think what we had was an additive. Did you use the additive, or a Slick 50 oil of some kind?

So far, on my flexis, I've used a machine oil of some kind, but I guess this is a bit higher rpm motor, and would probably need something pretty good. What would you recommend? Assuming that's not a personal secret at this point. Lol

[old & gray]

As far as I remember I was using Oil not Treatment.

As I remember the secret to making the bushings last was to use synthetic oil and Slick 50 was available before of Mobil One.

[Bill from NH]

I used the Champion synthetic oil for oiling Slick 7 brass axle bushings. With Parma being in question, it may no longer be available.

[rmjlmartin]

Well, I checked today at work, and that bottle of slick 50 was gone, so it looks like someone ended up using it, or it just got thrown away.

We do have synthetic motor oil at work, though. What viscosity would you recommend?

I'll ask at the track, too. The owner bought out the inventory of a place that went out of business, so he just might have some of that Champion synthetic oil. I've been surprised by the random out of date stuff that he has on hand.

[Bill from NH]

I'll look to see what weight my Mobil 1 is tomorrow.

[old & gray]

I'll look to see what weight my Mobil 1 is tomorrow.

 

My  oil bottle currently says Champion but the contents are Mobil 1, either 0-20 or 5-30.

[Bill from NH]

My Mobil 1 is 0W-40, because 0W-20 wasn't on the shelf yrs. ago at Walmart. I found a new quart of 15W-50 that I didn't know I had. I must have purchased it for something else.