918 replies to this topic

[garyvmachines]

Steve

Thanks for all you have done for the Rocket !!!!!!
It would not have made it wtih out your TLC ..... Who do I pay for the endbell & pinion ??

Cool Pic of the Rocket & Big Ben

GAV

[Lowrider]

Your endbell and pinion were my contribution towards getting the cars running, Gary, after the parts and time already volunteered by Phil Smith and John Secchi. Unfortunately your new endbell failed to 'live long and prosper', as I found out this morning. Photos later.

Nice sunny day in St. Johns Wood. Take your pick, Barney.





Checking over the cars began this morning. First up was Edo's broken hinge.







I spoke to the Kingie this morning and a new hinge is already on it's way to me from Switzerland. Fitting it may require some disassembly of the chassis but I'm sure we'll cope with that.

The REM Raceway wobbly gear.





I'm not familiar with this variety of Cox gear. How securely were they bonded to the lock nut in the first place? I could clean it up and rebond it with Zap-a-Gap CA glue if that would work, or a new gear will have to be sourced from somewhere.
Brian has okayed my cutting out of rear wheel arches on the Bat Car and once that is done the rear track won't be constricted by the body width any more. With this in mind, perhaps a gear with a regular hub could be substituted?

While I was busy patting myself on the back for getting Rocket 88 through to the finish line I discovered this morning that it wasn't without cost after all. This positive side of the motor is the one that lost a lead wire so perhaps the heat build up there was to blame for both occurrences.



I really think that this motor is going to need a milder wind to survive a long race. Something for Gary to think about.

Pablo's motor on the other hand looks totally undamaged.







Only explanation I can find is that a sticking brush or something halted Pablo's car. If we retired it prematurely, I can only apologize, Mr W.

John Havlicek's problem was as we already knew. The big impact also tore a body pin hole which is now repaired.







Mopar Rob's armature is indeed toast. The rest of the motor looks to have survived though.







Steve King enquired about the condition of his pinion gear. Slight wear, as you might expect after seven races, but it still looks fine to me.



Steve asked me for his spare wheels to be returned to him so that he can mount fresh rubber on them. They went in the mail today.

Mopar Rob lost a part of his bite bar set-up. It shows signs of a previous imperfect soldering repair. Im sure I can fix this properly the next time my iron is plugged in.



There's more but I'm late for a rehearsal so it'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Regards,

[Jairus]

Go play with your "Axe" my fine sweet prince, you done GOOD!

[Pablo]

Ahhh, I see the Mabuchi Racha has switched from the stock orange Mabuchi, to the hot Pablo wound chrome motor
Wheeeeeeeeee I hope it lasts Dial in full brakes on your controller

[One_Track_Mind]

Pablo,
From what I read the motor stopped running? Maybe a hung brush?

(null)

[havlicek]

I'm starting to think that this series is just a wee bit too long for about anything to last (duh!). Is it possible for me to get my car to repair the end bell? Promise I won't touch anything else except to swap the end bell...scout's honor

-john

[Jairus]

I think that is a wise choice. Just discussed that very situation with Brian this morning. Looks like a few entries will be doing just that John. I'll cover postage across the pond if you can take care of the shipping to Brian prior to the race at Route 93.

Incidentally.... those cars that have had problems (DNF or DNR) are allowed adjustments if sent home. So you are under no restrictions as long as 95% of the original car is returned to the Proxy.

[MantaRay]

Steve....Thanks in advance for fixing the bite Bar on good old number 7

[slotbaker]

SK1, thanks for checking the pinion, and posting the wheels back.
The pinion looks like it's still got a race, or two, init.

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Thanks Steve! Let's see.... something with Team CORT on it..........

[philsmith]

"I'm not familiar with this variety of Cox gear. How securely were they bonded to the lock nut in the first place? I could clean it up and rebond it with Zap-a-Gap CA glue if that would work, or a new gear will have to be sourced from somewhere"

Looks to me like the thrust nut was on the wrong side Steve, should not need any kind of glue to hold it together, if you need another gear let me know, got plenty, also got the hinge for Edo if you need it and any other parts you might need before shipping them on, just let me know and I'll pop them in the post.

[One_Track_Mind]

Hi Phil,
Would you be as so kind to send Steve one of these 44tooth Cox gears?
Jairus had another tooth selection which required us to change the pinion also,maybe even the axle? I spent over two hours last night going thru my stuff and DID NOT have gears this style.
Please,pm me your info as to how i may pay for this.

Thank You! so very much.

[philsmith]

I'll send the correct thrust washer as well, that one is for the wheels, the one for the gear is slightly larger, also a decent washer for the other side so it clamps better, should have no more problems after that
no charge.

[One_Track_Mind]

Thank You! Phil
That's down right awesome!
Much obliged, my friend

(null)

[Lowrider]

Thanks, Phil. (Again!)
A 44t gear would be great. Edo already has a hinge in the post for me.
I checked through your FutureKingieThingie yesterday and I can't find anything obviously amiss. The rear suspension is still locked solid and there's only a tiny amount of drop in your hinge. I put the two unused threaded axles into your car's box as spares and you're now officially cleared for travel.

Some of the racers last Saturday were interested in the subtle movements built into Scorpion's chassis. The motor bracket and the front end can move independently of each other and of the rest of the chassis. I had to double check to see if this is what Mike intended and ... indeed it is.
Clever man, that Z.



Speaking of Scorpions, Miss K appears to have taken an interest in Arachnology. She likes them!



When I opened up Roadkill's box I was surprised, yet somehow strangely unsurprised, to find that it had received a North London Kiss.
Out with the body armour and reinforcing tape yet again.







I trimmed about a 1/16th of an inch of uneven braid wear from Oscar's braids. I see that there are two pairs of braids in his spares collection as well. If you'd prefer totally new braids, just let me know, Oscar.



When I took Orange Crate over to the famous pedestrian crossing on Abbey Road, I also took H-Power and the Cotton Whatsits and Scorpion, after I'd finally prised it from Miss K's warm grasp.





For anyone who is unaware, this is the crossing featured on the cover of the Beatle's final album Abbey Road. As an aside, the exact angle of the album cover photograph is almost impossible to duplicate. The photographer has said that it was shot early on a Sunday morning and he erected a step ladder right on the road to find the right vantage point. It's a very busy thoroughfare at most other times, as can be seen from the amount of traffic in the background.
I was surprised to see that it still retains it's allure for sightseers. There were about two dozen of them striding backwards and forwards over the crossing and taking photos, much to the frustration of some drivers.
The reason this crossing was chosen is that the EMI Abbey Road studios are right beside it. The perimeter wall is still coated in graffiti 43 years after The Beatles broke up.



And more of it going up as I passed.



Here's the building itself.







Her message is kinda sweet really, and I told her so.



In addition to the cars already mentioned, Barney's Crate has no issues at all and Scorpion is the same. Dyna Rigg is perfectly fine too but John has requested a signature by Legendary Bob on the bodywork. It may be a week or two before I see him again (Bob's getting interested in 'retro' racing with us and I have a JK CanAm kit to give him as an added thank you for helping us out), so I'll be holding on to Dyna for a short while longer.

I'll get John Havlicek's car in the mail to him tomorrow.
I'm awaiting instructions on Gary's Rocket 88, Mopar Rob's Streamliner Cuc and Pablo's Mabuchi-racha?
Pablo you must have missed it earlier, your orange 'stock' motor let out the smoke during first tests on the Wednesday before the race. I put your spare 'hot' motor in at the track and all seemed well ... until race day.

I have postal service-friendly boxes here and I propose to mail the cars with no problems to Brian as soon as I've completed my post-race checks. Those needing a little work from me will go separately when that work is done. Brian says he is looking at a late March race date due to the heavy commitments of his local drivers with other race meetings like the R4/5 in mid-March. That should leave sufficient time for all the cars to get to him.

Back to the bench,

[Pablo]

Did my spare (hot) motor cook also ?

[philsmith]

"The rear suspension is still locked solid and there's only a tiny amount of drop in your hinge"

That's how I built it!

btw the Abbey Road Zebra Crossing has been moved along the road a little since the Album cover was shot, that's why you cannot get the same picture.

btw2 It's called 'Futurekingiethingie' one word no capitals

[Lowrider]

I showed photos of it earlier, Paul. Apparently not!
The car did stop very early in it's running and we assumed the worst. Armature and endbell both appear totally undamaged so I'm very sorry if we acted prematurely, but happy for motor seems fine.

If I mail it to you you'll be able to sort out the spare 'stock' motor and double check the hot one. Otherwise I'll mail it to Brian with the other cars.
The last place getter is awarded a free trip home for repairs anyway, is it not?
Getting your car to you would be no problem for me at all and it's the option I would choose in your place.

Your call.

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Above and beyond Steve! Thanks for looking after all out heaps and taking them for a ride!

[Jairus]

Nice to see that the trees are still there. Of course without the leaves it looks a bit different.

I agree with Barney. Great pics Steve!

[don.siegel]

And we just watched the first episode in the Beatles Anthology DVD last night...

Thanks for everything Steve and all the other North London guys. Believe me, that is not an easy track to drive!

Don

[Pablo]

If it's within the rules, please send Mabuchi Racha home to me for a tune up.

Paul Wolcott
421 Demontluzin St.
Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520
USA

If you PM me your PPal address I'll send some $ for postage
THANKS Steve !!!

[The Bugman]

Steve,,,please replace the braid,,,im glad to have the original pair last this long,,,

you and your friends did a 1st class-bang-up job of racing and tweeking all the cars
to make sure they performed at full capacity, WE ALL APPRECIATE what you guys did !

[garyvmachines]

Hi Steve

I think we need to fire the Rocket back to IL.
I have a stock motor I can fit in thear ....... Forth endbell is a charm ??

Send to Gary Vogeler
3120 Davis
Granite City , ILL. 62040
U S A

GAV

[One27ray]

Hey Steve,

How about a shot of old #44 out front of George Harrison estate