Scratch building for home tracks

[Gonzo]

I'd like to scratch build a car for my ARTIN home track . I have Scaly cars that I run now and they run great . I've found that I like the building as well as the racing . I've been building drag chassis' for a couple of years . I'm not an expert but it gets the cars down the strip OK .

The drag chassis' are pretty simple . I can see that I'd probably have to buy some specialty tools to build the road course cars .

What should I look for tool wise ? I've been bending my wire with a couple pair of pliers . Will I need a bender ?

Also , is this something that others do for home racing ? Am I wasting my time or will the scratch built chassis run with or even better than the Scaley cars that I'm running now ?

Thx
Gonzo

[timneja]

Scratch built 1/32 cars will run MUCH better than anything you can buy if you learn to build them properly. There's a LOT of scratch builders out there!! Check out "slot car illustrated" website as well--it's really geared to the home track market--and there is a scratchbuilding section there you can get a lot of good information from!! Lot's of basic tools like "micro-marks" bending plier set--a simple KnS type wire bender is handy too. Good side cutters---plenty of dremel tools and cut off discs as well as sanding drums. A good "Knibbler" is also nice to have. A good set of drills and small drill press is always handy as well. There are plenty of building "jigs" that really help--check out R-geo and Rick Berrardo--
Have fun!!

[Ramcatlarry]

The usual issues come up:
1) magnets or non-magnets?
2) Motor limited to (?) rpm? scaley is >20m; many use 25m+ and find them undrivable.
3) plastic or metal chassis. Many clubs do not allow all metal frames or only womp type or TSRF cars.

[MentalKase]

It's your track so do as you like. There's a Scratch built section here on OWH, one "Rick" has contributed immensely to it along with others. Rick just uses pliers and graph paper. Others use simple jigs to the R-Geo jigs which are quite comprehensive. I don't think there are set rules, only your own and what you'd like to achieve. I'm gonna say it's likely the first scratch built with a Lexan (clear type) body with your equivalent running gear will be noticeably quicker, probably require a change in tires and gearing to optimize as a second step, then you'll probably build another.........

[Gonzo]

Tim , Larry , Guy ,

Thank all of you for your replies . this is something I could really get into . I also know from the past that there is so many directions to go here . I race no magnet cars . I'm a product of the 1st generation slot cars and try to immulate that period (1960's) . I would also like to build the cars that are used today in the retro classes and be able to use them for competition . With all of my other slot car racing , I would also see a need to change my scheduling and even drop some of the other areas that I compete . Honestly I'm due for a change in some areas anyway .

How many classes are there in this end of the hobby ?

Are the races held on commercial tracks or on home/garage circuits ? These are my favorite venues .

Where can I find examples or plans for chassis' to scratch build ? I know that it's a form of expression building your own . But , when your starting from ground O , I need samples and ideas to go on .

Let me now more about this or give me a place to go to find out . I appreciate all the help you can offer .

Thx ,
Gonzo

[fl_slotter]

Gonzo,

My friend I think what you are planning on doing is awesome.

I've taken the liberty of taking some of your questions and will answer them here:

How many classes are there in this end of the hobby ?

What a wide open question. Perhaps the number is almost countless. Since there are really no governing bodies for 1:32, the local folks take care of coming up with the categories to race. Many times it is a particular genre of cars from a specific manufacturer. And example would be Slot.It Group C cars. Porsche 956 / 962 and similar cars. Same motor and if they use magnets, then the downforce is checked with some device to make sure it is within limits. This type of racing is very tight and close for the race.

Are the races held on commercial tracks or on home/garage circuits ? These are my favorite venues .

There are some commercial raceways that welcome the 1:32 cars. But with the economy getting worse each year, many commercial raceways are seeing a group of racers that they are not having come to their businesses.

Most of the racing is done on home or club tracks. We have a club, DeBary Glen Raceways. In our club we currently have two tracks. One is a Scalextric Sport 64 foot per lap plastic track that we run magnet racing on. The other track is MDF and it's 65 feet per lap. We're finding many more people are wanting to race on the MDF track.

Where can I find examples or plans for chassis' to scratch build ? I know that it's a form of expression building your own . But , when your starting from ground O , I need samples and ideas to go on .

There are several places. One of them right here. I've not posted anything over the past couple of years on 1:32 as there did not appear to be any interest here for that scale. Also my arms, hands and fingers are not working as they should. I hope to have that corrected this coming Mondy. Then I will start to post once again.

Most 1:32 racers really do not build brass & wire chassis. Why not? I have absolutely no idea. I think many of them are afraid to give it a try. But I like building 1:32 as it is a great area to tinker with unique builds as the racing is very unique. Most 1:32 racing is done on tracks like ours - 65 feet per lap and it's all flat. Much different thinking goes into a car like this.

Now, I'll give you one idea before I go. How about a "hybrid" chassis? That is you build with wire and brass, but include a motor pod from Slot.It in your design? Here's a photo:

Let me know if this is something you'd like to be interested in.


Marty