Cut'n'Shuts (Chop Shopped) Cars

One of the definitions of "Cut and Shut" below.
Taken from the Urban Dictionary.

A car comprised of two halves from other cars welded in the centre and repainted to sell to others. Usually structurally unsound after the process and dangerous to use.
"My mate Tommy does cut n shuts. Last week he welded a Ford Focus and a Rover 400 together. He made a few bob selling it to some old lady."

Unscrupulous car dealers would take a front end wreck and a rear end wreck, cut them both in half and weld them together for sale.
Before you ask, "YES! It is illegal in the UK"

In the slot car world:

Before the introduction of 3D printed chassis and before the introduction of generic chassis' (eg the slot.IT HRS), a Cut'n'Shut was the only way to turn a toy car (scalextric etc) into a competition capable car.

In this day and age, 3d chassis are available to retrofit a lot of cars but sometimes, the one you are looking for has just not been designed. Even if shapeways does have a design, the cost for me to ship to the UK from the USA is exorbitant.

The HRS2 is a capable replacement chassis but , like all generic parts, a "one size fits all" approach never really fits perfectly. I've never really been happy with the sidewall body mounting technique, always preferring single front and rear body post with set screw (grub screw) float adjusters at each corner.
HRS2 also assumes that the body of the donor car will reach down to "flat" chassis level but this is often not the case as many toy cars have chassis that curves up to meet the body.

Each car also has unique front and rear end detail that can be lost when a generic chassis is fitted.

My project:
LONDONslotCarClub.com has some classes of racing that are just for fun and do not contribute points toward the annual championship trophies.
One such class is "TransAm" which is intended to have a grid full of mid seventies American street muscle. 60mm axle width maximum, 9mm tyre width maximum.

The problem is that no "quality" manufacturer NSR, Slot.IT etc makes a set of cars of this era. (Quality is defined by floating motor mounts, alloy wheels and removable transmission parts (crown, spur etc)

Some of the cars that appear on the LSC TransAm grid are cut'n'shuts and I've always been curious about this approach because it predates my time racing slot cars (i started about 5 years ago).

So, after picking up a used Scalextric Sunoco '69 Camaro for £20 at the recent MiltonKeynes swap meet, I began planning the cut'n'shut.

Researching other's conversions, there are clearly two schools of thought.

1- cut a chassis aperture to retrofit the motor mount.
2- cut a chassis aperture to take the motor mount "skeleton" from another chassis.

For the camaro, I chose the second.
The drivers for this?
1- the scalextric chassis was not wide enough (at its flat section) to take the motor mount.
2- the camaro has front and rear detail that has been designed, built and painted into the chassis rather than the body.

A donor skeleton was found in a racer sideways BMW m1 chassis that had suffered a major front end impact and split the front of the chassis after a floor impact.

The skeleton was cut out with a modelling knife and offered up the the scalextrix chassis and body to align ready for the chop.

The scalextric chassis was cut and the skeleton "spot welded" into place with very small amounts of superglue.
The rear of the chassis was chopped off and fitted to the rear of the skeleton.

Once the whole chassis assembly slotted together with the body, as required, the assembly was pulled apart.  Epoxy resin mixed with black powder residue (from the cutting and shaping) was then used to make the final permanent bond. Where a gap was present between the skeleton and chassis, small amounts of tissue paper was used to act as fibre glass.

Some pics below
I did not take pics during the process, sorry. I had not planned to write this little project up.

The most difficult part of the conversion was the alignment of the skeleton into the chassis to ensure that the motor was centred and aligned properly.
It took 3 attempts, cutting and rewelding before I was happy with the alignment of the chassis, skeleton, motor mount and body.
Once everything came together, the chassis was run over wet'n'dry paper to remove any lumps and bumps. The chassis was then put through a chassis flattening process using a steel flat plate, magnets and hot water.

I had intended to reuse the yellow scalextric wheels , cut into trims, inserted into NSR wheels. However, after the amount of time take to perform the major chassis surgery, I no longer had the motivation to cut the old wheels up.

The solution? "Staffs" wheels. Quality alloy wheels with set screws.
The red wheels look suitably and garishly seventies against the blue and yellow body.
As part of the conversion, I lifted a Slot.IT motor mount from another car complete with SlotingPlus titanium Axle, Slot.IT transmission and an NSR purple long can inline motor.

The factory fitted screws were replaced with precision machined NSR (rear) and PolicarF1 small head at the front. The body floats!

Top tip for the conversion is to fit the whole motor ensembly Into the skeleton to get the alignment right, then remove the mount to perform the welding.
This process is not just "measure twice, cut once".
It is more like "measure, offer-up, initial cut, remeasure, recut, offer-up again, spot weld, offer-up, recut, realign, offer-up, recut, offer-up etc etc etc".

Remember to offer up with wheels attached to ensure that the wheel arches are aligned.
The camaro was difficult in respect to the wheel arch alignment because the arches part cover the wheels (at the top) and part not (at the bottom). A very typical muscle car arrangement.

In Summary, this was an interesting and challenging exercise.
I'm glad to have experimented with this  but this is  not a process I plan to repeat.
Too much hard work and the results can never be as precisely engineered as a 3d solution.
Next time, I'll bite the bullet and find a 3d solution.

Please do leave comments and pics of your own cut'n'shuts 
ALAN W


More pics in 
https://ibb.co/album/v37BCJ
       

There are 'patches' on the screen and at the front of the orange roof stripe which presumably cover the 1:1 car manufacturers name. 

Has anyone removed then to see if they are under there?

In the words of our host Allan "Audi1":
   
The River Run is a 67’ flat track, no elevation changes but one of just about everything else. One sweeper, one chicane, one increasing radius turn, one decreasing radius turn, one disguised hairpin, a segmented sweeper and three straights, one small, one medium and one larger than medium.

The track is routed mfd with braid rails. The surface is flat latex cut with a thinner to create a very smooth surface and sanded between coats with a 320 sanding sponge yielding a micro-tooth finish. Most rubber tired cars hook-up very well on this track.

We run at 10V and use track calls since it’s not possible to marshal the cars due to the fact that 85% of the surface is taken up by the lanes. I use Trackmate software and will run 9 separate, sequential 3-car races so that similar performing cars can run together.

Jeff (dge467) will run the qualy on Thursday night starting around 7:00PM EST. On Sunday starting around 10:00AM EST we’ll run the Round #3 race with Jeff, Matt (changing.gearz/CGSlotcars) and Dickie (dungeonracer) doing the driving. I’ll work the computer and keep track of the races and heats.

I’ll stream both the qualy and the race to my Facebook page - The River Run. I’ll post the link to the page before the qualy on Thursday.

Good luck to everyone in the qualy and the Round #3 race!

https://www.facebook.com/HRWAudi1/vi...5210403345677/

I’m starting to lay down the fresh rubber tonight; 1,000+ laps in each of the three lanes. I’m using my 2020 GT3 Proxy car as the mule; it’s a Scaleauto Porsche 991 sitting on a Dennis Samson (gascarnut) brass chassis with NSR Ultragrips (old formula) tires on the rear.



This car has been hooked-up very well since about lap 50.



I run with the controller trigger taped down, then adjust the voltage on the power supply so that I’m getting good speed through the chicane, which is the slowest section of the course.


Lap times in this mode are in the 6.6-6.7 sec/lap range. A good lap on this track is under 6.0, a fast lap is under 5.5 and a record lap is in the 5.2 sec/ lap range. I expect to see a lot of sub-5.5 laps on Thursday night at the qualy..

Allan

I've waited months to buy this and it was 30% off yesterday...

You have many scale options to choose from, the 1/32 one was way too thick, the 1/24 one when scaled down to 1/32 has a wall of 1mm so willing to give that a go in resin.

SlotIt SW pod is my preference for such a big beastie, the body is 70mm wide at the maximum (2.24m wide the full sized version).


   

   

   

The 2022 Aussie-only releases were announced today - with a welcome surprise of brand new tooling for a Torana LJ XU-1 which will appear in two liveries. There's also an ATCC livery on the new-for-2022 '65 Mustang, a Falcon XJ police car and the 2020 Bathurst-winning Commodore of Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander. Here's the line-up...

• C4361 Holden ZB Commodore 2020 Bathurst 1000 Winner - Shane van Gisbergen / Garth Tander
  
• C4362 Holden LJ HU-1 Torana 1974 ATCC Winner - Peter Brock
  
• C4363 Holden LJ HU-1 Torana 1973 Bathurst 5th Place - Bob Forbes / Dick Johnson
  
• C4364 Ford Mustang 1965 ATCC - Ian 'Pete' Geoghegan
  
• C4365 Ford XY Falcon Victoria Police Car
  
• C4366 Ford XB Falcon 1974 ATCC - Allan Moffat
  

       

The 1972 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU1 was race-prepared version of the standard LJ road car. Developed by the Holden team, the GTR XU1 became the most successful touring and rally car to come out of Australia. Allan Moffat took the GTR XU1 to it's first win at Bathurst in 1972 - the first of his nine victories. It was the sole Bathurst win for the GTR XU1, but a string of Aussie Manufacturers' Championship and ATCC titles would follow for Holden. My hunch is that this will continue the trend for an inline slim-can (FF) motor - it's what the Aussie distributor asks for, apparently. I'm sure we'll find out more soon.

       

Ian Geoghegan's Mustang is certainly a 1965 car, but was raced in this livery at the 1966 ATCC. In 1965, Geoghegan drove a Lotus Cortina. The Mustang was back in 1967 with green stripes - and equally nice livery, which I'm sure will appear at some point as an Aussie or worldwide release - adding to the UK and American liveries on the '65 notchback. Geoghegan's wasn't the first Mustang to appear down-under... In early 1965, Norm Beechey imported one of the brand new Mustangs into Australia and dominated the local tin-top racing - it is reported that Beechey recorded the Mustang's first ever race win anywhere in the world. Both Geoghegan and Bob Jane went to the States and brought back their own 'Stangs. Geoghegan recorded four straight ATCC titles from 1966 to '69 with his Ford pony cars.

Great to see new tooling - plus some great liveries. As in 2021, Weevils Slot Cars will be bringing these cars to the UK. No news from Pendles yet, but Gary from MRE helped them source the Aussie exclusives last year too. My prediction that one or other of the 2021 cars would be released by Scalextric as Club exclusives didn't happen... so these imports will be the only way of getting these cars.

Our next race is March 13. Racing is free and loaner cars are available. Hot dogs are on the house. Call 603-826-4242 for details.

May be a stupid question, but is there a way to calculate what the ground clearance (for this purpose: gap between a flat surface and the bottom of a motor pod) will be if you know 

A)the offset of the pod
B)the outer diameter of the tyres

Appreciate this will only affect the rear of the car and the front will be more guide related than pod/tyres.

Well it has come round again, this time at the correct date in May, with no pandemic delay this year!!

Absolutely looking forward to this one !!


   



32nd INTERNATIONAL VINTAGE MEETING
Roncole Verdi – 7-8 May 2022
 
Turin’s Vintage Slot Meeting is the most classic and well-known appointment in the vintage slot car world. In fact the 2022 edition will be the 32nd (it all starts in 1978).Meeting will take place in Roncole Verdi. Swapmeet will take place before the meeting and will last up to the end, with tables and participation free of charge. This year’s theme will be:
                                   
Usa vs UK Racing cars until 1972
 
The Meeting is divided in two parts:
 
The Concours (with the score determined by 5 selected judges) and the Race. As always results in the Concours will be more important (55% of the total) than the Race (45%).
 
The spirit of this Meeting is to gather the most exact and accurate examples of the originals slot cars in 1/24 and 1/32 scales reproducing a real car of the period. Scratchbuilt may take part but will score a penalty.
 
SPORT RULES
 
1. The entered models must be exact reproductions of cars built before 31.12.1972.
2. Each competitor is allowed to entry one single model for each category (1:24 and 1:32).
3. In order to enter the event, each competitor must show his models to the jury on Saturday from 3:30 pm. The entry fee is 20            € per driver.
4. The points gained by each model for the Concours will be the sum of the scores of a jury composed by 5 members.
5. The judges must assign jointly 1 to 6 points for each the Originality of the slot model car, the Appearance i.e. the accuracy in replicating the real car) and the Overall Look. Total score for each car will stay between a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 18 points.
6.The Classification will assign the following points to each place: 55 points to the 1st, 50 (2nd), 46 (3rd), 43 (4th), 40 (5th), 38 (6th), 36 (7th), 34 (8th), 32 (9th) and so on up to the 28rd who will get 2 points. From the 29th onwards just 1 point.
7. After the Concours, the 1:24 and 1:32 races will take place on the 8 lane track in 3 minutes heats. Participation to race is required.
8. The Management will arrange the composition of the heats according to the performance of the models.
9. The final results of the race will get a lower score respect to the Contest: 45 points to the 1st, 40 (2nd), 36 (3rd), 33 (4th), 30 (5th), 28 (6th), 26 (7th) and so on.
10. The sum of the Concours and Race scores in 1/32 and 1/24 scales, at the net of any possible penalty, will declare the winner of the Meeting. In case ex aequo, the best score in the concours, wins.
11. A Technical Commission will be created on place and will include 3 drivers. It will discuss and solve any type of problems which should arise.
12. To facilitate the jury evaluation, the competitors can add to the model a photographic documentation (max 2 pictures) of  the real car reproduced.
 
TECHNICAL RULES
 
A. The spirit of the meeting consist in having models the most true to the originals, with chassis, body and type of motor* of the same brand. Therefore also the models which do not meet this requirement will be allowed to participate but will charge some penalty points to deducted from the final score.
B. All tyres will have to be black. The use of repro tyres is allowed. Sponge tyres are forbidden. It is forbidden also the use of mou, both on tyres and track.
C.  It is allowed to add weights to the model only with lead fixed inside the model and only on the upper side of the chassis.
D. It is allowed to lower the body by modifying the fastenings to get a more realistic look. The body of the model will not be allowed to be cut or filed. It is allowed only to add parts and not to remove them. Added parts cannot be modern photoetch. Body must be fixed to the chassis. Tilting body are not permitted.
E. Maximum width allowed: 1/32 62 mm                        1/24  75 mm.  Axles diameter 1/8” or 3 mm.
F. Chassis with angle winder motor mount are forbidden.
G. The foreseen penalties are the following:
-     Chassis / body of different brands (slot provided)                                     - 3          points
-     Vacuum form body (even when original)                                                   - 2          points
-     Motor of a different type from the original*                                              - 3          points
-     Scratch (parts of different brands or self-built)                                          - 6          points
-     Original coupe body trimmed or transformed in open version                      - 2          points
H. The foreseen bonus are the following:
-     for enter a single seater or NASCAR                                                          + 2          points
-     rarity bonus (determined by the jury)                                             from     + 4 to 1  points
 
* With regards to “type of motor” it must be understood  X88 (13UO), D16, D26, D36 etc.. Armatures can be rewound, balanced or replaced with modern armatures like 16D Parma or Proslot.  Can must be open  at the bottom, to check armature.

 

   

Abergavenny Slot Rally Club are pleased to announce our inaugural stage event in partnership with Staffs Slot Cars UK
The rally will run over eight stages, seven of the best classic rally tracks in South Wales from the past twenty years plus one scratch Ninco tarmac stage.
Featuring Killarney, Pembrey 1, Three Seasons, Stanleys Arena, Stelvio, Caerwent Patriot, Aberstone Rallye and Ninco.
The event will run to national slot rally stage regulations, we remind competitors that stages will consist of Scalextric classic track and that guides must be adapted to be able to run competitivley.
Awards will be given to the first three places in each class with a car being presented to the highest placed Team Slot entrant in Classics, 80`s/90`s and highest Avant Slot in Modern.
Entrants may compete with up to four cars, a maximum of two in any class.
We should point out that this is our inaugural event and has no affiliation with Wye Valley club.
Entries are invited.
Entry fee for the Abergavenny Slot Rally Club will be ten pounds per entrant. This is for four cars and a full English breakfast. Vegetarian option is available. Please specify when making your entry.

We can accommodate those who do not want breakfast, at a reduced price.

Some catering will be available on the day;

Tea and coffee. £1 all day

Chocolate. 50p each

Cans. 50p each
We can take a limited number of proxy entries. Please note that it is unlikely that we will be able to provide any results until after the event.

Hello everyone, I am design student and currently working on a project for Scalextric.
I like to know what features/style/aesthetic etc... you might look for in premium, high-end wireless hand controller, which will enhance your slot car racing experience as enthusiasts/car fans?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!