[BAracer]

#49

Key_Issues_from_this_week's_Chat.ppt

It looks like everyone on the thread has worked out how to read Brian's face. So when it came to his Show + Tell, they all managed to guess what he had bought before he got to show them. If his partner works out how to do it as well, he's going to be in real trouble...

"Was that the postman, Brian" 
"Yeah, nothing special"
"Are you sure...look at me...in the eyes...Fly triple Viper box set!"
"How do you do that!"

There then followed a love-in for Fly Vipers. Everyone seemed to have bought them to look at. Most people seemed to struggle to turn them into racers...unless you got the Sport/Racing version with the trick chassis, in which case they, literally, flew. And if they have wonky front wheels, lots of tips on how to sort them out.

There then followed a love-in for the Dukes of Hazard. Who'd have thought that the makers of the TV series had followed Rule 1 of the slot car racers handbook...buy 350 General Lee cars just in case the odd one or two (hundred) get damaged whilst in use. 

We then had a quick fire word association round. I noted down the following sequence...Pat Boone/Didgeridoo/Smoke on the Water/prison santa/drive it like you stole it.

You could here a pin drop when Dennis announced that 'peel & stick' decals weren't that bad. He backed it up with some examples of some immaculate F1 cars using that technique. But you have to pick the right sticker supplier, and top coat them with some Pledge (yes that's what he said...but it's probably not the UK version). This then got everyone's juices flowing and we were given a Decal Masterclass by Those Who Know. So how to apply decals to difficult curved surfaces (clue...it involves a hair dryer), how not to apply them (clue...it involves a heat gun), how to treat them before you apply them, and what to do once you have applied them. Greg then gave us his tip for a good decal job; "give it to a friend to do".

A simple question regarding Inox led to a handy "Dos and Don'ts" guide on it's best use. This brought out the 'inner oil' in many and everyone's favourite lubricating products were brought out in the open, literally in Dennis' case. In the end, it came down to Inox vs Marvel Mystery Oil vs Wahl Hair Clipper Oil. 

Everyone was able to relax for Big Den's masterful Powerpoint presentation on the slot car scene in Tasmania. It was all well prepared, with some follow up information on recent topics, some great photos of historical race cars that haven't yet made to transition to 1:32 scale. Most importantly, no more than six bullet points on each slide, and a clear conclusion at the end "In Tasmanian slot car racing, lead is your friend".

And to finish the Chat off, a very very funny joke regarding Interlagos Miniatures...listen carefully or you'll miss it!