[Gordon Steadman]

In the spirit of increasing the forum's content, I thought I'd present a basic tutorial for making your own slot car bodies

Those that have seen this before, please forgive me.

1....select the wood.
   
2. Attack it with something big and heavy.
   
3. Attack it again with something a bit smaller but sharp.
   
4. Keep hacking it with some proper old school hand tools, none of this modern powered rubbish.
   
   
5. Have a coffee break.
6. Compare constantly with drawings, and whittle away with scalpel and chisels.
   
   
   
   
7. Rub it down a bit and spray it.
   
   
8. That's all there is to it. Go for it

[Gordon Steadman]

The Yank Tank is coming on and I have to decide if I can brave painting on flames as my nephew is elsewhere and I can't use Illustrator to save my life.

50/50 at the mo. The test with gouache shows it could be done but I don't want to mess up the finish which would happen if I make mistakes using some proper paint.

Decisions decisions.
       

[Fluff]

I've never tried it ,but would it be possible to paint the flames onto decal sheet and when dry apply as normal? 

Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

I've never tried it ,but would it be possible to paint the flames onto decal sheet and when dry apply as normal? 

Steve

I don't know. Has anyone tried it? I'll google.

I did google and yes you can! Need to use enamels and then seal that before wetting.

Worth a try if I get time thanks

[Fluff]

Hi Gordon , have you tried it yet ? Might have a go myself ,be nice to get my own name on a car

Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

Hi Gordon , have you tried it yet ? Might have a go myself ,be nice to get my own name on a car

Steve

I'm not that quick!

I suspect it's not going to happen before Bordo anyway.

I'm playing with a new way of doing the glazing on my cars. Using solder stuck to the wood. It looks like chrome but also gives a ridge for the glazing to stick to. Saves making a rebate in the balsa which is not the easiest stuff to get a clean line on.

   

On top of that, someone clumped the car and smashed the left headlight. I need it to get to Bordeaux and it has to work in the dark so I've been trying to find a replacement. We have an old Audi and I've managed to find a unit in Germany for a reasonable sum and it's on the way. However, it doesn't give me much time. OK it will only take half an hour to fit but it has to get here first and some things take an age. At least it's coming via DHL who usually get their finger out.

Getting my mind on doing transfers is probably not top of the list and I'm still not 100% confident with the new controller yet so need to get loads of practice in the track room.

[Fluff]

Get practicing Gordon , expect you to come home with a trophy  . Hope the headlight turns up in time  The solder around the window opening looks great ,nice bit of chrome trim .

Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

Get practicing Gordon , expect you to come home with a trophy  . 

I'll do my best but it's 2/3rds concours this year and only 1/3rd racing. I'd be happier if it was round the other way!

[Fluff]

Hi Gordon seen you in some of the photos , should be a good weekend for you No13  ,a pink car and a new controller ,what could possibly go wrong !!!!

All the best Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

Pics?? Facebook?

Anyway, I've only just got home. Outside of slot cars, it's been an interesting weekend! Finding my way around Bordeaux, which is full of one way streets, with an out of date sat nav map was a good start. On the way home, I lost an hour and a half because of traffic. Half an hour  as two cars decided to argue over the same bit of road and then an hour because of roadworks - on a Sunday evening! I took the motorway home as it's simple, if boring!

I stayed in a budget hotel with the accent on budget. Hard foam mattress and I only got a few hours sleep. New big and loud alarm clock made sure I got up in time though.

Now then....the slot cars! You ask what could possible go wrong? New controller?

As soon as I saw the opposition, it was obvious that I might just as well enjoy myself. In the first place, the regular quick guys were all driving yank tanks that made my cars look like a scale smaller than they were. As I go for the racing, it was always going to be tough as this meet was 2/3rds concours points and only a third racing points. The standard was extremely high. So I raced the two cars I enjoyed driving most rather than the ones I expected to get into the concours. 32nd scale Ford coupe and Old Yeller.

Came home with a 7th place overall in 32nd cup surprisingly but ignoring the concours, I came 4th in 32nd and 6th in 24th. Quite pleased with that given the competition. Next time, I'll make sure i build new chassis specially rather than just making bodies to fit my existing chassis.

New controller. Not sure of what emoji might be suitable. Practiced with it of course and thought I might manage to race with it but on the warm up, it just didn't feel right so I used my old MRRC thumb controllers, swapping half way through when my palm started burning So just not yet adjusted. Mick Kerr said it took him a year to get up to speed so I'll have to keep trying.

Enjoyable weekend overall though.