[chrisguyw]

I got my first Slot car set for Christmas in 1962.....my Dad brought a VIP set back from the London toy fair, and I was the happiest kid alive !!. The track was metal with really good grip and looked great, and the cars (a F1 lotus 18 and a F1 Cooper) had steering front wheels, looked beautiful, and I thought, were the fastest things imaginable.......I ran thousands of laps, and believed I was Stirling Moss.

The next year, my uncle bought a Monogram set, and a couple of Monogram "kit" cars (the Cooper Ford and a Lola GT), and when we visited him and he showed me his track, I was amazed at the speed/handling of the Monogram cars......don't forget, all is relative as this was 1964 

I never did end up owning a Monogram, as at the time, faster/better handling cars were coming out weekly. Fast forward many years, and I managed to obtain/build a few of the cars that had made an impact on me as a kid......

This is a build up of a Monogram Lola GT, incorporating many modifications that I have learned over the years.

Cheers
Chris Walker

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The chassis has had extensive stiffening/strengthening (they were flimsy little buggers) using piano wire, and a .064 pan hung on the bottom (they were also quite light, and the big chunk of brass did wonders). A heavily reworked Monogram "Tiger" motor, and some original formulation Ortmann tires, and the car is a match for any of my plastic cars on a club type track.

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Image resized to 84% of its original size [1069 x 800]


The car has been painted to represent the Augie Pabst car from Sebring in 1964.

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Getting past on the inside by Stirling Moss (lotus 19)

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Just staying ahead of a Cox Cheetah, and, a Strombecker Dino.....( the camera lens and picture angle do funny things....the Lola looks longer than both the Cheetah and the Dino,....they are basically the same length).

Image resized to 84% of its original size [1069 x 800]

[Anthony B]

Love it - your cars are amazing   - you got the colour spot on!  IS that a JH modified motor and if so - how does it run with all that power?

[chrisguyw]

Love it - your cars are amazing   - you got the colour spot on!  IS that a JH modified motor and if so - how does it run with all that power?

Hi Anthony, The colour is close  ?...........it is Testors  "Nassau" blue lacquer, and the best I have found, sadly Testors has discontinued this colour. Tamiya makes a Light blue Pearl, which is also not bad (quite good actually). I am doing a 1965 Ford GT MK1 proxy car at the moment using the Tamiya pearl blue, and will post pics. when done.

As far as the motor, yes, it is one by JH,.......I do specify winds when getting John to do motors (depending on the car/track), and this one is 100T x 31 gauge wire......which is a step up from stock, but, it does not overpower the chassis, and runs very very well with the chassis modifications done, and the original Ortmann tires I have used.

Cheers
Chris Walker

[KensRedZed]

Chris. Beautiful car and chassis!

I love cars that are different and cool. Your Lola GT sure qualifies on both counts. 

[autoavia]

Great looking car and useful chassis mods. I have started similar reinforcing on a Riko chassis but not tried it on a Monogram yet.
The Lola GT has a reputation for tipping because it is so narrow but the weight should help with that.  

Thanks for posting - given me a few ideas to add to the end of the build queue.

[chrisguyw]

Thanks for posting - given me a few ideas to add to the end of the build queue.

Hello, The attached pics. outline where I have used piano wire to strengthen the chassis........as I am sure you are well aware, piano wire does have a good memory, and as such, is a much better choice than brass rod/tube.
 
Cheers
Chris Walker

Rear motor mount plate......(.055 wire)



The  .055 wire "L's"  give support to the front uprights, and also serve as guide rotation stops (when trimmed correctly)



.055 "L's" support the rear axle uprights, and the "U" shape supports the guide tongue area.............I solder the two chassis pieces together, but , this is not really required"



.047 rails are soldered along the bottom of the chassis plate to offer much needed longitudinal stiffness...........this is a pic. of an early build,.....I now extend the bottom rails to the front edge of the chassis plate.



A .063 pan is cut and attache to the chassis with machine screws and nylok nuts.......silicone washers are used between the chassis plate and the pan to minimize vibrations.



As modified, the handling of the car is night and day, it is much stronger in an "off", it can now handle an increase in horsepower, and it does not tip !!

Cheers
Chris Walker

[dvd3500]

That is one of the most beautiful chassis I have ever seen.

[KensRedZed]

Chris. Your chassis looks like jewelry. Truly amazing!

What size screws and lock-nuts are you using and where can we get them please?

Also. Are the screws and lock-nuts that you use for brass the same as a plastic chassis?

Thanks a million for posting this!

Ken

[GT Sprite]

Engineering masterclass!

[chrisguyw]

Chris. Your chassis looks like jewelry. Truly amazing!

What size screws and lock-nuts are you using and where can we get them please?

Also. Are the screws and lock-nuts that you use for brass the same as a plastic chassis?

Thanks a million for posting this!

Ken

Hi Ken, This is just a cleaned up/modified original Monogram chassis,..........nothing special, but, the mods do transform the car.

The original Monogram chassis (as did many Vintage kits) all used 4/40 nuts and bolts, and I have just used some cleaned up originals.............4/40 nuts, bolts, nylok nuts are readily available from good fastener shops in both brass and steel. As far as Slot shops, Professor motor (and others) do carry them.

While there is no reason not to use the 4/40 size in current "plastic", or scratchbuilt cars, I typically use 2/56 for my plastic/scratchbuilt stuff. (Try to keep my original 4/40 bits for my Vintage cars   ). The 2/56 size only requires very minor "opening" of the holes in the pod lugs.
These 2/56 bits are also readily available from Professor Mtr., SCC, ABSlotsport, and a host of others.

Cheers
Chris Walker