GrandpaMcGurk

Guess what? TDR is working with a material now that is just about ready for paint out of the box, this should allow us to develop goodies in smaller scales (bodies in particular) as the surface is way smoother. Technology has even gotten to the point where metal parts can be printed. The metal stuff is still pricey and the new material I mentioned is a little more costly to produce but it's happening now.

Contact TDR through their web site as they can (in some cases depending on what you provide them) create masters.

Mike...I guess my age is showing. I'm sure many, especially the younger crowd haven't a clue as to what a board track racer is...a little before their time I figure. A google of Board Track Racers provides a wealth of info on these things...they raced on banked wood plank tracks, no brakes to speak of other than closing the throttle, no suspension etc. These guys were all about going as fast as they could and keeping their fingers crossed.

I'm doing a sort of "How To" thread on another site but thought some of you folks might enjoy a peek at it. I started with this 1/8th bike kit........it was purchased on eBay for around 12 bucks. It's not intended to be any particular model or year but I wanted to see if I could construct a reasonable looking board track racer for under fifty bucks using only common hand tools, scrap plastic and common (cheap) hardware. Anyway here's the kit...... and here's a few pics & mock-ups in progress....... Here's a 60 cent crankcase before being smoothed out......

Otherwise meticulously detailed engines with no dip sticks! They are easy to make by simply stripping a bit of insulation from the end of a length of small gauge wire and bending a finger loop on the exposed end.

It's 1/25th George.

Thanks Jim, as you know I'm a little out of my element with this small scale stuff.....it frustates me a bit not having the room to add the details that I want to. I'm not much for tweezers and magnifing glasses. LOL

Alright pal, I'll see if I can get a little more done on the coach and bring it with for show and tell. Sounds like you have pretty a well filled plate just taking care of biz. It wouldn't hurt if you rattle my cage when it gets a little closer so that I don't get side tracked...do you have my E addy? If not I'll PM it to you. If you want, contact me privately and I'll work up some sketches for a logo to toss on the table at the meeting.

Looking foward to seeing it James...the body I'm using is a '69 1303S VW from an Aoshima kit. It's a curb side model (no engine, suspension detail to speak of etc.) that I ordered from Japan. The kit is mostly a curbside and has some provisions to be "motorized". The only reason I bought it was for the body as it's well detailed and properly scaled.

Jim, I'll do my best to make the meetings at Hobby Lobby in Ocala......if I bring models with me they will be more than likely 1/12th or 1/8th scale. Will that be a problem? If so, I won't bring them.

I'll be doing a one piece flipper style body on this car, I've already opened the rear wheel wells up a little to clear the dragster slicks....so what do you guys think....should I chop the top a little (front only) or leave it as is?

I'm taking a break from the body work & paint on some of my other builds......keeps me from burning out, LOL. Rather than do the couch potato gig, I've started cobbling up another small scale car. Here's a sneak peek at Beetle Juice..... The engine will be a blown, injected 392 Hemi, I've started detailing and plumbing it. The frame is constructed (for the most part) from metal, these photos are just a mock up...still have to do the front coil over suspension, cross members etc. Last of all, here's the body showing the stance I'm after..... I really like this view..... Hope you like it.

Have you Mopar guys seen one of these yet?

Not resin, but highly detailed. Many options are also available, just google TDR Catalog (click on TDR Innovations homepage) and browse through their online catalog for prices & specs.

My favorite is the guy that says he'll package your item very very carefully but he's not responsible for any shipping damage.

Here's a few more pics and update. She's looking pretty ugly at the moment, I always use a couple different colors of primers as it makes finding high & low spots easier to see when block sanding. Also started opening up the the "gill" vents and the openings for the side makers. I'll thin the plastic from the underside to get them a little closer to scale. Stuff like this is my biggest beef with these small scale kits.....but I guess if they put a little more effort into detailing the kits it would allow them to justify higher prices.....oh well.

Many thanks for the kudos guys.........Cliff, in no way do I feel you're nit picking, I for one appreciate constructive input & feedback. It helps me build better models. I am aware of the chin spoiler (my Dad had a Chrysler dealership when I was a lad). I don't really think it'll be necessary because each of the louvers would act as a mini spoiler at any kind of speed and a chin spoiler would be a curb magnet. LOL I do however agree that the swing set is too high, it's taped on at the moment and won't be permanently attached until the rest of the body work is done......it's a lot easier to lower it than it would be to make it taller...right?

Sharp eyes Dave......yes it's upside down. It's not gluded on, just sittin' there for the pic and I didn't notice....my bad.

Firey Orange laquer for the body. The headlights will be blacked out as they are on the Super Bird. It will also have a vinyl top (remember how popular they were with Chrysler back in the 60's & 70's)?

The front of this car sits too high even as a stocker if built from the kit. Rather than try to alter the torsion bar suspension which would have weakened it...I trimmed a bit from the bottom of the inner wheel wells to allow the body to be channeled down slightly on the belly pan. I'll add the Super Bird style humps on the top of the fenders for wheel travel later. The grille opening (intake vents) on the bottom of the nose were fabricated from the kit rear window louvers....still have a fair amout of molding left to do on them.

Started molding in the nose and scoop.......

Thanks for the kind words Virgil. Mocking up the nose and spoiler....... I turned the "shaker" air cleaner around backwards and will mold it into the hood to make the profile a bit more slippery.

I thought about grabbing a Super Bird kit for the nose and swing set spoiler but that would put me over the $50 budget, I'll just fab those parts up from scrap plastic....besides, I can use the practice.