How to be competitive at contests.

[OldNYJim]

27 minutes ago, Tom Geiger said:

It happens!  At GSL many years ago a judge picked up Joe Cavorley’s truck and the chassis disconnected from the body and tumbled to the floor!

Joe was a big guy and could have a temper. The unnamed judge sweat it all night that in the morning he had to tell Joe!

Fortunately when told Joe just said, “I guess I’ll have to build another one.”

So your tip is to glue the body to the chassis securely? ?

[Tom Geiger]

17 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

So your tip is to glue the body to the chassis securely? ?

Bingo!

[OldNYJim]

5 minutes ago, Tom Geiger said:

Bingo!

Good thing I just got a new bottle of Elmer’s!

[BigTallDad]

Another approach to consider...

Go on ebay and find mirrored plexiglas; it's typically 1/8" thick. While you're there, get a clear plastic display case or two.

Cut the plexiglas the same length as the base, and about 3" wider (some experimentation might be required, based on the height of the display case) than the base. When the plexiglas is installed on the inside of the case (strictly on a temporary basis, no cement should be used), it will be at an angle. Setting the model on the top of the case, which will allow the underside of the model to be seen via the plexiglas mirror.

Several advantages to this approach:

1. Transporting the model is safer, because it's in the case while in transit. At the contest, remove the model, insert the plexiglas mirror, place the top on the base, and set the model on top of that contraption.
2. Your model will stand out, because it is higher off the display table and can catch judges' eyes more easily (psychological stuff).
3. There should be no need for the judges to handle the model in order to look at the underside because of the mirrored plexiglas.

[peteski]

I mentioned the mirrored base idea earlier in this thread. Scale Motorsports made model car display stands which had angled mirrors. Not sure if they still have them for sale, but that would be the easiest way to show off the cars underside.

[jchrisf]

4 hours ago, peteski said:

I mentioned the mirrored base idea earlier in this thread. Scale Motorsports made model car display stands which had angled mirrors. Not sure if they still have them for sale, but that would be the easiest way to show off the cars underside.

This?

[peteski]

7 hours ago, jchrisf said:

This?

Yes, that one. They also sold another one (even better), where the mirror was angled slightly.  Basically the same glass and mirror, but the end pieces were different.