chasis source for a late model dirt track car?

[DrewCfromSC]

Hello all, im a new again builder. Im currently building a 1980s era winged dirt track car (simular to photo)and looking for a chassis source. Got a few NASCAR kits but nothing looks good with this body. Maybe an ASA kit. How about the diecast dirt track cars? Ive not looked ay any but woundering if they have a plastic chassis of some sort. Thanks.

Drew C from S.C.

Edited August 30, 2011 by DrewCfromSC

[truges]

This website has some excellent pieces which might help.

http://www.dirtmodeler.com/

[DrewCfromSC]

Thanks! I look here but have not found anything that would help. Im kind new modeler and this might be too advanced for now to try.

Drew C.

[horsepower]

Thanks! I look here but have not found anything that would help. Im kind new modeler and this might be too advanced for now to try.

Drew C.

I think I'd go with the ASA kits personally, I'm doing that for a Ford powered '80s Super Late Outlaw that is in the gathering stage. If you get the Waltrip car, or either of the T-Bird kits they come with a good set of wide five wheel also.

[DrewCfromSC]

Thanks for the info. Found some resin rims on ebay recently and they look pretty cool. Hoping Freds resin opens up soon for some items.

[roadhawg]

Drew, most of the dirt cars I build were from the 70s, and they were still using tri-five Chevy chassis. By the 80's, they were all pretty much coilover jig built chassis, so the Revell ASA kits are going to be the closest you can get, although I think the wheelbase on those kits is a little short.....just my personal opinion, I've never actually measured it.

I built this one several years ago by grafting an AMT Nascar front clip onto one of the ASA chassis, and it worked out ok.

The wide-five hubs in the ASA kit are good, but the wheels are wrong for an 80's dirt car. You'll need to get some wheels from either Fred or Big Donkey.(http://www.bigdonkey....com/index.html)

And while I've never tried it, and it would take a little work, I've always thought the chassis from the Revell Trans Am cars looked very "dirt trackish"......

Whatever you come up with, please share.....maybe we can all learn something!

[Wayne Buck]

Tommy, that thing came out wicked cool!!

I'd go with the ASA kit as well, Drew... It probably isn't 100% correct for a dirt tracker (ie.. according to the rule books), but it sure as heck looks to be a pretty darn good starting point as Tommy just demonstrated. I don't know a ton about dirt cars, but I've been around asphalt modifieds all my life, and I don't recall ever seeing two of them that were completely "identical", so I wouldn't worry about "rivet counting" as far as this goes.

Also, EVERYONE was new to modeling at one point. Don't be afraid to try things. If it doesn't come out right, just try again. IMHO, the big keys to building good models are:

1. Take your time
   
2. Have confidence in yourself (very important)
   
3. If you screw up, learn from it. Try to figure out where you went wrong and try a different approach, AND don't be afraid to ask for advice.
   

Just try it. Really not much to lose. If it doesn't come out the way you wanted, the time and and materials that are lost, are IMO, payment towards learning and improving your skills.

Keep those things in mind when building and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised with your outcome (maybe not on your very first attempt, but if you keep at it, you WILL get it right). BTW, when I said "Good Models" above, I mean a model that you are proud to have built. As far as I know, there is no set standard for what a "good model" is, really. This hobby is about having fun and taking pride in your work. Don't worry about what anyone else says about your projects... If you are happy with what you have built, that is ALL that matters.

Just want to reiterate what Tommy said: "Whatever you come up with, please share.....maybe we can all learn something!"

[DrewCfromSC]

Thank you all for the info! Until Feds resin gets opened again im looking for whatever I can find. Im pretty new to scratchbuilding models.

[krazyglu]

A buddy of mine Terry builds late models and I believe he did the same thing mentioned above with splicing a nascar front clip to the ASA cage. It looked fantastic and I will try to get you some more info and pictures at the next group meet. Awesome work up there Tommy..did you make the body ?..I love these dirt cars I think I want to build one now

[roadhawg]

Awesome work up there Tommy..did you make the body ?..I love these dirt cars I think I want to build one now

Thank you, and yes, the body is brass sheet cut and bent just like the real bodies, with the roof cut from the ASA Camaro.

Grafting the Nascar clip on the ASA chassis isn't that difficult, just remember to use the steering rack from the ASA kit, not the Nascar steering box. Like I said, I built this one several years ago, but I think I also stretched the wheelbase about 1/2 inch or so, I can't remember for sure. You want it to scale out to 105"-108", which is what they were running back then.

[DirtModeler]

Drew, most of the dirt cars I build were from the 70s, and they were still using tri-five Chevy chassis. By the 80's, they were all pretty much coilover jig built chassis, so the Revell ASA kits are going to be the closest you can get, although I think the wheelbase on those kits is a little short.....just my personal opinion, I've never actually measured it.

I built this one several years ago by grafting an AMT Nascar front clip onto one of the ASA chassis, and it worked out ok.

MAN that's a beauty! you totally nailed that body! You should post it on the dirt modeler forums, that car is well worthy of a whole lot of praise! I see few modelers nail the look like that (myself included)

[Art Laski]

that car is well worthy of a whole lot of praise!

I have to agree with this. That's an awesome model.

[krazyglu]

Yeah I'm going to have to ask for more pictures Tommy..I am sorry, but its one of the coolest model kits I have ever seen and up until I saw it I had no interest in building a late model car. The clear spoiler..the rivets holding the side nose pieces on..this thing has a wicked look and I need to see more of it.