Old Sprinter Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 Having midget madness I need to build a AutoCraft VW coilover midget; so that's what I'm going to do.
Jantrix Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 So far good work. I see a lot of flush cut tubing trying to butt up to the sides of other tubes. If you file an arc into the end of the intersecting piece with a round needle file, you can make those joints look much smoother.
Dr. Cranky Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 Good work so far. Clean and smooth building, please keep it going.
Old Sprinter Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 Thanks guys, here's todays progress. These things are short and fat, but very cool, aren't they?
LR3 Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 Ken - are you using CA or epoxy to attach styrene ears to the metal frame? I am using CA and knock the ears off on a regular basis.
Old Sprinter Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 I use epoxy for styrene to metal. Here's what I am trying to build. The VW were hot back in the 80s.
Fuel Coupe Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 So far good work. I see a lot of flush cut tubing trying to butt up to the sides of other tubes. If you file an arc into the end of the intersecting piece with a round needle file, you can make those joints look much smoother. The term you are referring to is "fishmouth" Nice build by the way. Is the autocraft motor scratchbuilt?
eviltwincustoms Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 (edited) Ken - are you using CA or epoxy to attach styrene ears to the metal frame? I am using CA and knock the ears off on a regular basis. Sorry I just noticed part of his chassis is aluminum.. so I am sure epoxy is the right thing to use here. If it was all styrene something like Plastruct Weld or Ambroid Pro Weld liquid cement. This stuff actually welds the styrene together as if it was one piece. I use the latter on all of my styrene projects. Edited September 20, 2011 by eviltwincustoms
eviltwincustoms Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 I use epoxy for styrene to metal. Here's what I am trying to build. The VW were hot back in the 80s. Nice project, I will be keeping an eye on this. I really like when someone takes the time to build a ground up chassis for his project. Question, is there any special reason you went with half aluminum and half styrene on the main section?
Old Sprinter Posted September 21, 2011 Author Posted September 21, 2011 Shane, the motor is scratch built. Bart, the only reason I used aluminum tube for the main rails is it does not distort. I have learned through experience that using styrene for main rails is easier but will warp up slightly and change as the other pieces are added. Then the frame will not lay flat. By using metal main rails and styrene tube for the cage and braces, the chassis remains unchanged during the whole construction. This is my seventh car this year so I have some scar tissue to base my building materals on.
Old Sprinter Posted September 21, 2011 Author Posted September 21, 2011 Shane, here's the only picture I took building the VW motor, sorry.
stump Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Man, you keep coming at us with these uber kool projects Ken...It just has to stop ! (not. ) Another topic subscribed too. Nice work.
Old Sprinter Posted September 22, 2011 Author Posted September 22, 2011 Made a little more progress; hood started out of styrene. Front and a rear tire made and the frame painted. Scratch biuding is the most fun, to me, I love it.
Old Sprinter Posted October 6, 2011 Author Posted October 6, 2011 Do any of you evr get in a model car funk? I have been going thru that so I built a plane out of balsawood and tissue. I feel much better now and am ready to build race cars again, these things are too hard to do LOL.
Old Sprinter Posted October 6, 2011 Author Posted October 6, 2011 Hood is done and I'm building the tail tank out of styrene (or trying to).
Draggon Posted October 6, 2011 Posted October 6, 2011 My first car was a bug, and I've always had them since. When the VW progressed from mini-stock to midget I was over the top stoked. I love what you are doing! The VW midget doesnt get much love now, but for a few years in the 80's it ruled the dirt. Mel Kenyon and Rich Vogler put it one the map.
Old Sprinter Posted October 7, 2011 Author Posted October 7, 2011 Yep, they were the hot ticket for awhile in the 80s. Decent HP, low center of gravity and no radiator to add wieght. They were expensive little devils for us low buck racers, though. Kenyon and Vogler were midget masters weren't they?
Draggon Posted October 8, 2011 Posted October 8, 2011 They sure were! I only got to see Kenyon and Vogler run on TV. There performance was beyond outstanding. It seemed like Vogler could win in anything, except at Indianapolis. The only one I have ever seen as good as these guys was Wolfgang. I watched him run from the D main at Knoxville up to the A sometime in the late 80's. I had never seen a run like that, before or after. I wonder how many USAC titles Vogler could have had!
Old Sprinter Posted October 26, 2011 Author Posted October 26, 2011 Got the tail tank and hood done with styrene sheet and a little Bondo, but still easier than fiberglass, like I usually use. I am building the tires, again, so I can get the right size and some staggere in the rear tires. !00% scratch build and it's fun which is all that counts.
comp1839 Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 looks great ken. and your right......it's the fun that counts!
Wayne Buck Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) That is lookin' really GREAT, Ken!! To be honest, I don't recall ever seeing one of these before in the 1:1 world (maybe I'm too young?..or more likely, I probably just haven't noticed them), but it is a VERY cool subject and you definitely have my attention! Can't wait to see it finished! Keep up the EXCELLENT work! Edited October 27, 2011 by Wayne Buck
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