Old Sprinter Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 I'm starting another sprint car for a client in Vegas. He had this Beck sprint car restored 3 years ago and had been going all over racing it in vintage shows. He contacted me about buildinga replica last summer and we were to meet up at a race in Calif, in July. The week before, he was racing his sprinter and destroyed it and himself. He was in a hospital, up in Oregon, for months, before being released to go home. These vintage sprint cars really interest me. This one has a bolt on cage, buggy spring front with torsion bars at the rear. Beautiful car. The model will have injectors not a carb like the real one had.
Old Sprinter Posted June 6, 2014 Author Posted June 6, 2014 I've finished making the fiberglass body for this sprinter and have it fitted. I still have to cut out the hood.
Old Sprinter Posted June 14, 2014 Author Posted June 14, 2014 Got the grill and front axle finished up; all out of styrene.
Old Sprinter Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 I've got the rear end set; still needs trailing arms, shocks and a Jacobs ladder. Motor in and injectors through the hood. That is a classic look, I think.
Old Sprinter Posted July 21, 2014 Author Posted July 21, 2014 A little more done on the 1/8 scale sprinter.
Old Sprinter Posted August 1, 2014 Author Posted August 1, 2014 I have got some more done; still working on the seat and a bunch of other little things but it starting to look like the real car.
slusher Posted August 1, 2014 Posted August 1, 2014 Such impressive work. You have remarkable building skill...
Old Sprinter Posted August 29, 2014 Author Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) Finished at last. Edited August 30, 2014 by Old Sprinter
DrKerry Posted October 23, 2014 Posted October 23, 2014 Great workmanship!!!!! That is a piece of art!!!!!
MADD FABRICATOR Posted October 25, 2014 Posted October 25, 2014 Ken, another absolutely great build. CHEERZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Madd Fabricator
Cien1986 Posted October 29, 2014 Posted October 29, 2014 May i know how you facricate the body shell,.. its amaze me how well you make it
Old Sprinter Posted October 30, 2014 Author Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) May i know how you facricate the body shell,.. its amaze me how well you make itThank you. I make what I call a buck. Sort of like building a balsa wood model plane. I have sections or solid ribs every 1/2" to 1" apart glued to a center section cut to the profile I want. Then I glue poster board or heavy paper to the ribs which gives it the shape. I paint that with some kind of paint that's left over and smear petroleum jelly lightly all over the surface. Then I lay medium fiberglass cloth and spread resin over that. When dry, usually the next day, I sand it to get any big bumps out and put on another layer of glass and resin. Again sand it a little bit smoother this time and put a third layer of glass and resin on it. Again waiting until it is dry I apply one more coat of resin to the whole thing. I leave it on the buck and sand it smooth and fill in any low or nasty looking spots with Bondo. Then I strip the buck out and wash of the jelly residue and cut it to fit wherever I need to on the frame. Here's a picture of a buck, before it gets covered with paper. This is an Indy roadster and it is so big I used 1/8" foam for ribs, which is easier to strip out later but I like the styrene better. It's kind of a mess at first but it works great. I am building another one of these sprint cars right now and if you want I will take pictures of the process. Once you can do this the sky is the limit. You can build anything. Edited October 30, 2014 by Old Sprinter
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