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Scratchbuilding 1/32 Lotus 21 and 1/32 BRM P61 slot cars The 10 year and 7 year projects

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  • Member since
    October 2020
Scratchbuilding 1/32 Lotus 21 and 1/32 BRM P61 slot cars The 10 year and 7 year projects
Posted by BigskyMark on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 11:58 AM
I started both of these cars more than a few years ago. In fact the Lotus 21 began life a decade ago and the BRM P61 about 7 years ago.
 
I had intended to enter the Lotus 21, (J Clark drove it in the 1961 French Grand Prix) in a Tasman Series Proxy race but never finished it.  It sat on my shelf, about 90% complete until this spring. Upon inspection, I determined that the car needed:
 
a new driver and cockpit and detailing
new wheels and tires
new guide, leads and braid
new motor
different sized crown and pinion gears
a reconstructed faux space frame chassis
and a whole lot more
 
Here's the finished car:
 
1961 Lotus 21
 
 
 
The BRM P61, modeled to represent the F1 car Graham Hill drove at the 1963 French Grand Prix, was built for and entered in a VRAA series, but suffered a near fatal crash which resulted in chassis damage and I withdrew the car early in the series.  It also sat on my shelf, unrepaired for at least 4 years.
 
This car required:
 
Chassis repair of the main rails and motor mount and,
 
A new motor and revised gearing
new wheels and tires
new guide, leads and braid
significant body repair, new rivets, painting and decals
and of course a new driver figure and cockpit detailing
 
Here's the finished car:
 
1963 BRM P61
 
Both cars were finished a couple months ago and will be raced in proxy series beginning in December this year.  Rather than attach or link a host of additional pictures, I've linked the photogallery where I documented most of my rebuild process.
 
 
 
Thanks for looking
 
 
Mark H.
 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 12:07 PM

Welcome!

Wow,this is great to have slot cars now shown at FSM!

I know a bit more about the actual cars and drivers than I do about slot cars today. Sure, I had the box of beat up cars that I took to the hobby shop track on Saturdays, but your models: wow!

I'm looking forward to learning more.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 12:13 PM

Those are very cool!  Big fan of that era of F1 racing and have built a few of the 1/20 scale Tamiya kits.  Couldn't imagine driving them around a track.  What a blast.  Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Thursday, October 22, 2020 11:35 AM

Now;

        I have talked about it til I am hoarse! Those are RACE Cars! They Look like Race cars and sound like Race cars. Those extra fast flying Doorstops loaded with fins are not appealing to me. These Are ! Good On You!

        When I got into it for a while( Well, til the track Store closed) I ran 1/25 scale. Mostly G.T.O.s and Cobras. Once in a while I would rig up a regular High End Two Door hardtop ( Fury,Impala Etc.)

      Get teased about crashing and surprise tham all by not doing anything more than flying around the track doing some nice Slides with the rear ends.( I think they call that Drifting?)

      Got banned from Racing one car. It was a Jeep! and Four Wheel drive! two sets of contacts and pins were required! Only one Slightly more powerful motor! And a great gearset from another Company, along with the adjustable frames!

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by BigskyMark on Thursday, October 22, 2020 2:06 PM

Tanker-Builder

Now;

        I have talked about it til I am hoarse! Those are RACE Cars! They Look like Race cars and sound like Race cars. Those extra fast flying Doorstops loaded with fins are not appealing to me. These Are ! Good On You!

     

 

 
Thanks for sharing your scratchbuilding experiences and I appreciate your comments. I've been called a  rivet counter (at least when it comes to slot car builds), and worse. But that's okay by me.  
 
I never understood hypersonic wedges --I don't mind that folks with far better eyes and reflexes than me like to race these things around giant tracks, but I roll my eyes when anyone refer to these things as 'cars'.  Live and let live I suppose. Since I don't live anywhere near a commercial track, it's not like I encounter the wedges that much.
 
In any case, my slot car building has come in handy now that I've started building static models again (WWI era aircraft in 1/48)  after a 35 year hiatus. At least I know how to use an airbrush and glue (although it took a few modeling mishaps over the past couple of months to recall the differneces between CA glue, epoxy and plastic solvent (er cement) and when to use each!  ;)
 
Cheers,
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