Post by EM on Dec 29, 2014 0:10:11 GMT -5
I am beginning this thread with some trepidation on several counts: I find that things go a lot slower these days than heretofore so finishing on time is always a concern. In addition, I have read and re-read Stubbo's build thread for this same car under the 2014 GPdeG thread. That build, and the extent to which overall standards have risen are, to say the least, daunting
I am starting now, with little to report other than some speculation because I have found that if I wait until a project is well along, I'm already musing on the next adventure and the paper work never gets done.
My original plan was to complete the Matra MS10 that was not completed in time for the 2014 event (trepidation #1)but, scanning the rules, I was brought up short by the red ink notation that the PP shell was too far out of spec to compete.My inquiry re bringing the shell into spec via Xacto liposuction was answered in the affirmative but, after looking at Mark's work in progress along the same line I decided that, while remodeling the shell did not appear to be overly difficult, I really did not want to get into the task of shrinking an apparent 420 cu. in. locomotive engine down to 3 liters.
While I have used Classic, PP, an other 60's shells in the past, I had never built a model using the PreWing product so decided to have a look. I was struck by the BT19 - nice looking shell, interesting details and, at least, a vestigial engine cover (I am a bit of a mechanical prude - I think that at least a token effort should be made to cover the mechanicals)
As I gathered photos, plans and data a coupe of thoughts occurred: (The following, for reasons that will become obvious, is rather like an explorer reaching the North Pole, only to discover another team already there and prepared to offer him tea) The pannier fuel tanks end at a frame rail that anchors the rear suspension trailing arms so - if the molded rear frame section is removed, exhaust manifolds and both upper and lower trailing arms can be anchored to a chassis extension getting around a major assembly nightmare. Further inspection suggests that the panniers themselves can be cut from the body and attached to the frame, simplifying the mounting of the front suspension leading arms. All of this is, of course elegantly pictured in the aforementioned BT19 construction thread from down under!
So - Mel has confirmed the availability of a body shell - to be shipped after the holiday deluge, plans found on the VSRN site have been scaled, 13" front and 15" rear wheels found in the inventory. A construction box has been started (Bottom of a Chinese take-away container washed so as not to get Hunan pork in the gears) and a tentative gear set selected.
Notes on design - this is a small car. Even allowing a 2mm tolerance in track,it will be about 4mm narrower than the limit easily achieved by others e.g. Eagle Weslake, Lotus 49. Thus, lest it spend too much time "rubber side up" attention must be paid to a low center of mass an allowance may need to be made for some ballast. It is also correspondingly shorter than many suggesting a guide configuration as far forward as possible.
Not much more to do or report until I have the body in hand
EM
I am starting now, with little to report other than some speculation because I have found that if I wait until a project is well along, I'm already musing on the next adventure and the paper work never gets done.
My original plan was to complete the Matra MS10 that was not completed in time for the 2014 event (trepidation #1)but, scanning the rules, I was brought up short by the red ink notation that the PP shell was too far out of spec to compete.My inquiry re bringing the shell into spec via Xacto liposuction was answered in the affirmative but, after looking at Mark's work in progress along the same line I decided that, while remodeling the shell did not appear to be overly difficult, I really did not want to get into the task of shrinking an apparent 420 cu. in. locomotive engine down to 3 liters.
While I have used Classic, PP, an other 60's shells in the past, I had never built a model using the PreWing product so decided to have a look. I was struck by the BT19 - nice looking shell, interesting details and, at least, a vestigial engine cover (I am a bit of a mechanical prude - I think that at least a token effort should be made to cover the mechanicals)
As I gathered photos, plans and data a coupe of thoughts occurred: (The following, for reasons that will become obvious, is rather like an explorer reaching the North Pole, only to discover another team already there and prepared to offer him tea) The pannier fuel tanks end at a frame rail that anchors the rear suspension trailing arms so - if the molded rear frame section is removed, exhaust manifolds and both upper and lower trailing arms can be anchored to a chassis extension getting around a major assembly nightmare. Further inspection suggests that the panniers themselves can be cut from the body and attached to the frame, simplifying the mounting of the front suspension leading arms. All of this is, of course elegantly pictured in the aforementioned BT19 construction thread from down under!
So - Mel has confirmed the availability of a body shell - to be shipped after the holiday deluge, plans found on the VSRN site have been scaled, 13" front and 15" rear wheels found in the inventory. A construction box has been started (Bottom of a Chinese take-away container washed so as not to get Hunan pork in the gears) and a tentative gear set selected.
Notes on design - this is a small car. Even allowing a 2mm tolerance in track,it will be about 4mm narrower than the limit easily achieved by others e.g. Eagle Weslake, Lotus 49. Thus, lest it spend too much time "rubber side up" attention must be paid to a low center of mass an allowance may need to be made for some ballast. It is also correspondingly shorter than many suggesting a guide configuration as far forward as possible.
Not much more to do or report until I have the body in hand
EM