› Forums › Slot Car Paddock › Scratch Built Models › 63 Thunderbird
- This topic has 24 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 3 weeks ago by Ken.
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March 28, 2020 at 11:12 pm #14308
I’ve always wanted a 63 T-Bird convertible with the optional tonneau cover and twin head rests. This is a very nice kit for a slot car.
Here’s whats in the kit. It comes as a hardtop, or convertible.
The chrome really sparkles.
These are the parts being used. I hope to use the complete interior with the exception of the back seat.
The back seat comes as a separate piece. You have to leave the back seat out if you install the tonneau cover. That leaves a lot of room for a slot car drive system while still retaining the full interior.
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March 29, 2020 at 4:14 pm #14318
Plain yellow isn’t a very good T-Bird colour to me so I went with something a bit more suited for a custom boulevard cruiser. I call it “deep fiery tangerine dream”. Tamiya calls it “metallic orange”. To each his own. :yahoo:
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March 30, 2020 at 11:35 am #14323
I bought that kit a year ago and Joe Guts is converting it for me to, although it’s a different year, look like the “Sheriff” Thunderbird used in a movie my dad produced, “Paperback Hero”.
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March 30, 2020 at 12:13 pm #14324
Good to hear from you JohnnySlots. Please post a pic of your Thunderbird when you can?
Very cool that your dad produced a movie! The T-Bird in the movie was a 1964 or 65?
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March 30, 2020 at 7:24 pm #14327
This is my second attempt at clear-coat. I don’t care who’s brand of metallic paint you use. They often have very little shine on their own as if designed to require clear-coat no matter how well the base paint is applied. Why fight gravity? I was not happy with the base coat shine, so I grabbed the can of clear. The difference is night and day. The first pic below is the same view as the last pic on the previous post above. I may not be as good as other builders. But this one paint application came out better than everything I’ve done before it. I’m sure glad this car/class isn’t getting a single decal. Let it sparkle!!! B-)
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March 30, 2020 at 7:44 pm #14328
Now that I’ve had my five minutes of boasting about a personal best. It’s time to give credit where it’s due. I simply got lucky. It happens to us all.
Ken
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March 31, 2020 at 10:12 am #14337
We decided to use the existing plastic chassis by Joe messaged a slot.it sidewinder motor pod into the rear and adding a guide holding brace up front. The motor hides under the rear seat cover nicely. Paint work is pending but it will be red with a Sheriff badge on the door like in the movie.
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March 31, 2020 at 10:13 am #14339
Exterior
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March 31, 2020 at 3:25 pm #14342
Looks great JohnnySlots! Always interesting to see how other people convert static kits into slot cars. Please show us the car after paint?
FYI about DL pics. Just above the area for posting text are several tiles to choose from that look like… B, I, ” abc, indentation bullets… then the last tile on the right looks like 2-small hills with a small sun. Press/use that last tile to download pics instead of the “Attachments – Choose File” area. It allows everyone to see your pics without having to log on.
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April 1, 2020 at 3:44 am #14366
The chassis. $2 worth of aluminum square tubing from Home Depot.
Boulevard Cruisers are supposed to be low riders. Mission accomplished.
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April 1, 2020 at 2:09 pm #14367
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April 1, 2020 at 2:10 pm #14368
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April 1, 2020 at 3:55 pm #14369
Thank you very kindly for re-posting the pics. That colour is insane! Almost robin’s egg blue.
Is that a BWNC1 motor? What gear ratio are you using please?
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April 2, 2020 at 8:05 pm #14379
Robins Nest Blue is apt, but that’s the colour of the model out of the box. Gearing on the BWA motor is 12/34 19 mm. Not that it would be competitive, but the car is illegal for Scratch racing as the Sportscar class doesn’t allow cars this wide, with a sidewinder configuration or with a motor pod. But we run a 14,000 open class so I can run it in that if I choose. Here’s a picture, taken from the movie Paperback Hero, of the hoped for final version.
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April 2, 2020 at 9:10 pm #14381
I hope you are happy with it when it’s finished.
My T-Bird is being built for a new class called “Boulevard Cruisers”. It was never meant for the Sportscar class.
“Boulevard Cruisers” is an open class with a slow motor (BWA). Full size cars. Not specifically race cars. Station wagons welcome. Any configuration. Your car would fit right in even with a sidewinder.
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April 2, 2020 at 11:38 pm #14382
This is the first car I’ve built with a full interior including a floor, inner door panels, gas, and brake pedals.
I still need to install the guide, braids, and wire up the motor. Inline drive didn’t fit with a full interior. Sidewinder didn’t have the right gears. I never made a scratch anglewinder before. There’s always a first time for everything.
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April 3, 2020 at 2:46 am #14385
Motor is wired in and the car is ready to run. It needs a driver. It weighs 81-grams.
Besides a driver, it still needs a bit of chrome detailing. Let’s go cruisin’!!! :yahoo:
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April 3, 2020 at 3:10 am #14386
I should mention that this has been my favorite build to date. I just started this kit on Sunday, and could not wait to see it completed. It’s not my favorite car by any means. But everything just fell into place. It inspires me to build.
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April 3, 2020 at 10:39 am #14390
Nice … but a little too low for my liking. It looks like it’s ready for LA Blvd cruisin! I know it will handle a lot better, but I prefer to see cars with more realistic ride heights.
I do want to know though how you made the chassis. Do you have details/photos on that?
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April 3, 2020 at 11:40 am #14391
Thank you for your kind words John.
This class is specifically for low riders. I’ve been to California and seen these types of cars. My T-Bird is conservative as far as low-riders go, and by far not the lowest car in S32. Please enjoy the following examples of real low riders.
The car should be lower to be realistic but rules say the body isn’t allowed to touch the track. Plus I didn’t have enough room to install a “lift kit” to adjust the height while driving. :unsure:
There’s a workshop on making these chassis yourself at home with simple tools. Here’s the link.
Monday, October 29, 2018 (7:00-9:30pm) Basic Aluminum Chassis Design/Build
The following link to a Rover BRM build also expands a bit on aluminum chassis.
The “scratch built” section of the Forums has many of my previous builds. Please let me know if you have more questions? I openly share everything.
Speaking of being too low. Funny memory from the 80’s. I remember being in Ft Lauderdale on the beach strip watching teenagers go by with Olds Cutlass Supremes with the coil springs totally removed. These cars drove on the rubber suspension limiters. But the cars only drove around the block. Again, and again, and again… The frames were almost scraping the ground. You could see the kid’s teeth chattering while they drove. Nuts! :wacko:
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April 4, 2020 at 5:54 pm #14415
Here’s the plans for the build. Sorry for the bad hand writing. I didn’t expect to post this.
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April 5, 2020 at 10:24 am #14427
Thanks for the link and photo above. But way beyond my skills to create.
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April 5, 2020 at 5:23 pm #14432
It looks far more difficult than it really is. I’ve built 8-cars for other people. A few months ago, Jim M came over to my shop and watched me build 2-chassis for him. He recently bought the same tooling as me, and is on his way to making his own now. No one was born with these skills. We teach each other out of friendship.
It’s been less than 2-years since my first scratch built slot car. Last month was the 2nd year anniversary of my first club race ever. I am still a newbie of sorts. It’s never too late to start.
I have come to the conclusion that I like building cars as much as racing them. Maybe even more.
Ken
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April 5, 2020 at 8:42 pm #14378
That is is the base colour of the model. Robin’s egg blue is an apt description. Picture below, copied from the movie Paperback Hero – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ig2EL6WBEs&t=4s) is hoped for final look. Gearing right now is 12/35 in a 19mm with a BWA motor. The car is not legal for Sportscars as it is too wide and is running a sidewinder configuration with a motor pod. But our group also runs a fendered 14,000 rpm motor class so it can run there.
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April 23, 2024 at 2:07 pm #45263
Elvis Presley picking up his new T-bird.
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