1963 Indy Roadster – The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler

Tagged: 1963 Indy Roadster

This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by Luis Meza.

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November 28, 2021 at 4:30 pm #20646
DB
I found a few links that folks might find interesting when building the car. It is not a slot car build but won first place at the 2016 IPMS Nationals in SC.

Parnelli Jones’s 1963 Indy 500 Winning Watson Roadster – Cars, Trucks, & Motorcycles – IPMS/USA Forums (ipmsusa3.org)

The second link is of a Facebook page (embedded in first link), with step by step pictures with comments when you click on the picture. I guess you need to be on FB to see. The interesting thing I liked is it helped locating where bits go plus it identified the paint colors to use for the Watson Livery.

Don’t know if it is helpful to anyone but I found it helped me.

My model is coming along. I am going for a Watson Livery. Mica Blue nose and White Pearl body, a little ambitious for me but what the heck. I ordered decals and a paint mask to help me along. The chassis I built 18 months ago for a STP Nova body but was never happy with the body. It fits the Watson with minimal adjustments. The chassis wheelbase is a touch long (1/4inch) as you will notice in the picture. So far the car is primed, interior glued in and driver fitted but not glued nor detail painted.
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- December 10, 2021 at 2:40 pm #20750
  DB
  A few pictures after painting the nose and side stripes. Decals should cover the bit of bleed on the hood. DART tires … 7.5 on rear and 7s on the front.
- December 11, 2021 at 10:24 am #20753
  Arthur
  Looking great so far DB!!! 🙂
  
  What gearing are you using? Have you noticed that the D7.5 urethane rear tires have opened up more gearing possibilities for the BWMS050? I have a 10T pinion and 27T crown in mine and think that I’ll still need to add some teeth to my crown or drop a tooth in my pinion (or both) – either way 2.7 is too low I’m finding…
  
  The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler!
- December 13, 2021 at 12:07 pm #20804
  DB
  I am using a 10/24 gearing but haven’t tested it since I fitted the D7.5s. So I will have to pay attention to that. I could go with a 28 or 29. Thanks for the heads up. Been putting the decals on this past weekend.
- December 30, 2021 at 7:12 am #21062
  DB
  Almost there. Just need to clear and then add the windscreen. Then the fine tuning starts.
- December 30, 2021 at 8:00 am #21133
  racer68
  That looks great DB! Do you have any pictures of the chassis that you could share with us?
  
  Cheers
  
  Steve
- January 2, 2022 at 11:09 am #21135
  f1nutz
  Wow! Spectacular job DB! Really nice finish on that one. Well done.
- January 3, 2022 at 10:25 am #21141
  Arthur
  Fantastico!!! Love the decals too!
  
  The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler!
- January 3, 2022 at 5:12 pm #21144
  DB
  Thanks guys. Got it cleared and windscreen added now. Steve, I will post some pics of the chassis.
- January 3, 2022 at 5:22 pm #21145
  GI
  That turned out beautiful. Rufus would be proud!
- January 8, 2022 at 5:36 am #21180
  DB
  Finished other than for testing. Steve, chassis pictures attached.
- January 8, 2022 at 5:50 am #21182
  Arthur
  Looks great DB! I’m so happy that you added the extra bits & pieces in the kit such as the rear suspension detail as well as the shifter linkage etc. Did you have any trouble adding the windshield or was it straightforward to do?
  
  Thank you also for sharing the pictures of your chassis – I see no reason why it shouldn’t be quick, but you may need to play with the gearing a little… but time will tell…
  
  Awesome!
  
  The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler!
- January 8, 2022 at 11:51 am #21185
  DB
  Thanks Art. I found the windscreen straight forward to add. It was a good fit but you have to be careful with the gorilla glue and then placement.
- January 8, 2022 at 3:27 pm #21186
  racer68
  That red white and blue color scheme epitomizes the look and feel of an Indy Roadster. The car looks great. Thanks for the chassis pics DB, they really show off all the engineering and building skills required for this class of racing. I have to try my hand at a brass and wire front motor chassis too. There is so much going on in so little space. I think if I can pull it off it should really help my building skills. After all it looks like I’ll have the time now.
  
  Cheers
  
  Steve
- January 10, 2022 at 10:56 am #21220
  DB
  Thanks Steve. My approach was that I drew a template of the indy car cavity, made sure the measurements were correct and a tich under. Then I bent a peice of wire into the shape of that cavity, the curve being at the rear. Then I cut brass plates to fit and soldered. Fairly quickly you get a base chassis that fits the Indy cavity. I have used this method before on a pre war buggati with brass wire as it bends easily. I am not a very good chassis builder but found this method helped me move forward quite well. Encourage you to give it a try.
- February 3, 2022 at 2:49 pm #22445
  Luis Meza
  Very nice build DB, I am working on mine, looking at others work is a big help, could you tell me where did you order the decals from?
  
  Thank You
- February 5, 2022 at 12:01 am #22446
  Ken
  Dave,
  
  Looks great! 🙂
  - February 8, 2022 at 4:00 pm #22551
    DB
    Luis, I got them from indycal in the US. They were $8 US plus $2 for a paint mask (recommend you get one as it helps greatly in painting the nose). Standard postage was $2 US. They arrive in 7-10 days.
    
    https://indycal.net
  - February 8, 2022 at 4:03 pm #22552
    DB
    Thanks Ken.
- February 8, 2022 at 6:37 pm #22555
  Arthur
  Excellent!!! Looks like our entire field of cars will have the same livery!!!
  
  The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler!
- February 9, 2022 at 10:05 am #22602
  Luis Meza
  Thank You DB for the information about the decals, once I have mine ready I will post some pictures
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