1950 VW Beetle

4674 Views 46 Replies 14 Participants Last post by KensRedZed, Jan 13, 2021

KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2020

It's been a little while since I've built a car. A Beetle has been on my radar since I heard about the Carrera Panamericana team of VW's. The older Beetles had oval windows. That made the ARII Microace static kit a natural choice.

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The livery I'm going to attempt will be number 262 from the race in 1954.

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While the car was molded in red. It had no shine. Nothing a little paint won't solve.

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A chassis was created.

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More details to follow... eventually.

The only hint that this chassis was made on a new milling machine is the crown gear relief. Guess what I got for Christmas?

Thank you very kindly for looking.

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Reactions: 5

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Gareth

· #2 · Dec 30, 2020

That's looking great!

Your chassis is great. So simple but sharp. What did the piece of metal look like before you started? I'm always a bit in awe of chassis builders. Also, is the motor glued or soldered?

Cheers

Gareth

matthew77

· #3 · Dec 30, 2020

That's looking brilliant Ken

Trisha

· #4 · Dec 30, 2020

Ken

A nice sequence of photographs of another lovely build from Canada. Greatly looking forward to the finished slot car.

You note above that the "older VWs had an oval rear window". True, but the even older ones had split rear windows. The last 'Splittie' was built on 10 March, 1953, and was replaced by the 'Oval'. The Oval was replaced by the larger rectangular rear window in August, 1957, for the 1958 model year.

The very last 'Splittie' is pictured below in 1997 in New Hampshire.

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GRAH1

· #5 · Dec 30, 2020

I notice from Kens latest photos he is using independently rotating front wheels ,A very good idea especially if you run your car with the front wheels resting fully on the track. It makes such a difference to the cornering even if you use zero grip tyres . I always do this on my race cars even though I run with the weight on the guide and the wheels just skimming the track

Reactions: 1

Trisha

· #6 · Dec 30, 2020

Carrera's Group 5 Beetle also has front wheels that rotate independently of each other. These cars go very well, too, once the rear tyres are either scrubbed, or preferably replaced with 'urethanes.

Hats of to Carrera for the quality they dial into their value-for-money products.

KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 30, 2020

I humbly thank everyone for the positive comments and likes.

Gareth. The chassis was made from 3/4" inch aluminum tubing from a local hardware store. 1/16th wall thickness. The motor is epoxied in place (5-minute epoxy). Here is a tutorial on how to make one yourself. I hope you do!

https://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=197703

Graham. You're the first to notice the independents. The last 30+ builds all have them.

Thanks for the fun facts, Laurence!

Cheers, Matthew!

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EMPO_Z102

· #8 · Dec 30, 2020

He mirado ese enlace y esta muy bien esa manera de hacer chasis, casi parecen comerciales. Ahora solo me falta...

... todas esas herramientas.

I have looked at that link and this way of making chassis is very good, they almost seem commercial. Now I just need...
... all those tools.

Un saludo
Frederic

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KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 30, 2020

EMPO_Z102 said:
He mirado ese enlace y esta muy bien esa manera de hacer chasis, casi parecen comerciales. Ahora solo me falta...

... todas esas herramientas.

I have looked at that link and this way of making chassis is very good, they almost seem commercial. Now I just need...
... all those tools.

Un saludo
Frederic

Frederic,

Thank you very kindly. To say they look commercial is the best compliment one can get. You are such a good artist, I bet that you can do all this with your bare hands.

Muchas gracias Decir que parecen comerciales es el mejor cumplido que uno puede recibir. Eres tan buen artista, apuesto a que puedes hacer todo esto con tus propias manos.

Cheers,

Ken

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42redcat

· #10 · Dec 30, 2020

Lovely quality of finish!
I'm obviously not very observant. How are the independent front wheels done?
Mike

KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 30, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

Thank you very kindly, Mike.

The short answer. A Dubro #2 flat washer is soldered to the end of a regular axle.

The extended answer. Clean the axle and washer first. Then use a drill press to hold the axle while pressing it into the washer. It ensures the washer is perfectly square to the axle.

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Then put the axle in a 3rd hand, and get the liquid flux ready.

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The solder.

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Touch the iron to the solder and then apply that drop to the top of the washer. Allow time for the axle to heat up and create a good bond. The solder usually seeps under the washer.

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Put the axle in a drill, and get a good, sharp file.

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Then spin the drill at high speed while holding the file to the end of the axle. The excess lead comes off very quickly.

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The finished axle. Excess lead on the table. You can even take the time to thin out the washer a bit so it hides behind the insert better.

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These are too easy to make. Why not add them to every car?

Best regards,

Ken

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KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 30, 2020

One thing to note. Make sure not to knock the washer out of position with the soldering iron. You almost need to touch the axle/washer with the solder only, and not the iron. I've had to remove and re-install several washers before.

Best of luck with your independent front wheels!

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GRUNZ

· #13 · Dec 31, 2020

This is brilliant but how do you transfer the solder on the axle/washer without warming them up with the iron???

GRAH1

· #14 · Dec 31, 2020

Alternatively but a slot it hollow axle and superglue a guide fertile in one end.

EMPO_Z102

· #15 · Dec 31, 2020

KensRedZed said:
You are such a good artist, I bet that you can do all this with your bare hands.

Eres tan buen artista, apuesto a que puedes hacer todo esto con tus propias manos.

Gracias Ken, pero por estas latitudes se dice: "L'eina, fa a l'home", en referencia a los trabajos bien hechos.

Y del tema de los semiejes soldadndo una arandela... ¿Y utilizando un clavo de la medida adecuada?

Thanks Ken, but around these latitudes it is said: "The tool makes man", referring to a job well done.
And the issue of the semi-shafts welding a washer ... And using a nail of the appropriate size?

Feliz año nuevo a todos.
Frederic

42redcat

· #16 · Dec 31, 2020

Thanks for that, Ken. It looks quite simple when you do it but I'm sure I'll need a learning curve!

I'm afraid I'm still missing some understanding, though. I'm familiar with the way Fly and Avant do independent front wheels with short separate stub axles, each in a long bearing on each side, with a gap in the middle. I can't see any long bearing or gap on your chassis. How do you install your independent wheels?

Mike

beardy56

· #17 · Dec 31, 2020

If I've followed this correctly only one wheel is free to spin on the axle with washer the other is fixed as normal to the axle.

KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 31, 2020

Grunz. You touch the iron to the solder to pick up half a drop. Then gently touch the washer and axle. I just wanted to stress not to knock the washer out of square. Be gentle with your iron.

Frederic. Thank you very kindly for the compliment. We often used to joke around with co-workers by claiming the part that just came off the milling machine looks "store bought".

Muchas gracias por el cumplido. A menudo solíamos bromear con los compañeros de trabajo diciendo que la pieza que acaba de salir de la fresadora parece "comprada en la tienda".

A good supplier of super straight, hardened 3/32 nails is Professor Motor. Here's the link.

Un buen proveedor de clavos 3/32 súper rectos y endurecidos es Professor Motor. Aquí está el enlace.

https://www.professormotor.com/product-p/pmtr1034.htm

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KensRedZed

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 31, 2020

You are spot on Keith. Axle spacers are used to prevent the assembly from sliding around. Only one wheel is locked to the axle, and it sets the gap for the entire assembly.

42redcat

· #20 · Dec 31, 2020

Thanks, Beardy and Ken.

I understand now! That's clever and should give a better result than the Fly system, which I find allows the wheels to flop around too much.

Best wishes to all for the New Year.

Mike

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