[KensRedZed]

We are starting a new class at our club called Indi Roadsters. Front motor Indi cars from 1950 up to 1967. We would also need to make our cars front motor drive. The only motor we can use is the BWMS050 with some type of drive shaft. That presented some new challenges for the entire club.

Here's the kit as purchased. Made by Geodies. Sold on EBay. Thick, solid core, copper wires were supplied as exhaust pipes. Those copper wires will not be going on the kit.

Chassis plans laid out.

The chassis.

Test fitting a front motor drive system recently removed from a Scalex Maserati 250F.

More to follow. Thank you very kindly for looking.

 

[Mr Modifier]

Im not normally a fan of single seaters but I like this one - it looks very purposeful. That slight squaring off of the body makes all the difference.

Beautifully executed - the chassis is a work of art in itself.

 

[chrisw]

Hi Ken,.........looking good !!...............you may want to try a double flanged 2mm id. sintered bronze oilite for the rear motor shaft support,.....much more precise than the plastic ones

.

These are available from a few folks......including the NSR2004803.

Cheers

Chris Walker

 

[KensRedZed]

Thank you for your kind words, Mr Modifier.

Chris. I humbly thank you for your inspiration, suggestions and the reference too!

I just bought some aluminum tubing for the exhaust. This might very well be my biggest challenge yet.

 

[gus3049]

Interesting that they supply house wiring for the exhausts. I've used that several times with some success although the hollow end can look a little heavv. It is possible to thin it down if you are careful. Much easier to bend to shape that metal tubing.

 

[chrisw]

I just bought some aluminum tubing for the exhaust. This might very well be my biggest challenge yet.

Hi Ken, I am sure you already know this, but, if you place some aluminum/brass rod or tube into the alu, tube before bending it, you will avoid "kinking" the alu. tube........looks better !!

Cheers

Chris Walker

 

[CW Hall]

Looking great as usual,I have faith you'll come up with a sharp set of exhaust pipes.keep up the great work...Chuck

 

[CW Hall]

Oh by the way NO PRESSURE...Chuck

 

[Wobble]

Looking good so far and just really love those inserts.

 

[GRAH1]

Bit suspect of the rear bearing Ken. Chris' idea of the oilite is a better bet but I would think a longer support the length between the spring and the pinion would be better ,either a solid block of ally with a suitable hole or some kind of u bracket with a bearing each side . I know there's not a lot of torque in the motor but any up down or side to side movement if the spring causes any eccentricity will soon wreck the mesh

 

[KensRedZed]

Hi Gus. I like to torture myself. So I'm going to try and wreck... I mean... make some exhausts pipes from the tubing with Chris Walker's suggestion of filling the tubing before bending.

Thanks for the idea Chris.

Thank you kindly Chuck. No pressure... Got it.

Thank you very kindly Wobble.

Graham. I still plan to put a drop of epoxy on the bushing before race day. I also hope to change it for a brass version as Chris suggested. As you already stated, these motors do not have insane torque. Thank you kindly for the suggestions.

I just watched a show on how they make French Horns. They fill the brass pipe with hot pitch. Let it cool. Bend the pipe using a jig. Then heat the pipe to remove the pitch. They end up with perfect bends, and a hollow pipe after you're done. Not sure how small a diameter of pipe I can go. I aim to find out. Where the heck do you buy pitch? A roofing supplier?

This is either going to work like a charm. Or become a total disaster.

 

[Ecurie Martini]

Will follow with interest - curious that 8 exhaust "stubs" were supplied - the car was, I believe, an in-line 6

 

[Ecurie Martini]

We are starting a new class at our club called Indi Roadsters. Front motor Indi cars from 1950 up to 1967. We would also need to make our cars front motor drive. The only motor we can use is the BWMS050 with some type of drive shaft. That presented some new challenges for the entire club.

I like your club's approach - an on-going supply of new challenges.

EM

 

[stuckinthe60s]

hate to be a spoiler here, but for the life of me that looks much more like one of the Epperly "lay down" roadsters, which campaigned and won in the late 50's at Indy. The other possibility is it's the Cummins diesel car from 1952, the one and only year that Ferrari made it's entry at the Brickyard. The offset cockpit is telltale for these possibilities, which allowed the driver to sit lower for the c/g, whereas the Ferrari, a v12 based on the contemporary 375 from the European circle, had a much more upright driving position with the propshaft down the center. To stay on the "Ferrari track" with this car, it would at least need wire wheels, which were the famous reason that the car failed at the Oval's high stress/speeds corners.

 

[KensRedZed]

Hi Al. I think they supplied 2-extra wires. We usually introduce a new class or two every year. It's a great club for true scratch builders that like to build.

Here's the challenge below.

 

[stuckinthe60s]

well, I need to eat my words, though still partially correct. A true "hybrid" of the laydown with a Ferrari engine! Good luck with the build!

 

[KensRedZed]

Hi Stuckinthe60's. I am not a history expert in any way. I humbly apologize for any confusion. But the Ferrari Bardahl Special that raced in the 1956 Indi-500 did not come with wire wheels. It came with the wheels as seen on the real car I just posted. I had to hunt down the inserts for the style of wheel Ferrari actually used. Wire wheels would have been incorrect.

I will admit that Geodies did not do an accurate job of shaping the body. But in the end, it's a slot car. It will be fun to race!

 

[KensRedZed]

You're a good man, Stuckinthe60's. I was born in 61. We are closer in many more ways than you may think. I still have a Hot Wheels collection.

 

[Wicker Bill]

Great car!

On filling the tubing prior to bending - try common sand. You can plug the tube end with a bit of eraser or round plastic.

Whose wheels, tires, and inserts?

 

[dangermouse]

Nice car - I built half a dozen of Geodies indy bodies. They come up well.

The real car ran Halibrand wheels - BWA did inserts I think you can pick them up from RS Slotracing and John Warren would have them as well as he has been doing BWA inserts (with Al's permission)

Good article on Indy wheels here

https://indyroadsters.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2660238-the-halibrand-magnesium-roadster-wheel

cheers

David