[dgersh]

I'm sure we've all seen old slot cars packed with clay to provide extra traction - maybe some of us have even done that. I've only seen that on old 1/32 set cars: Strombecker, Eldon, etc. But I recently picked up a pair of 1/24 Strombecker bodies, a Ferrari P2 and a Ford J, both packed with clay front and rear. On the J (which I already cleaned), he had even sculpted the entire front and rear grille areas out of clay, whereas on the P2 only the front was filled in, with clay just added underneath the opening at the rear.

It seemed unusual enough on a 24th scale car to point out. Of course, maybe they were part of a Strombecker 1/24 scale set, with skinnier tires and no traction goop, so needed the extra weight.

The front "plug"

I could also use some advice on these: I soaked the bodies and removed the decals, but the glue seems more or less embedded in the surface. Any good hints on removing that, chemical or physical? I scraped off as much as possible with a sharpened popsicle stick, but before going any further, wanted to know your secret recipes.

I usually manage to do this with a combination of sanding, maybe some lighter fluid or another solvent, but if anybody's got a better way, I'm interested!

Thanks,
Don

 

[Coides]

I'm sure we've all seen old slot cars packed with clay to provide extra traction . . .

Nope!

Andy

 

[dgersh]

Maybe it was a US thing - I've come across dozens, mostly old Strombecker 1/32 cars it seems...

Don

 

[PatB]

If the glue is hard, rather than still sticky/rubbery, it might polish out with an abrasive metal polish like Brasso or Solvol Autosol (or your local equivalent).

 

[rastas]

I've got a couple of 1/24 Monagram
lexen bodies and found clay front and rear ,I thought it strange at the time to, than looking at the Monagram chassis it would of been easier to use clay in the body for balist than trying to attach lead to the chassis!
Just my theory 🤔,
John

 

[Coides]

I tried the same trick at the rear of my Revell 250GTO around 1967. Trouble was, I used polstyrene cement instead of clay. Guess what happened?

Andy

 

[dgersh]

I can't imagine Andy... got any juicy photos left?

John, first I've heard of somebody doing that with vac-formed bodies! If it's the pan type Mono chassis easy to add lead, but if it's the later ladder type chassis, not as easy.

Don

 

[Houses]

Don, in my esperience, sticker's glue residues come out easily using (ethyl) alcohol, with no harm to the plastic.

 

[rastas]

I can't imagine Andy... got any juicy photos left?

John, first I've heard of somebody doing that with vac-formed bodies! If it's the pan type Mono chassis easy to add lead, but if it's the later ladder type chassis, not as easy.

Don

Yep , ladder chassis.

 

[Coides]

I can't imagine Andy... got any juicy photos left?

The entire rear end melted. I don't have any old photos but I do still have the rest of the car (anal, moi?). Maybe I could get 50 bucks for it on Ebay?

Andy

 

[Houses]

I've got a couple of 1/24 Monagram
lexen bodies and found clay front and rear

If enough clay was added, these cars could have performed as cars equipped with injected bodies, not much improvement I'm affraid!

 

[dgersh]

Don, in my esperience, sticker's glue residues come out easily using (ethyl) alcohol, with no harm to the plastic.

That did the trick Eduardo, thanks!

I used the alcohol from our medicine chest, which should protect the body from Covid too...

Anybody have a spare interior for the Ford J? (yes, I know i'm pushing my luck, but even if I could just see what one looks like, and how the mounting posts are arranged...)

Don

 

[dgersh]

Andy, I'm flabbergasted.

I also thought I was pretty anal, but you're the king! (However, I did keep my modified, but never completed HO cars from when I was about 14, as shown below. Yep, I called my modified XKE No. 69 - thought I was pretty urbane, eh?)

 

[ArJayAytch]

I think in the UK packing bodies with Plasticine was common, rather than using modelling clay.

Richard

 

[dgersh]

I keep seeing that name, but don't really know what Plasticine is...

Don

 

[PatB]

I keep seeing that name, but don't really know what Plasticine is...

Don

It's an oil based clay, so never actually sets, remaining soft, sculptable and sticky, essentially forever. I'm not 100% sure what's in the proprietary stuff, but a (sorta) homebrew equivalent can be concocted from baby oil, candle wax, talcum powder and petroleum jelly (Vaseline). Which, I can tell you, gets you some looks at the supermarket checkout when you buy the raw ingredients for a large batch.

 

[Coides]

Harbutt was an art school headmaster and invented it around 1897 for modelling. I use it mainly as a support for paint spraying, thus:

After a while you get a thick multilayer of dry paint that stops anything attaching to it so you just slice off the layer with a scalpel and it's as good as new again. One of those blobs above lasts at least a year.

Andy

 

[PatB]

They're not kidding about the flammability. Knowing no better, I once used some to protect some components from nearby welding, and it went up beautifully.

 

[dgersh]

Thanks for the info and warnings guys, good to know.

Of course the lead I generally use as weight is probably toxic too, but maybe not when just being glued on the chassis - bring on the soldering fumes!

Don

 

[beardy56]

In the late 60's and early 70's I was using a small layer of Plasticine and the pressed lead fishing weights in as required. When about right another thin layer of plasticine to keep them in place.