[Diogenes]

Hello my fellow slotphiles. You may have not noticed me recently and this is because I have been involved in private enterprise. Last year I took a long break from work and 'retired' to my brothers holiday house in France for R&R plus some DIY to pay for the trip. I took some balsa to whittle because I wanted to try my hand at the body carving game epecially as some of my favourite cars from the lates 60s have never been covered in 1/32. There was no pressure, it was just to while away some time, drink some local Bordeaux and whittle. I took a plan which was based on photo reduced pictures as no plans are available for the RA300. Thus:

I did the usual trick with sticking the plans on the balsa and then carving based on that and surprisingly got this.

When I got back to blighty I did a bit more work with sanding sealer and stuff and did a mock-up with some Fly wheels just to get a feel for whether it was in the 'zone'.

Then I got a new job and passed the master over to a 'master' who has recently produced this:

The most difficult thing has been the exhausts which will look like this but with the collectors on:

Since it is very nearly finished, we have asked a nice man to produce a few of these and we await developments

Cheers

Mel

 

[SplitRim]

As they say in Cardiff

"Tidy"

Dont ya just love those '60s Honda GP cars!

 

[munter]

As they say in NZ...."choice bro"

I will be watching for more info and more pictures

 

[Diogenes]

We are currently arranging production of a limited number of RA300s. The last piece to put into place is the exhaust casting which will be in white metal as it is too fiddly to cast in resin and would be very breakable in that material.

In the meantime, the body will be cast and distributed by Dave Capelen's SMK organisation. The intial batch for general availability can be obtained via Dave himself and once the w/m castings are done they will be posted to him. Dave will advise the price for the shell and exhausts later. Suitable wheels (15" for ref) can be obtained from a number of sources particularly Al Penrose's BWA and 'Classic' tyres to fit from Pendles. I am looking into the red meatball and line decals at the moment but don't hold your breath.

Looking forward to building this one and showing some pics of the build.

Cheers

Mel

 

[andre acker]

Very good news !

And congratulations for the great work !

Best regards.

André Acker.

 

[alfetta]

Where are you going to get BWA wheels now that Al is no longer producing them?
Peter

 

[BeardogRacing]

Ah Ha,

But Al is getting Bat Cave #2 up and operational, he's baaaaak, he's just getting the news out softly.

Chris

 

[alfetta]

Oh Goody! Best news for a while. welcome back Al.
Peter

 

[ClubSpecial]

Because of the likelihood of there being only partial deliveries of Al's wheels I am making the inserts to fit NSR wheels which are suitable in diameter and width and more generally available.
The rear insert, finished today includes a thick outer ring to suggest that very fat rimmed rear wheel of the 3 Litre cars. The front will be slightly less thick, but will transform the rather bland "bucket" appearance of the NSR wheels.

Martin

 

[David Lawson]

Colin Spark at RS Slot Racing now produces a superb range of aluminium wheels and I'm sure has the size for this Honda.

David

 

[steve francis]

From a very miserable Highbury And as I didnt get up to the club(N.L.) tonight cos I was working late again, the master(and it does look the dogs doo dahs) has just had a whole load of liquid silicon dumped over it.....

 

[bwaminispeed]

QUOTE Because of the likelihood of there being only partial deliveries of Al's wheels
Martin, what do you know that I don't??????
Pretty sad I'm thinking.

 

[ClubSpecial]

Al, I know I haven't got those wheels yet and so I have to make the inserts fit something I know people can get.
If it proves you can supply on the button I'll make a set to fit yours and even RS's if necessary. PP's are too wide. I don't mind, but I had to get SOME out for Mel. It was only fair.
You still have a move to complete and it would be hardly surprising if supplies fall behind in those circumstances.
If the Canadian PO has screwed up, it is your job to claim. I can't. Same rules as here.

Martin

 

[Diogenes]

Now lets all play nicely or we might upset the moderotaters, whoever they are. We are all under pressure here for various reasons so for example I am trying to justify why I think something will cost £3M when everybody including the lady with the purse strings says £0.5M not a penny more. Philosophically speaking this is difficult for me, so I have got my spreadsheets out and am trying to be practical.

I know that there are several sources of wheels for this beastie several of which occur on Pendle's site, others on RSS etc, etc. The point is you pays your money and you takes your choice. I have ordered some stuff for my build from Al because I like his product but I know it takes time for the various POs and Customs and Exercises to process parcels. I can't work out why it takes two weeks in this age of jet travel for a parcel to come across from Canada but that is just the way it is.

The news from Steve F is excellent because it means that the beast awakens in 1/32 after a hibernation of 35 years.

I shall now retreat variously to my spreadsheets in the interests of job protection and to my barrel later on to see if a parcel has arrived.

Cheers

Mel

 

[Diogenes]

Oh dear I meant 45 years - I underestimated again. Now about that £5M.................

 

[MAF]

QUOTE (Diogenes @ 15 Feb 2012, 21:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>the body will be cast and distributed by Dave Capelen's SMK organisation. The intial batch for general availability can be obtained via Dave himself and once the w/m castings are done they will be posted to him. Dave will advise the price for the shell and exhausts later. Suitable wheels (15" for ref) can be obtained from a number of sources particularly Al Penrose's BWA and 'Classic' tyres to fit from Pendles.

QUOTE (alfetta @ 15 Feb 2012, 22:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Where are you going to get BWA wheels now that Al is no longer producing them?
Peter

Al, so what's the story are you in business or not? Last I saw on here you were 'going to do something else' other than slots. Can we place orders or not?

Dave, what's happening with SMK? I keep seeing posts on here that bodies are coming out but would much prefer to see a website rather than trawl through here in case there's something I miss that I might want to order.

Al/Dave, I don't read every post or topic on here and I'm sure there are plenty of other potential customers who don't either, wouldn't it be better to have an up-to-date website we can see?

 

[Deslotted]

QUOTE (Diogenes @ 10 Feb 2012, 23:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>There was no pressure, it was just to while away some time, drink some local Bordeaux and whittle.
Cheers

Mel

Half Your luck mate, I wish I could get that to happen in my life, everything seems to go pear shaped at a 100mph for me.

You've done well tho' that looks great.

See what happens chaps, when you stop the world for a while and get off, amazing things like this happen, thats what.

 

[bwaminispeed]

Maff, yes, I am back, you may place orders.

 

[steve francis]

Hi Marlon, If I can respond on Daves behalf, as far as SMK website goes its a case of work in progress at the moment, but the new shells we have are as follows:
Clan Crusader
TR7
Rover 3.5 p6
Brabham BT7
Cooper t60
and coming soon,
Honda RA300
Volvo amazon (next month)
Saab 99 (spring)

cheers steve

 

[MAF]

Hi Steve, that's great thanks, will get in touch with Dave about a couple of those. Al, glad to see you back in business.

Cheers, Marlon.