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What is a Scale chassis and body?

4604 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Russell Sheldon
Asked recently by a major manufacturer and an organization head, about the "Scale" make-up of a "Scratch built" slot cars, that will be made available (and raced in it's own class) in our future by a few manufactures using standard guidelines, I wanted to share part of my conversation here.

For a chassis to be considered a "Scale chassis" it should be:
1. One that is all metal.
2. One that has plenty of adjustments (by soldering or fasteners) for tuning and different bodies, etc.
3. It should also have the ability to fit different motor types.
4. One that uses the conventional guide and axle system.

A Scale body is one that:
1. Measures out to be similar to the 1:1 real car.
2. Made detailed or with the ability to be detailed properly.
3. A shell rather than a heavy think casting (resin)
4. Must have a ridged feel (vacuum formed) not too thin.
5. Must not vary much on any dimension so as to, make any part of the body clear tires, motor, or the guide.

After 29 years of "Scale" scratch building I feel that this is part of what determinds a chassis or body is to be considered "Scale" or True Scale.

I am proud to have been selected by a couple major contacts for my input.

After helping to promote Scale scratch built type slot cars for over twenty years we going to finaly see some changes on our hobby here in the U.S.A.

My fellow builders and racers in Europe and Asia have always kept Scale active in their racing programs

I feel that you my fellow Scratch builders can add to this.

[email protected]

Victor
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Call me the average home user. My definition of scale is simple.

1/32 scale cars ought to look 1/32nd the size of the prototype the model represents.

In other words, body shape, driver, wheels, tyres, logos etc are all scale replicas of an original prototype.

As for chasis and running gear, whatever it takes to make the model run with some degree of "umph" and a definite "limit" are all I need - scale is not an issue as long as it doesn't botch the outward scale appearance of the model.

once one tries to homologate the hobby into a set of rules and standards much of the appeal is lost for me - i like the variety in performance and the subtleties, for instance, betewen a Fly Porsche 908 and their Lola Mk III.

1/24 serious club racing on commercial tracks with winged thingies, rocket motors, 2 ohm controllers, standard chasis...I'm not at all interested thanks.

MESAC (the legendary California club of the late 60's/70's) with their attention to protoype accuracy and scale representations of real racing cars...now thats my defenition of scale.

cheers, Ken R
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