Mini Cooper S build - front wheel driven
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:01 pm
Been playing with the idea of a proxy using the Tamiya classic Mini Cooper kit body as the basis. Got a brilliant guideline suggestion from Chris W - the car must be front wheel driven, just like the real one! Well that just clicked for me. From a slot car perspective, this would be quite a build challenge different from the usual. The motor layout could be sidewinder with a spur gear, inline with a drive shaft to a front axle/crown gear set up and whatever people could imagine as long as it's front drive.
Before getting too far, JT Previa, my Sprite Proxy 2018 co-organizer, suggested building a prototype.
Thought I'd try a sidewinder format, so grabbed parts from the bin - Slot It sidewinder motor pod, 21K orange motor with 11t pinion, 34t spur gear, BRM 14" Nascar rims, urethane Ninco F1 front tires, .055" piano wire, .064" brass sheet.
Got the wire/brass frame soldered with "flat and square" in mind as emphasized by Chris. "Doesn't matter if the chassis's metal or plastic, you gotta build it that way to perform at its best."
The Mini's got very little front overhang to accommodate a regular guide that's not visible from looking above (a standard proxy guideline), so the post has to be quite close to the front axle. Had to grind away quite a bit of the front cross member that's mainly the attachment point for the motor pod to get some adequate guide travel. Also ground the guide's front edges to help too.
Got it assembled and it runs, pretty good too! I like!
Mocked the body on.
Going for this stance. Will mount the body via added sidepans.
I'm really happy with the results so far.
Dan
Before getting too far, JT Previa, my Sprite Proxy 2018 co-organizer, suggested building a prototype.
Thought I'd try a sidewinder format, so grabbed parts from the bin - Slot It sidewinder motor pod, 21K orange motor with 11t pinion, 34t spur gear, BRM 14" Nascar rims, urethane Ninco F1 front tires, .055" piano wire, .064" brass sheet.
Got the wire/brass frame soldered with "flat and square" in mind as emphasized by Chris. "Doesn't matter if the chassis's metal or plastic, you gotta build it that way to perform at its best."
The Mini's got very little front overhang to accommodate a regular guide that's not visible from looking above (a standard proxy guideline), so the post has to be quite close to the front axle. Had to grind away quite a bit of the front cross member that's mainly the attachment point for the motor pod to get some adequate guide travel. Also ground the guide's front edges to help too.
Got it assembled and it runs, pretty good too! I like!
Mocked the body on.
Going for this stance. Will mount the body via added sidepans.
I'm really happy with the results so far.
Dan