by BIG E » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:16 pm
Well thank YOU, sir! I don't do the "FRAY" type stuff, but I guess I'm OK with the more conventional tune ups and light modifications. 50 years playin' with these things teaches you a few tricks and tweaks! When we have our weekly club races, I'm usually wrenchin' on at least 3 or 4 competitor's cars. More instructional things like pickup shoe tweaks, lubrication tips, tire choices, ect. It's mostly things that they're just not familiar with, really.
As Frank (from NY) has said before, we pretty much keep things to parts swapping and assembly/set up techniques. Slightly modified 'stock' T-Jets to ones with A/FX arms, magnets and gearing is usually the norm for most of the stuff we build. Realistic looking wheels with BLACK tires is also part of the equation. Even our A/FX type Magna-Traction stock car series uses a basically stock Aurora or Auto World chassis and body. Simple mods like better motor brushes, pickup shoes, slip-on silicone tires, and steel guide pins are about all that's needed for these cars to be pretty fast and reliable.
The "Fray" guys are like the Formula 1 of T-Jets, they're the smoothest running, best handling you'll ever drive. I believe they still run a 16 ohm or higher armature, and they really pick through a lot of them before putting all their efforts into one. CNC machined gearsets and front end setups, silicone over foam rear tires on delrin hubs with precision axles also adds to the great performance of these racers. I've been loaned one of these cars more than once, and like I said before, these things really do drive great! I personally just don't like the looks of them, they remind me of Parma's "Womp" cars. Absolutely the pinnacle of T-Jet technology though, I have to say.
So... thanks again, Harry, I've got to get back to the workbench!
Until next time... Ernie