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When I first started hanging around HRW no one ever talked about building chassis from brass and such.

Now it seems there are so many folks expanding their enjoyment of the hobby through building their own chassis that it makes me very happy.

Thank You.

If there are any things that I can help with, and I am sure Dennis and Chris will agree, we are here to help.

Remember, there is no WRONG way to build a chassis. Sometimes there are BETTER ways.

Keep up the great work.

Can I envision a "Chassis Proxy" on the horizon?

So, its like the Navy. Never wrong, but sometimes a little short on being right-- adapted from Admiral Nimitz 1942.

Well, I'm glad you are pleased.

It is fun to see ALL the builds. Some of the plastic chassis mods/builds are just as interesting to me. It's the creativity that makes it fun.

I suspect there is a developmental evolution at work here. Back in the 60s, we more or less had to use brass in one form or another, and the renewal of RTR slot cars that exploded on the scene just a few years ago with more sophisticated plastic chassis than any of us had ever seen gave birth to a lot of very interesting plastic chassis tunes and mods. Now, having leaned from the plastic chassis, we seem to be moving toward a more sophisticated brass chassis than most of us encountered in those days. The biggest feature of all this to me is that brass chassis need not be the exclusive territory of blindingly fast silly cars, which can only be enjoyed on commercial tracks, if then. A case in point is my winning (temporarily) chassis for the Bob Taylor Hillclimb. It was half Fly sidewinder pod from 12 years ago, and half soldered-home-made-bizzaro, but it held the record for a while. There has been interest by a manufacturer to copy it, because it gives 3 dimensional flex. The point is, nobody would ever have tried (much less me), it if we weren't headed this direction by people like Marty and a few others.

Marty - I just think it is another fun aspect of the hobby. It won't make me go away from plastic, but I really had fun with my first!

Oh, and all this followed me home from Ace today...

The only brass chassis I've made in recent years are cut up and stretched Womp Womp chassis for dirt modifieds. Other than that I've been building chassis out of everything from sheet styrene to circuit board stock. I use a standard design and the cars are more than quick and sturdy enough for the small oval. I only race RTR Trans Am cars on the road course to keep everything even.

My question/comment is - has anyone tried making a chassis out of carbon fiber components? I bought some stock a few years ago in the RC isle of a hobby shop, but haven't used it yet. It might be as good as brass given all the uses it has these days. I'd planned to use JB Weld to put parts together, and also have a type of superglue the hobby dealer recommended. Anyone taken the plunge?

Slothead

Nice post, Marty. I, too, have been bitten, but am getting a later start than some of the others. Materials are in hand, work should start soon...

Allan

I just completed a first build on a brass chassis. I'm going to post it later.

WOW dreinecke , does your ACE hardware carry K&S? Or is that another store? I went to my local on and they looked at me like I was weird. (I am for the record).
Fortunately my not so local hobby shop carriess it.

Mike
Z

Dave,

Check out hobbylinc.com

I think you will like it.

Pegboard has the new mounted. Once opened and cut, it goes to the second level...and finally, small sections go into the "Shaker Box".

So I have it...just need to get busy :)

By the way...for those that have a LOWE's nearby. Check the hardware bins! They sometimes have ASSORTED brass and aluminum tubing, etc. The aluminum is nice for exhaust details.

Hey Marty, I am looking at taking the plunge (sort of) and plan on building a "hybrid" brass-plastic chassis using a slot-it motor pod. Can you recommend a good break for bending brass or perhaps offer up some ideas on how to make one?

Regards, Chet

RGEO Products makes an excellent wire bender.

You can contact them at scrgeo@comcast.net

Let me know if I can provide any assistance in it's use.

This looks promissing: http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemad ... ess-Brake/

Chris,

Yes you are that Chris.

I just knew you would help.

Thank you.


Marty