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While scrounging through my closet, found this Tamiya VW Golf Racing Gr. 2 model kit hidden away.



Need one of these on the track, so this goes to the top of the build pile.



Prepped and assembled the chassis pieces.

- .055" piano wire main rails and front axle uprights.
- .064" brass strip crossmembers
- .032" brass strip guide tongue with 5/32" brass tube guide post
- 1/8" brass tube front axle holder
- Slot It sidewinder motor pod
- Mitoos 17.5 x 10 Raid wheels/home made urethane tires

This build`s close to the heart as I`ve owned a 1:1 VW Rabbit truck for 23 years.



Dan

Basic ladder chassis's soldered together and motor pod mounted.





Will be rolling soon.

Dan

Tires mounted/trued and wheels installed. All four corners touching simultaneously, so chassis's flat, whew!



Mocked the body.







Shooting for approximately this stance.



The add-on front air dam is going to be really close to the track surface, so fingers crossed it just requires some minor trimming.

Dan

Had an idea. Since I've been experimenting with front wheel drive and the 1:1 VW Golf/Rabbit has it, why not make that an option?

Made a guide tongue, positioned it over the rear body mounting post, tapped and attached with a 2mm screw.







Going with body side mounts now that I've used the rear for another purpose.

Dan

Switched to some modeling.

Dremeled (barrel sander) and hand filed kit's wheels to inserts.



Not rushing so as to get a good friction fit.



Gold and black paint detail will make these stand out.

Dan

That looks so awesome, I am really enjoying following your projects and seem to have the same projects waiting on someday...

The stance looks awesome and the kit wheels turned inserts are perfect!!!

What are you thinking for paint/livery?

BTW, the Caddy is pretty cool! Is it diesel or gas? I was chasing a diesel for years but ended up getting a Bobbed M35A2.

Hi Lou,

Cool that we share similar car tastes.

This build's gotta be the Kamei colors and livery. It's iconic to me as a watercooled VW enthusiast and besides my Spirit 1/32 slot car needs a big brother.



The Caddy was diesel originally and converted to gasoline. Transferred the 16V 1.8 engine, close ratio transmission, front brakes, suspension and seats from a 16V Scirocco that shares the A1 chassis platform. The stock ignition and fuel management systems were upgraded a few years ago with an early version of Holley's programmable EFI system.





Runs great with decent power and good economy with utility to boot. Last car I'd sell if I ever had to liquidate.

Dan

Added sidepans and got the chassis rolling. Powered with what I recall to be a Professor Motor 26K orange can and geared with Slot It 11t pinion and 36t crown gears.





Runs well but we'll see once the body's mounted. Think I'm going with single post, front and rear, and see how that works out.

Dan

Body's mounted.









Think I'll drop the rear just a tad.

Front air dam will need a sectioning rather than just a bit of filing to not foul on track.

Dan

Trimmed off about an 1/8" from the top of the front air dam.



Still needs some filing at the bottom lip. Lowered the rear by trimming the body post too.



I like it.

Dan

Looks like you have everything you need for a fast paint scraper!

How does the size of the tires you are using compare to the kit tires?

Anticipating the air dam's lower lip will be getting nicked in no time. Oh well, that's the scraper look like the real car.

Was pretty mindful on keeping the kit's 21mm overall wheel/tire diameter. Sidewall aspect is pretty spot-on too. I may have slammed the body down more as a result of shooting for a flush chassis side pan and body sill. Didn't quite get there, but close.



It works for me.

Dan

Ended up resin casting the "good" turned down wheel insert from the kit wheel and paint detailed with Tamiya brush on gold, black and silver.







Just a little paint detail can make a noticeable improvement.

Dan

Wheels look perfect!

Saving as much of the kit's interior including the dash, steering wheel, panels, roll bar, seat and especially the driver figure.



Did some paint detail and trial fitted everything. Surprised that it doesn't need trimming at all.

Body paint next.

Dan