Bugeye Sprite 4 - revamp

[VTECFOUR]

Time to give Bugeye Sprite 4 its own chassis.



Starting to do metal chassis (greatly facilitated by using the Retro honeycomb jig) and am finding it's a bit addictive (if they work well!). Did one using the Winpod motor pod just like my Mini Build 4 as they do share the same 2.5" wheelbase.





Body test fitted. Track is wider than before so I may widen the arches.



Hope to get it running today.

Dan

[Retro Racer 44]

Someone I know is soon going to have a lot of used Reprotec Abarth chassis to get rid of. Good to see the brass chassis bug has bitten again, and a well thought out chassis design, eh? :lol: :lol: :lol:

[HRWTestDummy]

Those are some serious meat hooks back there!

Nice one!

[VTECFOUR]

Some progress.

Chassis test run on a couple of tracks and it's good. Body mounting tubes installed. Made from Evergreen 3/16" styrene tubing with Dart Hobbies threaded and flanged brass inserts for 2-56 screws. BWA wheel inserts, BRM five-spoke .375 ones press fit and glued in after paint detailing.



Wheel flares extended with fast setting JB Weld epoxy to cover the wider track.



Working out, so far.

Dan

[Gameover]

Looking great. I watching this build!

[VTECFOUR]

Extended wheel arches rough filed and sanded.







Primer next to reveal low spots for filler.

Working out so far.

Dan

[VTECFOUR]

Body's mounted and got filler primer on the flares. Has a barnyard find look, now. Hmmm.





Runs well. Going to play with a bit more weight.

Dan

[VTECFOUR]

Been sitting on this one way too long. Just sprayed some Tamiya Racing Green and applied Testors yellow trim tape.















Worked out well, cosmetically and performance-wise.

Back to more unfinished projects.

Dan

[Retro Racer 44]

Nice!

[Dundee Denny]

Great flares and that green and yellow really pops!!

Question.......... what do you use to start the flare build up the epoxy?

Thanks
Dundee Denny

[VTECFOUR]

Just used masking tape extending from each wheel opening. The narrow masking strips on the body are just to set my boundaries for the applied epoxy.



I used thin styrene sheet when I started doing flares but found the masking tape was simpler and easier to be the platform for the epoxy. You do though have to keep an eye on the shape as the weight of the first applied epoxy can make it droop.

Dan

[Wolseley Hornet]

Glorious!!

As I'm sure you know, we call them "frogeyes".

My favourite car after Minis (proper Minis, that is; not BMW's)


David.

[VTECFOUR]

The motor pod in the chassis was a bit off square so I took the opportunity to fix it as well as add some modifications.





It's now got both an adjustable wheelbase and rear body mount and outrigger pans.



That's better now.

Dan

[MichiganCur]

Looks great, I have a soft spot for the sprites my first 1:1 lbc and race car, traded a guy a sbc straight up and ran the snot out of it. Something about that car, no matter how bad I was doing or how bad the day was I was always smiling while driving it.

[Retro Racer 44]

David, you are right! Although in NA they are usually called Bug-eyed, I agree they definitely look more like frog-eyes with the grill being the mouth. Even more like a frog when painted green, eh?

Keith