Very Early Prototype Associated Cars from Curtis

[scr8p]

ya, i was gonna say........... i don't think that window is anything doug can't handle. the "but that window" was more of a why would you tape it like that sort of thing.

[mrhemi1971]

Maybe a quick and dirty on the masking?? IDK..

[Erich Reichert]

1001002.JPG

I'm curious what that extra part on the top of the tranny was. Dude these pics are awesome! Thanks for posting this

[drbelleville]

1001002.JPG

I'm curious what that extra part on the top of the tranny was. Dude these pics are awesome! Thanks for posting this

I think it was a body post.

[hobbes]

ok, i'm convinced. I'm going to hand make an rc10 chassis.

That bent up hand made chassis is just so awesome that i can't stand not making one myself.

Did he actually make the shocks, dogbones and gears as well?

Would love to see some more of the original machined parts.

Edit: here's a quote from that Prototype RC10 booklet:

Tub Chassis Manufacturing
1. The chassis was first formed by a stamping die.
2. We trimmed off the excess flash and deburred it.
3. We sent it out for heat treatment. The first process was to heat it
up and quench it in a glycol bath. It was still soft at this point and it
was shipped back to us on dry ice to keep it from getting hard.
4. We would hammer it flat while it was still soft.
5. We would send it back to be heat treated to finish hardening it. It
took eight hours in an oven heated to 350 degrees to complete the
process. This is called aging.
6. We would then countersink the holes in the chassis and send it
out for gold anodizing.

Ok, that is a LOT harder than what i was expecting.
If one was to mold the correct thickness sheet metal to the shape of the chassis, it wouldn't be as stiff? or at least stiff ENOUGH?

Sorry if it sounds off topic, but i'm actually trying to understand how he manufactured these machines.

[Curtis]

Hi,
This is Curtis Husting. I'm not so sure you really want to attempt to make one of these chassis. It will be much harder than you think. If you think you want to attempt it, this is kind of how I did it.
First I made a one inch thick aluminum plug that the aluminum would be formed around. Basically the plug is the same shape as the inside of the chassis and you would bend the aluminum around the plug.
You start with 6061 -0 condition aluminum. This is 6061 aluminum that is not heat treated and is very soft. You then bend the aluminum sheet around the plug being very careful not to wrinkle the corners. This is done by using rubber mallets. Think of a blacksmith making a horse shoe. This is done in the same way. Working the aluminum around the plug can take up to about two hours to make right. It took several tries and a few plug modifications to get it done right.
If you decide to do it. Knock yourself out. Have fun.
Curtis Husting

[Soncho Ponza]

Now we All Like old school BUILDS.. Rite Who is gonna do This ONE..COME NOW... SOME ONE OUT there in this crazy ass group Is gonna do it...

[railey72]

Big thanks to Ruffy and Curtis for this thread. This kind of info is what makes this board so awesome.

[jason_recliner]

I'm sure some guys on here have already stickied this thread, if you know what I mean...

[SteveK]

Hey, some guys really like RC cars.

[Bob-Stormer]

Hi,
This is Curtis Husting. I'm not so sure you really want to attempt to make one of these chassis. It will be much harder than you think. If you think you want to attempt it, this is kind of how I did it... Knock yourself out. Have fun.
Curtis Husting

Curtis,

Thanks for showing the photos.

-Bob

[dubfreak]

thanks for sharing those pics they are awsome

[vintage AE]

very cool guys!

Too bad the internet and this forum didn't exist back in the day Imagine where the RC10 would be by now if that was the case

[tudor39]

I must be missing some important bit of info or history...Does the stealth car look very similar to the composite craft chassis? did they copy this prototype or were they contracted to build them? Either way it is always neat to see prototypes of anything especially these early cars. Nowadays its all CAD and rapid prototyping machines that build up layers of plastic like a 3d printer, makes life a whole lot easier!

[kink]

I can't imagine how long it took to make those wheels! Another great thread on the history. I am tempted to buy some of the old books now.