Early 1988 UK racer build thread

[bluewormx]

Are two build threads in one day allowed?

Here is a build thread for a early 1988 racer, think pre andys wide arms. It is loosely based on my own car at that time.
Most parts are vintage, with the exception of the front tower which is rere. The rear bulkhead is vintage but incorrect since it is a newer CE version.
The chassis looks like a composite craft. Does anyone know what bell-cranks these are?

More parts are on the way so this project should be done some time in the next few weeks.

[jwscab]

The bellcranks are rps/losi

[bluewormx]

The bellcranks are rps/losi

Thanks for id jwscab.
Some of you guys are like encyclopeadias

[dldiaz]

Aren't the RPS/Losi and Houge bellcranks very similar?

Is there a way to tell the difference?

[scr8p]

rps are aluminum, Houge were plastic.

[bluewormx]

rps are aluminium, Houge were plastic.

Like somebody mentioned in another thread, the rps have a very slight purple tint. Which cannot be seen in my terrible photo

I may remove them in favour of stock since they where not very popular in the UK when I grew up.

[duckhead]

Are two build threads in one day allowed?

Here is a build thread for a early 1988 racer, think pre andys wide arms. It is loosely based on my own car at that time.
Most parts are vintage, with the exception of the front tower which is rere. The rear bulkhead is vintage but incorrect since it is a newer CE version.
The chassis looks like a composite craft. Does anyone know what bell-cranks these are?

More parts are on the way so this project should be done some time in the next few weeks.

The shape of the chassis definitely looks like a Compositecraft. I am curious though, were saddle packs popular on off-road chassis in Europe back in '88? I am having a hard time remembering but I don't think I saw a saddle chassis in the states until later.

[bluewormx]

Are two build threads in one day allowed?

Here is a build thread for a early 1988 racer, think pre andys wide arms. It is loosely based on my own car at that time.
Most parts are vintage, with the exception of the front tower which is rere. The rear bulkhead is vintage but incorrect since it is a newer CE version.
The chassis looks like a composite craft. Does anyone know what bell-cranks these are?

More parts are on the way so this project should be done some time in the next few weeks.

The shape of the chassis definitely looks like a Compositecraft. I am curious though, were saddle packs popular on off-road chassis in Europe back in '88? I am having a hard time remembering but I don't think I saw a saddle chassis in the states until later.

^^duckhead
You may be on to something.
I'm going to spit-ball a little here about ancient history as I remember it. :p

Saddle pack gained popularity in early 1987 with the release of the RC12L, Schumacher SPC and Corrally 1/12th. Bevelling the cut outs lowered the centre of gravity by the thickness of the chassis ~2.5mm (3/32").
People who raced 1/12th soon started changing their buggy's to saddle pack, in order to share the cells, apart from the benefits of weight distribution.
In 1987 the most popular car in the UK was the Schumacher CAT LWB. Corrally made an aluminum chassis for the CAT which accepted their saddle pack trays. Later on Schumacher released their own saddle pack chassis.

Bare in mind that their was no UK 2WD class until 1988 so at club level very few people clung on to their RC10. I myself had the Composite craft standard chassis with the battery mounted in-line.
By 1988 the 2WD class begun at National level but it was timid at club level.

I don't recall seeing the composite craft chassis saddle pack chassis myself, but it did exist.

[bluewormx]

The wide axles are now on. Not the proper way to widen car but the best way available at the time
RW racing tufnol spur gear, very well made and quiet.
JG mfg bumper, still mandatory up until 1989 I believe, needed to cover 2/3rds width.

Would anyone know the nut size of the CRP wide front axles? I seem to be missing them, I'm afraid it may be one of those strange BA sizes since it says made in the UK on the packet.

Would anyone be able to name the rear tyres? similar to Schumacher CAT spike, but there not...

[terry.sc]

Would anyone be able to name the rear tyres? similar to Schumacher CAT spike, but there not...

Most likely Amark. The Amark tyres copied the design of various competition tyres at the time, but the obvious difference was that Amark didn't mould any logo or details in the sidewall.

[bluewormx]

Made a little progress.
Futaba 131S servo installed
Demon triple 15, way too hot for 2wd but I have not found a double 17. Which is what I ran back then.
RW 64dp spur all the rage back then

Demon proking waiting for restoration

[bluewormx]

This build is still ongoing...

Electrics installed, changed the bumper to the one I actually had BITD.

I'm still not happy with a few things... nylon nuts, I have no idea what size nuts go on these CRP wide axles... I have tried all the usual sizes: 4-40, 5-40, 3mm 4mm, none of these are the correct fit maybe it is 3.5mm or wierd BA size...

[bluewormx]

This build is still on going, Here it is with body and period style stickers.

Since my last post The change log would be:

added composite craft towers.
added MIP steering post and stock bellcranks.
added CRP fox mini pin tires

[bluewormx]

Here is a marginally better picture.

[bluewormx]

Some more changes:

I found the correct composite craft chassis it was in pretty bad shape but only one unwanted hole and the nose was badly splintered. Black milliput fixed that to near perfection.

Drilled the rear tower for the inboard holes, and cut the rear arm mounts to allow the use of the shorter wheelbase position. (its what I did BITD, didn’t think to cut bulkhead instead ).

Also, found the correct Futaba mini receiver that was all the rage at the time...

TODO:

Countersink rear transmission brace and replace socket screws with flat head screws.
Cut diagonally the motor mount guard.
Trim the steering arms.
Trim battery box.

Get correct Proline rear wheels 2519.
Get crp heavy duty steering rods(Hornet Grasshopper).
Change front spring cups to correct groove-less ones.