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Hi guys,

I paused my restore projects for awhile and worked on my Optima Mid runner project. I have chosen to build my runner based on the SWB platform. I want a shorter car because of the layout of our local track.

So far I have been working on making carbon fiber parts with my dremel. It took relatively long time to craft them that way but I have no other tools. I bought the fiber plates from Hongkong and China and the car is made of 1.5/2.0/2.5mm thick material.

Let me show you some pictures of my progress so far. Chassis have been assembled for testing to see if I have missed something (which I have)

I personally think it look cool, like a stealth plane sort of. It certainly needs some bling colors later on

Nice work buddy, very nice indeed.

But, what happened to the Mid Custom rebuild? is it in a carrier bag relegated to a corner of the shed?!?!

sheriff wrote:Nice work buddy, very nice indeed.

But, what happened to the Mid Custom rebuild? is it in a carrier bag relegated to a corner of the shed?!?!

Don't you worry about the Custom mate. It's sitting on the bench next to this car waiting for more parts

Thanks for your comment!

Definately a cool car. I look forward to seeing what you come up with on this one.

Jake

Sir You KILLING me This is so COOL !!!.Save some pieces to me

Nice work...

Off topic, got any pictures of your light box setup?

bigjeepzz wrote:Definately a cool car. I look forward to seeing what you come up with on this one.

Jake

Thanks, and with your help (secret for now) it will be even more cool

Bo Wallen wrote:Sir You KILLING me This is so COOL !!!.Save some pieces to me

uniquenamehere wrote:Nice work...

Off topic, got any pictures of your light box setup?

I have a picture of my desk where I am both building and take photos (no light box setup):

That thing looks TIGHT. That will be one bad a$$ runner.

kick a$$ looks awesome stellar images...love em

losiXXXman wrote:That thing looks TIGHT. That will be one bad a$$ runner.

Yeah! Almost as tight as a modern Losi 22 but this is a 4WD

Winger wrote:kick a$$ looks awesome stellar images...love em

Thanks mate, appreciate your comment.

After work today I will try to do these steps:

1. Deeper/more counter sunked holes underneath the chassis plate.
2. Build the inside of the gearboxes with a custom layshaft.
3. Add a proper SWB belt.

Then I'll give you an update with more images.

VERY nice work with a dremel. Just goes to show how you can achieve extremely good results with talent and patience even if you don't have the optimal tools.

jwscab wrote:VERY nice work with a dremel. Just goes to show how you can achieve extremely good results with talent and patience even if you don't have the optimal tools.

Thanks! Most people would realize they can do this if they just tried

I have been productive today! Here is a list of what I have done:

- Teared the whole car down in parts again.
- Assembled front and rear gear differentials including ball bearings and out drives.
- Assembled the gears in rear gear box including a custom made lay shaft (for using B4 slipper and spur). Thanks bigjeepzz!
- Found a N.I.B SWB belt for this project and mounted it so we now have 4WD!
- Fitted a Team Alec & Lane (A&L) Ball Bearing Steering Kit (#2182) from http://vintageteamaandl.com.
- Worked some more on the counter sunked holes. I don't think I dare making them deeper now.

And of course we should have some images added to illustrate the list above. I skipped the top deck so you can better view the A&L steering mechanism.

j0pp3 wrote:

jwscab wrote:VERY nice work with a dremel. Just goes to show how you can achieve extremely good results with talent and patience even if you don't have the optimal tools.

Thanks! Most people would realize they can do this if they just tried

j0pp3, I think you're selling your talents short by saying this. I don't think even 5% of us on this site are capable of that CF work. I'm pretty good with a Dremel & drill, and there's no way in hell I could fabricate CF pieces like that without several trials & failures. Outside curves are easy enough--just cut down squared-off edges and file the curves smooth--but inside curves are far more complex, as is cutting out ovals & other pieces on the interior.

Are you sure you're not using a milling machine? If you're doing that all with a Dremel & drill bits & filing/sanding, almost *all* of us can bow down to you.

Awesome stuff with the C/F.

I agree with Marc 100%. Milling machine???

Mids are just awesome and the A&L steering kits are brillant.

Coelacanth wrote:

j0pp3 wrote:

jwscab wrote:VERY nice work with a dremel. Just goes to show how you can achieve extremely good results with talent and patience even if you don't have the optimal tools.

Thanks! Most people would realize they can do this if they just tried

j0pp3, I think you're selling your talents short by saying this. I don't think even 5% of us on this site are capable of that CF work. I'm pretty good with a Dremel & drill, and there's no way in hell I could fabricate CF pieces like that without several trials & failures. Outside curves are easy enough--just cut down squared-off edges and file the curves smooth--but inside curves are far more complex, as is cutting out ovals & other pieces on the interior.

Are you sure you're not using a milling machine? If you're doing that all with a Dremel & drill bits & filing/sanding, almost *all* of us can bow down to you.

Thanks for your comment! I should have said that most people can do this if they know what Dremel tools to use and are willing to try. I'm using an original part as a blueprint and mount it with two screws to keep it firm on top of the CF plate. Then I just have to use a common sanding drum and file it down until I touch the edges of the original. Inner holes/areas are done in the same way except I have to use a bit smaller version of sanding drums. I just start somewhere drilling a hole at first (the biggest hole I could do). Then again sand the inner area down until I touch the edges.

Jerzi in this forum are doing it the exact same way but we did not know about each others techniques before we started

Maybe I should make a video some day. It would probably illustrate it much better than words...

Cheers