In This Issue:
Book Review "I Was A Teenage Monster Shirt Painter"
Printable
Version of this Issue (423 K)
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From The Editor
Hi Gang-
Due to Big Daddy Roth's passing, the
content this month is a bit different than originally intended.
Check out the Revell “Rat Fink In Lotus” and
“Mr Gasser in BRM” iron-ons in the VSRN Library.
Next time, I’ll be starting a series on home
track layouts. Using some of the neat software that’s out there,
I’ll show you how to recreate some famous
US tracks, including some you may not have thought of in a long time!
Plus, I’ll also be building up a long delayed 1/32 scale Cobra Daytona Coupe, using both old and new goodies.
As the result of an e-mail request, I’ve scanned
a Russkit pamphlet that shows you how to built both an inline
and a sidewinder frame from brass. Check the
VSRN Reference Library under Russkit.
At some time, I may put together a CD with
all kinds of oddball things not posted on the VSRN Web Site.
I’ll keep you posted.
In the future, As always, your comments and
suggestions are welcome -
I do appreciate the feedback!
You can contact us at: greg@vsrnonline.com
Keep It In The Slot !!!
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Letters
To The Editor
Greg,
I'm another VSRN reader who was wondering
whether you went to the Web! Fortuitously, I did a keyword search on "anglewinder"
looking for chassis, and an Old Weird Herald citation came up that directed
me to you. Since I still have 60-70 cars from the late 60's and 70's, including
a number of Auto World products, I'm interested
in your contributions on the vintage "knowledge".
I can verify that EJ's is still around, or at least their product is available on a couple of the 1/32 scale web sites. I too am wondering about Mike Gillette, he was a good source of Strombecker parts.
Anyway, good to see VSRN on the Web!
Alan Brugler
Omaha, NE
(ED NOTE: Yep Mike Gillett is still around
also – I recently got his latest list: Note the new Area Code….
L.M. Gillett
4021 – 2nd Street NE
Minneapolis,MN
763-788-5816
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Hey Greg!!
Stumbled across VSRN on-line today. You sure kept that a secret!! Glad to see you are out here with us 21st century computer nerds on the web. Still racing here in Detroit, and now I got some good reading to do. I sure miss getting VSRN in the mail. But now I am three on-line issues behind!! Your site looks great. I always enjoyed your writing style and I see that you haven't lost your touch. Keep up the good work.
Dave Thomas aka SmokyLinks@aol.com
74 Mapleton
GPF, MI 48236
Hi Greg,
I was just searching around and
found the article you wrote about the variations in Strombecker track.
I have a variation you didn't mention, and quite a few pieces of it too.
I t has the aluminum rails but they are stapled in place and not glued.
There are 5 mini staples per rail on the standard curves. They look like
the sandblasted surface with the inner lip and marked "Dowst". I have been
trying to use some of the outer curves by removing the staples and rails
and replacing them with glued on braid. They are too lumpy and have bad
conductivity as they were originally.
Besides that I have definitely seen literature on the 3 lane sets and I think I have seen a piece or two in my travels but have always been concentrating on the 4 lane stuff.
So far I have been experimenting with
a few pieces of standard radius curve. I've removed the staples and laid
braid into the recess, but I'm looking for the proper thickness of braid
that is the right level. I have
several braids, some extra from my 8 lane
commercial track, some from a co-axial cable and some from an old microphone
chord which looks too narrow.
I designed and built a
4 lane track in my buddy's basement, and I loaned him 8 pieces of outside
curve to complete it. He already had 16 pieces from a set. I put 6 of the
stapled variety together into one turn, but it is too
lumpy and conductivity is bad so I have to
repair it.
As far as glue, I used contact
cement on my commercial track when I restored it , and reglued about 1/2
mile of braid that way. I still have to make repairs to it as time goes
by, since pieces come loose . There are 16 lines of braid @ 165 ft. each
on the Kingleman, which is set up now in a
warehouse. I still have my 36 ft. 4 lane Strombecker
track set up here at my home, but I had 16 pieces of the steel rail
outside curves for that.
I want to use 4 single
lengths of braid for the 6 pieces of curved track and then connect it at
each end of the curve, to the power source. This has to be better than
what we have now! The layout uses 96 straights, 24 outside curves and 12
standard curves, so conductivity is a priority. Two of the
lanes are working fine , with no jumper wires,
but the other two need some help. We are still working on skid aprons and
then guard rails outside the aprons. I'll keep you posted on our progress.
Keep on Groovin,
Gary Bluestone
(ED NOTE: Thanks for the info on the “new”
variety of Strombecker track. I now have photos of a 3 lane set, and a
number of references to it. It still amazes me that we’re still finding
out about stuff that’s been around almost 40 years!
At some point in time, I will be updating
the Strombecker Track article. GREG)
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Dear Greg,
The Reference Library and and Article Index
are simply superb, You sure are making many hearts happy.
Why didn’t anybody think of this before ?
I wish you can help. I am earnestly looking
for two articles that I guess appearred in around ‘68. One describing construction
of a brass chassis with independent suspension! Actually, I built that
chassis at the time and won the Lebanese Championship..I would love to
build it again).
The second article describes building front
wheel steering.
Please Help.
Keep Them Rolling.
Best Regards.
NICOLAS BIKHAZI
BEIRUT-LEBANON
(ED NOTE: I haven’t be able to find the articles
that you mentioned yet. However, I did find an article on DeDion Suspension
– these pages are posted under the VSRN
Search Index on Construction Articles. GREG)
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What’s
New?
Got a box the other day from Down Under, with
some goodies from our old friend, Bruce Patterson of “Patto’s Place”. He’s
got a new home set motor, called “Little Ripper”. Here are some pics to
compare it to the old standbys: the Mabuchi 13 D is on top, and a 16D is
on the bottom:
|
|
The whole “Little Ripper” is the size of the
13D can – without the endbell. And as another bonus, the can bearing is
small, like the original 500A Mabuchis. In fact, it fits a Russkit 22 motor
bracket perfectly, even though the can only has one mounting hole in the
“up and down” direction.
I haven’t track tested it yet, but it looks
like just the ticket for most people’s home track needs.
Next time, I’ll stick this in a hardbody Cobra
Daytona Coupe that I’ve been waiting to finish for
a million years – OK only since the old VSRN
days, but it’s still been a long time. Bruce also sent along a nice decal
sheet, and a set of his new vac-formed wheel inserts that would go with
this car.
A real bonus with this motor is that I’ve heard rumors that the price is under $5 US !!!!!!!!
You can reach Bruce at:
9 Wesley St, Oatlands, NSW, Australia
2117
Phone: +61 2 9871 7270
Fax: +61 2 9873 2206
Web Site:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/pattosplace
E-Mail: pattosplace@optusnet.com.au
Tell ‘em you saw in at VSRN Online!
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