Are there any machining projects that i can do tht deals with H.O. Slot Cars? Since iam a newb with these cars and i love to build things, i wanna build something. But i dont what i can build? I havnt been around it long enough to know what tools are needed to be a competive racer?

So if you guys know of anything i can build, LMK.

Sorry for such a vague question, dont know how else to put it.

Thanks
Blake

How about turning out some custom Aluminum wheels?

That would be a good start! Especially if they fit the AFXes. :thumbsup::thumbsup: rr

How about small engine parts to stick through the hood;

Why aluminum? Wouldnt Derlin or Nylon be lighter?
Sorry, iam from a RC Dirt Oval background.

Aluminium looks better

How about hub caps

Hash Pipes? Not for me of course Ed asked me to post that... and Joe.. and Win the other hippie...


Coach!

Hash Pipes .... haven't even HEARD these 2 words spoken together since the 70's...lol

But YES.... aluminum hubs would be a great project to start. Straight hubs that spin true are ALWAYS sought after. Make'm pretty too and you will have hit a homerun. nd

I vote for aluminum hubs as well. Threaded or set screw, I am not picky. We need front hubs too for a complete set. Personally, I like a front wheel set that has the width of the tuff ones front wheel set.
Good luck, looking forward to ordering.
Jim

Y'all are posers ...aluminum conducts heat....go 'head! Take a rip on that!

'Spose it matters on who/what ya wanna make the wheels for, There's a fur piece of ground between racers collectors and customizers. Dunno whether another fat aluminum "center line" style hub is the target???

The move to plastics was a no brainer ...lighter!

As I tend to lean more towards the customizing I would kill my granny for something in aluminum besides the status quo slug hubs that have been around since I was 12. BARFO-RAMA! ...and dont go BORING a bunch of holes in them, been done ...and they're ...BORING! Thats just exactly what centerline did when we got bored with their original 1:1 rims.

What we really need is something that isnt a slug rim in appearance. It must be round! ...and fer cripes sake avoid the same old design! We all understand that cost is an issue on both ends. The frillier they get the more cash you'll bleed.

If I had to pick a couple test projects I'd go with a simple chrome reverse style baby moon affair. Polished up they would be pretty nifty , especially if ya left the inner part unpolished for depth. The moon would allow some good meat for thread bite; which is something that a lot of thin hub aluminum rims lack...they BEND very easily at the hub!

Some may groan at this next one, but a period spun disc style/salt racer would provide both a welcome change and the same advantage in hub support. Maybe just a hint of an edge cut to differentiate the rim from the cover...again leaving the cut unpolished for detail.

Dunno nuthin about fancy cuts, but If a guy was gonna develope a rim line the obvious choices would be the 5 spoke cragar, the halibrand, the american slot dish, the keystone or torque thruster, the mini-lite, the chrome reverse with or without moon etc etc etc.

RRR has a great handle on what to make, problem is that they are NOT consistently round, rendering them useless if you plan to run some smooth laps.

All my humble "O" of course...but variety in (ROUND) wheels is something we really need.

....and spinners. nd

hi

you may want to check out these two websites. both are run by slot car guys who also are machinists:

http://www.rt-ho.com/

http://users.cescowildblue.com/jwsteed/JW.HTM

they make tools, axles, and hubs among other things

a screw on alum chassis that holds a can motor and has adjustable front wheel base.. you'd be an HO legend if you could make that. I'd be happy to help if I can

How bout an alimunium Top Plate, or a stock appering Guid Pin. or a combination wheel puller, press, hash pipe?

Ahh, the proverbial solution in search of a problem. These sort of problems tend to get mired in me too mediocrity or scavenger syndrome when there is no clear path forward.

I'm somewhat old fashioned and strongly believe in the value of apprenticeship, especially when the missing element is domain knowledge. Since you have the technical expertise and are looking to gain domain knowledge, one possible path forward is to team up with someone that is faced with an orthogonal dilemma to yours. Perhaps someone who is involved in the hobby in a customer facing capacity, knows what they want but doesn't have the capacity to deliver it or is hamstrung by their current service provider. Maybe offer your expertise and services as a hired gun for someone already in the HO slot car business. This would give you an opportunity to learn where the current demands exists and discover where there are unfulfilled needs that you are in a unique position to satisfy. There's no substitute for experience so anything you can do to start paying your dues in this area will be hugely beneficial in the long run. That's the approach I would take, survey the suppliers who may potentially need your help and look for partnering opportunities even if it initially means you are the apprentice and not reaping the full measure of the financial rewards.

Nothing complex from me here...... I might buy wheels, BUT I have a bunch of bent plastic tjet guide pins, and AW pins that don't want to quite fit in the original chassis, a slick aluminum guide pin would be way cool. I also love the machined top gears just because they show show thru the "glass" on many cars. Make something and post it, as you know most members on HT are pretty shy to share their opinions, but a few MIGHT let you know what they think LOL

.... haven't even HEARD these 2 words spoken together since the 70's...lol



You havent been listening to enough Weezer then...

Id like to see some aluminum hubs for Tyco HP2 and HP7. If you make them for 440X2 theyd fit the curvehuggers too. But Id like to see slotted mags, torq thrusts, keystones, etc also. Maybe the way to do that would be to make one universal centerline type wheel then some mag-style inserts?

Independent rotating front hubs would be nice too, since it wouldnt be hard to use a plastic retainer to hold them on. They could come in narrow with O-rings, or standard deepdish style that fit the stock wide front tires.

Maybe the way to do that would be to make one universal centerline type wheel then some mag-style inserts? ......

Interesting concept Jeeper! :thumbsup:

As I tend to lean more towards the customizing I would kill my granny for something in aluminum besides the status quo slug hubs that have been around since I was 12. BARFO-RAMA! ...and dont go BORING a bunch of holes in them, been done ...and they're ...BORING! Thats just exactly what centerline did when we got bored with their original 1:1 rims.

If I had to pick a couple test projects I'd go with a simple chrome reverse style baby moon affair. Polished up they would be pretty nifty , especially if ya left the inner part unpolished for depth. The moon would allow some good meat for thread bite; which is something that a lot of thin hub aluminum rims lack...they BEND very easily at the hub!

Some may groan at this next one, but a period spun disc style/salt racer would provide both a welcome change and the same advantage in hub support. Maybe just a hint of an edge cut to differentiate the rim from the cover...again leaving the cut unpolished for detail.

RRR has a great handle on what to make, problem is that they are NOT consistently round, rendering them useless if you plan to run some smooth laps.


I couldn´t agree more Bill!

1. A sturdy baby moon set.
2. A salt flat set.
3. A ´true´dish slotted mag.

and 4. A DeLorean body

Rich

Interesting concept Jeeper! :thumbsup:

Well AJs had decal inserts that made your aluminum wheels look like Torq thrusts. So why not something more 'real'? Even if it was plastic, that might work. Maybe adapt up some RRR wheels into inserts since they apparently dont run true?

The plot thickens!

Maybe the way to do that would be to make one universal centerline type wheel then some mag-style inserts?


Go Jeepster....Old school riggen style, :thumbsup: or maybe like the 1:32 wheels I saw last time I was at Slotmania. They were straight deep dish Aluminium wheels with photo etched inserts in Brass, Aluminium etc. for different style wheels, everything from Hot Rod to IMSA style......it gave a nice realistic "depth" look to it.

Sorry, no I didn't catch the manufacture. :cry:

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