Eighties Contest Entry: 1987 Gambler Sprint Car

This car debuted in 1987 driven by the legendary Steve Kinser.It was a new design chassis with "highbars" that connected the top of the roll cage to the front of the car.This created a stiffer chassis and eliminated the tall,flexing,shock towers on the chassis.It wasn't the first highbar car,but its the one that changed sprint car chassis design forever.Lowbar style cars,are still built and raced by drivers who prefer that style
,but they are few and far between now.I'll be building the car in the pic,but in full race livery.Follow this link to see what I meanFINISHED!Sammy (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=513337&highlight=channellock)Swindell/Channellock sprintcar.56 kayers be paitient. (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=513337&highlight=channellock)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/sprintarticle013.jpg
Here we go.This is a shot of all the parts I have ready so far.Because a lot of the parts on sprinters are basically the same I build my cars production line style.A lot of these parts were already done.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/kinser.jpg
The only changes to the chassis are updating the shock mounts.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/kinser3.jpg
The bonnet is the biggest challenge on this build.I started with a stock Gambler highbar bonnet and removed the airbox.Then I lengthened the nose with sheet plastic.I added sheet plastic to the sides to strengthen the bonnet during all the work.I cut the injector cooling slot by drilling small holes in a rectagular shape then braking the scrap peice out.Then I filed it to shape.Next is the air box.The stock hood is there and will be painted as well just in case I run out of time to finish the correct one.I expect the mods to take up half the total time of the build.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/kinser2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/kinser1.jpg

Lovely work so far Tristan. Will be watching this closely to learn more about speedway cars.
Mal

this is going to be pretty cool. I hope that I get some time to get to my wrangler car for the contest. It is looking doubtful though. GOOD LUCK!

Nice start so far, looking forward to seeing more.

Welcome to the contest Sigmaman. This will be a very interesting and unique entry. :)

Very unique subject :bigthumb:
Will follow this with great interest

Time to update this thread
Heres a pic of the chassis painted and the bonnet with the too tall scoop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01334.jpg

Heres a pic of the chassis after I modified it to make it more accurate.The changes are a combination of looking at the pic and an educated guess based on my knowledge of these cars.Some of the chassis is hidden by the body panels.The mods are in white plastic.I use Evergreen styrene for all my mods.I was looking at the pic of the car closely and noticed it was nothing like the model.
Oh well,two steps forward,one step back.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01347.jpg
Heres two pics of the modified frame painted with the rear bumper and the fuel cell in primer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01377.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01376.jpg
More stuff.Some pics of the bonnet.First two are of the bonnet with the top removed and sat in a finished model to get the height of the top right.The slot in the bonnet is for the cooling of the injectors.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01335.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01336.jpg
This photo is where the bonnets at at the moment with the new lower top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01373.jpg
Heres some pics of some of the parts I'm using.The disc brake is a resin item from The Parts Box. (www.thepartsbox.com) (http://www.thepartsbox.com%29.Brembo)
Brembo four pot calipers aren't normally used on sprinters but it fitted
inside the wheel.I carved out the centre of the wheel with a hobby knife.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01375.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01372.jpg

Damn thats a good start! I love the disc's in the front wheels of the sprintcar.
Will be keeping an eye on this one!!

Aaron

Really interesting to follow :bigthumb:
What's the story with the autograph on the roof (please excuse the ignorance on my part :) )

Really interesting to follow :bigthumb:
What's the story with the autograph on the roof (please excuse the ignorance on my part :) )

Tha driver of that car,Danny Smith,toured Australia some 20 years or more in a row.The car was owned by Bill Barrows,of Mt Gambier South Australia.He was quite a driver in his day.Danny drove for him in the '94,'95 World Series Sprint cars season here down under.I took the car on a speedway trip with me in the hope of getting him to sign it,and he did.

Last saturday was ace.Listening to Yes at earsplitting volumes and building models.Pretty groovy I reckon,and very productive.Heres the results.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01429.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01428.jpg
Firewall,steering box and oil tank fitted.Fitted some tiny gussets,the white shards of plastic toward the front of the frame,to mount the rear stands for the front wing.Couldn't find a pic of how it should be so took some creative licence.
A pic of the engine mocked up,detail painting started,and some pics of various parts in process.The bonnet is nearly ready for paint.The bonnet was the most distictive element on this car,along with its new chassis design.The bonnet had the obvious scoop for cool air,the slot midway down for cooling the injectors,and in an earlier prototype had a slot low in the nose to direct air to the radiator.this was found to be unessasary and eliminated.Despite my chassis mods the bonnet will be the standout difference between this and my other sprint car models.I made it from a kit bonnet with bits of sheet plastic and lots of bog to get its shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01426.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01427.jpg

Wow, looks really different, very interesting!

I ruptured a calf muscle last week.:crying: The good side is I can't walk much so I have to sit in the sun room and build models:) .Engine assembled and fitted to the chassis.Radiator and suspension parts detail painting started.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01444.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01445.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01446.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/sigmaman35/DSC01441.jpg
Starting on the wings next.Painting the body will wait until I've made some panels to fit aroun the front suspension.

http://www.meatbridge.com/ScaleSprints/images/tech/statusicon/user_online.gif

http://www.meatbridge.com/ScaleSprints/images/icons/icon1.gif
some more stuff done.The front and rear suspensions are hung.Probably my least favorite job on these things.Here the pics.
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060329151949/20060403102108.jpeg
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060329151949/20060406113239.jpeg

I'm really enjoying this build!
You are doing an awsome job and I'm learning new stuff :bigthumb:

Coming along nicely. Hows the leg?

Wonderful work so far. Im surprised there arent more of these built.

great workmanship on this little horsepower monster. I love all the attention to detail. cant wait to see it altogether.

Coming along nicely. Hows the leg?

Healing up fine thanks.I actually managed to pull my achillies tendon tripping over a hoist arm at work a week later.On the same leg!Nothing major though.All good.

Healing up fine thanks.I actually managed to pull my achillies tendon tripping over a hoist arm at work a week later.On the same leg!Nothing major though.All good.

Ouch, I guess I am not the only one with a bad leg, I had reconstructive knee surgery, so all I've been doing is sitting around. I love the sprint car and its comin along great, keep it up, and heal up.
Chris

Heres a couple of pics of the car mocked up.
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060413082151.jpeg
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060413082541.jpeg

It is getting there. When are you going to get some colour on the body panels??

Still got a couple of small body panels to make.Will paint the white next week.

Got the little sucker painted on friday at work.Glasurit 22 line solid white 2PAK.Fourty five minutes at 68 degrees celsius in the bake oven and its done.I love 2PAK paints.
The nerf bars are made from polished stainless steel rod.They're tacked together with super glue at the moment.I'll take them to work and solder them together.I've mounted the front wing same as the real car.I plan to make it fully removable with pins through the mounting holes.Still needs some finessing at the moment.The panels forward of the engine are made from 10 thou sheet plastic.
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060430093712.jpeg
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060430093859.jpeg

Got to ask the question. I have previously assumed that your building in 1/24 yet with the detail and methods you are using, I am starting to think 1/1 more like it.

Got to ask the question. I have previously assumed that your building in 1/24 yet with the detail and methods you are using, I am starting to think 1/1 more like it.
no kidding, this looks like it could drive around. sure is looking great.

Thanks for the compliments guys.These kits have a high level of detail straight from the box.I really havn't done much extra.Just altered partshere and there.

Getting there.This is assembled,not mocked up.Basically,just need to paint and decal the wings.I've already assembled them.I'll paint them in Alclad polished aluminum.Heres the pics.
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060528152247.jpeg
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060528152625.jpeg
http://www.sigmaman.scopenet.com.au/pip/gallery/data/lc20060413082034/20060528152726.jpeg

Looks terrific :thumbsup:
I reall admire the effort you have put into it.
This has been a really interesting WIP to follow - thanks for sharing it so far.

High guys,this ones finished now.Heres the link:http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=591345