charlesx Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 (edited) Hi all. My original idea was to build another Cooper Climax T53 using experience of 2013 Tasman Cup (Cooper Climax T53 No.47). VRAA requires BWA slim can motor so the former is not eligible (Solabotics motor). It was tempting to just replace motor but at this stage I thought it better to have car to test against. Particularly so as my other car - Lotus 18/21 No.5 was such a failure. With some new bodies recently obtained from Phil in Tassie however - Cooper Climax T60 and T79 - I am thinking of trying T60. Thanks to the generous support of Dart Hobbies and Paul Gauge I have no shortage of building materials. Watch this space. Regards Chas Le Breton New Plymouth New Zealand Edited July 30, 2013 by charlesx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 (edited) Finally have all the parts assembled for Cooper Climax T60 so it is go,go, go. In meantime have fixed my Lotus 18/21 and it now performs similar to Cooper Climax T53 at least on the track I tried. Mainly involved fixing sticking guide. Have done some in initial tyre testing without gluing and trueing but in hindsight I need to mount tyres properly. Will mount in next few days and sand and try again when I can get to track. Regards Chas Le Breton Edited August 14, 2013 by charlesx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munter Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Is that a set of ballrace bearings there? Quote John Warren Slotcars are my preferred reality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquakiwi Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Is that a set of ballrace bearings there? Looks very similar to what I'm waiting to arrive from Art. BBs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
branco Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 good luck with the build Chas, shame you not in wellington this weekend. Quote 2019 NZ RTR Nationals Gt 3rd 2017 NZ RTR Nationals NSR Classic 2nd 2017 NZ RTR Nationals Group C 3rd 2017 NSR Classic Challenge 3rd 2015 NSR Classic Challenge 2nd 2014 NSR Classic Challenge 3rd 2015 Garden City Invitation Overall Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Yes Munter. Have oil-lites as well. Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Hi all. Have three sets of tyres glued and trued. Hope to try at Ahu Ahu Road track tomorrow so more on that score later. Have nearly finished chassis of Cooper Climax T60 but soldering iron gave up ghost so will have to wait until next week to finish. Also fitted chassis to body. I can now see why Cooper Climax T53 was recommeneded as first build. T60 was certainly much more of a challenge. Still have to carve out body to fit gear. Will try and post some photos tomorrow. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Hi all. Please see the first photos of my new creation - the 1962 Cooper Climax T60. My intention is to model Bruce McLaren's No. 6 car in which he won the Monaco and Reims-Gueux Grand Prix in the same year. Chassis has been made with BWA motor and guide mounts with chassis rails 1/16th brass rod. Front axle outer with 1/8th brass tube (3/32 I.D). Wheels and tyres just for display at present but will eventually be tyres currently under testing on 13" BWA Ali wheels. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Hi all. Have made good progress over last two days with my Cooper Climax T60. Chassis finished (I decided to make some changes), suspension added plus motor and guide fitted, With suspension have followed past lead with Cooper T53 and Lotus 18/21 but this time added steering arms and I think it is the anti-rolll bar at rear. Will add some more photos soon. Probably never get to the standard of Biematt's work but hopefully improving. With our fortnightly Group race meeting due Sunday new car might every get a run soon. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Photos as promised. Overview of Cooper Climax T60 with suspension completed and body fitted. Bare chassis from front showing motor and guide installed. Bare chassis from rear. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munter Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Nice build Charles. Thanks for sharing your progress. Have you slotted the holes in the bracket to give some offset? Regards Quote John Warren Slotcars are my preferred reality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Hi Munter. Yes earlier cars looked like they would benefit from lower centre of gravity as all cars do. Why do you not enter your old car again next year in Tasman Cup. Went pretty well last time and I am sure you could improve. Looking like there may be a couple more NZ entries. We cannot let our Aussy cousins have it all their own way. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Hi all. Have Cooper Climax T60 ready for short run tomorrow to make sure it all works. No stiff guide this time. Have done most work I need to on body so ready for undercoat and final fairing. Put a light coating of resin with plenty of micro balloons added to cover up few blemishes. Casting generally was very good. Have sanded down inserts to fit wheels and adjusted driver body to better fit car. Quite impressed with Tassie car as not only included body but wheel inserts, full length driver with steering wheel, mirrors and wind screen. Note with T79 also includes carb stacks. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miveson Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Are those 15" wheels on the rear and 13" on the fronts? The suspension work is superb as ever Charles. Quote Slot Car Photos V8 Tipping Competition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camber Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Very nice workmanship there Chas. The wishbones must have taken up some hours to get right. Cheers, - Cam Quote Hoo Roo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hi Camber and Miveson. Suspension takes time but mainly getting measurements right and then bending to suit. Soldering not so bad but easier if you can leave a wire extension so you can hold in place then trim off afterwards. Otherwise it is pliers. Trouble is the hands are not as steady as they used to be but you manage. Hardest part to assemble is springs They are easy to make as long as you get length right. Getting into place particularly for front ones however can be quite tricky. A bit of blue smoke around at times. One of the things I do is to try and bend up as much in one piece as I can. At this stage I am using the same gauge rod for everything except springs. With next car I might try different sizes where appropriate. Top part of anti-roll bar and steering arms probably should have been thinner. Yes front/back/wheels are different sizes. According to Cooper bible by Doug Nye this is how car ran (p258 - This new T60 or V8 Mark II car ran on 13" front wheels to improve penetration and unsprung weight---- the rears were 15"). The exploded diagram of car on pages 260-261 was a great help in making suspension, Thanks for comments. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 First photos of T60 in action at Poolside Raceway, Ahu Ahu Road, Oakura, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Car ran OK but cannot say I was very happy with speed. Need to check what gearing should be. Otherwise looks good and ready for painting. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Hi all. Have now changed gearing to 9:23 with 24T as back-up. Think latter however may rub on body which is very slender. Hope to give run at weekend. Have now finished painting body except for strips/numbers. Front tyres mounted and sanded. Inner sidewalls of rear tyres sanded as PG 21083 VRAA tyres seemed a little wide. This may have been caused by mounting on BWA 93x15x275 wheels rather than 200's. Decided to use driver/steering wheel combination. Drilled out wheel to simulate spokes. Driver, wheel and inserts painted. Still have to install body mount system but getting close to final assembly. One concern however is I have been unable to get confirmation of receipt of entry payment. Can anybody help. Closing date I think is 1/9/2013. Just received. Regards Chas Le Breton Edited August 28, 2013 by charlesx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telboy Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 The car is looking good Charles. You are welcome to test at my track anytime. Was that you I passed on the walkway today? Sorry didn't realise it was you until I had already passed. Cheers Trent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hi Tellboy. Yes. Same here but Coraleen confirmed it was you. You had different jersey on. Doing ride 3 times a week. Ta for offer. Peter has said same. Will have to wait until weekend. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquakiwi Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Looking good Chas, I'm in the process of doing the same car with the hope of entering next year. I've tentatively painted it in the blue Rob Walker colours. The suspension detail is proving a bit of a hurdle at present. When do the entries have to be in? and how much? and to whom payable? Edited August 28, 2013 by aquakiwi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) Hi Aquakiwi. My Lotus 18/21 is in Rob Walker colours I think. Dark blue with white stripe near nose. When you say next year I presume you mean Tasman Cup. This year was - All entries need to be paid by the 8th February 2013 to give reserve entries a chance to get their cars mailed in on time. Cars to be in Australia by Friday the 29th March. Entry fee was $25AU. They will call for expressions of interest on Auslot anyway. VRAA which I am currently preparing for is later in year - expressions of interest probably May/June 2014 (you need to get allocated number), entry payment by 1/9 and car to Indiana by 1/10. Entry fee this year was $25US for people outside USA. Take you time with suspension. You have plenty of time. Remember it needs to be narrow enough to clear wheels when width sent to max. 50.8mm. Perhaps we should meet in Auckland at Mike Doo's or Drew' track sometime. DRW21 also has car in preparation. Regards Chas Le Breton Edited August 29, 2013 by charlesx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquakiwi Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 This is where I've got to Chas, waiting on some more wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesx Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Looking good Aquakiwi. I made the white band on mine too wide. Driver looks good. I have not installed my windscreen yet either. Look forward to photo when you complete suspension. What tyres are you using? I have got 13" wheels and tyres on the front of mine. Do not know aht Rob Walker cars had. Regards Chas Le Breton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquakiwi Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 The tyres are from D'Art, I know Rob Walker ran Coopers but what model I don't know. I've also got a Brabham which is actually running. Not having a track is a bit of a let down, it would be good to get a few laps down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.