Featherweight Build (In Progress)
My first attempt at doing more mods than just a wheel change. Trying to keep it simple here and not bite off more than I can chew. The weight limit is 34 grams (I think).
Starting with a Cobra.( I had some big plans for another car/cars and things quickly became too complicated.) So I figured If I could find a car that was semi fast in the first place, maybe I wouldn't take it to far backwards with my "customizing". I found one Cobra with a plastic base. Figured that was a good place to start. I didn't have a scale and have no idea how heavy this thing is in the first place, so I figured I better start removing as much weight as possible.
1. Off with the hood.
2. Remove the engine.
3. Remove as much "extra" metal from the casting as possible.
I don't have a dremel tool so I used a drill and a 3/16 bit and just kept working it around in there.
Discussion
T.L.D., YOU HAVE GOT IT... LOVE THE HOGGED OUT UNDERSIDE PIX...
.... STRIKE LTTLE COBRA ! ... LOOKS LIKE FUN, I USE LITTLE STRIPS OF LEAD ROOF FLASHING AND GLUE TO BRING 'EM UP TO CLASS LIMIT.. ONLY MY OPINION , BUT UNLIKE THE HEAVIES, THERE IS NO NEED TO RACE LIGHT, CLOSE TO 34.9 AS POSSIBLE...
I didn't take a picture of the car before I started. Here's a different car from an internet photo, for comparison. It shows the hood and engine that used to be in there. Inner fender wells and all.
A mock up with the new engine.
Looks like I can remove the side pipes now too.
great pix, looks like a rear engined dragster's mill... can't wait to see it in lane 2...
Not positive, but I think it came out of a Nissan 4x4. The engine was in the bed.
with a set of big n' bigger meats, a plastic engine and it being a convertible, this baby has a seriously low center of gravity... venomous.....
I was thinking about not having the windshield. I was reminded of the current Triumph TR6 hot wheel road racer when I was sanding this the Cobra. Seems like there should be a Triumph in the photo above. They must have been in the whimpy class. Well, depending on where this thing weighs in, I may not have any choice but to loose the windshield.
It seems the rules are still being worked out in various threads, but basically. The cars are featherweights so,
1. 34.9 grams or less.
2. The car(s) should be modified. Even slightly should get you by.
I think the target date for the race is end of January/February.
Ha! That may be it. There were several suggestions being thrown around. I'll see if I can gather information and post it here.
-EconoCarls Featherweight build has a thread. You can check here.http://www.redlinederby.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=629
Mail in race. I have never participated in, but someone with a track will host a race and you mail your car to that host before the race deadline. Is what I seem to gather. Somebody else may have more details.
Check the Hardcore Downhill series info here.
http://www.redlinederby.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=474
you are on the rite track,
. all racers will mail their [2] cars to the first race host's address...all cars are then mailed together to the next host track... then to the next... etc..... finally to my address, after racing here i will return the [2] car teams to the owners by mail...
First coat of Satin black. First sanding.
Painted the interior, and tried to detail it a bit. The engine looked like a big blob of chrome, so I tried to detail it and break it up some.
I thought three coats would work and after the third the wind blew the body off it's little stand and fell about 20 feet to concrete down below. I was able to find it and and it was chipped up a bit and needed two more coats. It's still wet here. Dries not so glossy.
I didn't have any paint remover on hand, but I had time and an Emory board.
I have two sets of rear (large) Ferrari Italia FTE wheels that will go under there. I have a loose engine I found in a box with a bunch of cars. Trying to make it look good in case the car is overweight.
EDIT- Found the Cobras stock weight in the Redline Derby Fantasy league info and was shocked to learn that this thing weighs in at 51 g's. However that's with the metal base (I think). With the plastic base and much metal removal, I hope I'm in the neighborhood of 34 g's. Looks like I might be drilling some holes after all.