Building Trans Am cars

[slothead]

After 8 years racing homemade scale dirt modified cars on a wood oval, I've gone Trans Am crazy and am putting together a large field of cars for a road course I plan to build later this year. It started with about 6 Pioneer Mustangs and while waiting for the Camaros to arrive (silly me) I bought some Scalextric cars and now have all their Trans Am cars that the hobby shops I visit carry. I missed out on the cars that were released 8 - 10 years ago and now are only available on Ebay at 2 or more times the original price. So, I started buying undecorated cars (Cougar, Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro) to build those high-priced liveries. I also bought some Revell Snaptight bodies ('69 Camaro, '70 Mustang) to build other liveries.

I'm hoping to benefit from the expertise of HRW builders to help me out. For starters, I want to use the Snaptite Camaro body to build a #42 Brock Yates Trans Am car. The body is already bright orange in color, but I have to get rid of that hideous skill decal that's on the hood and roof. The same goes for the Snaptite Mustang that is black and will become the #11 Smokey Yunick livery. What do you builders recommend for getting rid of the pre-applied decals? I was able to scratch off a tiny part of the decal on the hood of the Mustang, but am wondering if there is a better way. I'd rather not soak them in brake fluid as I've done with other cars because they seem to be made from lighter and thinner plastic than slot car bodies.

Also, I got decals for the #42 Camaro from Slotcars4U, but am still looking for a place to get #11 decals for the Mustang. I'm also looking for a source for the #15/#16 Parnelli Jones Boss 302 Mustang decals plus a few other lesser know liveries.

Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

Slothead

[chris]

Hiya, for getting old decals and even the paint off I use a cap full of caustic soda mixed with water in a plastic ice cream container. Never had any issues but wear gloves and don't sniff the fumes, really cleans out the old sinus passage!

For the Mustang decals, I'd try Pattos, pretty sure he has the ones you want.

Chris.

[Reslotted]

Yep this Trans Am bug is contagious. I've recently gone on a Trans Am building Spree.
The Snap tite kits are a great source to build your own cars, I've done a few now but mine came with decals and not pre - printed.

Being as they are type of styrene and not really plastic, I would try any chemical to remove the printing on a piece of the kit that's not required first to test it, other wise just use various grades of wet and dry and good old elbow grease..

Any chance of a few pictures of some of your builds.

[HomeRacingWorld]

I think the Snap Tite cars are peel and stick. Just try a mild soap and water soak to soften them first.

[slothead]

Thanks for the tips. The newer Snaptite kits come in blister packs and have the decals already applied. I will spare you my full rant on an educators view of toys and hobby stuff that require no skill at all and thus produce no sense of involvement or accomplishment. For our purposes the bodies are good for creating our own versions of muscle and Trans Am cars.

I got some driver figures in racing seats from Professor Motor and am going to rework the interiors that came with the cars to look like racing cockpits with roll cages, or build new ones from sheet plastic. Since I'm not very confident in my painting skills for detail work I got fine tip permanent markers to use on the drivers, grille, lights, and bumpers, Thoughts?

I will post pictures as the builds progress. Please share your work and tips.

Slothead

[Reslotted]

Using the Snap tite interiors works out, if you cut out the back seat and box it with plasticard to clear the Motor, this is a snaptite Camaro.on a pioneer chassis, driver was fitted later.

[slothead]

Ted

How did you get rid of the skull decal on the hood and roof? I've tried soaking the body in hot water and am about to try isopropal alcohol.

I'm going to copy your interior alteration, except leaving out the seats because the driver figure I have comes with a racing seat.

Slothead

[Reslotted]

I bought the blue snaptite kit with separate decals, but I would use 800 and then 1000 grade wet and dry sand paper, To get rid of that printed on graphic. I reckon alcohol will damage the body, because it's a styrene type plastic.

[slothead]

I'm short one chassis for my new liveries. Any one have a spare Scalextric Mustang or Camaro rolling chassis, with or without motor, they're interested in selling?

Slothead

[dreinecke]

Glad to see you tackling these! I do wish Scalextric would re-release the early cars...come on, there HAS to be a market for those!

[Reslotted]

[slothead]

Using Pioneer chassis for projects is a good idea - only way to reliably get those Camaros onto your starting grid.

Who's ordered from INASLOT? Are they reliable? How long should I expect shipping to take to USA?

Re-releases? Whoa Yeah! Would love to get the Scalextric Sunoco Camaro, Gurney and Parnelli Mustangs, and many more. My wallet says no, but my heart says yes.

Slothead

[HomeRacingWorld]

Looks good. And Scaley is releasing the white kits again, so that is another source.

[Nor Cal Mike]

I have a ordered a Pioneer chassis from Inaslot in the past year. They are about as quick as you get for something shipped from the UK. I think it took about 4 or 5 days. Not bad for coming all the way across the pond.

[slothead]

Hey bibbster - don't leave me hanging here with drool on my face and $ in my hand. I've got a bad case of Trans Am fever and if you've got something to offer I'm itching to pounce.

PM's welcome.

Slothead