Building a 1/24 car

[cjperry81]

I wasn't quite sure which section to post this in but I've been considering building my first car. I'm planning on doing a 1/24 Amc Gremlin. I've never built a car, but are there chassis' that already exist that I can use? Or do you basically have to go the "scratch built" route and hand make everything? I know that I likely dont have the skills or tools to do a ground up scratch build. If someone could give me some ideas on where I should look or point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it!

[FC47]

Hey, depends a bit on what you want this car to do. It could a street car, drag, modified.
Harry has put up a few tutorials as far as scratching chassis, body mounting..
And if without scratching tools and skills as of yet, H&R makes great rolling chassis’s ready for your Gremlin body.
Scratching a car and the handful of components can typically take you into the mid sixties depending on what you choose.
The adjustable wheelbase H&R comes in many variations as far as wheels and tires, you might pick one with foam front tires and rubber or silicone rears...and brand new ready to go you can find them for about 45-50 bucks..

Cheers,
Paul

[mattb]

LVJ chassis in brass or plain steel available Ebay or internet search. Easiest chassis you can build. Adjustable, Any small motor fits, 1/8 axle holes. Has upturned sides which will take a screw or pin/clip. If too wide, cut the sides to fit the body and use a mount posts or even balsa wood glued to the inside of the body in the rocker panel area, then use some self tapping screws up thru the frame into the wood. Enlarge the frame holes and you will have a little body float. This could be a drag chassis, but not high tech like a lot of guys build.

[chrisguyw]

Hello, As mentioned above, a lot depends on what you are expecting performance wise from you car........

Both the H&R and LVJ are good basic choices ,and ,are relatively simple to build up and adapt to your body. Built well, they will handle nicely.

A step up in performance would be a "Meccano" type chassis from Plafit, Scaleauto, or Scholer. These bolt together with supplied nuts/bolts, are highly adjustable, and have lots of available tuning parts should you wish/need to further improve their performance. Even in their base form they will outperform the H&R and LVJ chassis.

The H&R chassis can be purchased in complete RTR form (you will just need to adjust the wheelbase), for around $50.

The "Meccano type chassis can also be bought in RTR form, but, these will run around $100.

Either way, it is likely much less expensive to but a complete RTR chassis.......unless you already have the bits lying around !!

They can be found at Prof. Motor, Electric Dreams, PCH Slot, and likely many others.

Shout if you need more help.

Cheers
Chris Walker

[HomeRacingWorld]

To make it simple, H&R is a good start for your car.

A link to chassis HERE

[mattb]

The complete H&R is probably the cheapest and quickest way out. You'll have all parts and a choice of motor speed and type of rear tires. I'm not sure if it can be set to the short wheelbase for a Gremlin, but if not, all you would have to do is cut off 1/4-1/2 inch at the rear of the front section. H&R also comes with some velcro type sidemounts for use with model car bodies.

[WB2]

A Gremlin is a pretty small car. I think I’d try a CG universal chassis and build it up with Slot It components.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/ZRH42XANG/1-32-slotcar-chassis-2-0-adjustable-wheel-base?optionId=55943410&li=shops

[slothead]

The type of car is the key. I support having the performance of the car match its identity. In my opinion no need for a scratch built chassis under a street car. I'd also think the chassis for a drag car would be different from a modified or road course car. In my mind's eye a Gremlin is ideally suited to be a modified for either asphalt or dirt.

If you're using a model like this



Then either of these versions below could easily be done with a brass or steel LVJ chassis with very little modification needed. Brass is best for soldering on side bars and bumpers if you intend to add those details.





Since you said you want to "build" a Gremlin I'd suggest getting the chassis and then source the needed running gear (axles, gears, motor, wheels & tires, and guide) so you get the experience and satisfaction of putting it all together.

[WB2]

I had this in mind when I read “Gremlin”:

[cjperry81]

I had this in mind when I read “Gremlin”:

This is exactly the type of concept I had in my head! Kind of a trans am feel to it. This would be my first "build" per say but I think if it all works out well i would definitely consider doing something like an AMC pacer as well.

[WB2]

They raced those, too.

[WB2]

[slothead]

Don't overlook the possibility of recreating this as a racing slot car.



AMC Pacer?! Then you obviously need to build a Kneisel big block modified tribute car.

[cjperry81]

I think a pacer like this could be a big hit. I'm looking forward to tackling by first build soon ish!

[alihrphrp]

I think a pacer like this could be a big hit. I'm looking forward to tackling by first build soon ish!hireacar

Hmm that seems a good thing, keep it up dude.

[Fathead59]

My dad had a Pacer wagon back in the day , what I would have done a 4x4 to it . Not sure if a Jeep frame would have fit under it .