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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 18:35:10 GMT -5
Hi guys my name is Chuck and I'm a newbie to the indy car scene . I usually build drag cars and do decals for them , but I have gotten bored with the hobby and I hasn't been much fun as of lately . So I was able to acquire about 30 of the old indy car kits and the one that drew me in was the Unser Olsonite Eagle . I had and built this car about 40 years ago when I was 10 and I can remember coming home from the 5 & 10 store with it and my bottle of paints and tube of glue and did I make a mess of that kit , so I'll try again. To be up front I know nothing about Indy cars so I will make so mistakes along the way but just bear with me as I learn.
I looked around on the site and seen some awesome builds so I'll try to take my notes from them . I read that the AMT Indy car kits very not very good or accurate so I have looked and some pics of the cars and making some changes to the kit. The first thing I noticed was builders said the car was to tall in the belly area so I cut the interior bulk head away from the side panels to make the car shorter by 3mm.
I glued them directly to the upper body panel . Then I noticed that the front nose had to much of a rake on it , so I cut the front panel and flat it out a bit . Here are some pics
I then guled the bottom onto the car so I could eliminate some seams and get the body panels and cut the bottom out so I could assemble the cockpit .
by flatting out the nose and getting the body thinner I was able to eliminate 3mm from under the front nose . Here is how it sits now , just got get out the bondo and primer and start smoothing things out
I hope it looks better and I'm doing things right , any help suggestions or comments are welcome . Like I said this is my first rodeo at this
thanks Chuck
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 18:43:36 GMT -5
Welcome Ratnasty, although I think your moniker should be "Mr. Hobbysaw"!!!!!!
Looks like you know what your doing! Really great direction on thinning this subject down. Very cool, and I will be following this build as I have several of those old Eagle kits and the aftermarket resin jobs are hard to get as they are long out of production.
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Post by indy on Sept 3, 2014 19:56:13 GMT -5
Michael from IndyCals offers some aftermarket pieces and decals for this car, too. You might email him or check out indycals.net
Nice work on improving the base kit.
Jordan
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Post by ttocs78z28 on Sept 3, 2014 20:02:03 GMT -5
Welcome. Looks like you've got a good build going. As 1975 was my very first visit to the 500, I will be watching your progress. I want to build the 75 winner someday. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Sept 3, 2014 20:12:49 GMT -5
Chuck, I think you've got the hang of Indy Car modeling! This is looking real good.
Sandy
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Post by Calvin on Sept 3, 2014 20:22:23 GMT -5
Looks like you are on your way! Looks like you're getting nose down like it should....which is main problem with this kit.
You'll notice that 70's Eagles are very popular with most everyone on this forum.
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Post by racerbrown on Sept 3, 2014 20:44:27 GMT -5
alright chuck!
you're getting down and dirty here.
you should have a no fear sign on your workbench.
looking forward to more.
thanks for sharing.
duane
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Post by Chris on Sept 4, 2014 12:45:36 GMT -5
Great start!! The Tub at the roll bar is actually somewhat narrower than at the front, I dont know if you can still change it and the pics are very deceptive... here is a link to my Fotki album titled "Eagles Galore" there are some 892 photos that may help, particularly the Restoration shots my good friend, Phillipe De Lespinay took during the work on the car.. public.fotki.com/pmodwrks/eagle/ I use to hang at AAR as a kid and can give additional info if you need it.. Chris Hale |
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Post by Chris on Sept 4, 2014 13:03:08 GMT -5
  In January 1972 the new Eagle went to Ontario for testing, my Father had built the Offy engines for it, so he went along to observe. Bobby Unser took it out for a couple of troubled laps and brought it in the pits, shaking his head he said, "I couldnt get it up over 120mph, there is something seriously wrong with the suspension, it scrubs speed like crazy...." so they spent the day checking it out and dejectedly took it back to AAR . The following day everyone was seriously upset thinking they had designed and built a total Dog!! So Dan told everyone to completely disassemble the car and lay it out on the floor so they could have a better look.. after it was done and some time passed with Wayne, Dan, Bobby and the guys scratching their heads my father noticed something unusual, the front torsion bars were on the wrong sides, yeah with the slight length difference it makes a huge difference. The car was reassembled correctly overnight and it was off to Ontario the next morning. The car was prepped and ready to go when Bobby walked up to my Father and said, John, why dont you take it out and tell me what you think!" so he did . after a half dozen laps he brought it back to the pits and said, "Sorry Dan it wouldnt get up to more than 120mph again!" Dan looked at him with a smile and said " What are you talking about John? You just ran 3 laps at 201mph!! We almost scraped that car last night!!!" My Dad told me this story and for years I doubted it until I went to a meeting with Dan Gurney and some others and I asked him about it, he confirmed it and again Thanked my Father for finding the fix on the Eagle that went on win and fill the field at Indy for years after.. we are still friends and I try to stay in touch.. Chris  |
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Post by indy on Sept 5, 2014 9:06:36 GMT -5
Great story, Chris. Does anyone get over to Dan's shop these days?
Jordan
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2014 13:25:02 GMT -5
Jordan....
I do....I have to do is call first and to see if Dan going to be there. I build airplane models for Dan all time. Funny thing is....Every time I mention John Hale name, Dan doesn't who that is?....
Russ Bundy
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Post by Chris on Sept 5, 2014 14:10:48 GMT -5
Mention John Hale owner of Santa Ana Raceways.. Dan, Swede and Wayne were very frequent customers.. Chris
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Post by racerbrown on Sept 6, 2014 7:56:27 GMT -5
and now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
duane
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Post by Chris on Sept 6, 2014 9:32:36 GMT -5
 this photo shows the shape of the tub more accurately, if anyone has a Jorgenson resin Eagle maybe they can give us the measurements or even a set of plans? .. the 10th scale R/C car sitting on the tire was painted by my Mom!! at Santa Ana Raceways, Phillipe De Lespinay designed the Livery and she painted a R/C Lexan body that was pulled off the 1/10 rolling plane wind tunnel model from AAR!! Chris Hale |
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Post by beardogracing on Sept 6, 2014 10:26:26 GMT -5
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Post by indycals on Sept 6, 2014 16:22:23 GMT -5
Such a beautiful restoration and then they go and put a 1974 43" rear wing on it  Still a gorgeous car. |
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Post by Chris on Sept 6, 2014 19:34:42 GMT -5
It does say they used up as many original parts that were basically laying around the shop, these are not original cars but Re-Creations??? Chris
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 6:33:48 GMT -5
Hello guys while primering and sanding the body I started on the motor , here are some pics of it. Now before someone says something some of the lines may not be routed correctly , but this is all I could see through pics and I like I said I'm not an Indy guy nor have I ever seen one in person. I tried to make it so it looked like it could function this way and I'm have fun with the project which is the most important thing.
thanks Chuck
next I have to start working on the rear suspension and all the struts for it and the motor with aluminum tubing and RB Motion heim joints
thanks Chuck
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Post by indy on Sept 8, 2014 7:44:56 GMT -5
The engine work looks nice nice, great detailing.
Jordan
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Sept 8, 2014 7:51:55 GMT -5
Looks like an Offy to me, like a darn nice one. Well done Chuck. The rubber flex sections on the intakes looks especially good.
Sandy
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Post by billj on Sept 8, 2014 9:29:20 GMT -5
Sweet looking Offy. Looks super nice  |
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Post by Calvin on Sept 8, 2014 10:14:56 GMT -5
You might be a Rookie to Indycar models, but you already look like a Veteran Indy builder to me!
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Post by racerbrown on Sept 8, 2014 11:44:30 GMT -5
WOW!
serious modeling going on here.
duane
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 11:54:35 GMT -5
Nice work young man!!!!!
Russ
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Post by mjjracer on Sept 8, 2014 13:58:38 GMT -5
that's really really nice! I didn't realize AMT did this model in 1/8th.  MJ |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2014 4:53:30 GMT -5
OK guys after getting the motor caught up , my decals came in from Indycal and I must say as being an Alps decal printer also I was very impressed with the quality of decals they make on their Alps . I got the body painted and decaled and added a few dress up parts such as photo etched dzus fasteners and fuel rings from our drag racing fuel cells . Here are some pics and it only has 1 light coat of clear on it right now to seal the decals , after that dries good I'll come back and hit it some more then color sand it and apply the last coat of clear
thanks for all your guys input and praises
Chuck
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Post by alterrenner on Sept 10, 2014 5:07:58 GMT -5
Is that real mesh over the turbo intake?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2014 5:42:46 GMT -5
yes it is I found it on ebay sometime back , I figured I would find a use for it someday
Chuck
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Post by pntmachine on Sept 10, 2014 6:52:55 GMT -5
Chuck, everything is looking really good. Love the engine detail and rubber boots. Can't wait to see this finished.
Kevin
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 10, 2014 9:11:16 GMT -5
It's looking great. As somewhat of a Gurney fan, I'm really enjoying this build.
Craig
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Still a gorgeous car. 
