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Post by alwaysindy on Nov 27, 2015 13:14:08 GMT -5
My contribution to the offseason build-a-rama...like Dan Wheldon, Robson would lose his life shortly after an Indy 500 win.. First, the Jorgenson body with color on it... Now some shots of this very unusual car... With a virtual unlimited budget from Joel Thorne, Art Sparks took a blank piece of paper and created this car...first a super charged six when everybody else used 4 cylinder Offy's or 8 cylinder Millers...then offset the driver to the left "so he could see deep into left hand turns"...slightly turn the engine so the drive shaft runs by the driver's right leg... Then comes the strangest suspension I have ever modeled... All of the previous pics are of the sister car...this next one appears to be taken on race day(?)... I believe it is the closest color... Notice the very wide track...right rear offset, but symmetrical on the front axle??? So there are an F1 car, a Sebring car, and this one.... I believe I have TOO much going on... And THIS... It IS a sickness... Tim
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Post by johnwebster on Nov 27, 2015 21:47:56 GMT -5
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Post by clm1545 on Nov 27, 2015 22:32:01 GMT -5
A truly strange car, Tim. As I said, looks like it was built by 4 guys, one on each corner, who were not speaking to each other. But it got the job done. What is that 60 cents, change from the last grand you have spent on kits?
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Post by Art Laski on Nov 28, 2015 1:59:08 GMT -5
Looking forward to this one, Tim! I would like to build one myself one day, if I could get my hands on a kit. George Robson's great nephew, Brian Robson, is a good friend of mine from our go kart racing days in the '80s. Brian has worked in racing almost all his life, and this last season was James Jake's spotter and Hinch's bus driver. Great guy...
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Post by racerbrown on Nov 28, 2015 7:01:46 GMT -5
interested to see what you can do to make the front grill. duane
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Post by Calvin on Nov 28, 2015 22:29:19 GMT -5
As I said, looks like it was built by 4 guys, one on each corner, who were not speaking to each other. ^^^^^ Brilliant analogy!! This is going to be fun to watch Tim!
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Post by alwaysindy on Dec 4, 2015 13:36:03 GMT -5
A few progress shots... Craig and Calvin get upset when I don't post... This shows the unusual offset... And the engine...not yet wired... This is the third front axle and second rear axle..had trouble finding something strong but light....both have transverse leaf springs...friction shocks on rear...also Robson's helmet is fluorescent red... Tim
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Post by Calvin on Dec 4, 2015 15:30:57 GMT -5
Craig and Calvin get upset when I don't post... Thank goodness! I was losing sleep over not seeing any updates over this....I think Craig was too! It's looking fabulous, Tim!
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Post by alwaysindy on Dec 12, 2015 11:03:02 GMT -5
Duane: You are correct, the grill is problematic...since I don't do photo etch, I decided to try this... It is not as good under extreme magnification, but looks OK from 6 inches or so... Since I took these, I have been smoothing out the nose...almost ready for the paint shop... Tim
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Post by alwaysindy on Dec 12, 2015 11:03:54 GMT -5
Duane: You are correct, the grill is problematic...since I don't do photo etch, I decided to try this... It is not as good under extreme magnification, but looks OK from 6 inches or so... Since I took these, I have been smoothing out the nose...almost ready for the paint shop... Tim
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Post by Calvin on Dec 12, 2015 12:12:50 GMT -5
Tim, you always have great ideas on how to tackle these builds!
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Post by alwaysindy on Dec 16, 2015 13:26:39 GMT -5
A few update shots?.. Exhaust side... And the front... Thanks for looking...comments, suggestions welcome... Tim
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Post by clm1545 on Dec 16, 2015 17:00:42 GMT -5
Looking good, Mr Jones.
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Dec 16, 2015 17:47:37 GMT -5
Very cool! The blue with red wheels really pops.
Sandy
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Post by Art Laski on Dec 17, 2015 15:23:28 GMT -5
Looks good, Tim!
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Post by racerbrown on Dec 18, 2015 6:55:59 GMT -5
getting closer there! have you figured out the lower grills yet? duane
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Post by alterrenner on Dec 18, 2015 22:01:47 GMT -5
Really nice build! It looks like the theory of the unusual off-set my have been to provide some sort of even thrust line to the left? Follow the turned-in-the-chassis engine, drive shaft running to the driver's right, then the rear axle, appearing offset, but perpendicular to engine crankshaft and drive shaft line. Kind of starts to make sense? More like the body and frame were turned, leaving one side sticking out further than the other. The drive-train formed one line, the body and driver formed another. You can't argue with the fact that it worked very well. --Frank
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Post by alwaysindy on Dec 23, 2015 10:54:59 GMT -5
Frank: At first, I didn't understand your comments...then took a long look at the car and realized what you were saying...the drive shaft hits the middle of the rear axle, creating a big forward push...the front wheels are therefore pushed to the left...I had noticed in Calvin's photos that the left front wheel has the tread (handed) on the outside left...this is opposite of most handed tires because the tread was put on the right side, because the right side of the tire got the heaviest wear....I have also read that the guy who owns the restored car says it handles very well in left hand turns, but is a bi#^h on right hand turns... Perhaps Mr.Sparks was on to something...between the two cars, they have 1 Indy 500 win (1946) ,2nd (1939) ,3rd (1941) , pole in 1939, qualified in 1948-49...drivers beside Robson included Jimmy Snyder, Rex Mays, Ted Horn, and Sam Hanks...8 years being able to qualify for the 500, but the design including war years, was 12 years old...a very interesting car... Tim
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Post by alterrenner on Dec 24, 2015 6:15:58 GMT -5
I'm glad someone could see what I was getting at! I guess the rail birds would have called it a screw-ball theory, but, as you pointed out, it worked very well. --Frank
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Post by lance on Jan 6, 2016 21:36:12 GMT -5
I know its weird but my favorite part of this car is how the headrest turns in as it runs down the tail.
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Post by alwaysindy on Jan 14, 2016 11:06:15 GMT -5
This A few update shots... This is what the car looked like upon arrival at IMS in May 1946... This pic shows the strange offset: the right side trailing arms disappear into the body and evidently attach to the frame(?)... A few things left to finish... This is the best I could do on the grill... This has been a fascinating build for me, trying to get this most unusual winner correct...with no drawings, it has been a challenge Thanks for looking! Comments, questions welcome... Tim
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Post by Calvin on Jan 14, 2016 15:17:29 GMT -5
This is very fascinating! There has been a lot of thought put into this.
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Post by clm1545 on Jan 14, 2016 21:40:25 GMT -5
It's been a tough fight, Tim, but you are winning.
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Post by racerbrown on Jan 15, 2016 7:32:36 GMT -5
a tough fight is right! looking good sir. duane
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Post by alwaysindy on Jan 22, 2016 13:01:28 GMT -5
Finished with the build; now for decals... And we finally see the engine... And another angle... It is interesting to watch the colors change in different light levels... This is about a 10 year build...now Michael and I are trying to figure out the right side decals...the car will next be shown as it appeared on race day...there are several interesting things left to go... Thanks for looking! Tim
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Post by indy on Jan 22, 2016 14:05:18 GMT -5
Love the blue. Looks good now and cannot wait for the decals. Been enjoying the build so far.
Jordan
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Post by alwaysindy on Feb 8, 2016 19:17:56 GMT -5
The 1946 Indy 500 was one of the most important 500's of all time...dilapidated track, new owner , few new cars,...but Tony Hulman had a vision; offered a large purse to attract entrants,put money into new and refurbished stands, and hoped for 75k to 100 k to attend... The crowd was 175k, and the Indy 500 was back in business...all the newsreels, show the hopeless traffic jam; some folks waited 6+ hours to get out... The race was interesting, as the new Novi was ,by far, the fastest car in the field...but the gremlins got it...the Faegeol all wheel drive, two Offy's supercharged engines, sat in the middle of the front row, but crashed out early...these were the only true new cars in '46...SEVEN Indy 500 wiinning cars were in the field...most rebodied, like Jackson's second place Miller (the '36 winner)...Robson led the last 108 laps and cruised to a 45 second victory... Here is the car as it rolled on the grid on race day... The only thing I can come up with for all the front end tape was to distinguish it from Chet Miller's blue car two spaces back on the grid... I could not find out why Joel Thorne hired a driver with only two tries at Indy, and neither successful (started 23rd, finished 23 in 1940: started 16th, finished 25 in 1941) This is the last supercharged car to win the Indy 500...everybody went to turbocharging...(wonder why? more efficient?)... This is the view that the field got for the last 108 laps... Thanks for following along...questions, comments welcome... Tim
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Post by indycals on Feb 8, 2016 19:48:29 GMT -5
Nice!
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Post by indy on Feb 8, 2016 20:53:03 GMT -5
Looks great. Is the tape how it ran?
Jordan
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Post by clm1545 on Feb 8, 2016 23:15:55 GMT -5
Great job, Tim. This one was a real fight, but you did it again. Ever think about building one stock, out of the kit?
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