of The Mako II Corvette in Resin

It has been a long road for this two piece mold.  Now that it is done, beautiful resin copies are being pulled from it.  I'm hoping to paint up two or three for myself and get them running on the track.

If you are interested, let me know.  Check out the Daedalian Waxworks link at the top of the page.  This might be a very limited run.

of Thanks & Good Bye ALMS

Thank you thank you thank you. ALMS came along exactly when I needed a new racing series to believe in. I have been to several ALMS races at Road America & Mid-Ohio. The "For The fans" open paddocks and starting grids at Road America are worth the price of admission. The combined ALMS/Grand-Am weekend at Road America was spectacular this year. If the USCC (Is it USCC or USCR?) continues to play nice with the ACO & the FIA's World Championship, driving the technology forward, this is going to be a great series. We are so close to a single inclusive set of rules. This is great.

Suggestions:
1 - continue to keep the big sanctioning bodies talking and playing nice.
2 - @USCC The entire schedule needs to increase the length of the races. The 2:45 format on some of these tracks is not worthy of endurance sports cars. Follow the lead of the World Endurance Championship with 6 hour minimum races.
3 - @USCC re-instate the eligibility of the LMP1 class for your crown jewels. Nothing wrong with inviting the P1 teams from across the pond, even if they win.
4 - @theFans can we stop the sniping at each other? This is a truly merged series now. ALMS & Grand-Am found a way to keep most of the classes and stay in the good graces of the ACO. Why are we fighting about 2 series that no longer exist?

God Speed - Sean

This crash.net article is unclear whether Sean Edwards was killed upon impact or if he died some point after. Either way, this is a horrific reminder of risks involved in motorsports. Rescue crews spent 3 hours trying to remove him from the fiery wreckage.

of the DRS RamJet-X vs SCX Digital

I am not a slot racer. I run the vast majority of my hotlaps alone; or run with family & friends a few times during the year where I'm mostly a spotter for the kids. I have really only ever used the SCXd controller and an SCX analog controller on my small SLOP tracks. The number of deslots on some of these trials reveal that I might not be as good as I like to think I am. However, after 800 laps with 4 cars I believe both controllers got a fair test.

The SCX Digital Controller has the look and feel of a toy, a solid were built toy, but still a toy. In the event of suspected breakage, the older version forced you to peal back the hand grip to get to the screws pretty much ruining the look of the controller. It was a big risk just to find out that the reason why your car wasn't changing lanes was related to a bad guide or chip. There are no adjustments that can be made to the tension of the trigger or to limit the throw (Is that a term?) of the trigger.

Digital Racing Solutions has created a racer quality controller. It has the look of a top end controller. It is clear so that you can see that the proper contact is being made. There are adjustments that can be made to the trigger's tension and throw. I did not have an allen that fit into the tension control but I could see the mechanism was of solid contruction. I didn't play with the screw that acted as a trigger stop. I didn't even consider that it was there to adjust the throw; acting as a governer - until Son#3 said that he liked that screw being there to slow down the cars. This is a great feature that could be used to equalized cars and provides much finer tuning of the top speed when you compare it to the SCXd Console Expert/Junior settings. The trigger that I used was a two finger style. I hear that a single finger trigger will also be available.

For the test, I ran hot laps on my Ravensring Road Course. The Ravensring is a combination Tri-oval with an inner road course. Using the road course forced me to not only speed up and slow down more than the oval, but also change lanes to drive the inner course.

Four cars were used:
Audi R10 #7, Chevy Corvette C6.R #4, SEAT Leon WTCC #18, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano - all SCX.
Each car was warmed up by holding the rear wheels of the track as the motor was run at full speed until the motor would sputter with the gas tank emptying.
Each car ran two 50 lap heats with each controller.
The order of which controller was used was switched up with each car.
The test tracked fast laps, total time, de-slots, wrong turns (the road course entrance was missed), and pit lane errors (The F599 would break the pit lane speed limit).
If a wrong turn was taken, the car would be stopped on the oval for at least a 3 count.

The numbers show that the SCXd controller won total time by almost 5 minutes. When you look at fast laps the winners were split even and close. The DRS RamJet-X suffered from excess deslots during the Corvette and Leon trials.

I wanted to say that the DRS RamJet-X cut seconds off my lap times but it didn't. This could be chalked up to me being more familiar with the SCXd controller.

One feature that was not included or considered (I asked) with the DRS RamJet-X that would have me buying one today would be a way to mimic SCX Digital's Safety Car Chip. A switch that would cause the car to randomly switch lanes when the throttle trigger was fixed to a given speed.

I love the feel of the DRS RamJet-X and its features. I really wish I had played with the screw behind the trigger limiting the throw and top speed. This could be a great equalizer when running races with different cars; and a great way to save cars when less experienced slotters want to play. I could really use this feature. This is a well made controller and a good substitute for the SCXd controller. If the price is right I'd buy at least one.

of the 2014 USCR Schedule

Take a look at the 2013 ALMS & Grand-Am schedules. Look at the duplicate tracks and the marquee events. Most of the 2014 USCR season is already set.
Daytona 24
Sebring 12
Laguna Seca
(Le Mans break)
Lime Rock
Watkins Glen
Road America
Circuit of The Americas
Petit Le Mans/Road Atlanta

That is 8 of the rumored 10 to 12 races. My must haves include 3 more great US Road Courses:
Mid-Ohio
Alabama
VIR

These are beautiful circuits that would be a shame to leave off of the new series' schedule. This only leaves room for 1 more event. So many more have been rumored to be sure things for various reasons: Long Beach, Belle Isle, Kansas...
If it was up to me I'd include the much maligned Indianapolis road course. It is not that bad. It is much better than the hallowed Daytona road course. I would make the race a 10 or 12 hour enduro and hype it as its own event. Adding Grand-Am as a support race for NASCAR will not draw fans. USCR would be better off tying it to IndyCar's proposed second race at The Brickyard, or bring those new (2015) North American DTMs to Indy. I see some sort of Labor Day Weekend road course extravaganza.
The entire schedule needs to increase the length of the races. The 2:45 format on some of these tracks is not worthy of endurance sports cars. Follow the lead of the World Endurance Championship with a 6 hour minimum and leave the street races behind.

of DTM & GT500

Looks like DTM and the Japanese GT500 are running the same rules in 2014.  The article also mention the new NASCAR sanctioned North American DTM.

This is good.  These are super cool cars.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/gt500-2014-the-shape-of-the-future-revealed/

Playing with new looks

Please bare with me.  I have been testing new formats and themes for this site.  The content will stay the same.

I am also finding that I need to update some broken picture links.

Blue Flame Specials

I wanted to finish another 2009 Corvette C7 Concept.  I had decals left over from my SLOPii entry.  So I used them - quick & easy.  For this vette I used my dremel to carve out the front grill, the front and rear vents.  I used black lace ribbon for the grill and red lace ribbon for the tail lights.

The Gallery

Joined on the road by the '34 Ford Blue Flame Spcl.

Thanks for humoring me.

Store Updated

Please check out the updated store page - Daedalian Waxworks tab. Thank you for your interest. Daedalian Waxworks

A Christmas List

Charles Dressing gives us his Christmas list at ALMS.com.  It got me thinking of my Christmas list:

1 - confirmation that the new ALMS/GrandAm merger will embrace the technologies that make Le Mans prototypes so much fun.
2 - IndyCar to start opening up their rules as was the original plan with the new 2012 cars.
3 - SCX Slot car - 2007 Laguna Seca corvette Jake #3.  I have the #4 but the yellow nosed #3 is next to impossible to find.
4 - Wheels & axles for my collection of 1:32 Corvette bodies.
5 - an interesting web article or commentary that includes F1, Sports Cars, and slot cars.

Thanks Chuck! I can cross #5 off my list!

of SCX Digital, An Onboard Camera, & 3 Cars

This was fun.

BMW Z4 to ALMS

These are pretty cars and I welcome them to the ALMS in 2013!  Just look at a Z4 next to the M3.  Which would you want to drive in?

ALMS Story

of Aston Martin & TRG

Aston Martin and TRG are bringing Aston Martin Racing back to the US with programs from ALMS, GrandAm, and a single make series!  This is great news for 2013 and 2014!

ALMS Story

Indy Corn Heats

I am looking forward to this heat race format. I am tuned in for the Q heats right now. I hope it has the feel of a night at the local short track.

after watching the Q heats it is obvious that arules change is needed for next year. Something to maakes the heats worth something.

I'm all atwitter

I can barely keep a web log now I am on Twitter.

@DanniOLaisip

of Le Mans 24 Hours 2012

Quick, obvious thoughts before the race:

"Road to Le Mans" The Toyota documentary is very much worth watching.

LMP1 - An Audi diesel will win.  The Audi eTron's flywheel has more racing history than the Toyota hybrid but look for a tough fight.  I think the Toyota will finish, but even if they do not, they have something to be proud of - a brand new car in 9 months and a whole year ahead of schedule.

GT - You know I am rooting for the Corvettes.

Delta Wing - go Go GO!  What a cool story - an engineers doodles to mock up to reality!  It doesn't get better than that.

Let's have a safe race.

----------------------------------------------

UPDATES:

Spotters Guide
lemanslive.com

We are at 22:25 remaining.  I am VERY surprised by the strength and speed of the 4 hybrids in the top 4 spots.

Check this out Corvettes LIVE.

just under 21:00 to go.  The Hybrids are still up top except of course for the #8.  Unbelievable that no one was hurt.

Right Down The Middle

It took Sauber 2 years to make this.  You need to take 5 minutes and watch this.

of Nick Mason, a Hanger, & Cars!

Road & Track Blog: Inside a Hanger at Rendcombe Airfield with Nick Mason http://goo.gl/mag/6azyu
I can't think of a Pink Pun just read.

of Projects Delayed, Looming Deadlines, & a 34 Ford

I started with a Revell-Monogram 1/32 Snap-Tite Wind Chill '34 Ford Coupe
Not bad on clearance at $3!

The plan was to use this model to make the first known 34 Ford Coupe SCXd slot car.  Ah but that was not to be.  The front is too narrow for a standard chip and I didn't have any luck with the SCXd F1 chips either.  She sat lonely in a box for over 3 years.

Then the second Super Little Open Proxy (SLOP) came along.  The cars are due when?!? The car that I planned to repaint wouldn't give up its windows without a fight.  I had no time for a fight.  I needed something fast.  The day had come for the '34 Ford slot car.

The Daedalian Waxworks set to work on what would be a true chop shop hot rod pulled together with spare parts.

SCX motor pod
SCX RX-42 motor
Hobby Slot Racing guide
brass tubing
Rear SCX NASCAR rims and tires
Front Bburago BMW Z4 rims and tires
Evergreen Styrene
Krylon Fusion for Plastic rattle can paints
a resin driver
ink jet water slide decals on Bare Metal Foil clear decal sheets

The model chassis was mated to the SCX pod thanks to some 5 minute JB Weld.
To keep the car within the SLOP box (2 1/4" X 4 1/2") the front and rear fenders needed to be Dremeled away.  This gives it a chopped look while staying true to the car's shape.  The front axle was moved towards the rear to keep the tire under the new shorter fenders.  The axles needed to be chopped to fit under the fenders - I was almost successful.  Due to space constraints the guide sits behind the front axle.  We'll see how that works for me.

A resin Danni O'Laisip driver was fitted to the new interior made from the model's parts cut to fit and glued to Evergreen Styrene.

Water slide decals - blue fire was made from flames found at:
cgtextures.com > Fire > Flames
The GIMPs color inversion tool changed the orange on black flames to blue on white.  Making a Hot Rod gave me the excuse to put a War Era pin up girl on the car.  There was a pile of other decals to slide on but after the #114 and sponsor decal I decided to keep her clean and simple.  BRSHobbies was added to the car because Brian is always a huge help and came through with awesome prizes for our SLOP Bucket.  It was the very least I could do in return.

This is the first successful scratch built chassis from the Daedalian Waxworks to be fitted to a car.  The others have been complete failures, or built without the body in mind.

There was a huge "OH FEATHERS" moment once the front wheels were attached.  The original SCX guide sat higher than the wheels giving me about an 1/8" guide depth.  Might be OK for a short drag race but not so good for turning.  Turning is pretty important in a series that runs on 2' X 4' tracks.  Everything was glued in place.  "Who do I fire?" or something like that was heard echoing in the Waxworks.  When no one came forward to take the blame I noticed someone's reflection in the glossy Ford.  "Oh - never mind.  We got this.  No problem."  Luckily for that guy an HSR chassis was willing to donate its guide.  Luck was compounded when the new guide actually fixed the issue.  Oh and the deadline for SLOP has been pushed back.  Now maybe I can get that track done.

Gallery Pix

Slot Works Form Spain

He is prolific in the number of repaints that he is turning out and he does it so well.
SLOTWORKS

Just look at those dirt effects on some of those cars!

I discovered 13jandro31 at Slot Car Illustrated.