Reader's Gallery: Douglas Haynes / Scratchbuilt.com

Reader's Gallery 55

Douglas Haynes: The Haynes Thunderbuggy

Douglas Haynes sends along these images of the Haynes Thunderbuggy, a 1/24 scale scratchbuilt inline chassis. I love all these close-fitting pans. Thanks, Doug!

Douglas writes:

"I have lived in Eugene, Oregon all my life. As a teenager, I scratchbuilt my first chassis (Pittman powered Chaparral 2) in 1964. From 1968-74, I retired from slot racing to auto-cross and race (SCCA National License holder) real cars including a Merlyn MK11A Formula Ford and Lotus 23B/BRM 2-Litre Sports Racer. I resumed scratchbuilding and racing 1/24 in 1985.

In my opinion, racing against your friends with a chassis of your own design and construction is the ultimate expression of our slot racing hobby. We do it every week at our local private track (www.pelicanparkspeedway.com)."

Douglas Haynes is a principal modeler at Resilient Resins, makers of beautiful, unbreakable slot car bodies.

Above: This is the 1/24 Haynes Thunderbuggy hardshell chassis. It is the current 2003 version. Its design is totally original and entirely scratchbuilt with K&S brass and silver solder. It is the product of nearly 15 years of fierce competition with other Oregon scratchbuilders/racers. It features body-to-chassis suspension as well as chassis-to-track suspension. The rear end is an ultra-rigid monocoque type design constructed with boxed thin sheet brass. Weight distribution and traction have been maximized. It is designed for ballast to be added in order to fine-tune the balance to suit the track conditions.

Above: Here is a Thunderbuggy that has been built to fit a Resilient Resins Lola T70 Spyder body shell. The slots on the sides of this chassis indicate that this frame features the unique Sotacars Clip Mount System of body mounting. The body has been painted as a loose replica of Walt Hansgen's "Zerex Special" Lola as seen at the 1965 USRRC event at Elkhart Lake.

Above: This Thunderbuggy has been built to fit under a vintage Strombecker Chaparral 2 hardshell slot body. This body is destined to become a replica of Jim Hall's 1965 Sebring 12 Hour endurance race winner. This body also mounts to the chassis with the Sotacars Clip Mount System.

Above: Here's a Thunderbuggy with an AMT '63 Ford Galaxie model body. It has been painted as an exact replica of Jack Sears' British Saloon Car racing champion. This lumbering Holman-Moody built stocker became a British racing icon as it proved to be virtually unbeatable in the early 60's on circuits such as Brands Hatch, Goodwood and Silverstone.

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