Gary Hopkins' Building Tips:
- Use silver bearing solder, acid flux and at least a 45 watt iron.
Don't be satisfied with anything less than a perfect solder joint.
- Make sure everything is flat, square and within diminsions.
Either invest in, or build, a good chassis jig. This makes accuracy easier to obtain.
- Visualize what you want before wasting supplies, but if you do screw up, don't be discouraged.
Start over... supplies are relatively inexpensive.
- Test and modify until you get the desired results with your prototype,
then build a second to make sure your design can be duplicated.
- Before selling a chassis to someone, make sure you remove excess solder
and clean up your work. Comet and a toothbrush can make your
finished product presentable, if you don't have access to a bead-blaster.
- Look at every chassis you can get your hands on. Don't be afraid to copy.
A Scratchbuilder's Philosophy:
I like scratchbuilding for the sake of scratchbuilding. It is very satisfying
to take a few sticks of piano wire and some sheet brass and turn it into
something functional. It's not much different than any other craft where
fabricating is involved.
I do believe that form follows function in this hobby.
Pretty is fine, but performance is what it's all about. Getting to the
finish line first beats winning concourse any day. I'm not saying
that good solder joints and cleaning up the excess solder isn't important,
but if it stays together long enough to win the race, you were successful.
Since there is really no place to race scratchbuilt cars anymore,
scratchbuilding has become more of a hobby inside a hobby. It really matters to
nobody but the one doing it... and maybe a few fellow scratchbuilders.
--Gary Hopkins, Feb 4, 2003