Unusual Materials: Embossed Sheet Aluminum
Item: 1/24 scale inline chassis with F-1 body
Collector: Jim Allen
Date collected: Feb 15, 2003
Source: auction
Made by: ?
Made when: Early to mid 60s
Notes: We've discussed chassis made of unusual materials - here's one! The pan is
made of a thin sheet of embossed aluminum, commonly used in storm doors, or
in insulated refrigeration panels. The chassis pattern
was hand cut and hand folded. The rear axle bracket appears to be a filed-down Dynamic piece.
The front-end (Ackerman?) steering is brass. There's also plenty of masking tape
holding things together.
The masking tape is a clue to why sheet aluminum went unused in slot car scratchbuilding. For despite aluminum's
low cost and ease of bending and filing, it is just hard to stick things to. Short of drilling holes for
screws and nuts or rivets, masking tape, duct tape or glue must be used to hold structures in place.
None of these options matches the effeciveness of soldering.
|