The Magazine For Slot Car Enthusiasts
6/15/06
Painting For Realism - Stylish molding efforts
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By Nathanael Woodworth
I used to make a lot of my own molds to vacuum form and then hand paint the shells because I thought I'd try to do a better and more realistic job then the commercially available toy hard bodies. I raced with a great group of guys here in upstate New York in the late seventies and early eighties. We had different categories for different commercially available HO AFX/Tyco slot cars and modified chassis. Our emphasis was on realism. Cars had to have proper proportions, correct livery, a driver figure (for open cockpit cars) and securely mounted wings. Everything was to be as scale as possible and our tech sessions were a combination of 1/43 type model show, concourse and bitch session. If something were questionable, for example: could Alan Jones 1981 Saudia Williams FW07C be raced without front wings if the car practiced like that at Monza but started the race with them? Gray areas needed a photo with captions in the English language for clarification.

The best series we held was a PPG Indy Car World Series for the then new stock tyco 440 chassis. The only (and mandatory) modifications were AJs blackcat silcone rear tyres and the use of one of the realistic hand made bodies. We had models of the Goulds Penske PC10s, Red Roof Inns and Texaco March 82Cs, Pepsi Challenger Eagles, and many others. The racing was close and competitive - similar to one of todays full size spec series where driving talent wins and is not lost because of technical advantages. We even had 24 hours races modeled after Le Mans for Group 6 cars.

To make a body, I start out by going through Magazines like the Italian Autosprint, Englands Autosport and Motorsport, and Frances Sport Auto and Grand Prix International for references photos. I also have a few books that I will use as well. Then Ill sit down and shape the car by eye with clay until I get the shape right - or at least believable. Some artistic finesse is needed to work around unreal wheelbase spans, pick up shoes invading front wing space, and motor magnets forcing bodywork higher than where it should be, etc. Then I vacuum form the mold with white styrene. I and trim the shell, paint and insert a driver figure (also made the same way from vacuum form) and add wings if needed, by cutting sheet styrene to the desired shape and super gluing the pieces together. Once the body is done, I super glue the shell to the magnet/gear chassis clip and the wing to the back of the chassis.

That process takes about two minutes. Then I set the car on the track and proceed to destroy it in a about two laps! I cant tell you how many of these bodies I crashed into the basement wall or floor over the years! Some have survived and reside on my dresser in small show cases.

Its a pretty simple process but the sculpting and painting takes time. You cant rush art! I do sell these bodies. I made a flyer for HO USA in 1994. I had a lot of guys call and write to me. Most people really like them and I appreciate the kind compliments I received, but when I mention a price, it scares them off. Because these bodies take so long to paint, I ask pretty ridiculous prices for them. I've sold a few to rich collectors and on ebay. Believe me, I would very much like to share these with other slot car racers and bring the prices down, but I need to get a production system in place where I can at least make back my time invested.

I have a few hundred molds including everything from Formula One, Indy Cars, Formula two, Formula 5000, Can-Am, Group 5+6, Group C and GTP. I also am a graphic artist and have a ton of Illustrations of racing cars (my style is similar to Paul Laguette of RACER magazine) and even more art of corporate sponsor logos from over the past thirty years ready to be printed for water set decals if any one is willing to invest. Thats a hint!Ive recently begun to work with resign casting. My first attempt, Schumaker's World Championship Ferrari F2000 Formula One car, is nearlyfinished. Maybe that will be the first production slot car body I produce and a start to a new path for my modeling. Let me know if you are interested in one. You can also contact me if your interested in my slot car models and decals.