Wen Mac Indy racer clean up

just curious what year these indy cars where made?also are we going to see the car fully assembled again know its cleaned up?

Mark Boesen wrote:Nice work! What did you use on plastic?

Well, I'm a little embarrassed to say.....I just sprayed it with plain old Johnson's Pledge.  A temporary measure until I can polish it like crankbdr did his tether car.  What a great job that is.  This one has some blemishes that should polish out, not bad but they are there.   But...........

we went from this:



To this:



I am surprised at the quality of these Wen Mac's.  I always considered them the poor cousin of Cox models.  Not any more.  The wheels are bushed, the motor hold down screws are machine types that screw into brass nuts molded into the body, no self tapping screws into plastic here and everything fits together perfectly.  Not bad for around twelve/thirteen bucks at the time.  





Overall for what it cost, I'm pretty pleased.  I have been looking at "drivers" that would fit.  I'm thinking about 1/25th scale?

craig bernard wrote:just curious what year these indy cars where made?also are we going to see the car fully assembled again know its cleaned up?

I have the CD of Wen Mac catalogs from 1956 through 65. I haven't had a chance to look through it yet, but I'm thinking along that time period.

Bob

Well done. Very nice work indeed. Have you run the engines yet?

That came out really nice for just a little effort (on the plastic ) Are you going to run it Bob or just admire it ? I saw that on the Bay if you don't mine and most of us don't < what was your winning bid ? Thanks Eric

getback wrote:That came out really nice for just a little effort (on the plastic ) Are you going to run it Bob or just admire it ? I saw  that on the Bay if you don't mine and most of us don't <  what was your winning bid ? Thanks Eric

Hi Eric,  $46.00 + $9.95 shipping.  One with a box went for over $125.00 last week, I forgot the final price.  

I haven't started it yet, don't know if I will.  The engine was frozen.  Mostly the crankshaft.  It took some effort to release it.  Either I lost the glow plug gasket, or it was missing when I got it, otherwise except for the driver and exhaust pipe it's complete.

This one is the pull-start version, they also offered a recoil starter for a couple of bucks more. The flywheel is so nicely done. It has a slot cut in it for I imagine a pull string should the starter spring break. I would think the flyhweel provides a damping effect as well as inertia to aid the engine in lower than propeller speed application.

That's not bad and labor is cheap when you enjoy what your doing , did you ck. and see if a cox 049 hd. gasket would work ? I just put one in a wen-mac engine not long ago , had to work it with a pick to get in but fit was good . Eric

turn out real nice maybe you could fabricate anexhaust pipe from brass tubing or aluminum tubing to match rest of aluminum or modify acox one I assume it goes down the side like the old cox racer.they sell the cox alumium exhausts some where brand new but cant remember where or simply hold out for an original.just throwing out some Ideas thats what were all here for right!

yI seen a flyer for this ca under wenmac on ebay it says it is called the automite 1953 selling for 10.95 in 1953 currantly 99 cents for flyer one bidder!

craig bernard wrote: yI seen a flyer for this ca under wenmac on ebay it says it is called the automite 1953 selling for 10.95 in 1953 currantly 99 cents for flyer one bidder!

That's probably my bid Craig.

I do have some different sizes of brass tubing that I could blend into an acceptable exhaust pipe, might be a plan. I did order a 1/25 scale driver for it but I'm not sure that it will fit. The orignals are probably in someone lawn or land fill.

I can't quite make out how this car works. It appears that the attachment for the "bridle" is on the right side of the car, meaning that it would rotate clockwise, opposite to most tether cars. Also, it appears that the rear axle is angled to steer the car to the right. If turning clockwise, that may cause the car to steer in to the centre of the circle. When I first noticed the angle of the axle, I figured it was to give line tension, but there doesn't appear to be any line attachment on the left side of the car.
I'm not familiar at all with tether cars, so I may be seeing things wrong.

Rod.

Oldenginerod wrote:I can't quite make out how this car works.  It appears that the attachment for the "bridle" is on the right side of the car, meaning that it would rotate clockwise, opposite to most tether cars.  Also, it appears that the rear axle is angled to steer the car to the right.  If turning clockwise, that may cause the car to steer in to the centre of the circle.  When I first noticed the angle of the axle, I figured it was to give line tension, but there doesn't appear to be any line attachment on the left side of the car.
I'm not familiar at all with tether cars, so I may be seeing things wrong.

Rod.

That is curious Rod. But I measured the wheel base axle center to axle center and came up with 8 1/2" for both +/- about a 1/16" error due to old eyes.

I know little about these too, but I have an "Automite racing manual" coming. Maybe that will shed some light on the problem.

This one has been ran on some surface or other as there is wear on the drive tire, maybe I should rotate the tires.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I'm sure I saw that the rear axle was on an angle, but must have just been a illusion. In light of my dodgy recognition skills, was I correct that the attachments for the tether are on the right side of the car? That would make it opposite to standard.

Rod if you go back and look at the pics the engine is in the rear and leads are on the left. Eric

Sorry Eric, I disagree. Engine is in the front, driver's seat is at the rear. Left front wheel is the driving wheel. The WenMac can only run in a counter-clockwise direction. To be at the rear, the engine would need a left hand crank, which I don't believe WenMac ever produced.

Rod.

Bob I seen your automite and aquamite exact colours including a red and yellow plane that was available in a three pack back then in open original box not for sale but a picture anyway.I guess your going to have to find that plane now ha! ha!Go type in The new kit collectors price guide.Then scroll to bottom of first page click on cox then it will branch to wenmacs cox testors.pictures.maybe it will help with car seems exhaust and driver were yellow in colour. Hope it helps a little craig

Your right Rod , I was looking at the rear end photo and didn't take note of the side view Eric

Hi Craig,  I saw a picture of that threesome.  It would be neat to own one of each.  Two down, one to go.  

Slick looking airplane Mark.  PM sent.

And Eric, welcome to club confusion, I live there.  

yes mark that looks like the plane I seen along with the car and boat. I have to ask alot of your collection looks real clean did you pay more money for good ones or patiently cleaned and restored them?The red and white plane looks as good as the day it was made.Either way pretty impressive craig!

i almost always try to buy a dirty used model, it's fun to clean up or restore and price is always less.