JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted May 9, 2022 Wondering if anyone has scratch built a scale roll cage. My plan is to try and somewhat recreate the roll cage inside the Golf like the box art depicts to give it some more realism. If you have I'd love to see what you did, your process, materials, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superluminal 3750 Posted May 10, 2022 Ive done a couple for my Lancia Delta, Porsche 934 and more recently the Lotus GT1. I use 5mm dia styrene tube, I then turn the shell upside down and tape some strips of paper inside it where the bars of the cage will be, ie roof, A-pillar and B-pillar etc. Then lay the cut to length styrene tubes into the shell and tack them with a small blob of glue which will hold them to the angles of the body shell. When dry i remove it and add slivers of cut styrene melted with styrene cement and some model filler into the joints between the cage tubes which can then be sanded down smooth to a radius. Then lay it back in the body and lower in the cockpit - cut the ends off the tubes until they are the right length for where the cockpit sits in chassis and then glue to the cockpit. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Silver-Can 402 Posted May 10, 2022 I believe @Truck Norris has built quite a few for his most excellent rally car builds/bodies. Check out his showroom and various posts. They really are sublime. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toyolien 4681 Posted May 10, 2022 I've built several external cage for crawlers. I use 4mm and 5mm steel tube that I then braze together using 55% silver solder and Mapp gas. Here's a few pics of some past projects. 7 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frog Jumper 3661 Posted May 10, 2022 1 hour ago, toyolien said: I've built several external cage for crawlers. I use 4mm and 5mm steel tube that I then braze together using 55% silver solder and Mapp gas. Here's a few pics of some past projects. You don't use the 1:10 scale welding rig in the background to do all that??? Terry 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LewHamFan 76 Posted May 10, 2022 This is one that I built using plastic tubing. It was a bit more work than I expected. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willy iine 18806 Posted May 11, 2022 @LewHamFan Nice job! What did you use at the joints to simulate the welds? Looks good. @toyolien As always, pure talent right there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XJman 74 Posted May 11, 2022 Much like toyolien I built numerous for crawlers in the past. I'd use SS brake line and harris safety-silv 56. Sadly its been a decade since I've done it and any photos I did have are long gone. What I would do is get some stiff wire, usually a coat hanger, and bend and hot glue things together until the shape was what I wanted. Id then start to cut the brake line and bend it to the wire templates I made. I bought a sanding drum for my dremel that matched the brake line I used to notch it. I found it was always easiest to make a base thats flat and square to work off of, even if you need to desolder it later. Luckily I had a hunk of 1/4" plate I could use with a magnetic welding square to kind of hold the early pieces up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LewHamFan 76 Posted May 11, 2022 I use Squadron white putty for scratch building. Sometimes it can crack when it dries when you are doing large areas with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted May 11, 2022 I've used solid styrene rod with good luck. It's not going to be structural for a basher, but it's easy to work with and fine for basic running. You can lightly heat it with a candle for bends, and ends can be "mitered" for joints with a dremel, or with a piece of sandpaper wrapped around another styrene tube. Technically these pictures aren't a roll cage, but you'll get the idea... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superluminal 3750 Posted May 11, 2022 Jeff Goldblum? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted May 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Superluminal said: Jeff Goldblum? Yup, sure is @Superluminal! He's the driver in a Jurassic Park themed monster truck build I've been tinkering with for a while. It's based on an SCX10, but at least the steering wheel and shifter are Tamiya! ;) 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted May 11, 2022 On 5/10/2022 at 3:26 PM, toyolien said: I've built several external cage for crawlers. I use 4mm and 5mm steel tube that I then braze together using 55% silver solder and Mapp gas. Here's a few pics of some past projects. 0mfg, wanna make some money? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted May 11, 2022 On 5/10/2022 at 3:16 AM, Superluminal said: Ive done a couple for my Lancia Delta, Porsche 934 and more recently the Lotus GT1. I use 5mm dia styrene tube, I then turn the shell upside down and tape some strips of paper inside it where the bars of the cage will be, ie roof, A-pillar and B-pillar etc. Then lay the cut to length styrene tubes into the shell and tack them with a small blob of glue which will hold them to the angles of the body shell. When dry i remove it and add slivers of cut styrene melted with styrene cement and some model filler into the joints between the cage tubes which can then be sanded down smooth to a radius. Then lay it back in the body and lower in the cockpit - cut the ends off the tubes until they are the right length for where the cockpit sits in chassis and then glue to the cockpit. Checked to see if you had a showroom looks like not. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superluminal 3750 Posted May 11, 2022 Nah sadly not. Ive built a few bits im quite proud of and have turned out ok but am complete and utter gash at taking photos. I only have a crappy old potato phone to use. I should hire someone here to do a studio session for my kits. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mongoose1983 3335 Posted May 11, 2022 On 5/10/2022 at 3:26 PM, toyolien said: I've built several external cage for crawlers. I use 4mm and 5mm steel tube that I then braze together using 55% silver solder and Mapp gas. Here's a few pics of some past projects. Man! Your 1:10 garage is absolutely fantastic!!! I've made rollcages, and more specifically custom rear cages for Sand Scorchers with spare plastic parts. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toyolien 4681 Posted May 11, 2022 30 minutes ago, JeffSpicoli said: 0mfg, wanna make some money? Thanks. I have built stuff for other people but it's extremely time consuming and having to have their truck(s) here to do it makes it harder. So I just do stuff for me now 😬 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toyolien 4681 Posted May 11, 2022 7 minutes ago, mongoose1983 said: Man! Your 1:10 garage is absolutely fantastic!!! I've made rollcages, and more specifically custom rear cages for Sand Scorchers with spare plastic parts. Thank you. Unfortunately that garage is no more. I've since built a slightly smaller one here: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GermanTA03Guy 1327 Posted May 12, 2022 My process: 1. Build it when the shell is still clear. 2. Use 5mm rod, Not tube (Bends better). Weight and center of Gravity doesnt matter to you when you decide to put in a cockpit. Just makes it drive more realistic. 3. Make cardboard templates of the inner shape of the roof. 4. Start with the hoop behind the seat. 5. Take a tea candle and turn the rod over the flame till it gets soft. Put on the table so its flat and bend it into the template shape. Always test fit. Rather have too much space between shell and cage than too little, otherwise it can rub off the paint. 6. Carefully drill 5mm holes in the cockpit. Only needed 4, 2 for Front a pillar struts and 2 for hoop. The Rear rods are levitating so to say. 7. Dremel the ends with a round tool so the rods fit together nicely. 8. Glue rods together with tamiya orange glue or uhu acrylit. 1 rod at a time, hold in place with tape. 9. Paint with ts. btw, no need to glue the cage to the cockpit, the rods stick and hold nicely in the 5mm holes. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted May 12, 2022 5 hours ago, GermanTA03Guy said: Looks good! Nice job. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted May 12, 2022 6 hours ago, GermanTA03Guy said: My process: 1. Build it when the shell is still clear. 2. Use 5mm rod, Not tube (Bends better). Weight and center of Gravity doesnt matter to you when you decide to put in a cockpit. Just makes it drive more realistic. 3. Make cardboard templates of the inner shape of the roof. 4. Start with the hoop behind the seat. 5. Take a tea candle and turn the rod over the flame till it gets soft. Put on the table so its flat and bend it into the template shape. Always test fit. Rather have too much space between shell and cage than too little, otherwise it can rub off the paint. 6. Carefully drill 5mm holes in the cockpit. Only needed 4, 2 for Front a pillar struts and 2 for hoop. The Rear rods are levitating so to say. 7. Dremel the ends with a round tool so the rods fit together nicely. 8. Glue rods together with tamiya orange glue or uhu acrylit. 1 rod at a time, hold in place with tape. 9. Paint with ts. btw, no need to glue the cage to the cockpit, the rods stick and hold nicely in the 5mm holes. Unreal. Wanna make some money, sans paint, dm me. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted May 13, 2022 This might be hackable. Not much risk money wise. https://rcworld.us/rc-1-10-roll-cage-roll-bars-for-interior-cockpits/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GermanTA03Guy 1327 Posted May 13, 2022 14 hours ago, JeffSpicoli said: Unreal. Wanna make some money, sans paint, dm me. Thanks ! I appreciate the offer, but i have so little time even to do anything for myself (little kids etc.), that i cant do that unfortunately... That Ready-to-buy roll cage looks nicer than most ive seen, but Chances are that it will need major modifications. Id really suggest you try building the styrene cage from scratch, its no rocket science and quite rewarding in the end .. Heres another take on a cage, its really feasible: https://youtu.be/QEI-3Y505w4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
foz75 93 Posted May 13, 2022 These look great, the metal ones especially! I would like to try something similar, but how well do these hold up to the occasional roll or crash? Are they only shelf queen, or will they hold up to the occasional accident when driving? I guess the soldered steel option will be strongest? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toyolien 4681 Posted May 13, 2022 4 minutes ago, foz75 said: These look great, the metal ones especially! I would like to try something similar, but how well do these hold up to the occasional roll or crash? Are they only shelf queen, or will they hold up to the occasional accident when driving? I guess the soldered steel option will be strongest? I'm battered several of my cages and none of the joints have ever come apart. Bike frames a sometimes brazed and they're plenty strong enough too👍 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites