SlotForum Nürnberg Report, SCX Digital Options

[Swissracer]

Ok guys so go easy on me here!
I am NOT into Digital much so if I screw up, tell me but don't hit me

SCX Digital, stand alone, not compatable with any other Manufacturers cars OR even their own analogue cars or track.

Well until now....


Details were sketchy but this unit is supposed to be the answer to converting any (sic) car to run on SCX Digital. It contains the all important guide and LC trigger and a front axle unit. Apparently it comes with instructions and is not too hard to do (looks a lot harder than other brands digitising kits though).
They have promised SlotForum a couple of units early on so we can do an online 'How To'. We will leave the 'cars that can' list you you guys.

Digital Pacer, A nice looking Mercedes Pace Car for Digital...


New track pieces...


I LOVE the look of this one...




Ok so I admit, I forgot what is new (if anything!) in these shots so come on - be the first to tell me )






This, however is very cool and I know what it is!

Simply put it allows you to place all the information from your Digital set onto the big screen, or whatever size your TV is. I will let the packaging tell you the rest of the basics...

[BEEJAY7]

Great Review Alan, and for what it is the SCX Digital system looks pretty good.

It would be interesting if you retro fit one of those lane changing thingies to a Lotus 19.....Now that I would like to see..

Regards

Alan

[Swissracer]

Well don't hold your breath Alan

The plan is to try an SCX car first, We agreed they would send the first car too so their choice will be interesting.

THEN I will see what can be done with another Company.

[RichG]

At the london Toy Fair, they told me that it was just for "Some SCX cars" no list at the moment.

Can't quite work out which bits are included?

For the price of a bit of plastic they might as well ship a replacement digital chassis.

[jnr_seahorse]

I have gone to the London toy fair for the last two years and been able to compare the SCX and Scalextric systems. The SCX system always really impresses me and the range of funky accessories and track sections blows Hornbys attempt out of the water in my opinion.

Its slick and its smooth and seems to work flawlessly. Scalextric on the other hand always seems a bit clunky in comparison and both years I have had it demoed to me it has misbehaved leaving the demonstrator red faced!

Obviously the HUGE disadvantage up to now has been not being able to convert existing cars. The new retro fit mechanism looks very cumbersome and will obviously be limited in the number and types of car it will fit. But at least they are looking into it. Scalextric digital gives the impression of just being another product in a range of many, SCX seem to be pushing it much further.

Looking in from the outside at the digital world the SCX system looks very solid.

JS

[Swissracer]

At the london Toy Fair, they told me that it was just for "Some SCX cars" no list at the moment.

Can't quite work out which bits are included?

For the price of a bit of plastic they might as well ship a replacement digital chassis.

It is the complete front section from the middle body mounts on that unit.

Just for 'some' SCX cars meant, so the guy said, alot of cars wont be large enough to convert.
If you can convert an SCX car and really wanted to I can't see the unit not working on other Manufacturers.

However, if their intent really is to limit their Digital to their own stuff then I agree completely, simply ship a complete conversion chassis for each car!

[RichG]

I will admit to being biassed towards the system I own, SSD.

The SCX parts are very impressive and well integrated. I wish that Scalextric had even half of them.

That said I realise the software we have for SSD did not come from Scalextric, but I would not trade it for all the SCX displays.

The TV interface not here until September and will be about £95.

At this years London Toy Fair the SCX stand on Saturday, was almost deserted most of the time. The Digital track had all the controllers velcroed, with noone using them.

The Scalextrix stand was in contrast a hive of activity and you almost had to queue to get a go on the digital track. No sign of Red faces.


Bottom line is what we would all like to do is pick the best bits from each of the systems.

[gose]

maybe Scalextric is so well known in England it will always attract more people. In Spain it could go the opposite way, people might be more interested in Scx and Ninco.

[mad727]

By far SCX has the coolest products out. their achilles heel has always been the the retro fit. If this can work on 80 to 90% cars out there they certainly can make an impact on SSD users. I have both sets but a more extensive SSD now. liked many features of the system.

I would love to know if their lap counting system is working 100%. use to have problems with skipped laps. One last thing, no hobby shops in the us are carrying it and not sure what the on-line presence is for US either.
Bottom line, All these new products certainly make me drool a bit...

Hope the aux box is going well

[mad727]

Looking closer at the picture i started to think about all of my front motor Fly cars. probaly have to rule those out. In lines and sidewinders no prob with some wires from teh motor to the copper sections..

[bswan72]

One last thing, no hobby shops in the us are carrying it and not sure what the on-line presence is for US either.

Do you mean no US hobby shops are carrying SCX Digital? If yes, I have found a lot of the HobbyTown USA hobby shops across the US are carrying SCX Digital and a few very large online dealers carry the complete range.

Best regards,
Brian

[mad727]

Great lead. Found a bunch more on-line places too. tx

[51mes]

Great review of some great kit...

It shows people what digital can be...

For someone looking at their first set (since he was a lad) This all looks **very** tempting.

I see no problem at the moment in buying the kit, but the problem with digital is the investment in proprietary kit - the track and car chassis/bodies are now the least of it.

The lockin with the LC in the car (unlike everyone else) and what this means for comaptability puts me off. I would like the ability to chip another vendors cars so I can have choice.... That kit will never fit single seaters - note there are no SCX digital single seaters today as far as I can find - I may be wrong?..

It's all very tempting I just don't know..

Simon.

[Cozmo]

what I see "new" in the pics you didn't commentate on

2 things only...

the single lane curves

and the purple tuner car on digi track?

as for conversions, yes front mount motors like many fly's will not work with the scx digital, as there just isn't enough room, most SCX cars I have now will work fine, there is room, and the guide is an easy swap, the biggest issue is, the solid front axel blocks the guide pin activator arm. so if SCX includes a stub axel for each side, a great number of cars could be converted.

[scaleymatt]

I really like the SLK safety car, shame it's not going to be available in Analogue!!

Matt