SlotForum - Slot Car News, Features, Columns and Resources

The Front Page · Resources · Reviews · Columns · Links · Shopping

Guidelines

Help

Members

Calendar

About

Proteus Lamborghini Murciélago
Review by Taxi - Photos by Nuro


Model	Proteus Lamborghini Murciélago
Motor	Mabuchi, rear mounted, inline
Chassis	Plastic
Body	Painted & tampo printed plastic
Wheels	Chrome plated plastic wheels, rubber tyres
Price/Availability	around £33
Rivals	Fly/Ninco BMW's, Carrera Aston Martin

Likes	Lots of clever design, nice finish
Dislikes	Poor Interior

"Personally I can't afford to look at a Lamborghini, let alone drive one, so when this car came along I had to have it. (Nearest I'll ever get and all that!)."

Lamborghini. Makers of four wheeled monsters for the extremely rich, brave and/or mad. The company was allegedly started because Mr. Lamborghini had a row with Mr. Ferrari and decided to start making cars just to get up Enzo's nose. Legend!

The model is packaged in an oversized box along the lines of Ninco/Spirit types. Milliseconds later it's in my not so delicate paws and it's time for a closer inspection.

First impressions are really good. This car looks awesome. The model captures not only the shape and proportions of the real thing but the Presence too. Paintwork is good, a nice yellow-gold, evenly applied and flawlessly finished. As this is a road car there are no sponsors markings, but we have number plates, Lamborghini badge on the nose and script on the tail and 'V12 6.2L' on each flank, all nice and crisp and clear. The wheels are gorgeous, curvy five spokes with lots of detail and huge, drilled brake discs behind them. They look like they belong on a Supercar.

The interior is less impressive, very dark and gloomy. The only highlighted detail is around the gearlever. The driver is a bit basic and was loose on my example.

The body is secured with four screws, and once removed reveals a very well designed chassis. What draws your attention is the way the motor is secured. The car is supplied with an ordinary Mabuchi type motor, mounted inline at the rear. The motor clips into it's mount and is then secured by a clamp which fits over the motor and is screwed to the chassis. No need to glue this one in! Apparently alternative motor mounts are/will be available allowing you to fit just about anything in there! The motor wires have push on connectors, rather than being soldered so a motor change should be very quick and easy. I'm really impressed with the amount of thought that has gone into creating a system like this. The gears are plastic and the rear axle runs in brass bearings. Front axle is solid. Both axles needed spacers to remove a bit of slop. A small but strong bar magnet sits between motor and rear axle. One other point worth mentioning is the provision of two small, shaped slots just behind the front axle. I've heard that a lighting kit will be available for this car so I presume that these are the mounting points for that kit.

On the track the car was initially very nosy and took a couple of hours use to quieten down. Straight line speed was good but cornering was not quite up to expectations, with the car going sideways very easily (but controllably) even in mid to low speed corners. My usual procedure is to cut out the bottom of the magnet pocket and then glue the magnet in just about flush with the underside of the chassis. It's a bit of trial and error to get the height right for the level of grip that you want, and you don't want the magnet too low 'cos it'll slow the car down so it's a case of trying to find the right balance of speed and grip. Like I said, a bit of trial and error, but the car now runs consistently 1/2 sec per lap quicker than in standard trim so I'm happy. And yes, it will still bounce off the barriers if I try hurtling it through corners at Kamikaze speeds!

So, a beautifully-finished, well-designed, competitively-fast model of a previously unavailable (yet hugely desirable) car, with built-in upgrade-ability. How could I not recommend it? Two colours are available at the moment (Yellow-Gold or Silver-Blue), but hopefully more will be available soon.
Definitely worth a look.

Taxi