Hello everyone, I recently reacquired my old AFX Magnatraction and non-Magnatraction cars. I spent several hours replacing parts and just getting them up and running again. After trying to control them again on the track I'm beginning to ask myself why bother. The new Mega G+ cars are so fast and much easier to keep on the track. I'm thinking of just buying all new 1.5 chassis and attaching the AFX bodies to them. I know some people like to tinker with the old-style cars and maybe I just don't have the patience anymore. I wonder how everyone else feels about this topic?
Tomekdan
Hi Tomekdan,
Welcome to the forum.
Getting an old set running like new again can be bit overwhelming at first. Many people have complaints about the new cars too. It's not a perfect solution.
Buy a few Mega G+ cars and try them out. Have some fun. But put your AFX cars on the back bench for a while until your curiosity is peaked again. Most old pancake cars just need a few basic things like new silicone tires, motor brushes, etc. Then they start to wake up. Don't get rid of them. They're only gaining value.
I personally think the traction magnets in the new cars are too strong. When you deslot. You leave Ferrari imprints in the drywall.
Managing the throttle on an old AFX car just takes practice. You'll get there.
Welcome to the forum.
Getting an old set running like new again can be bit overwhelming at first. Many people have complaints about the new cars too. It's not a perfect solution.
Buy a few Mega G+ cars and try them out. Have some fun. But put your AFX cars on the back bench for a while until your curiosity is peaked again. Most old pancake cars just need a few basic things like new silicone tires, motor brushes, etc. Then they start to wake up. Don't get rid of them. They're only gaining value.
I personally think the traction magnets in the new cars are too strong. When you deslot. You leave Ferrari imprints in the drywall.
Managing the throttle on an old AFX car just takes practice. You'll get there.
I used to be in a club in England which ran just Aurora Magnatraction sports cars and Aurora G-plus formula 1. The rules only allowed original parts in the cars. You will be pleasantly surprised just how quick the car can run with some careful rebuilding. The main thing is silicone tyres, they make a vast improvement. Don’t give up on your old cars, just rebuild them clean the track and enjoy.
From what I've read QC has not been very good lately with MG+ cars and you'll probably end up replacing stuff anyways.
There are alternatives though, like the BDR Bulldog, the Jag Hobbies NC-2, Viper and the Super 7 from Harden Creeck.
You could also buy NOS Tyco or LifeLike cars That'll only need new tires.
There are alternatives though, like the BDR Bulldog, the Jag Hobbies NC-2, Viper and the Super 7 from Harden Creeck.
You could also buy NOS Tyco or LifeLike cars That'll only need new tires.
Magnatractions, one of my all time favorite chassis.
The torque band of a MT coupled with the slight downforce of the motor magnets best mimics the feel of a street car, or stock car racer, to me, at around 18v. You just cant get any closer. In the 70s, AFX really was the closest thing to real racing. Now, well... I would say you have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting a good MegaG+
With a little tuning, Magnatractions are super fun. Usually requires cleaning the com and brushes, and a good set of tires.
The torque band of a MT coupled with the slight downforce of the motor magnets best mimics the feel of a street car, or stock car racer, to me, at around 18v. You just cant get any closer. In the 70s, AFX really was the closest thing to real racing. Now, well... I would say you have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting a good MegaG+
With a little tuning, Magnatractions are super fun. Usually requires cleaning the com and brushes, and a good set of tires.
I agree that the Magnatractions are about the best balance between worlds. Just grippy enough that you are not driving on ice, but still able to push and slide a bit. Vary from stock magnets to Dash Green Mamba and Black Mamba magnets for a variety of driving experiences.
The older AFX (non-magna) are still my favorites, though.
The older AFX (non-magna) are still my favorites, though.
The Johnny Lightning/Auto World X-Traction car is a clone of the original Aurora Magnatraction car. I have written a tuning article that covers both types:
Just replacing the original Tires with silicone tires should make a big difference. The latest Auto World cars have an added neodymium traction magnet.
Just replacing the original Tires with silicone tires should make a big difference. The latest Auto World cars have an added neodymium traction magnet.
You might want to ask a gentlemen by the name of Woodcote about a club in the UK.
Here's a link to his organized HO races.
slotracer.online
Here's a link to his organized HO races.
WHO Racing Modified - January 2025
Maybe Im biased but I say buy the tools a bunch of tjets, put on ur jammis and start tuning till your nose bleeds..
Nah serious though, if you think the newer G+ is your thing buy 1 or 2 and try um. or maybe Tyco cars like suggested. It finding what you like. But your old pancake cars with a little tuning would probably wake right up. Id start with a bag of new brushes and a few sets of shoes. Clean um up reoil them. maybe get a comm tool and clean up the commutators and flatten them.
I think your feeling the frustration of haveing old track that has sat and old cars that sat that all need attention. Pick a car and go 100% through it. And clean your track REALLY good. How I did my old MM track was to wash it in windex and clean the slots out when I got it out, then once all dry I made a few passes on the rails with a 320 drywall sponge, then Mr, Clean magic eraser, then wipe it down with eather swiffer wipes or and old T shirt and blow out the slots.
You'd be surprised how much the rails will shine up with a drywall sponge, they may look clean but you'll see an Imediate differance in shine.
An example, I have a 4lane bull ring I just recently build all clean and nice and tweaked etc... My cars run so good on it. I have another track I have not touched since July its sat in the dusty basement, when I recently(few days ago) re set it up my tuned cars were stopping all over and blowing orange sparks off the shoes. I have a whole reclean to do to make um run.
I suggest you take ONE car and tune it real good,Lightly sand the contact patches of the shoes on like 2000 grit paper, and make sure they are flat to the rails, clean out all the old oil, clean the commutator(I really suggest the vrp comm tool)put new brushes and then just drive it and have fun, get the blood pumpin and the rest of the cars will come alonmg as they do, when they do.
Actually if the cars arent too bad, you may just need clean the old oil out and reoil, then prop up the rear wheels and run them a few minutes to get um loosened up again.
Nah serious though, if you think the newer G+ is your thing buy 1 or 2 and try um. or maybe Tyco cars like suggested. It finding what you like. But your old pancake cars with a little tuning would probably wake right up. Id start with a bag of new brushes and a few sets of shoes. Clean um up reoil them. maybe get a comm tool and clean up the commutators and flatten them.
I think your feeling the frustration of haveing old track that has sat and old cars that sat that all need attention. Pick a car and go 100% through it. And clean your track REALLY good. How I did my old MM track was to wash it in windex and clean the slots out when I got it out, then once all dry I made a few passes on the rails with a 320 drywall sponge, then Mr, Clean magic eraser, then wipe it down with eather swiffer wipes or and old T shirt and blow out the slots.
You'd be surprised how much the rails will shine up with a drywall sponge, they may look clean but you'll see an Imediate differance in shine.
An example, I have a 4lane bull ring I just recently build all clean and nice and tweaked etc... My cars run so good on it. I have another track I have not touched since July its sat in the dusty basement, when I recently(few days ago) re set it up my tuned cars were stopping all over and blowing orange sparks off the shoes. I have a whole reclean to do to make um run.
I suggest you take ONE car and tune it real good,Lightly sand the contact patches of the shoes on like 2000 grit paper, and make sure they are flat to the rails, clean out all the old oil, clean the commutator(I really suggest the vrp comm tool)put new brushes and then just drive it and have fun, get the blood pumpin and the rest of the cars will come alonmg as they do, when they do.
Actually if the cars arent too bad, you may just need clean the old oil out and reoil, then prop up the rear wheels and run them a few minutes to get um loosened up again.
I have only used A-Dash on the dragstrip so far. In box-stock form, they are 1 second cars. Meh.
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