[Maltese]

Back in 2003 a guy from the Nuremburg toy fair reported that AutoArt was making their own track system. Is this still the case? They say it was a 1/24 track like Carrera. Any truth to that?

-Maltese

 

[Scott B]

Don't know for sure, but I'd have to wonder why they would want to do that. If the did, based on the high scale accuracy but relatively poor performance of their cars so far I'd predict the track to look fantastic but offer little grip.

 

[Mr.M]

At this year's London toyfair there were definitely track pieces on the AutoArt stand. And they looked very similar to Carrera. There were also 1/24 cars on display (both slot and R/C).

Mr.M

 

[thomas]

...folks, look over here - all you want to see has been posted on my hp in February.... and there are posts here in SF about these track pieces - use the search button...

 

[Maltese]

Very, very interesting. It seems silly if one is just producing the same thing as everyone else with no great enhancement.

I did a search on the forum for AutoArt and a search for "Autoart Track" with bad results. There were a million entries with just "track" in them. Can you tell me what key word you used to find more detail? I want to know if they are going through with their plans. This is very important to me.

And what is their country of origin, base?

By the way, you keep up a great site. Good information!

-Maltese

 

[Tropi]

Hi Maltese

After a lot of checking (and I thought I knew where to look), it seemed that the link to the Slot Forum article re Auto Art, in connection with the Nurnberg Toy Fair, was not working - sorry! However, a check with the boss turned up
THIS (and it is!)
So I'm not as clever as I thought I was and Nuro is!

However, the link given above by Thomas is very useful and his pages contain more detailed photographs than we had here.

I had not checked Thomas's pics before and they are very informative.
Maybe I could add a few words to help explain a few details.
Auto Art Trackpic 1 shows the connections of Carrera (top half) and Auto Art (bottom half) and it can be seen that, although they are very similar, they are NOT interchangeable.
1. Auto Art is very slightly wider again than Carrera
2. The rail connectors are reversed (male/female)
3. The plastic section tabs are a different design and differently placed.

Other well thought through pics show even more minor, though important, differences (Thickness, side connection sockets etc) and it is very clear that the two makes will not be interchangeable - an important consideration.

I must say I am very impressed by the smooth banking transitions on the suspension bridge! Other than that, I feel that a new track system, so similar to Carrera's existing, probably doesn't have much of a future.

I have no information since the original Nurnberg report and, now, Thomas's very helpful pics.
Thomas may well know more, though - he very often does!

 

[Maltese]

Thanks very much, Tropi. I'm glad you explained that. At first I thought that each end of the track was either male or female.

I hope they don't do it. I don't think it would be wise unless they are from a land which makes no track system and they want to be the hometown favorite and push the other guys out.

I have an eMail into them on the subject.

Thanks again

.

Maltese