[Mr Modifier]

In my brief and limited experience NSR & Slot.It seem to be the speed demon's weapon of choice and they seem to feature as the top two in inter-marque challenges.

I have only recently become aware of Avant Slot and was wondering if anybody can tell me how the Avant LMP cars stack up against similar cars from NSR & Slot.It.

How do they compare on fast routed tracks and how do they compare on twisty plastic circuits?

The reason I ask is that I have an opportunity to buy the Avant 2006 Le Mans winners set consisting of 2 Audis (the TDi's) and the Pescarola that split them at the finish. Brand new - £68 all in. I'm hoping they will be up there with my Slot.It Group C cars.

Or should I spend the same cash on just one NSR? (Don't own any NSR's at the moment).

Does anybody have first hand experience of how the marques stack up?

Thanks

 

[Flange]

Just one nsr will be much more worth your time , avant slot are very much an up and coming brand still , next closest is probably slotting plus actually

 

[mINdAt3z]

I just got the Le Mans 2008 winners myself and having serious problems with running them on a Scalextric digital track with the advanced powerbase. The cars "jump" as if they gain and lack power. I switched to the sports power instead, and ran the track totally analog and then they work perfectly and are very interesting cars. The "Hurricane" engine is 27k rmp from what I understand, and the torque seems amazing. Before i started tuning the cars, they tires where spinning on the track as soon as i pushed the throttle.

It takes very much to keep them on the track and in control and they are seriously fun to drive (when they work). The magnets on them are hardly enough to keep them on the track, and it´s quite hard to find a good spot to put a stronger magnet or weights, but the cars have quite a lot of possibilities for tuning right from the start and with some truing of the tires and some WD40 i managed to get some control of them also.

Compared to my NSR Moslers... I dont know. I feel that the Mosler is easier to handle and gives me more control and in the end gives me better track times. But I can imagine having some great time racing with friends with a matching set of Avant Peugeot 908, since they require some more thinking and handling, creates a more interesting race. Easy is not always the most fun.

 

[matthew77]

I would prefer Slot Its, have Avant Slot Audi R10 and Peugeot 908, have to replace standard tyres with Slot Its to get reasonable times on Scaley Sport. My other concern with Avant Slot is build quality, it seems at best ok and I wonder if the plastic is a bit thin on the body. I had 3 Avant Slot cars for Xmas, I have had to take 2 apart and tighten the grub screws on the gearing as was loose and the car wasn't moving and then lower the rear axle on the Subaru so doesn't rub on the body shell.

They are nice to look at but Slot Its are better.

Matthew

PS sorry if im going on a bit

 

[Julian_Boolean]

I've got a Kremer Porsche, the motor is amazing, the gears and axles are poor, personally I'd rather have an NSR or Slot It, as they are ready to race straight out of the box, the Avant Slot took a bit of fiddling to get it working well.

 

[Mr Modifier]

Thanks for all your feedback folks.

It sounds as if the Avants have potential for those who like to fiddle.

There are a couple of NSR's coming to visit my track tomorrow so I can take a closer look. Then I need to get up close to an Avant to compare. I already have Slot.Its.

I guess I also need to take a look at Sloting Plus. Swapmeet here I come!!!

 

[alexis in greece]

You can buy an Avant Audi racing version(the standard one is carp) for around 20-25 pounds,a very good car out of the
box, you'll have to change at least the tires though .The 3 car set is very attractive at this price provided the cars are equipped with the second generation chassis,the first one is carp.I find Avant detail way ahead of NSR and car shape
waaay closer to the real thing.

 

[SuperSlab]

To start let me just say that I regularly run two Avant cars: a Peugeot 908 and a Porsche Spyder.

As for how they compare: like always it all depends I suppose. For out and out performance (technical wood track, 10V), they are not quite up to (say) NSR levels, but not that far behind either. And they definitely have some positives:

• Very good looking Peugeot 908 and for the track I run on definitely the fastest of the selection of 908's out there (compared to Scaley and SCX).
• Generally good components
• Adjustable/tunable
• Porsche Spyder is very quick: just a hair behind my NSR's and ahead of most of my Slot.its

Then there are the little quirks. For instance: plastic wheels on an expensive, race-focussed car. That has never made any sense to me. I put some aftermarket aluminium wheels on my Peugeot and it made a huge difference. Also put on some Avant Al wheels on the Porsche for a local competition but the alloy they use is way, way too soft: this is pretty much the only wheels I have ever stripped the setscrew hole thread. Replaced them with aftermarket Al wheels and now all is good.

Also interestingly: the Peugeot is the only car I have ever broken a guide holder on. And I am talking about running a lot of cars over quite a period. Could be coincidence of course, but still.

Note that on both these cars the tyre space is rather limited: if you want to put 12mm wide tyres on either you are out of luck.

So if your objective is to have the fastest car out there: you are better off passing on the Avants. If you want some very quick, good looking cars that are not made by any other (or any of the fastest) manufacturers, Avant is a very good option.

 

[Martyn_]

Superslab, that was really informative - thanks!

Richard, I'll bring my "mmmmmm, box fresh" NSR 917K along tomorrow for you to compare against your Slot.ITs and Mr Slotcar. So I'd better go and true the tyres now!

Sounds like that deal you've spotted is very good VFM, and knowing you, you'll buy a big bag of top quality ally wheels for the Avants for mere pence from some obscure ebayer.

Knowing your track and the amount of enjoyment you get from it, and your propensity for knocking out a batch of urethanes every time Mrs Modifier pops out, I'd say go for it. you'll really enjoy fettling then racing the three cars.

**EDIT** Mindat3z, forgot to say - that hunting you mentioned on the Avants running with the APB. It sounds like they need a far lower resistance throttle for that setup. Have you tried to calibrate the throttles beforehand?

 

[Flange]

QUOTE (SuperSlab @ 27 Dec 2011, 17:39) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>As for how they compare: like always it all depends I suppose. For out and out performance (technical wood track, 10V)

WOW you run on wood at 10v ... isnt that a little erm slow?

 

[mINdAt3z]

@Flange: Maybe they have some weird speed limits in Richmond. *grin*

@Snurfen: I solved the problem today after spending some loving time with the Avant cars. I guess this is part of what we all love with slot cars also. To be a mini mechanic and try to solve these kind of problems and tuning the cars.

Dont ask me what the problem was, I still only have theories. But i took all 3 cars apart into pieces, gave them new Slot.It wiring, new NSR racing braides, re-assembled and re-adjusted all the screws, axels and motor mount. And now they run like hurricanes indeed.

I had some time to play with them also, and I have to say I do love them. They do look amazing. You get a great engine and lots of tuning abilities right out of the box. They take a lot of time to setup and tune and I already share the opinion of SuperSlab. They could use some new wheels and some new racing tires. I also think that if you run a plastic track at home, a bit stronger magnet can be in order if you want to compete with cars like Slot.It or NSR. It´s a huge difference in how they come "stock" out of the box, the NSRs and the Slot.Its have more mag.

All together, I have to say that I will buy more Avant cars. They are not "racing ready" out of the box, but then again, neither is Slot.It. If you want your Slot.It R8C to compete against a NSR Mosler you need to get some new tires, maybe a new AW engine block and engine, ... It´s just a different philosophy.

But I am sold...

 

[MANIMMAL]

From my experience they tend to take a long time to set up, and when you get it right they hold their own against pretty much anything.

 

[Mr Modifier]

OK. Set of 3 x 2006 Le Mans winners on their way to me. Will also invest in alloy wheels and make my own urethanes for all my racers to put them on a fair footing in the grip department. Will remove ALL magnets (that will sort the good chassis from the bad).

In the line-up we have:

MRSlotcar.CA Mazda 787B test (in-line) x2
Slot.It Nissan R390 white kit (in-line) x2
Slot.It Nissan R390 RAW
The 3 Avants

Racing will be on the Amman Valley Raceway - a Sport track with a 90 degree R2 curve leading into a 4 metre straight followed by a 90 degree R4 curve and a 1.5 metre slow-down straight before about 13 metres of technical twisty bits. Not representative of fast wooden tracks I know - we will have to wait for a year or so until I have built my rally track before I start work on the super fast NASCAR wonky oval - might have got the cars sorted out by then!

Just need to save up for an NSR and Sloting Plus to complete the stable.

By the way SuperSlab it's not all about speed and I agree with your sentiment. For me it's about getting a car I love to drive and racing against a car that is as evenly matched as possible. For me the driver should be the one that wins the race and not the car. If I can build a collection of exotic top flight race cars that are very evenly matched and fun to drive I will be happy. Yes they need to be fast - but equipped with SSD chips (the Slot.It version) racing around my track that is closer to a typical Scalextric circuit than a massive analogue club track. So balance around tight bends is as important, if not more so, than top end. Unconventional for this class of car maybe - but that suits me fine.

It will be a while but I will post the best lap times for each car and maybe some video once me and my racing buddies have spent lots of time getting all the cars right.

 

[SuperSlab]

QUOTE (Flange @ 27 Dec 2011, 11:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>WOW you run on wood at 10v ... isnt that a little erm slow?
Ouch, I am so deeply, deeply hurt! As Donkey said to Shrek: "You cut me deep Shrek, you cut me real deep just now!"

Actually, my approach to slot car racing is similar to my approach to motorcycling: anybody can go fast in a straight line. The real trick is going fast around the twisties.

And to get a sense of HOW technical (and how fast) the track is: you can take a quick look at the qualifying for the P class 2011 CANAM proxy race here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV-uqaMKl_0...player_embedded

or here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ORcVZbe2k...mp;feature=plcp

PS: in spite of my comments about motorcycles and my grey beard: I still ride a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R750...

QUOTE (mINdAt3z @ 27 Dec 2011, 13:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>@Flange: Maybe they have some weird speed limits in Richmond. *grin*
If you lived around the Vancouver area and knew the reputation that Richmond drivers have aound these parts you would appreciate how funny this statement of yours really is! Let's just say Richmond is not the favourite motorcylce riding area if a long, healthy future is an objective...

 

[Flange]

Well you say skill is In getting through the bends yet them cars clearly have magnets in them ...

 

[SuperSlab]

QUOTE (Flange @ 27 Dec 2011, 16:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well you say skill is In getting through the bends yet them cars clearly have magnets in them ...
Yep, that's how I intend funding my retirement: taking the world by storm selling wood magnets!!

Well, the sad thing about that is that it is no more silly than my current retirement plan...

It is raining outside so after depressing myself I think I will now go pour myself a glass of good red wine to go with the roast leg of lamb for dinner to make myself feel better! Ahh, the joys of internationalism: a Canadian born in South Africa with a New Zealand leg of lamb in the oven writing on a UK based forum sipping a glass of Californian Zinfandel...

Life is pretty darn good actually...

 

[Martyn_]

QUOTE (SuperSlab @ 28 Dec 2011, 00:39) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Life is pretty darn good actually...

Sat in Wales raising a cup of colombian coffee to you SuperSlab. Like the sentiments (and at 52, my Furygans still zip up and zip together - might blast the Firestorm over the two local mountain passes tomorrow, just to nod in your general direction).

I agree, tis all about the twisties

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (Flange @ 28 Dec 2011, 02:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well you say skill is In getting through the bends yet them cars clearly have magnets in them ...

They quite possibly do, but they won't be making any difference to the skill required to get them round the bends.

Oh, the dawning realisation that you're not as quick (or as clever) as you thought you were

 

[Mr Modifier]

QUOTE (SuperSlab @ 28 Dec 2011, 00:39) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yep, that's how I intend funding my retirement: taking the world by storm selling wood magnets!!

Priceless!

 

[Savage]

With a bit of setting up, AS chassis are pretty good, but IMO the universal type chassis they generally use is a compromise and made up with quite hard plastic. I find it a bit on the stiff side for wood.