To begin with Tropi, if you want an example of admission of a problem for Fly see my previous postings with reference to GT40 chassis. If there is a problem I will let you know here and also let you know what is going to be done about it and how Gaugemaster and members of the forum can possibly help each other. This was the point of me joining the forum and a thread in the News section is there for you to ask questions etc..
However, like many forums of many different types, they tend to be used by a very small minority of people of which some have an axe to grind or will find one if they possibly can. I am not on the forum to promote my own products unlike other manufacturers that feature here, nor am I here to say how wonderful I am and how experienced I am in the world of slot racing unlike others who write here. I am the first to admit that I have not been involved with slot cars for very long. However, I do have resources to be able to assist in many ways.
I can give you MY view on a product. The opinions and notes I put on these pages are my own, and not neccessarily that of Gaugemaster. To this end, I can say if a car is good or bad and express it as my opinion. I think the New Fly BMW CSL and the Ferrari are excellent, but I am not so keen of the Fly Racing series - not because there is a problem, I just tend to collect and not race so they are not my cup of tea. There are too many people here stating what they think are facts but have no back-up for what they are saying, so they may as well not bother. The manufacturers do look at the various forums around the world (not just this one) and constructive criticism is taken on board, but what amazes me is that any of you seem to think that in companies like Fly there is someone who draws a Ferrari, thinks to himself 'oh, that is near enough' and then promptly goes and makes it!! Have some common sense! Every one of the large companies has teams of people taking drawings, making block models, prototypes, moulds etc. It is not just done with a pencil and back of a newspaper. There are limitations on producing a model slot car as regard to detailing, and fitting a can motor inside a plastic bodyshell which may well throw the model out by a couple of millimetres, but that is hardly the end of civilisation as we know it (although reading some of these posts you would think the world was at an end because of it).
The next thing on the agenda after Fly bashing is Fly moaning. Having spent weeks saying that the Fly whatever is so inaccurate it is untrue, many of you then start moaning that the next Fly model is a week late being released! Its not just Fly either, as many of the manufacturers come in for the same sort of criticism.
I think it is time that many of you started to realise that the manufacturers are there to produce what you want to buy, and they will listen IF you are constructive, but if continual slagging off is all they can expect then they will make what they like and not what you want. After all, just because the few that read this forum don't buy their car, whether it is a Fly, a Ninco or a Scalextric, do you think they are really worried? Slot car manufacturers are a BUSINESS, not a hobby, and they do not need your permission to make a slot car. However, they will play ball with you if you play ball with them.
This forum needs a way of reviewing models in a standard way: same circuit, same tests, SAME REVIEWER!!. Without these then reviews are very personal and everyone has an opinion on what is good and what is bad. Gaugemaster stopped supplying cars for review for the NSCC magazine as the reviews were few and far between and we fast got the impression that the reviewer was just using us to build upon his own collection of slot cars.
Nuro and Swissracer have done some excellent reviews - the ones on the Fly GT40, Slot It Porsche and Fly Corvette were all extremely good. Yes, they criticised the products and praised them too, but were fair and constructive in what they had to say. I have sent the two Fly reviews to Fly so they can see for themselves.
Apart from all that, I very much get the feeling that for certain forum members, nothing could ever be right - unless they made it themselves and then it would be perfect in every way. To these members I suggest they grow up and get into the real world, and Jonny S is quite right - at the end of the day these are toy cars. Highly detailed, motorised, but nevertheless toy cars.
Lastly, I am not on the forum to defend Fly or anyone else against 'opinions' as everyone has their opinions as do I and I respect that. However, I am here to help if I can, but you will also need to help yourselves if you want to be heard. Simple Fly/Ninco/Carrera/Scalextric or whoever bashing will not help your cause and will make you look ridiculous not only in the eyes of the manufacturers, but in the eyes of those many members who read these forums and do not neccessarily post. It is those people who you all should be encouraging to come into the hobby, as the more voices you have the louder you can shout and get yourself heard, yet they come here, see it is just a load of people slagging each other and the manufacturers and probably think to themselves that it is a bit of a childrens tea party.
Whilst I realise that this posting will not be popular with some, I guess there are others who agree with me and can see the logic of what I am saying. Assuming they post here, this at least will give me some idea of whose posts to the forums I should take seriously and who I should take with a pinch of salt.
Aaron
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